27th
Balthazar
I think the energy at Balthazar is amazing. I don’t mean “energy” the usual buzz word kind of way, but that there is always something overwhelming about the overflowing conversations, the squeezed in tables, and the general emulsion of clientèle rubbing elbows. Even though I can’t pinpoint the date when Soho became uber-commodified, Balthazar feels like an old world respite (despite its hustle) from the mad mad shopping world outside. Susie always raves about the wine list because it prompted her to discover (now one of my favorites too) the fruity and wide-appealing Vouvray and so it was natural that we went to the bistro to eat for her “early” birthday.
The trout special was definitely more than the sum of its parts. A thick flaky filet wrapped in bacon and stuffed with swiss chard was hearty, perfectly salted, and the fingerling potatoes were tender and flavorful.
Susie didn’t like her fish dish as much. I can’t remember the name of the fish now, but it was suppose to be similar to halibut.
I urged Rishi to get the Duck Shepard pie on Chow.com’s recommendations, and while this pie amply served its functions of mashed potato and duck meat, the flavor was a little flat and greasy.
