Balthazar

It might not be the French bistro from New York, but there’s no denying that this brasserie earned itself a second visit.

Pray for interesting conversations in the other seats at this half-pint restaurant, because you’re bound to hear them. Although, the interior decorator has succeeded in making the boxy site look more spacious than it truly is. With a few reflective surfaces here and there, cleverly designed booths and a symmetrical layout, the stand-alone structure has turned out somewhat comforting – minus the dramatisation in the colour scheme and choice of lighting.

The waitstaff navigate the cramped quarters with cheer, displaying more zip than you’ll find in some of the food. The rosemary Camembert is an effortlessly baked pack of cheese, sprinkled with fresh rosemary and sided with three small boiled potatoes. Dipping the croutons and Balthazar’s warm poppy and sesame-seeded bread into the sticky heart of the white rind was more evocative than extraordinary. In spite of pairing it well with a glass of French Chardonnay, our next munch was a not-so-clever idea. The haloumi salad was a fresh, fragrant mix of greens, topped with green olives.

After the plate of leafy vegetables was served, a sizzling pan sprung out from behind our ears and brought along a generous slab of grilled haloumi cheese, topped with roasted pine nuts. All cheesed out, we could hardly wait to dip into the steak tartar haché. Don’t think about ordering this one if you’re not a hardcore meat-lover. The raw meatloaf was extremely fresh and well-seasoned – tasted local – and came in a portion enough for two devout carnivores. Be sure to try the pastries, as Balthazar has zoomed in on offering a good morning and afternoon bite.