Still the king of bistros after more than 20 years, bustling (OK, loud) Balthazar is never short of a mob. That’s all thanks to three winning details: its location in SoHo's shopping-spree heartland; the uplifting Paris-meets-NYC ambience; and the something-for-everyone menu. Highlights include the outstanding raw bar, steak frites, Niçoise salad, as well as the roasted beet salad.
The kitchen stays open until 1am Friday and Saturday, and weekend brunch here is a very crowded production. For a decadent treat to go, grab a pastry from the Balthazar bakery next door.
So iconic is the restaurant (not to mention successful: a million meals are served here every year), it's the subject of a book, At Balthazar: The New York Bistro at the Center of the World published in 2017.