Balthazar

£33 - £100 / French, Vegetarian options

4-6 Russell St, London

Awards

Excellent Oysters 2024

Opening hours

10AM-11PM

Sunday 10AM-10PM
Monday 11AM-11PM
Tuesday 11AM-11PM
Wednesday 11AM-11PM
Thursday 11AM-11PM
Friday 11AM-11PM
Saturday 10AM-11PM

Elegant French Bistro: Exquisite Cuisine & Atmosphere

Stepping into Balthazar is akin to catching a portal straight to Paris, with its enchanting mélange of sophisticated charm and bustling vigor. Nestled in the heart of London’s Covent Garden, the ambiance instantly whisks you away — warm, dim lights and plush seating conjure the cozy affair one might envision meeting in a traditional French bistro. My recent visit there was an indulgence of all senses; the impeccable Crème Brûlée nearly brought tears of joy with its flawless caramel glaze cracking just so, revealing a custard smooth enough to bewitch the sweetest tooth. Not far behind was the sea bass - perfectly roasted with crisp skin and delicate texture that melded seamlessly with subtle herbs echoing a summer garden.

Indeed, the spirited environment offers up a pleasant juxtaposition - simultaneously wonderfully comforting and animatedly vibrant, like a symphony of conversations playing under the hum of clinking glasses. If anything typified the bustling allure, it would perhaps be the French onion soup, which served nostalgia as perfectly as it did flavor, a true highlight when paired alongside an indulgent wine list curated for exquisiteness without ostentation. Though service occasionally stuttered under the weight of a full house, their natural zest and affability made up splendidly. I left Balthazar not just full, but with the comforting afterglow of genuine hospitality — a place pulsating with soul and one where time-worn dreams of cobblestone clad Paris meander freely among the patrons. — Jasper Griddle