Balthazar Restaurant - a small green paradise

By Remy 
 
Same music, same feeling. Balthazar is one of those places that don’t need to be promoted. The customers are always there; they know each other. So why should you go there? To answer that you must be there.

Such places have the secret recipe that makes them successful. People go to that beautiful paradise, not only for the food but for the whole package. Because if we isolate its kitchen it would be as if taking the dazzle away from gold, the light from the stars and other poetic descriptions.

A welcome with the salmon mousse and a variety of homemade baked bread rolls. For an appetizer, we chose the cold pea soup with terrine foie gras (€12), cool and creamy, fresh and well combined with the terrine. The mixed green salad with katiki cheese (€15) should be more neutral in taste, to accompany stronger flavors discreetly. On the contrary it was so intense in flavor that it could stand as a main course dish by itself. The grilled octopus with beetroots and taramosalata (€18) was rich in taste and original as an idea. €16 cost the six pieces (!) of meatballs with French fries, which reminded us of our sweet grandmother, who prepared our lunch box to take along to the beach. Well, memories cost…

As for the main courses, the crayfish ravioli with bisque sauce (€26) were unforgettable, and the strozzapretti with veal ragou, artichokes and pecorino (€22) had that little something of a warm homemade dish, maintaining the liveness of the ingredients.

In general Balthazar’s cuisine alone, cannot reason the €65 charge per person with wine. On the other hand, the package of an evening in Balthazar is included in the menu price. Because it is the whole that is attractive. Despite of all of the above, Balthazar is a shelter for the ones who adore elegance and desire to feel the summer breeze right downtown Athens. And if you think I’m exaggerating, just pay a visit…

By Linguini

Bar-restaurant Balthazar might be (ripe) aged, but its freshness is still up and going. It is a favorite place to be for ten years now. It may be because of the hidden garden, the high ceiling of a mansion, the name of one of the three Kings, or maybe it’s because of the dress code. People of all ages come here, but not of all wages.

Just a step away from Alexandras Ave, the garden cools the city’s spring nights. The palm tree right in the center creates an exotic atmosphere. The archways form the dinner lounge area. This year dressed with floral pixel mosaic on the wall and decorated with white, paper “arbour”.

After we admired the ornate design of the menu, we ordered the fresh peas cold soup with terrine de foie gras. The buttery delicacy is just visible on the top of the thick green soup, which is a visual and cool delight. However, it soon becomes heavy and it can be rather filling. The grilled octopus was juicy and tender and it was well combined with the onion rings, the beetroots and the taramosalata. I was the only one in my company that enjoyed the mixed green salad with katiki cheese, but even though it was a salad of great character, it was overpriced (€15).

Main Courses; the crayfish ravioli was a good choice because of the quality of the ingredients, however, the thick French white sauce, bisque, was overshadowing the seafood flavor. The strozzapretti with veal ragou, artichokes and pecorino was the winner. Perfectly spiced, the flavors filled the palate with their rich dough, the salty Italian cheese pecorino, and the tender veal; all together a perfect blend. Finally, the salmon with caramelized pineapple, sided with a small salad, was delicate and to our great satisfaction it was a filling plate.

As a fun restaurant, Balthazar does take the lead. Together with the pleasant service, and the beautiful green garden, Balthazar stars in night-life fun, but as a gastronomical choice, it rather holds the supporting role. The prices probably correspond to the whole package.

Address: Tsoha 27, Athens


Reservations : +30-210-6441215
Email:
Website: www.balthazar.gr
Open: Monday to Sunday, 21:00 till late

Source: gourmed.gr