Balthazar
Keith McNally's grand SoHo brasserie since 1997, the city's definitive French bistro set piece for breakfast through late dinner.
Example
Breakfast is the insider window: the same red banquettes and mirrors, easier seats and the bakery's pastries, without the prime dinner scramble.
Related terms
Neighborhoods
SoHo
The cast-iron district south of Houston Street, where 19th-century lofts became art studios and then a shopping mecca.
Restaurants
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Pizza
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Restaurants
Peter Luger Steak House
The 1887 Williamsburg steakhouse serving dry-aged porterhouse on sizzling plates, long the city's most argued-about...
Frequently asked questions
When can I get into Balthazar without a reservation?
Weekday breakfast or the bar at off-hours. Prime dinner requires booking ahead like everyone else.
Is Balthazar food actually good or just scenery?
The classics hold: steak frites, onion soup, the tower. You pay a scene premium but the kitchen is professional.
Which table should I ask for at Balthazar?
The main room, where the mirrors and the people watching are. Ask to avoid the corridor seats by the door, which regulars call Siberia for good reason.
