Balthazar

Balthazar at 80 Spring Street in SoHo, Manhattan, is a French brasserie modelled on the grand cafes of Paris and has been a fixture of downtown New York City dining since it opened in 1997. The kitchen serves classic brasserie cooking from breakfast through late dinner, and a bakery attached next door supplies the bread and pastries. Steak frites is the emblematic dish, and the seafood shellfish plateau from the raw bar, served on tiered stands of oysters, clams, shrimp and crab, is the other centrepiece. French onion soup, roast chicken, salade Lyonnaise, moules frites and a menu of breakfast and brunch items fill out the offering. The dining room is large and dramatic, with red leather banquettes, antique mirrors, tiled floors and a bustling, often loud atmosphere that suits groups and people-watching. Noise levels are high when full. Dress is smart-casual, and there is no formal dress requirement. The bar programme includes French wines by the glass and bottle, classic cocktails and aperitifs, and the list is broad enough to pair with both shellfish and red meat. Reservations are recommended through Resy or OpenTable, and prime dinner slots at weekends fill up ahead of time, while breakfast and weekday lunch are easier to secure. Walk-ins can sometimes be seated at the bar or in the front area. Prices are upper-moderate to high for New York, with entrees typically around thirty to fifty dollars and the shellfish plateau higher. The location on Spring Street places it in SoHo's cobblestone shopping streets, close to boutiques, galleries and the Prince Street area, so it suits a break in a day of exploring downtown Manhattan.