Ive had 3 great meals at Balthazar a few years ago. it used to be a hot spot where we sat next to Bono, saw kevin costner and the word is seinfeld proposed there.

haven't been to NYC in a few years and wondering if it is still the French bistro / brasserie hot spot it used to be. if not, what is?

thanks

Yes I think so. But not if you mean cool as in the latest trendiest place. It's more like a classic that cool people still go to. I live next door and go all the times, and still see lots of celebs there, mostly on weekdays. Celebs (actually many new yorkers) leave town or stay home for the weekend, or at least avoid soho.

I would hope so -- it's been quite hot lately!

On a "serious" note -- ditto flatfeet.

It's still good, but it's no longer on "the list," if you know what I mean. It's simply too old.

The new Balthazar is known as the "Chinese Balthazar," the Chinatown Brasserie on Lafayette at Great Jones. It's new and has that hip/cool quotient that Balthazar lost when it make the guidebooks.


(Before anyone freaks out, I like Balthazar and still go there, okay? But facts are facts when it comes to "cool.")

In NYC no place stays "cool" as in Paris Hilton trendy, for more than one season. The essence of "cool" is the newest place that replaces the older places.

But - there is lasting quality where you will still have a good dining experience - and occassionally see those you might want to see- when they feel like good food rather than just "coolest".

Paris Hilton is now the barometer of cool?

I always figure if you and I have heard of it -- and especially if I could get a table there -- it isn't "cool" anymore in the sense of trendy.

i sure hope paris hilton isn't the indicator of cool, she's useless.

i didn't mean for balthazar to be thought of as "cool" simply because celebs went there...

i was more looking at it from the perspective that it is jammed every night and there is a 30 - 60 min wait by the bar...

wondering what the "new" spots like balthazar are... casual but "cool" places.

new casual and cool, but not trendy: the spotted pig