Balthazar in Bitam

The food and drink was wonderful but waiter Jorge spent the final 10 minutes of our meal demanding that we rate him 5 stars as he just had a few bad reviews. It was extremely uncomfortable and took our experience from 5 stars to 2 stars. Highly inappropriate…

Great food, do try the onion soup and rabbit croquettes- absolutely exquisite. The place was packed so service could get a little slow at times but overall we didnt have to wait too long. Atmosphere was bustling, fantastic decor, and Im looking forward to visiting again.

Busy atmosphere with young and old. Outdoor seating. Great menu and very flavorful. Service was lovely and would go again in a heartbeat. Very close to vent garden and many theaters. Perfect for a before play meal and cocktails.

Busy, large French style brasserie. I love the bar but this is a dining rather than an aperitif area. I love tge old style decor and vaulted ceilings. Great staff, the food is well cooked. Quite noisy but to be expected in such a large room.

Food was very delicious. I recommend the fish menus but everything is really good. We took a cheese plate as dessert which was very good a bit of a pity that there werent that much cheeses. Its a bit expensive but really worth it.

Good food, far from perfect!The egg Benedict (both royale and avocadowere ok at best. The muffin itself was dry, and the egg over cooked.The grilled halloumi was decadent, hence the 3 stars.The overall experience and the interior are lovely, hence our expectations for better food.The staff are just great, professional, helpful and friendly!

Great food, good service in lovely surroundings. Busy restaurant so good to book ahead.

Food was good and served very quickly once ordered. Wait staff are nice but stretched too thin, so youre often left with an empty glass when they could have just left the bottle at the table (trying to be chic I think).I would say 4 stars, but Im taking one off for the weirdly rude women at the front desk who intimated she doesnt know how long someone will take to piss when I had the temerity to ask after our (bookedtable which we had been waiting 15 minutes for already.

Had a business diner at Balthazars. The food was amazing! Especially the artichoke appetiser and duck were beautiful. Unfortunately, the rum Baba desert was a let down... Way too big and lacking balance. All in all still very much worth visiting as all the rest, including the staff was great!

Really nice presentation with food. The mussels were extremely tasty and give you a good amount for what you pay for. The duck was cooked perfectly however I do wish the sauce that it came with was different. The fries were delicious.The service was alright, they sat me and my friend in quite an empty part of the restaurant, maybe due to us wearing casual clothing?😅Would go again though.

We had dinner there. We were seated quickly, and the services were welcoming and fast. The vibes inside the restaurant were very loud; you might consider it a positive point if you like this type of noise, but I don’t.The food was top notch, especially the lobster spaghetti— it was cooked perfectly with a load of flavors and enough quantity of lobster.

Bloody fantastic food and the style of the restaurant was lovely. I’ve heard many great things about this place for a long time but only recently got to try it. Every dish we ordered was delicious! Only piece of feedback would be the training of the staff, perhaps it’s a post-pandemic issue but most of the staff were either new or just untrained for example like not taking finished glasses and needing to keep going back into the kitchen to ask questions about the dishes.

Recommend this place for tourists if you’re looking for a nice meal in a nice setting in Central London. Our waitress (Gizemwas very attentive and friendly.Prices are good for the portion sizes. I enjoyed the food, but think it’s quite basic for the price you pay. I think that the price you pay is just the location and good vibe as the building is very beautiful. I love the uniform from the staff. A nice touch.Would come here with my parents and sister, but not really with a group of friends. Similar to Cote Brasserie.

Good location near Covent Garden, delicious food with friendly informative staff. Only drawback was the time limit on the table however this was during a busy period without a booking so can be expectedEdit - returned recently for another meal. No such time limit. Very pleasant experience with gorgeous food. Had the dressed crab for starter, see picture which was incredible. Very friendly staff. Have updated the review rating to reflect this.

The restaurant is packed with tourists and it’s hard to get the attention of wait staff. Luckily it wasn’t a super long wait for the food: which was average but nothing special. Lobster spaghetti was 38£ but pasta was not Al dente and not much meat in the dish. Crab starter was good. Salmon was horribly over cooked. The location is great and I’m sure they get good business despite the food being hit/miss though

Yes it was nice but nothing special for what it is. Snails were good though 5* for that. Had to finish the sauce

Excellent food and service. Lots of staff fussing around at the start then we had excellent service from Marco who gave perfect service and was really cheerful.

We had an enjoyable lunch here one weekday and it was a good mix of formal dining with a more casual and relaxed atmosphere. It was very busy but the staff handled the number of tables well without service ever suffering. It was also nice not to feel rushed during an extended meals despite it clearly being their prime time.The wine list was extensive with prices not being excessive and they were all served professionally with glasses proactively kept topped up throughout. There certainly should be something for everyone on the food menu and while prices for some of the dishes were a little on the high side everything was presented well and really well cooked, We chose to share a number of side dishes which highlighted that the table was actually rather small, once all the glasses were accounted for but the sofa style seating on the round table was comfortable.Overall it was a nice lunch with great food, without any stiff service. You wouldn’t come here looking for great value but I’ll certainly consider it again.

Great food and atmosphere…oysters were outstanding..the lobster spaghetti was delicious and the apple tart excellent!

My daughter and I came to Balthazar for lunch to celebrate a special occasion.We were delighted with a superb ambiance, divine food and drinks.The service was first class which made us feel very welcome.This restaurant always meets our expectation, but the Senior Manager Roberto de Rosa made this lunch even more extraordinary. His professionalism, happy personality, warm friendly approach were outstanding!It was great enjoyable atmosphere, we were very impressed and grateful!Couldn’t recommend this wonderful place enough!

Lovely restaurant reminiscent of a grander era. The toilets, a journey back in time!Dark wood panels, big mirrors and rich red seating benches around the walls, white table cloth, candle on the tables, smallish of course in good bistro tradition.The food is good and reasonably priced and the prix fixe menu served all day until 7:00pm good value for money. The squid and prawn provençale and braised rabbit (chicken in fact as they had run outwere nicely cooked. The profiteroles, with ice cream filling and delicious chocolate sauce were some of the best Ive had.Staff very friendly and helpful made it a very relaxed and enjoyable place with a lovely atmosphere.Well worth a visit.

Good food but atrocious service. Most staff were disinterested and not engaging with the customers. There were a couple of good professional older servers who were excellent but in the main the younger staff looked as if they wanted to be somewhere else. Drinks arrived after the course they were supposed to accompany. A management/training/serving logistics issue I think.

Great French cuisine. From eggs benedict to classic croissant, they have it. They also offer a Classic English breakfast. Lovely Service and cosy interior. I recommend to book a table as it gets busy quickly. Definitely must go :)

Lovely food, for starter I had cheese souffle(see picture. Came as a larger than expected portion, souffle was light, sauce was rich & topped off with grilled cheese. Main was steak fries & for pudding creme brulee. Food was great, staff attentive & nice ambience. Loved the hydrangeas planted by the front door so pretty. For me prices are higher than I would normally pick for a spot of lunch but this was a treat & food definitely worth it

Nice place with a great ambiance. The steak tartare main with fries was good and pretty filling. The restaurant is decorated nicely with high ceilings. We did have to keep asking for more tap water as they would seem to forget about this. Apart from that, it was a nice dinner experience.

I came here a few years ago for brunch and absolutely loved it but dinner here was terrible. Food was average at best; and that’s the steak tartare which tasted like nothing and then the steak frites which again resembled pub food. My family had a burger and the rabbit which I tasted; again average at best. This all comes at a hefty price given you are in the Famous Balthazar on Covent Garden; 110£ for 3 without drinks. Now let’s talk about the service. You book weeks in advance to get a nice table not have the smallest possible table, sitting in the passageway with waiters shoving passed you. Thankfully, you just need to ask and they will move you to another table as half the restaurant was indeed empty as we went for super early dinner. Next thing is our waitress: she did not come back to take our order when she said, she did not check on us, she took away the bread after starters without even asking and didn’t serve everyone water when refilling and almost rushed us out once we were done. Not sure which part of service we paid 13.5% because I did not see it. We all left unhappy thinking we won’t be coming back. If you want a French style brasserie go to Zedel in Piccadilly, it’s top notch.

Dining as a family of 4 for an early dinner. French brasserie/bistro with loud music. Tables close together. Service was very good and professional. Food on the whole was very tasty. Only minor quibble was that the escargot was bitter and underseasoned. Oysters were fresh. Steak was well cooked (medium rare), great lobster spaghetti and steak tartare. Nice apple Tarte to finish. Would recommend

Chief staff is extremely rude. No matter you make advance booking, they literally try to give you the worst table. I asked the staff member who allocates the tables if any other table is available. She didn’t say anything and left. On my way to the loo I saw her and reminded her my query. She said “sorry no other table is available”. I got mad as she should have said at least “no” when I had asked this. Instead she completely ignored me. I ordered eggs royale and the eggs were overdone, with rock solid egg yolks. For a nice brunch please book somewhere else.

We’ve had a great time! They have an impressive list of whiskeys at the bar and delicious food. Service standards are very high, they always have an eye on you. The interior is also appealing and right in the heart of London.

Poor experience for the value.I reserved a table for dinner with friends and what we experienced was a real freak show. They seated our group in a table that was clearly too small for 5 despite the reservation being made 4 weeks in advance. We were constantly try to arrange glasses, menus on the table unsuccessfully.Staff around us kept dropping glasses, trays, cutlery. It was non-stop, to a point that we were wondering if the staff that evening was on training. Part of our table was served their meals and immediately taken, without further explanation.Food was average, nothing special. Other brasseries in London serve something better for a better price.As soon as we finished our meal, one of the waiters started to push us to order coffee/desert claiming that our reservation was until 8.30 when it was actually until 9.15.I have been to Zedel a couple of weeks ago and had a much better experience, food and service paying much less. The way me and my friends were served is beyond ridiculous based on the amount we paid.I dont recommend.

Booked the private room for an event. Food is pricey but it tastes good and service was impeccable. Definitely try the asparagus with truffle. It was delicious

Nice breakfast/brunch. Good decor and great service. Eggs benny very good as are the pancakes. Coffee good quality also. Has kids menu. Thumbs up.

Food was absolutely delicious. Service was excellent and there’s a good reason why this place is hard to get a table at. Great venue, albeit seating is a little cramped (as table of 3and it’s quite crowded. But made slightly better by the high ceilings and grand experience inside.

Wanted a quick lunch and this place has been on my list to try for a while. Ordered oysters which were excellent and of course can’t go wrong with onion soup at a French restaurant.

we went for midweek dinner and both ordered from the pre theatre menu: pumpkin soup and cheese souffle, halloumi salad, and profiteroles. flavours were spot on, portion sizes very generous. at £25 it felt like a bargain. service was attentive and welcoming, we did not feel rushed despite knowing we had the table for 90 minutes only. a bit noisy but overall a very good dinner

I really like this place, crowded and classic interior. Been here a couple of times and the service is always good. The chicken could have been better, half of the meat was dry, But the other one was good.The onion soup was lovely (big enough to share)One strange thing that happened was that on walk in, they said they didn’t have any tables left. I walked out checked website and booked a table, walked in (3 min laterand was directly taken to a table… weird that they couldn’t help me the first time..

Would only recommend for the atmosphere. Food is decent but nothing special and not worth the price. Understaffed, had to wait a while to get service.

Brilliant food. Brilliant service! Whilst not traditional definitely recommend getting the buffalo mozzarella with pears to start your meal. Everything came out hot and quick and couldn’t be happier! If you’re more conscious about spacing this might not be the place for you on a weekend as it is ram packed.

Great French style brasserie atmosphere, very beautiful interiors, polite service despite being very busy at the weekends. Reasonable prices and great cocktails. Leaving 4 stars because food quality could be better. Had eggs royale two weekends in a row, for £14.95 the salmon portion could be a little bigger and also the muffins quality isn’t great, don’t seem to be fresh but rather frozen. Nonetheless worth a visit when in the area just make sure to book in advance.

First impressions of this gorgeous restaurant were absolutely great. I had to queue a little to get inside, but valet guy was ever so sweet, and polite, then when I arrived at the podium the ladies were apologetic for my wait and then took my coat, it was absolutely great experience. Bar staff were very attentive, and quick to serve me. Then we ordered food and it was absolutely mouth watering. We had a great experience all in all and I would totally recommend this place if you are passing by, trying to impress your date or just want to have a romantic meal out with your partner.

Pricy, great service and amazing selections. Dressed up crab was delicious starter, Boef was tender, seasoned beautifully, and cooked to perfection. The coup de gras was the raspberry souffle. Hot, light and fluffy, and full of amazing raspberries. Id swear my body floated after eating something so light.

Ive been a couple times and definitely will go again. Food is very good and well presented. Atmosphere is cosy and luxurious and the staff are helpful and friendly. However its a 4 star restaurant, there is room for improvement in the service area. Tables for two are small and very close to each other. Good selection of cocktails though.

We love Balthazar! Itd get a 5 but I reserve those for about the 1% of places we go. This place rocks, as all Balthazars do. The space is lovely, the service and people are awesome and the food rocks. We enjoyed the onion soup gratinee (excellent!), perfectly balanced; the steak tartare slightly more coursely marbled then we like but still great; and the macaroni & cheese which was delightful! All in all a killer lunch. Go!

The highlight of the meal was the grilled lobster which was succulent and had a good amount of garlic butter sauce. The starter was a disappointment and there was no chilli kick. The restaurant space is big however the tables are far too close together that it doesnt make you feel special - like cattle herded to a corner.

Had huge expectations with the place,The food was good, the service could have been better. I had expected a more personal touch to the experience here, but it was too busy. Overall on the expensive side mostly because of the location not for food and service.

Stunning French bistro style bar restaurant. Only went for drinks, so can’t comment on the food. Cocktails are a bit pricey but very well made. You’re there more for the ambiance. Nice place to stop also mid afternoon when it’s not too busy. All in all, recommended to visit

Brilliant restaurant and bar in the true heart of Covent Garden. Staff and service are truly excellent, food is top shelf and perfectly prepared and presented. Always an amazing experience, cocktails and wine menu are exceptional.

Had a fantastic evening here with some friends. We had a booking and had arrived 15 mins early but the restaurant was really busy as expected on a Saturday evening. We couldnt even wait at the bar as that was at full capacity so we came back 15 mins later but our table was still not ready and we had to wait a further 15 minutes. Thats the only reason I knocked off 1 star because they made us wait although we had a booking.Once seated our server did everything to make us feel welcomed and helped us with the menu as to not over order and to give her recommendations.The starters arrived promptly and our mains were also ready but the waitress kindly told us that she would keep the food warm for us until we were ready.We were well looked after as the waitress kept checking up on us.Food was great, starters mains and desserts. We ordered the fruits de mer for 1 person and that was enough to share for 3 of us as we had other starters for 5 of us. I had the roasted aubergine for mains and this was delightful, really tasty. All of the desserts were great especially the raspberry souffle. So definitely order one of those.We had a lovely evening sat in one of the comfy booths. It is noisy in the restaurant as it was really busy and they also play music but we could still have a conversation between our group and not having to shout. It was my friends birthday so they even brought out a profiterole with a candle which was a lovely touch. Small gestures goes a long way.Overall great ambient, food and service. Highly recommended.

The vibe was so much fun! We went on a Saturday night and it was bustling and everything you want from a dinner out. The food was beautiful - steak cooked to perfection and so so reasonably priced. Portions were a very decent size, the staff were very attentive - the Mac n cheese was the best in the world! I should have just ordered a great big portion of thatZ we will definitely return/recommend

Fantastic evening. Great selection of champagne and first class service.Everything I ordered off the menu was delicious (dressed crab and flat iron chicken). Dined in a private room as part of a 10 year anniversary celebration.9/10 would recommend.