What to Order at Balthazar

Balthazar is Keith McNally's French brasserie on Spring Street in SoHo, open since 1997, and the order that regulars defend hardest is the duck shepherd's pie.

What should you order at Balthazar?

Order the duck shepherd's pie or the steak frites, start with the escargots, and put frites on the table either way. The Infatuation's review says the frenetic energy is what makes Balthazar worth a night of paying too much for escargot and French onion soup, and that is the honest frame: you come for a room that has run at full volume for almost three decades, and the brasserie classics hold it up.

1. Duck shepherd's pie. The sleeper signature: duck confit under a browned potato purée. Diner reviews consistently call it the best version of the dish they have had, and it is the plate regulars name first.

2. Steak frites. The house benchmark, listed at $47 with béarnaise or maître d' butter in recent menu coverage. Order it medium rare and let the frites do half the work.

3. Escargots. The Infatuation calls Balthazar's a very good, very garlicky version. With the bread from Balthazar Bakery next door, the garlic butter does not go to waste.

4. Roast chicken for two. The other classic main, listed around $73 for two in recent menu coverage. It suits the long, wine-heavy dinners the room was built for.

5. The seafood plateau. The tiered shellfish display is the table's showpiece order and the most brasserie thing on the menu. Size and price scale with ambition.

What should you skip at Balthazar?

Skip nothing scandalous, but know what you are paying for. The menu runs brasserie-standard dishes at SoHo-institution prices, and The Infatuation's take is that the energy, not novelty, justifies the bill. If a dish exists at your neighborhood French spot, Balthazar charges more for it, executes it reliably, and seats you in a better room.

What about breakfast at Balthazar?

Breakfast is the institution's soft entrance. The room serves from morning onward, the Balthazar Bakery pastries anchor the menu, and morning tables are far easier to land than prime dinner slots. If you want the room without the reservation fight, come before noon.

How do you get a reservation at Balthazar?

Nearly three decades in, prime dinner slots still book out ahead, and the room's size means cancellations surface constantly for those watching. Book ahead for peak hours, target breakfast or lunch for spontaneity, or watch for a dropped table on the day you want.

Frequently asked questions

Who owns Balthazar?

Keith McNally, the restaurateur behind Minetta Tavern and Pastis, opened Balthazar in the spring of 1997. The SoHo original later spawned a London location.

How expensive is Balthazar?

Brasserie classics at institution prices: steak frites listed at $47 and the roast chicken for two around $73 in recent menu coverage, with starters and the seafood plateau climbing from there. Breakfast runs meaningfully cheaper than dinner.

Is Balthazar good for special occasions?

Yes, and for people-watching most of all. The Infatuation describes it as always a scene, and the big red room absorbs birthdays, visitors, and celebration dinners without changing character.

Getting the table is the harder half of the plan. DinnerElite tracks when Balthazar releases reservations and how far ahead it books, and it emails you the moment a cancellation opens up. Start from DinnerElite's Balthazar page.