Update on Balthazar March 2015. Visited this lovely restaurant and the staff couldn’t have been more helpful to me and my wheelchair. The access is good from street level and the disabled toilet is upstairs via the lift. No issues with that as it’s not a ‘Ludicrous Loo’.

Disabled Toilet Definitely NOT A 'Ludicrous Loo' - Well Done Balthazar.
Disabled Toilet Definitely NOT A ‘Ludicrous Loo’ – Well Done Balthazar.

 

Very lively and not so noisy you can’t hear what’s said. Enjoyed the duck shepherds pie and seafood bar is a must – just like the one in New York. However, food is secondary to the good time you can have here!

 

Seafood Bar at Balthazar Just like New York - Has To Be Tried!!
Seafood Bar at Balthazar Just like New York – Has To Be Tried!!

 

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Balthazar in Covent Garden is an exciting new brasserie based on Keith McNally’s ‘era defining’ New York restaurant of the same name. There was a mass of hype surrounding the London restaurant when it opened last year and, although it hasn’t quite lived up to the massive appeal of its elder brother, it’s definitely still worth visiting.

Like the original, Balthazar London is a faux French brasserie with a slightly American twist. The decor and ambience have received rave reviews, even if the food is a little less outstanding. They serve traditional French food plus some more local extras, like duck shepherd’s pie and pork belly with black pudding hash. It’s certainly high quality but it’s the restaurant’s furnishings rather than food which tend to catch the eye. It’s also a good spot for celeb spotting (although the stars are, well, a little less stellar than in NYC – think Russell Tovey and Nancy Dell’Olio rather than Robert De Niro, Woody Allen and Jay Z).

The new Balthazar is a gorgeous place to spend time with Time Out saying that the London restaurant “mimics the New York original perfectly, with red awnings, plush red leather banquettes, giant antiqued mirrored walls, beautiful mosaic floors.”  This opinion was echoed in the Independent whose reviewer said: “with its brass-buttoned red leather banquettes, mosaic-tiled floor and enormous foxed mirrors, it’s like the dream version of your favourite restaurant (especially if your favourite restaurant happens to be Balthazar in New York).”

It looks absolutely fabulous and in terms of disabled access, Balthazar is certainly up to scratch. Access from the street is flat and the restaurant is step free for less able customers. They have an adapted toilet on the first floor with a much needed lift to take you up there.

Balthazar is one of London’s hottest restaurants and the access is good too so we give them a provisional 2.5 BBS Ticks.

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