Exploring Soho Eateries

I will be in NYC very soon and have heard alot about Balthazar? Is it worth a visit or is it just another tourist trap?

@ BroadwayBK My all time favorite is Lucky Strike at 59 Grand. I've often substituted one of their appetizers for dinner, and didn't feel at all that it was too little. The cooking's fantastic, the atmospheres' fantastic. I'm often there on Friday evenings and don't get the sense it's overrun with tourists. It's a much-loved place for locals. Only drawback I see is the red wine, though delicious, comes in these small thick-rimmed glasses, whereas I thought half the taste of red wine is in the fact of drinking it from a real wine glass. Afterward, if you want to drink more cheaply and more informally, Toad Hall is next door--also a locals' joint.

@ JVS Weeell, I wouldn't call Balthazar's a tourist trap at all, though it gets crowded. I don't think it's over-rated in the sense that the food really is fantastic and so is that cavernous main hall. I have often been put off, however, by the insanely long waiting times and big crowds; and even the bakery is unapproachable on weekends. That tends to ruin the experience. The rule for New York is, whatever you think you want to do, about 10,000 other people have thought of doing the same thing as you, about ten minutes earlier than you. So I would say if you want the full dining experience make reservations! otherwise, I've had oysters and champagne at the bar in summertime and found it just as great. The bar's a nice place to have a nice drink later on, after the tourists have gone away.

I went to visit Soho not too long ago and found it to be busy with people walking around. There was a particular restaurant I remember hearing about and went to see. Was I amazed. I don't remember the name of the place, but the place was packed.

@JVS Balthazar has been a bit of a hit or miss for me .. sometimes I have had great meals there and yet at other times its been lackluster however do make reservations as Uraniumfish advises and discover for yourself whether you love it or hate it.. oh yes do try a bit of their yummy chocolate bread from their next door bakery as well.

@uptowngirl: Are the prices reasonable at Balthazar? I've been to restaurants where the prices have ranged from $30 a plate to $5 a plate.

Uraniumfish, Pepe Rosso sounds wonderful cant wait to try it...

hhusted you can check out Balthazar's menu and prices at menupages.com though I wouldnt classify it as reasonably priced.

No it's not reasonable, that's somehow not the spirit of Balthazar's. Have you seen that cheese menu?

I will be in New York in a week - do you think that would be enough time to get a booking?

Yeah, you should try to get a booking now, especially if you're hoping to go there on a weekend night.

I'd be curious how long the reservation time is nowadays. A while back we tried calling in the afternoon for an evening reservation and that was not at all enough to get a seat.

@uptowngirl: I guess anything from $10 and below would be considered reasonably priced in NYC. I guess it depends on what you perceive as reasonably priced.

JVS they take reservations up to 30 days in advance use -+ 1 212 965 414 to make your reservation.

Thanks guys, I called but they are booked out for at least 48 hours in advance.

@ JVS Sigh...yeah.

I guess the more famous or fancy it is, the longer it takes to make a reservation.

Palacinka at 28 Grand Street has fantastic Czech-style crepes, and there's one especially good corner table where you can linger over breakfast.