Harden's survey result
Summary
“An excellent simulacrum of a Parisian brasserie” – this big, prominently situated Covent Garden fixture, just off the Piazza (created by English-born New Yorker, Keith McNally, but nowadays part of Caprice Holdings) provides “good vibes for Sunday brunch or a meal around a show”. But even fans feel “the main draw is the buzzy atmosphere, not the unexciting food” and – especially when it becomes “too busy for its own good” – this is, for its critics, “the worst kind of hell”, with food that’s “absolutely average and poor value for the price”.
Summary
“Comfortable and inviting” – this glam-looking offshoot of the famous Manhattan joint (brought to Covent Garden by NYC founder Keith McNally, and nowadays owned by Richard Caring’s Caprice Holdings) features decent “brasserie-style” cooking. But even those fans who say (slightly ambitiously) that “it’s a place to see and be seen” note that it’s “not as good as the NYC namesake” and can feel a little “robotic”, especially as “staff can struggle with the volume of people”.
Summary
“This American-style French brasserie” in Covent Garden – an offshoot of Keith McNally’s downtown NYC institution – has a “great atmosphere any time of day”: “love the decor as you enter”. It’s “a large space but a very cosy one”, and, say fans, “not outrageously priced considering its position and what it must have cost to create”. But at times it’s “a victim of its own success – packed, loud and slow, with staff trying heroically to cope”, and “the food is not exactly world-shattering”, just “fine in a ‘here’s one I prepared earlier and heated up’ sort of way”. Top Tip – “it’s very good for breakfast, which is less costly than other meals here”.
Summary
“This American-style French brasserie” in Covent Garden – an offshoot of Keith McNally’s downtown NYC institution – has a “great atmosphere any time of day”: “love the decor as you enter”. It’s “a large space but a very cosy one”, and, say fans, “not outrageously priced considering its position and what it must have cost to create”. But at times it’s “a victim of its own success – packed, loud and slow, with staff trying heroically to cope”, and “the food is not exactly world-shattering”, just “fine in a ‘here’s one I prepared earlier and heated up’ sort of way”. Top Tip – “it’s very good for breakfast, which is less costly than other meals here”.
For 32 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
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Restaurant details
Balthazar Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Brilliant brasserie in the heart of Covent Garden. Great menu that offers something for everyone in true brasserie style. Very good value for money and the quality of the food was spot on. Decent portions, cooked and presented very well. Service was swift and charming and there was a genuine healthy buzz about the place. Other reviews criticise the food but it’s a high volume brasserie- and the food is excellent for the style of restaurant this is."
"Had the set lunch here which was very good value."
"Decor & ambience are the stand outs for this restaurant. The staff are all in smart red and white attire which adds to the feeling of opulence and there are plenty of them so service is good and also very friendly. We enjoyed our early evening meal, the menu has a good choice of options."
"Always a great atmosphere after the opera. Yes it's on the pricey side and the food is average really, but still a great tradition that we enjoy."
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £29.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £3.75 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Service | 13.50% |
4 - 6 Russell Street, London, WC2B 5HZ
Opening hours
| Monday | 11:30 am‑10:45 pm |
| Tuesday | 11:30 am‑10:45 pm |
| Wednesday | 11:30 am‑10:45 pm |
| Thursday | 11:30 am‑10:45 pm |
| Friday | 11:30 am‑10:45 pm |
| Saturday | 10 am‑10:45 pm |
| Sunday | 10 am‑9:45 pm |
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