Balthazar

"This over 25-year-old Keith McNally spot is an NYC institution that reimagined what a French brasserie could look, feel, and taste like stateside. Hugely influential for New York dining, Balthazar serves up a great meal at all hours (8 a.m. till midnight most days) in a lively space lined with massive distressed mirrors, dark woods, and red banquettes. From breakfasts that may include eggs Benedict or croissants, to dinners featuring seafood plateaux or steak frites, Balthazar is a New York restaurant icon." - Robert Sietsema, Melissa McCart

"Open until midnight, known for its seafood tower. A place to celebrate after performances." - Edward Barsamian

"Keith McNally, the owner of Balthazar, which often does 1500 covers on a weekend night, continues to keep a reservation book. While the process of writing hundreds of names in the book is time-consuming, McNally says it’s worth it, arguing that losing a little efficiency to make things more personable is worthwhile." - Andrea Strong

"When it opened in 1997, Balthazar inspired nostalgia for turn-of-the-century Paris. Now, it also inspires nostalgia for turn-of-the-21st century Soho. This French brasserie’s bustling yet elegant dining room—yellow walls, red banquettes, enormous mirrors—glows with some of the most universally flattering restaurant lighting we’ve ever experienced. Order any subset of the steak tartare, escargot, moules frites, and onion soup, or splurge on a comically large seafood tower. The people-watching remains spectacular on weekend evenings, and Balthazar still functions as a PokéStop for a certain flavor of downtown celebrity. It’s worth noting that breakfast is a much more peaceful experience—and one that allows you to take advantage of their excellent bakery." - molly fitzpatrick, willa moore, will hartman, sonal shah, neha talreja

"Le Balthazar Height: 30 inches. Price: $195, which includes 12 oysters, 12 clams, 16 mussels, 8 shrimp, 2 lobsters, and a mixed seafood ceviche. Every New Yorker should receive a City Hall grant to experience Le Balthazar at least once (the smaller Le Grand is $145). This show-stopping triplex is a spectacle: A kid actually approached our table to ask if it was “real,” then returned for a photo. Overall, the seafood is good, particularly the sweet, abundant lobster and briny oysters (the clams are a little funky and the shrimp not quite 100% deveined, albeit in a way that feels louche and French)—and the service is even better, with someone appearing at precisely the right moment to remove each tier, and offer towels and lemons for your hands. The real source of pleasure though is how infinite Le Balthazar feels. Mussel after mussel, it's like this could last forever. If only." - molly fitzpatrick, willa moore, neha talreja, will hartman, kym backer, sonal shah