Ate here with my dining club. The sevice which was provided by two highly efficient young ladies was faultless. Foodwise was equally as good. I had a soup starter followed by the daube of beef. I finished with a chocolate mousse. As we had a group of fifty we were afforded a separate dining room at the back of the restaurant which further enhanced the great atmosphere that night. This eatery offers very good value for money for the high quality of food provided.

I came to The Dining Room with my girlfriend as a birthday treat. We found the decor very elegant and the restaurant itself was very busy which created a great atmosphere. Service was excellent. Standard of food was very high. I had the pigeon for starter and rabbit for main. My girlfriend had a main of seabream with carrot puree. We both thoroughly enjoyed the food and would recommend to others.

I visited The Dining Room with my partner for his birthday. We had been looking forward to it and werent disappointed! I had a goats cheese salad to start while my patrner had scallops with a cauliflower puree, both were lovely and set the tone for the rest of the meal. We both had fillet steaks for mains which were delicous and cooked perfectly. I would usually have dessert but I had enjoyed the meal so much I decided to make an exception. I ordered the cheescake and that didnt disappoint either. The service was good, staff werent overly attentive so you could ennjoy your meal but at the same time you werent left waiting if you needed anything. There was a nice atmosphere in the restaurant as it was coming up to christmas and it was quite busy. All in all i really enjoyed the food and for that reason would definitley return.

Went on a fairly expensive voucher (compared to usual discount voucher prices - €69) from Rewarding Times. What wasn't mentioned at the time of the offer was that it would be an abridged version of the PreTheatre menu with the cheapest bottle of plonk they could get there hands on. They couldn't even rise to serving you their cheapest bottle of house wine. As the restaurant manager took pleasure in telling me, while they didn't say in the offer you would be given a poorhouse selection, they also didn't say they wouldn't do it. As an "Afternoon Show" topic on how to produce a 3 course meal for 2 with wine for around a tenner (probably an exaggeration, but not by much) it was a work of art. Starters were ok, verging on elegant. Mains were less so. Daube of beef was just a piece of soft beef cheek with a spoonful of turnip and about a quarter of a creamy potato. No rich red-winey sauce just a hint of moisture. Chicken looked like it was half a dish, just the chicken and a few smears of veg (asparagus mentioned in the menu was one tip). Desserts were ok, but no better then you'd get in a decent cafe for 3.50. Overall decent enough pub standard food but not what I'd choose to eat in a "proper" restaurant. Magnificent room and excellent waiters deserve better than a management team who feel the best long term strategy to run a restaurant is to deceive 500 Irish Times coupon holders and their companions. I marked the service low because of the manager's attitude of "we are legally entitled to do this and Rewarding Times agree we can, so tough", it sort of killed the atmosphere on the evening for us too. Never again. Edit: The issue was very satisfactorily resolved with "Rewarding Times".

Went here last night with the girls and we were very disappointed - beautiful surroundings but there were only three tables filled and we had to ask for the fan to be turned off as the room was so cold. The food was just ok - nothing exciting and very poor value for price. I had to ask on five separate occasions for my water glass to be refilled and given that there were only 4 other customers I felt this was poor. To put the nail in the coffin when we got the bill service was already included - we will not be returning here.

Myself, my wife and another couple went for dinner here last night. I've never been to this location before i any previous incarnation and was looking forward to experiencing what looked like a lovely setting in the pictures. And there's no doubt, it is an impressive place. I love the decore, the classic European feel to the place, the atmosphere etc. But there's definitely an issue with service. It's not that people are unfreindly but there a lack of cohesion and professionalism. It starts when you walk in the door. two different people approached us from two different angles causing a little bit of confusion for a second or two. It just wasn't polished. Then a third person took us to our table after pre dinner drinks. I'm not sure who really runnin gfront of house. I ordered a well done steak. My wofe ordered a medium one. I often get 'well done' steaks quite pink which I dont mind, so when mine was a little less doen than I would have liked I didn't pay much attention to it. It was about half way through the meal however when the penny dropped and my wife and I realised we had been given each others steaks. When this was pointed out there was no apology or anything, just a sort of blank shrug. And the sauces came out cold. I still enjoyed my steak though although my wife had to leave half of hers behind. There were little things as well like asking one guy for extra wine glasses that didn't arrive and then having to ask someone else. There was an announcement of the special (Venison) buit then two minutes later the waiter had to run back to tell us the special was gone (this is before 8.00pm), The bill came to circa €380 which included a €60 bottle of wine and some spirits so not too bad. Overall, I really like the venue and will go back but if they don't get the service up to scratch (and it probably just needs a bit of tweaking) it could get irritating and sooner or later you'll throw in the towel. I hope they sort it. The setting deserves better.

Had dinner last Friday and it was very good. Decor is toned down, no colour left!!. Was relatively quite for a Friday night. Services was prompt but non-intrusive. Liked the fact that got a table at 7 and was not told had to be off by 9. No early bird. Menu is extensive, lots I really like. We had daube of beef and lamb, both excellent, melt in the mouth. The chips (in duck fat) were so good and not many. Had pineapple cheesecake, it was really amazing. Overall really good and can't wait to go back.

Ok, I feel so bad. This is a harsh review, but necessary. Sit up and take notice management. Came midweek. Back in July sometime. Place was empty save for four occupied tables (mostly couples). Service was non existant, bordering rude. Had to walk over to waiters on two ocassions to request water and more wine. Restaurant manager from a famous place down the road was sitting like the queen next to us (she told us she was getting married in a few weeks). Two waiters hovered around her all night and we - the poor sods who were brave enough to venture in and actually pay - were largely ignored. Let's call her Queenie. Queenie butted into our conversation, uninvited, then asked us for our oponion on her own establishment. AlI i said was; that I was not a fan. She allmost took my head off for that. Bond suddenly sensed a bunny boiler and looked scared. We blanked her out and she got the message and we perservered on through dinner - the food I admit was creative in terms of presentation; but it was nothing special. Sorry Conrad. Foie Gras starter was a complete and utter joke. Seriously! can you charge that much for that little (we are talking three bottle top scoups) with a zig zag of dressing. Fish course was average. He loved his steak. Waiter could tell us where the meat came from when he bothered to serve us. We loved the wine list and nicely pricced too. Some interesting Reds. Would i go there again? Yep if I was in the Industry and could command attention like Queenie. Nope if I had to pay for the meal. It's a shame because this is one of the most beautiful dining rooms in Dublin. What a waste. No I don't want to hear back from managment. Conrad's name and the setting got me in the door in the first place. I dont do seconds when firsts are bad. I hope Queenie, or whatever her name is, eventually got married to that man and that he will take her out more often. You just sense some things dont you?

Myself and my boyfriend have been enormous fans of Balzac restaurant so we excited and almost apprehensive on our first visit to 'the dining room'. I am a firm believer in if its not broken don't fix it- and I really don't understand the change in the decor but I'm very willing to write that off as someone wanting to put their stamp on the place..however reducing the lighting level to a point where you can't see the difference between a gin and tonic and a gin and lemon is a bit extreme. So aesthetic grips aside and onto the issues with food and service; Service was slow and they no longer have the 3 courses of €25 offer- which is a pity. But the food was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone and the others at our table, who had never been to Balzac, didn't seem to be finding fault as easily as I was or at all. So all in all I would say that it didn't fill the enormous shoes of its predecessor but that it is still a good dining experience in Dublin City centre!

We went here yesterday for lunch and although the food was very good the whole experience was dissapointing. The restauraunt is lovely but a bit stuffy, both in decor and climate. There was no a/c on and I couldn't wait to leave. The service was both slow and unpleasant. I received one glass of water to service me for the entire meal and it was not appreciated when I requested a second. Incidently, when the waitress eventually came to refil my glass she ignored my partners glass! It's a real shame because I so wanted this to be good. I won't be returning.

I visited here in a group of 9 on a Tuesday night in June, which was the first night it changed to "The Dining Room". While the food was good, the service was atrocious and rude. To start with 6 people ordered cocktails before dinner, 4 arrived with the starters, while the remainder didn't arrive until after the main course had been served. We ordered from a set menu, which had no main course option for a vegetarian. Of the 9 people dining, 6 ordered beef for main course and 3 had chicken. The beef arrived to the table together and there was a 5-10 minute wait for the rest of the main courses to be served. Of the 6 beef dishes – none of the portions were the same size. One was approximately half the size of the average portions. When this was said to the waitress her comment was “you must have been unlucky”. As someone else didn’t finish their main the waitress asked “why didn’t you eat yours” – not was everything ok or was there a problem. The manager’s attitude was also terrible and when some of the issues we had were pointed out he never once apologised or tried to accommodate his customers. This restaurant has lost touch with being part of the service industry and understanding what good service actually is.

The food in this place was just simply delicious and amazing value for money (3 courses for 25 euro) I had the foie gras to start, which was the first time to try it and in all honesty is not to my taste but i still quite liked it. The salmon for main was the best salmon i've ever eaten and the pannacotta desert was so sweet and perfect. The wine, a merlot, was rich and smooth. Again, the best i've had. An odd place i must say, it's right in the hotel so we were not 100% where we should have been going and the restaurant is like a big dining hall. Mirrors and drapes everywhere. The staff were quite good and very nice. Both my boyfriend and I really enjoyed this and would go back for the food. Wouldn't recommend it for a girls night, group of friends or a date. It's just not that kind of cool atmospheric place if the truth be told. Unless you're all foodies who are dying for a bit of top notch scrummy food!!

The recently redecorated long hall style dining room in Balzac restaurant is very beautiful with high ceiling, spacious tables and large mirrors and with all its grandeur isnt the type of place you'd expect to be able to avail of a delicious 3 course meal for just €25 avail all night Mon - Thurs (up to 7:30 weekends) - but you can. The table dhote menu gives you 4 options to choose from for each course and gives a nice range of options. The food presentation was very good, the staff attentive and overall the food was excellent. Personally I thought my starter a beetroot and goatscheese salad a little lacking in flavour but my fish main course and panacotta desert were both very tasty. My 2 dining friends thought all their food were very good. Most of the wines on the wine list tend to be on the expensive side but we did manage to fine a lovely Italian Barbera for €27. All in all the meal (3 courses for the 3 of us, 1 bottle of wine and 1 coffee) came to €123 inc service charge so it gets a definite thumbs up from me.

This restaurant definitely has the most beautiful dining room I've ever seen in Ireland and eating here really feels like a special occasion every time. Their evening menu is fantastic value given the quality of the experience dining here. Staff are completely professional and efficient without being obtrusive. The food is absolutely delicious, properly seasoned too, which is a rarity. Guys, if you're looking to impress a date, you'd have a hard time finding a nicer place than this!!

Can't believe I've missed out on this place until recently. Went here on a Saturday night and had the table d'Hote menu for €25 which is incredible value for the quality of the food. The decor and ambience is great, really nice atmosphere. The food was excellent and beautifully presented. They have a really nice wine menu and service was spot on, our waitress was a tad frosty to being with but warmed up as evening progressed and lenght between courses was perfectly timed. Will certainly be back.

went there on Patrick's day. the atmosphere is really classy and posh. got a 25 euro course( per person). food was tasty, but small portions. Would recommend it to anyone, especially for romantic dinner.

First time at this restaurant, I remember it when it was La Stampa and I used to love the atmosphere and the decor. Now that has been stripped back and to be honest the place is lacking for it. Seemed a bit cold. Food was decent, I had a wonderful earthy mushroom soup to start followed by a roast chicken delicious duck fat roasted potatoes - YUM. My husband's fillet of beef was served with homecut chips, but we both agreed that they were of the frozen variety - NOT GOOD! Waiting staff were very attentive and friendly. For what we got though I thought it was quite pricey - not sure if I'd return.

Wouldn't recommend this restaurant. Much better competition & deals out there at mo. Service was fine but curt, 12.5% compulsory service charge is unacceptable. Considering mark-up they have on wine, the whole experience, I felt was rip-off. 3 bottles of wine cost 120 euro. We were party of 9 & ended up paying 70 euro each even though we ordered from 25 euro set menu & had 5 bottles of wine in total. We were at early sitting & were harassed all nite to have table back by 8.30 even though we left before that & the restaurant was relatively empty. Mains in 25 euro menu come without sides, portion of fries/potatoes cost 4.50 on top of set price. My food was o.k, nothing special. Chicken terrine to start ok, very coarse, found some rubbery bits in it. Had mushroom risotto for main - not great - mushrooms very rubbery & chewy, rice not cooked to high standard either. Chocolate pot for dessert very rich & heavy. Overall feeling of nite was one of dissapointment. Won't be going back here.

My Hubby brought me here for a birthday treat and I have to say a perfect choice...we arrived a bit early so we had an aperitif before we were brought to the table..the waiting area is to say the least uninspiring which is a pity because the restaurant is a complete contrast. The service was excellent and attentive without being overly pushy. The menu extentsive and the food quiet frankly superb. My husband say he can still taste the citrus salmon starter which with its twist of ginger was amazing. The stuffed baby squid was delicious and the chorizo balanced it perfectly. The duck and fish were cooked to perfection and overall it was an experience I look forward to repeating!

Friend and I visited for an early Saturday night dinner. We booked in for 6:45pm and were told that they needed the table back by half eight...not a bother. We booked the €25 table d'hote menu...and were not disappointed. This is the third or fourth time I've dined here, and the consistency of the food is admirable in a city were so much changes (and often not for the better in these times!) . There is about 3-4 choices in each course, and these often change, but the quality doesn't. The food is very tasty and presentation is very good. I had the chicken terrine for starter, which came with a beautiful prune chutney to go with it. Lovely, and hefty portion. Main I kept with the poultry theme as I'm a sucker for duck, and had a wonderful crisp duck leg with a cinnamon and honey glaze over the carrots, which complimented the duck nicely. Dessert I had the frozen nougat - deliscious. Ice-cream with chewy bits never fails me! Again, presentation was beautiful. My only criticism is the 12.5% compulsory service charge tacked on the end. If it went to the kitchen, fine. But the service was a bit brusque if truth be told. The food is the real winner here, and in an elegant room, with tasty but well presented produce you can dismiss the service and play ladies out to dinner quite well. Oh, and I don't think they needed the table....we left after 9!

Great Table d'Hote menu for €25. I booked for 4 for Friday evening. Was told 7.00 pm was the last booking available which was strange as the restaurant was only two thirds full (TD menu is supposed to be available all evening). Salmon and pate starters were excellent and the main courses of slow cooked beef and fresh haddock were exquisite. The creme caramel and rhubarb pie desserts were a worthy finale. Coffees at €3 extra were acceptable. There is a 12.5% service charge which tends to limit the quality of service provided. Our waitress was curt and not overly friendly. However, this was a quality meal at a budget price and I would certainly go back again.

We had a birthday night out here and I would recommend it for a large group, as in up to 10. It has a great buzz about it that gets you in the mood for heading out for the evening. The set menu is good value, all portions are quite small, even from the a la carte but it's plenty and you don't mind as it's good value. The only issue is that they seem to make their money back on the wine, it's quite expenisive. Due to the fact that there are so many good offers out there I wouldn't be rushing back for an intimate dinner but might consider it for a party again.

Returned to Balzac on Saturday night for a 9pm sitting. Restaurant was packed it the open layout ensures a comfortable but good atmosphere. Service was excellent as previously as was food. To start I had the special which was a spicey crab soup which was very different to what I imagined but hugely enjoyable, my guest had the goats cheese which also went down very well.We both had the fillet steak for main course which was perfectly done and served with delicious fries. Highly recommended

Visited Balzac for a family dinner last Friday. Most of use ate from the Tabe d'Hote menu which is very good value and the food is good quality. The service was okay. To be fair to the staff, they seemed to be under a bit of pressure, but it did take quite a long time to get served initially. The food was fine. I had a butternut squash risotto which was very nice. There were no complaints from the rest of the party. That said, I found the dining room and atmosphere a little on the stuffy side and with the competition on offer in this area, probably won't be rushing back.

Myself and 7 friends had dinner there last night and i personally was really looking forward to it. While the food was delicious, the overall night was a disappointment due to incredibly poor service, that we were compulsorily charged 12.5% for. The waiters were rude, unfriendly and unattentive and it ruined the night to be quite honest. I had the crab brulee for starters which was lovely and a fantastic Hake dish (waited nearly 45mins between courses) with no explanation for the delay until we called the (harrassed looking) waiter over. I asked for a second glass of Sauvignon blanc, waited 10-15mins and when i asked the waiter again i got a "did he not bring it to you" grumpy reply. I appreciate it was busy in the run up to xmas, but this is not a valid excuse.More staff shouldve been hired if that was the case. The 12.5% service charge irritated me as i feel i will only tip if i think it was genuinely worth it.Having no choice in the matter made the poor service irk me even more. The food and wine were fantastic but i wont return to Balzac based on the service alone.

I was at the restaurant last Friday night and I suspect they had their worst night ever - and it could only get worse if they didn't fix the problem.......... their gas and electricity went. I felt very sorry for them. The only reason I rated them low for the service on that night was due to the fact they didn't keep us updated. I wish they had told us earlier that we would have to wait over an hour for our main course and at that they couldn't give us any sides. But I have to say they recovered by what they charged for the inconvenience and the food was by majority good and probably excellent under the conditions. I would go back and hope under less stress they would exceed my expectations. Give them a chance...........

I brought my mother here for her birthday, and we had the value €25 menu on it's last day! I can safely say it was the best meal I have ever had in Dublin. The restaurant and atmosphere are enchanting, the staff and service were excellent, and the food was to die for. The main course of quail with gnocci was simply out of this world. I wish I could go every week!

Wow - I love the place. Went to dinner here recently with my husband. Decor inside is amazing and the waiters were fab. We both ordered from the pre-theatre menu of €25 for 3 courses!! Great value I think. I had the mushroom & leek soup, guinea fowl (which was an extra €4.95 - but so worth it) and the chocolate pot. Yummy! Each course was the perfect size too. Can't fault the place. We also shared a bottle of wine which was €24. Will be racing back!

Myself and my husband dined at the Balzac last week of October. We eat from the pre theatre menu which was very good value. We were very impressed with the quality of the food, the friendly efficient service and the ambience of the dining room. There were two large groups dining at the same time as us but this did not impinge on the service we received will certainly dine here again

Definitaly worth trying

We were a party of 3 and all went for the set menu which at 25euro is an absolute bargain. For starters we had two terrines and the citrus cured salmon. The terrines didn't quite hit the spot for either party but that may have been down to individual taste. There was an overwhelming tast of a spice that quite frustratingly I still can't put my finger on!! However combined with the prune compote I thought it was very good. I went for the salmon and it was fantastic. An unusual combination with melon and sesame oil, it worked beautifuly. For mains we had the rabbit, sea bream and duck. All of which I would definately recommend and definately have again. I had the confit of duck leg which was cooked to perfection. The fat had been rendered down leaving a perfectly crispy skin. The meat itself fell off the bone and my only complaint was that I could have eaten twice the amount!! It was served with mash, carrots and pickled celeriac- I think- whatever it was it was fab. the rabbit was again cooked beautifully and the gnocchi parisienne which accompanied it were light and flavoursome. The sea bream again, was a fish cooked to perfection, although my friend would have prefared the skin to be slightly crispier. My only complaint with the main dishes is that they are served in a large pasta bowl type of thing which made cutting the joints of meat difficult at times, I would rather it had been served on a flat plate. For deserts we had the chocolate pot, the lemon & lime posset and the banana with passion friut caramel. The winner here was definatley the posset, it was so light and refreshing. The chocolate pot was fantastic but I was somewhat disappointed with my banana. Although the passion fruit caramel was a thing of genius, In my opinion the desert would be better served warm. Overall a fantastic experience, with attentive and professional staff. With a couple of beers, a cocktail and a bottle of the house Pino the total was 140 including service.

Went here last night with a friend. Nice atmosphere, lovely lightings, cosy even though it's quite a big place. I went for Table D'Hote Menu, and my friend for A La Carte. We loved all foods served. I had salmon, sea bream, lemon posset and my friend had hake. Unusual combination for salmon - melon, pink grapefruit with light soy sauce - but it was so tasty. Grilled seabream was cooked very well, didn't like rice that came with it though, it was cold. Hake was the best, with mashed carrots underneath - to die for! With a bottle of Rioja and 12.5% service charge the bill was e122. Will be definitely going back soon.

This is the first time I was in this restaurant and it certainly wont be my last. Lovely atmosphere and very good service. I was here with two friends for the dine in dubin week. Very enjoyable meal, I will be back.

I ate here last Friday with my friend, It was our first visit and I must say we were impressed. We were seated right away in the main dining room and were given fresh baked bread basket. The atmosphere was lovely and the decor very cosy. We both opted for the Table D'hote (25euro for 3courses) I had smoked salmon for starters (DELICIOUS) Amanda had a salad which she loved. For mains I had pumpkin risotto (OKAY!) Amanda had roast duck which was REALLY tasty. For desert we both tried the chocolate pot, we both liked it but it was very lucious and filling, we couldn't finish them. Overall it was a very pleasant experience. Would recommend!

This was our first visit to this restaurant and will not be the last. The decor and atmosphere were just amazing. The food was out standing. We were offered the €25 menu which looked like great value but we opted for the a la carte. This was very extensive and catered well for our taste in good food. The staff could not be better and we got the best attention we ever experienced. The bill was reasonable for the standard and quality we received. The chef produced absolute top class food. We will definitely be back and would highly recommend this restaurant.

First visit and I'll definitely be back. Four of us went last night and had a really fantastic meal. Three of us availed of the special 3 course for €25 which is value that can not be beaten. The fourth went for the a la Carte menu - which is pricey at €30 for fillet steak. Starters, soup and chicken terrine were first class, the salad was a little over 'leafy' with very little else but the leaves were dressed and the squid a little over powered by cheese but all eaten Dinners rabbit, duck and fish from the set menu - all very tasty, if you want very fishy fish this is the wrong dish for you just perfect for me. My husbands steak was 'cooked to perfection'. Desserts of chocolate - where we licked the bowls clean - pannecotta and a cheese board all delicious. My only complaint is that the plates, in the set menu, are small - had I realised how small I'd have ordered some sides - I'll know for next time. The decor in the main restaurant was fabulously decadent - all pinky orange, chandeliers and mirrors, we walked through and were seated in the back area - more muted in it's decor but no complaints, I'll know next time to order a table in the main restaurant. One small complaint was that the poor waiter was run off his feet - now he did very well and was extremely pleasant but it was difficult at times to get his attention. Overall a really great night out and fab experience.

possibly the best meal I have had in dublin. The restaurant is well decorated, has great atmosphere and the staff and very polite and helpful. The 25 euro early bird is the best value you will get in Dublin. Had the foie gras to start and rabbit for main, and both were beautifully presented and tasted great. Would definitely recommend the restaurant and hope to return soon.

Considering the setting, service and food, the €25 menu is amazing value. The food was top notch. Well prepared and presented. My only very minor quibble was the service was too fast between courses. Will definitely be going back

Def one of my fave restaurants in Dublin, Cant fault it. The €25 for 3 courses deal is amazing value. The food and presentation are brilliant! The staff are really attentive and the atmosphere is great for a romantic meal! The menu changes regularly so its always a new experience.

I went here on saturday night with the better half and I have to say that it was genuinely one of the best meals I have ever had. All of our courses were delictable and beautifully presented, the staff were attentive and lovely and the decor was breathtaking. We took advantage of the 3 courses for €25 offer which had alot of choice on it; about six starters includings two daily specials, four mains and four deserts. Some of the dishes were quite adventurous but well worth trying as the way that the flavors in the dishes worked together was extraordinary. The nicest meal I have ever had in the nicest restaurant I have ever been in. Perfect for a special occasion. Absolutely loved it, can't wait to go back!

Went here for a special occasion. The decor of the restaurant was amazing and really added to the occasion. We had a table of 6 and all took advantage of the Table d'hote menu at €25 per head. There was a good selection on the menu, there was one child with us and the staff were very accommodating to this and brought her out a plain dish. I had the chicken terrine for starters found it ok, but wouldn’t go for it again. The others got the salmon and really enjoyed it. Everyone enjoyed the mains. Some of the table got the chocolate pot for dessert but found it very filling. I got the strawberry pancetta and found it delicious. The staff was excellent. The bill came to a very reasonable price at the end, I would really recommend this place for ppl who are willing to try out different dishes such as rabbit, duck, etc.

In there on Saturday night to take advantage of the well priced Table d'hote menu at €25 per head. We were down the very back of the venu, which is nice but not as impressive as the main room. Both starters, prawns and chicken terrine were good as were the mains, leg of rabbit and sea bass. The panna cotta dessert was great but the chocolate and tikka mousse on the dessert of the day was pretty grim. One picky point though, what is it with those oversized dishes they serve the mains in ?...is it a plate ? , is it a bowl ?...no... its just bloody hard work trying to scoop up the last of the tasty morsels without looking like an extra from Oliver. Speaking of workhouses, I think the (very busy and very efficient) waiting staff could be a little less serious and perhaps look around and smile a bit more, especially considering there is a cheeky 12.5% service charge on all bills

Have been here a few times and always enjoy, the decor especially the stained glass roof, is beautiful and makes for a great atmosphere whether the restaurant is full or quieter! Went with a group of 8 for the 25 euro menu on a friday night. Everyone enjoyed their meal, with the only complaint from the men being smallish size portions and would have likes extra sides of potatos or veg. I had the smoked salmon to start, and the lamb cutlets for main, and the lemon posset for dessert. Great choice on the value menu. The service is spot on too, would recommed for groups.

This was a great dining experience. We started well with some cocktails at the bar before being shown to our table. We chose from the 25 euro menu which was excellent value, both for the quality of the food offered and the professional service. I had a green salad which was beautifully fresh and perfectly dressed. Even still, I regretted not having my companion's choice: citrus smoked salmon. This had the most delicate flavour and a fine texture. His fish main course was apparently excellent; I had duck which was perfectly cooked. We decided to go for broke (in the dietary rather than financial sense) and have desert. The rice pudding was well-presented but a little unremarkable; the chocolate pot divine. How soon before we can go again?

Group of 9 ate here last night and we really enjoyed it. A la carte menu is very reasonable for the quality and choice. Favourites – Starter: stuffed squid and the fois grais. Mains: steak and the hake, Desserts: apple sponge (more a tart) and the posset (choc pot is quite rich). All mains came with veg/rice etc so no need for sides but they are small enough if you just want a little extra. Staff were friendly and not ott on the service. Wine list is quit extensive and ranges from 25 – 60. Definitely go back and try their Table D’ote menu of 3 courses €25 because dishes are same as a la carte! Décor is nice and good atmosphere with a few people dining.

Excellent. No more needed

Balzac is some restaurant! Originally a furniture storehouse if I remember correctly! Had the earlybird there, which was excellent value. The food was absolutely delicious, expecially the Rabbit which I would never usually go far! I urge anyone to try it! The stained glass dining room roof is extremely impressive and the service is impeccable. I'd go there again!

The day we read the Irish Times review of Balzac we made our booking and we were not disappointed. The 3 course menu at €25 offers fanastic value with a brilliant selection of dishes. 5/6 starters and mains and 5 desserts. This was our first time in Balzac, it is such an impressive dining room. Dining at 7, the restaurant was fairly quiet then, however leaving after 8.30 it was buzzing and almost full. I ate from the special menu while my husband dined from the A la carte. Food was fantastic. My lemon posset with warm madeleines was fantastic, having had the same thing in another restaurant recently I was really disappointed.. this was not to be the case in Balzac. Fruit in juice added to to the top of the posset was an added extra. Our only point of worry was that the main course which my husband chose from the a la carte was on the bill at €24 when in actual fact it was €16, with service charge at 12.5 this added €9 to our bill. The bill was promptly changed when we queried it, worrying though. This happened to us in another restaurant recently also. Everyone should get to Balzac to try this menu and soak up the great atmosphere in the restaurant. We may try to get back again before the offer ends

Two of us had the 25 Euro Menu and it was excellent. From the moment we arrived to be greeted by friendly faces, seated and both water, bread and menus placed on table, this is the way to do it. Starters of salmon in citrus and Chicken terrine, very tasty. Mains were sea bass and duck, extra side dish of potatooes cooked in duck fat( very good) which were cleared off the plate quite quickly. Deserts were also good and my rice pudding was memory stirring ,in a good way. Wine by the glass came in a good measure and finished off with pot of tea and expresso. Very friendly and professional staff add greatly to any place and they certainly have it here.

This was my first visit to Balzac and i was very impressed! I thought the menu offered lots of choice and the food was superb, very good value for money. I was there with a group for a family occasion however it would be just as nice a place to go as a couple. As there is a taxi rank very close by it which was very handy on a wet night.

First off.. Thk you to e staff, as alwys accomodating and pleasant. I booked a table for4, but we turned up as 6 AND late. The matre D briskly showed us to a table! Ok, now, for food, the portions were good sized. Most of the time - french cuisine can get REALLY small. It's tasty. Not exploding with taste.. but worth it for the table d hote menu I guess. Smoked salmon for starters were just nice and not fishy. For mains, I had the duck, it could be juicier and fatty-er. No complaints regarding the speed and atmosphere! If you go there, they use REAL candles for their lamps, so it's really a nice place to dine in!

I enjoyed the starter of smoked salmon with ginger and grapefruit. Mains on the other hand . The duck was served with the sickliest sauce which i cant even distinguis the ingredients within it. Overall a pleasant evening if you dont mind hearing the days events of the stranger next to you! Seating arrangement a bit too close for comfort. Food average.

Located in probably the finest dining room in Dublin, we found this dining experience to be excellent. The €25 menu Table d'Hote menu was excellent value and the quality of the food was faultless. We both started with the citrus infused salmon - light, tasty and just the right acidity to whet the palette for the main course. I had an elegant fillet of Seabass on a creamy mash and my companion had a perfectly cooked fillet steak. Service was friendly and efficient. On the night - couldn't fault it. We'll definitely be back!

It wasn't anything exciting it was just a good proper cooked food. When I saw Michelin Star sticker on the door I thought it is going to be a exciting meal but it was just good. Interior is awesome. Staff very cold and not polite at all.

I had been looking forward to trying this restaurant for ages so when the Dine in Dublin offer came up it was the first place I booked. The front of house were very friendly and the decor is beautiful and comfortable at the same time. However when we were handed the menu we realised it was different to the one that was on the Dine in dublin website. This was disappointing as this was the menu that swung the place for my friends. Lamb Shank Stew and the garlic and lemon roasted chicken were no longer on the menu to be replaced with calf's liver and hake. Luckily my friend decided she still had one option on the menu despite looking forward to the chicken. The bread in the bread basket was delcious.The starters were ok, we went for foie gras & chicken liver and chicory,radicchio and Pear salad. I thought the fois gras could have had a little more sweetness on the side the raisins & Pedro Ximenez was more like garnish so didn't really add to the dish.My friends salad was just ok. The mains, I liked my confit of duck and the choucroute was fantastic. My friends went with calf's liver and the seabass.My friend couldn't really taste the fish just the citrus olive oil but all mains were eaten and were good. Again the menu for dessert had changed so the chocolate pot was now with espresso which meant we all went with the Creme Brulee, no complaints there. Fantastic. Table service was very curt with us and when my friend requested a coffee menu she was very rudely told there was no coffee menu so what did she want.That and the menu change were the only disappointments in an otherwise lovely evening.

The €25 meal is excellent value, with generous portions and good choices, that are also on the a la carte menu. The lamb shank stew however was disappointing as it looked insipid in colour (cafe late colour.... not very appetising) and the 'gravy' it was swimming in was like something out of a packet. The risotto was lovely and the truffle tart was very good too. The cheese plate was also a little poor with cheese freezing cold straight out of the fridge with very little selection given the price. Lovely room and plenty of buzz but choose wisely!

Had been planning to go here for quite a while and was not disappointed with the experience. A lovely mushroom soup starter was followed by a slow cooked lamb shank in a flavoursome stew. As I had ordered the 3 course special, I went for dessert even though my stomach said enough already. This was the only let down, an apple sponge that was anything but light. Also, a service charge was applied even though this was only supposed to happen for large tables.

Disappointing....went with my partner for the nicely priced table d'hote menu (3 courses at 29.95) but was mostly disappointed with the experience. I had mushroom soup for the starter, and although lots of it, it was very poor - very bland and very watery. For my main I had risotto, it was better, but still very average. The dessert was definitely the nicest part of the meal, and the room is absolutely gorgeous. But due to the poor food I won't be back.

2 of us dined here last night. Couldn't make booking during the day, so emailed via their website, asking them to call me. They didn't - so I called at 6pm. Booked for 9.30pm. (checked emails today - they emailed to tell me they did not have any tables..?) Restaurant was full bar 1 small table. Wedding party was being entertained at the rear of the restaurant, separated only by curtain, so when music started around 10.30 the rest of the restaurant had to endure it. That along with the drying cutlery and throwing into the drawer meant that the noise level was just too much for nice meal for us. We had the 25euro 3 course offer - which is a great deal, but the meals reflected the price. good food, great price, not outstanding though. Service was slower than I've had on other occasions, but our server was polite. Shame she couldn't stop the obnoxious drunken man groping at us and the other ladies in the restaurant when we walked past. I like this restaurant, but I was embarrassed for my guest as it definitely fell short of what I had previously experienced.

Went here with a group and would most definitely be returning. food was brilliant and great value for money. steak was really lovely! great christmas atmosphere! service was good! lovely for a christmas lunch.

No sign of the 25euro 3 course menu we a group of 5 of us attended. Just a reminder in the top corner of the menu that were it Jan 2010 we would be enjoying the value menu. Blatantly obvious that prices are hiked up during the busy Christmas season. Understand they have to make their money somewhere, but given the experience we had with service I'll never return nor would I recommend to friends. Food is very good, which is a shame for the chef given that the wait staff simply lets the whole place down. We were quite simply ignored for the 3.5hours we spent there. At least 20 minutes between courses - 20 minutes before our plates were cleared after we'd finished eating. A 25 minute wait to receive a cocktail menu after our main course and have our desert order taken. Drinks were unforthcoming, which would have helped our mood had they been kept flowing, we probably would have forgotten that we were being ignored by our waiter - who oddly was not rude when he waited on us - he just ignored us most of the time!! When our final round of drinks did arrive they were brought to an empty table on the other side of the room by a different waiter and just left there. After 5 minutes I got up myself and served our table. Similarly, another waiter brought our deserts, eventually to our table and we noticed he knocked the biscotti biscuit off the top of the creme brulee and it dropped onto the floor. He acted as if nothing had happened and ignored the biscotti mashed into the floor. I assumed he was going to acknowledge it and get us another one, as we all saw it happening!! Not a word, until I had to ask if that was part of our desert on the floor! The last straw was receiving the bill which had 12.5% service automatically added - no chance! Finally found the manager and explained we were not willing to pay the 12.5% - we left just under 10% in the end - which was very generous on our part. Dreadfully disappointing!

Room looks really impresive. Waiters were a bit cold but in same time tey weren't been rude. Food was really nice, but not amazing. Especially crab crème brulee and roast scallops, crispy pork belly, cauliflower puree & apple salad were lovely although a little bit overpriced. Good place for romantic night out but in the same time you can find other place with similar quality but cheaper.

Best 3 courses I've had in a long time. A large group of us celebrated here all eating from the 25 euro menu. Starters were amazing (wood pigeon stood out). Mains were equally impressive with the Duck, Pork and Chicken all impressing. Creme brulee was fantastic too. Highly recommended.

Heard from a foodie friend who had taken part of the Dine in Dublin week that this was the best value set menu in town, and he wasn't wrong. For €25, three fabulous courses in a beautiful dining room with great service were the order of the day. The crab brulee starter was delicious and different. The Hake main course was beautifully cooked and perched on lovely mashed sweet potato. I tried the quince dessert for something different and it was light and tasty. One of my companions had the pork fillet cooked MR and it was fabulous. I can't wait to go back!

Went here on Thursday night with friends. Could not have been any more disappointed. Starter was poor, main course even worse. Corn fed chicken was served luke warm without any potatoes, just butterbeans. Dessert was just ok, but better than the first 2 courses. Will not be back and would not recommend to anyone. Maybe that's why it was 90% empty.

Response:
I just loved this restaurant.....

Posted by: zaz on 10/12/2009

Fantastic location, the room has a real Paris bistro look and feel. The food was excellent and the service attentive but not imposing. I rate this place a lot and will be back.

I have been here before and decided to bring six of my friends here for my birthday, as I am fan of the food and atmosphere. It did not fail. The food (especially the wood pigeon and crab creme brulee starters) was fantastic (and at €25 for three courses, real value!). The desserts weren't as well received but overall great food. The wine complemented the meal well. We did order cocktails before hand and were disappointed as they were all laced with alcohol, to the point they could not be finished. Service was good, not too rushed and all courses arrived together! The restaurant was not full but there was still a good atmosphere despite the few accidents with waiters dropping plates during the night! I will return.

This is a relatively quiet and old-fashioned "dining room" in the city centre. The set-menu is simply excellent value (3 courses for €25) and the food options are interesting enough to make going there well worthwhile. I particularly liked the crab custard and pear salad starters and also the chicken main. Deserts are a little weaker but not bad. The house wines are a good match for the food and reasonably priced. The service is not rushed (which I like) though some might call it slow. Overall, a great place for a slightly more formal meal in a nice setting but a a great value price. I have been twice and will go again.

My husband and I visited the restaurant last night and we were very disappointed. I was really looking forward to eating in a great place and was expecting expectional food and service. I couldn't have been more mistaken: the evening began with the girl who greeted us being unable to find our reservation .She didn't help us hang our coats.Unfortunately the service didn't get any better.When my husband asked to take off his jacket, the room being over warm, he was unassisted in placing it over the nearest chair five feet away. As a matter of fact some of the waiters could barely comunicate(on the rare occasions they bothered to try).Their comments were reduced to "there is your soup...". Some bread was brought to our table almost as an afterthought.It was stale When we ordered two glasses of wine they were brought to us already in a glass, not really what you'd expect from a good restaurant. Food was just average a pity giving the beautiful architecture of the room and the nice description on the menu.I was surprised to see so many people were there, I guess the discerning among them will go once and never return, like us.

I have just found my new favourite restaurant... visited Balzac on Saturday night and fell in love. The service was impeccable, no rushing between courses which can happen so often and we left feeling nicely full of good food and wine. I can't wait until i can visit again, if only just to have the grilled prawn starter. Seabass main course was delicious and the duck was apparently beautiful too. We had enjoyed starter and main so much we decided to skip the dessert and have a coffee, which is my only problem...it was like rocket fuel, i have never had such strong coffee, most people may love this but i would have preffered my americano not to taste like a double espresso! I will absolutely be returning and cannot wait until I do.

We ate here last Saturday night, and ordered from their "Dine in Dublin" menu. The overall experience was excellent, I have to say. I had the Fois Gras Pate, (a first), and it was served with a melba, type, toast and was very tasty. For the main, I had sea bass which was cooked to perfection and I tasted my boyfriends lamb shank (which fell off the bone, by the way!) and it too was very tasty. The carrott cake for dessert was beautiful, and the shortcake biscuits good. Service was excellent and atmosphere romantic. Will definitely be returning here in the future

My wife and I ate here on Sat night last. 3 course each. I had soup and then lamb shank which were both good. I had plum crumble that was horrid. A bowl of disolved sugar with one half under-ripened plum. I *always* finish desert. 2 spoons was enough. My wife had pear and gorgonzola salad. 2 tiny pieces of cheese. There were rot sport on the pear slices (over ripe) and brown sport on the cos lettuce. For main she had duck. The skin was not at all crispy, but soggy and like part set silicone. Dish was a little cool. The choc desert was wonderful however. The house red sangoviase @ €5 per was very good indeed. Overall more poor than bad from the coolest dining room in the city still.

Basil Fawlty could learn a few tricks. Our table was booked for 9.30 and we were left waiting in the shabby bar (along with a number of other visibly annoyed fellow diners) for 45 minutes. The front of house staff was so amateurish it was almost comical. We were told at least five times that the table was going to be ready in a couple of minutes and when my normally angelic husband finally got really annoyed and started rolling his eyes up to heaven, they plonked two glasses of wine on our table on the house. Food was ok, except that we gave up waiting for our dessert which still didn't arrive at midnight. Positives: friendly waiting staff and beautiful dining room.

Classy place which catered for 12 extremely happy ladies with sublime food and wonderful cocktails great party venue, and will be having my own party here without question

Overall the meal was a very nice experience. The restaurant itself is very grand indeed, the food was very tasty, service excellent and overall very good value for money. Only one negative, the restaurant was quite empty even when we were leaving at 8.00pm. Maybe a later meal may be better.

Visited here on a Friday evening. Went for the 25 euro menu, limited choice but both of us were very pleased with our food. Unusual dining room, not to my taste. Not much atmosphere because it was quite empty. Overall I would rat i it very good value because the food was above average for this price and the service was good.

The place is quite intresting - luxurious even id say. Be careful with the steak - it goes with salt for some reason (?). I ordered my steak medium to rare and i got it too done:( I was expecting a huge meal and big piece of meat but i have nor got it. For 2 meals for 2 and bottle of wine we paid 95 euro. I was not too happy with the service - you dont feel like a waiter takes care of you and we had to wait for 45 mins for the main course.

Arrived at 7pm to find 4 people in the restaurant. After walking all the way through the bar, decided to stay. The value menu @25eur has very limited choice. Ordered stuffed baby squid (delicious) and pork belly/scallops, to discover the latter was off. Confit duck was very salty. Crab creme brulee was much praised, but the risotto was not. Desserts were excellent, and the lemon posset in particular. Despite the good service, the room is too large with such small numbers, and the food is not good enough to tempt me back any time soon

First impressions don't always last. I read the reviews and was excited to go here. On 1st impression the entrance and room is impressive. I ordered the Crab Creme Brulee ( felt it did not live up to it's name - no brulee) and the mackerel from the €25 for 3 course menu. One of the two pieces of mackeral did not taste good although when I told the waiter he assured me the fish is delivered fresh every day. My friend had the prawns which were good and a steak . He was unhappy with the size and taste of the staek for €29 but the waiter did not offer any explanation. With a bottle of wine (inc 1 value menu) our bill for 2 came to €97. The place and location is nice it’s a real shame the food did not match up. The restaurant was half empty but they sat people at tables either side of us which were too close together when there was lots of space elsewhere.

It was a very disappointing evening. My husband and I had fillet steak and it was pickled with salt. We were shocked and couldn’t believe it. We reported the problem to the Maître d but he never replaced them or deducted the bill. It was very upsetting. We had been looking forward to the evening after reading the excellent reviews. Sadly, we will never be returning.

i went along to the menupages night out here, starting off with cocktails in samsaras bar, it was my first time out with sinead and the others, it was a great night out, the pate, corn-fed chicken and creme brulee were all very nice not to mention the wine, the company was also very good at the table in the presence of a few nice ladies, roll on the next night out, thank you to sinead, she was the backbone of it all.

Second time here, this time was for the menupages night out. The food was great as always..not sure on the wine. The white was undrinkable so I stuck to the red. That said the cocktails to start were second to none. I had the chicken parfait, seabream and chocolate cake all of which was delicious and the double espresso to finish off was perfect.

Went there for their 3 course €30 deal. I have to say it was excellent. Starter was fab, and main course of duck was gorgeous, excellent house wine and a nice dessert. The atmosphere was lovely as well, very grand. Great service too. Only flaw was the portion sizes were all over the place, mine was tiny and my girlfriends was massive. Will definitey go back.

I attended Balzac with Menu Pages night out. The night started great with a cocktail and a chat with the other menu pages crew there must have been 50/60 people of all ages and backgrounds attending this night, and after enjoying my mojito we were brought into the dining room for our meal, the staff are very friendly and helpful as was the menu pages hostess Sinead. For starters I had the chicken liver parfait it was top notch, for main I had the chicken it was delicious, the very attractive girl next to me had the grilled Seabass she said it was "amazing" and for dessert I went for the poached pears which I thought were gorgeous but from the excitement of the ladies next to me that were eating the chocolate cake i guess that was great too. All during the meal the wine never stopped coming, after we had finished our meal we were all invited to Lillies where we got in for free and a free drink as well as access to our own VIP area . I had a full stomach and was very very merry all for 50 euro. Best 50 euro I ever spent. Menu Pages Nights are great crack but you have to be open to meet new people to get the best out of them A+ all round. See you at the next one.

Excellent food. Presentation, taste ingredient selection, all good. My wife and myself had a wonderful meal here. We were staying in the hotel and the meal was part of the package. The set menu was very versatile and we thoroughly enjoyed a very good meal in fine surroundings.

Was very impressed with my visit to Balzac. When you walk in the restaurant is beautiful and there is a wonderful flower display in the middle of the restuarant. The food was the best part of the meal. The service was also very good. Overall it was a very enjoyable evening.

Balzac is a bit of a mixed bag. The positives: - They do a table d'hôte for €25 - a few of the starters, a few of the mains and any of the desserts. Not a bad deal, and there's a similar deal running though the week (€29.95 so I guess it is different in some way). - Roasted peaches with stem ginger Madeleines & ice cream was delicious. - the room is very nice - the service could not be faulted Where they let themselves down however: - My steak was a disappointment - in addition to being cooked medium not medium rare as requested it simply did not taste as good as it should. At €30 for Rib Eye it should be pretty good. The fries were also pretty average. - Some of the combinations did not work - baby squid and Chorizo? - €6 for a 750ml bottle of Ballygowan - crazy prices. Makes me sorry I didn't just ask for tap water. Overall I have to say I will not be heading back.

My first visit since it changed from "La Stampa" to Balzac. Pleased to see that the renovations have not diminished the grand effect of this impressive place. Grilled Seabass was excellent as was the special - Scallops & Bacon. The bottle of Touraine tased better than the €32 charged! Not often one can say that! Service was perfect - but it was early on a Thursday evening, and only the first section of the restaurant was in use. Their €29 special 3 course menu is excellent value in a really beautiful location. One complaint - 12.5% automatically added to bill. Either this is a discretionary appreciation for better than average service - or it is part of the cost. If it is the latter, then put it in the meal charges, and stop hiding it as a service charge!

This is a hidden gem. I'd never heard of it before I was treated by my girlfriend for a sumptuous birthday dinner. Lavish dining room was a real surprise, high ceilings yet a magic atmosphere. My lady started with the chicken liver parfait - which she has been trying in vain to replicate ever since! I started with the garlic prawns. These were good and a man sized portion for a change. For mains, my seabass was tasty but probably not enough for me; I'd definitely have another side the next time. She had a steak - I had order envy! We shared desert & to be fair it was huge. Honey comb creme brulee - magic. I'll be back.

Beautiful restaurant - a fantastic experience. Four of us dined here two weeks ago and were all very impressed with the food, service and atmosphere. On arrival the attention from staff from start to finish was excellent. We were immediately shown to our seats. Our waiter was friendly and always had a smile. Two of us had the seabass which was delicious, and steak which tasted devine and was served with amazing chunky chips!! The waiter was very helpful when choosing the wine & had a great knowlege of the selection on offer. The deserts were beautifully presented and tasted delicious. A great night out & highly recommended to all.

Really enjoyed a trip to Balzac as part of dine in dublin. The atmosphere was great and although service was alittle slow because of a large party who arrived in around the same time as us, the waiter apologised with some complimentary wine which kept us entertained while we waited. The food was delicious. The lamb was really tender and the the fish was lovely. Very pleasant experience oerall.

Awful experience in Balzac as part of the Dine in Dublin week. The food was way below standard and as one reviewer has pointed out the menu was priced higher than the usual set menu in Balzac. I had the sea bass which had been sitting under a heat lamp for far too long - my husband had the ham which was fatty and unappealing. Coffee was burnt and deserts were no good either. Overall a bad meal - will not go back. Shame as it's such a beautiful dining room.

we went to balzac as part of the dine in dublin offer - i thought it was a little disingenous that this offer was actually slightly more expensive than their usual table d'hote menu, which is (i think) about 29.95. there was a good range - nothing really grabbed me starters-wise but the salmon (billed as smoked rillettes - tasted quite fresh and potted to me) was lovely, mains were the highlight - a fantastic lamb shank with a deliciously spiced couscous with chorizo. my main of sea bass was also fantastic. perfectly proportioned courses. while the chocolate dessert went down well the pannacotta dessert with rhubarb was truly awful - the rhubarb managed to be jelly-like in its consistency and slightly fizzy. pannacotta itself was grand. bread served was lovely, service friendly and the feature ceiling is stunning.

What a great experience. Beautiful restaurant. We had the lamb and ham for mains which were lovely. The desserts were also really special. My only issue would be that the portion sizes were very small.

What a disappointment! My husband and I came here on a Wednesday evening for the dine in dublin week.We were about 30 minutes late but we did ring the restaurant to tell them.We were met with a very frosty reception by a female waitress who did not even have the courtesy to take our coats, as we passed a coat rack full of other diner's coats.We were brought to seats crammed right beside other couples where you could hear all their conversations clearly.The atmosphere from the waiting staff was so cold and impersonal.The food was only average.The couscous that accompanied the lamb was totally bland and did not compliment the lamb at all.Amazingly my partner's sea bass was very good. However, we both had the panna cotta for dessert.The rhubarb topping was way too sweet and ruined the entire dessert.Overall, we were extremely disappointed with this dining experience and we will never go back again!!

my rump of lamb with couscous, harissa and chorizo tasted amazing. My sister loved her swordfish. My dessert of chocolate truffle cake was devine.. one of the best chocolate cakes I have ever had. my sister's vanilla pannacotta had slightly fizzy-tasting rhubarb jelly on top, and neither of us liked it much. But overall, delicious food and great service in very elegant surroundings.

A group of us ate here recently and were really looking forward to the experience, however we were really disappointed on several levels. On booking for the group we found the staff really helpful. We asked if we could avail of the set menu and despite the fact that it was a saturday night they kindly offered us this. Because of the great service we received on the telephone at booking stage we expected this to carry over into the restaurant itself. When we arrived the restuarant was almost empty but this was not really an issue as there was a big group of us. It filled up a little more as the evening went on. The starters arrived out quite quickly and were okay. Myself and several others had the beetroot salad which was tasty enough, but the mains is where the restaurant really fell down. I had the risotto which was a tiny serving - more like a starter than a main. Another of the group had the steak and it came out cold and dripping with blood. When we eventually caught the attention of the waitor the member of the group asked for something else to replace the steak which meant he was eating his main course on his own as we had all finished ours. Other people within the group had chicken which they said was just okay - nothing special. Overall there was a feeling when we left the restaurant having paid a bill of almost 600 euros that none of us would be inclined to ever go back. We may have received the set menu for 30 euros but the food just did not meet any of our expectations of Balzac. It was a really disappointing start to a night out to celebrate my Mother's 70th Birthday, and one that none of will be repeating on any other occasion.

We ate here recently and were expecting a lot more on all scores. The food wasn't much better than the previous place La Stampa although the dining room is a lot brighter. The place was almost empty when we ate here on sat night although picked up a bit after that. The roast potato side wasn't great in case you think of ordering, although we were offered the special / table menu which we were surprised about given it was a sat night. I wouldn't be in a hurry back.

This has one of the nicest dining halls that I have experienced in Dublin. The room is beautiful. However, it lacks a certain atmosphere that you would expect from a place so pretty. The service was good. Our servers were attentive and knowledgable. However, the options on the a la carte menu were limited. The prawns starter was great but our mains left us wanting. My partners Steak was a little on the small side and my fish was a little bland. Its like the kitchen is a little afraid of getting too adventurous or going full on with the flavour. If this is addressed in this restaurant, I think the overall experience would be vastly improved. Serving French cuisine at a standard that is only slightly above average in such a nice setting and for a fairly pricy sum, brings down the overall rating of this restaurant.

A special treat, being brought somewhere a-cut-above by my partner. First impressions must be the surprise at the very small number of people there. Initially we thought, maybe 8:30 was early but this turned out not to be the case as only 5 or 6 tables were ever used. Our starters were beautifully cooked and presented, I had the grilled prawns which were the meatiest prawns I've ever had. Beautifully cooked. The wine was a lovely Valpolicella though the menu did say '05 and the wine was '06 but forgiveable error as it was a fabulous wine. My lamb main course was also beautifully turned-out. The sauce which really made the meal was just right and the side of roast potatoes was done to a tee. To finish I Just had room for the Creme Brulee which set the meal off nicely. The lack of dining company probably contributed to the fact that we were given all the time in the world to finish up, but maybe not. A great night out.

This restaurant looks fabulous and the staff were attentive. The food was adequate. The starters were a decent size and tasty, but both myself and my partner found our main meals quite bland. My duck came on a bed of lentils, but the waitress informed me that the portion was quite small so advised a side order- which on recieving the main, I appreciated! We asked for a certain wine, but halfway through the bottle, realised that we had been given a different one. Also, the restaurant was freezing cold. It's a large size, so we hoped it would heat up on the arrival of more guests- this did not happen! The restaurant was full as it was New Years Eve but most guests (including ourselves) had there coats on for the entire meal. Very disappointing!!!

The Balzac dining room is lovely. I was a big fan of it in its previous incarnation, and still consider it a great place for a special occasion, and best of all if someone else is paying!

I visited this restaurant with two of my friends. The rooms have the wow factor with tall ceilings, impressive flower displays and beautiful decor. The biggest downfall of this restaurant is the staff and service. The 'meet and greet' staff are aloof and rude and act as though you are inconveniencing them. There is the odd exception on the floor however the girl serving us seemed overstretched and so we had to followup on everything - wine which we had to chase up when our main arrived, water and then dessert. Other tables seemed to have similar issues. The food was delicious and at our table there were no complaints. This is a restaurant with unbelievable potential. Professional service does not need to be unfriendly and cold.

i was here on a christmas night out so we were working off their set menu as there was a large group. that said the service was really quite good. the food: i had the chicken liver parfait to start which was really fantastic; had the steak for main which was a very good steak although i could have used some sides; and i had the honeycomb creme brulee for dessert which was tough to finish but worth it. reckon i'll be checking this out again after christmas!

Balzac hits a strange curb in the market. It is attempting fine dining with stunning interior and service to match. If found the menu somewhat lacking for choice. Or more so, there was nothing that I was truely excited about ordering. It is an attempt at haute cuisine without the innovation leaving a variety of dishes that are just flat. The atmosphere is stark, not somewhere you would relax for a few hours. The set menu/early bird is great value all the same.

I dined here with two friends. I had the mussels as a main course - they were delicious and a really big portion. My friend had the steak which he loved, and my other friend had the veggie dish which she enjoyed! THe service was excellent. We enjoyed a nice bottle of prosecco and had a few dessert cocktails which were yum!! I would thoroughly recommend this restaurant - great ambience! Delicious food! Plus you don't have to even step out in the cold to go on from here to Sam Sara Bar which is kickin!!

I dined here with friends last Thurs evening, food was very nice, wine was quite expensive. The service was second to none, with the waiters being very attentive but not over doing it. I would agree with other reviews that it lacks a bit of athmosphere, surroundings are fab, but there was definitely something missing. Maybe it was just a little quiet, sign of the times I guess. Overall tho' a good dining experience !

Food was amazing. The atmosphere was a bit lacking but when the staff overheard one o us coment on the lack of music suddenly some good music was put on, so the staff are very attentive. Not sure if I would go again. Definately one to experience once though.

A tad expensive, but abolutely opulent interior and food to match - crab creme brulee is one of the more memorable dishes I've eaten in a while. Worth noting that it lacks atmosphere early in the evening.

I expected a lot more. Granted I went on a Monday night, but the place was just dead, there was no music playing in the background which added to the lack of atmosphere. For starters I had Quail, which I haven't had before, so I haven't got much to compare it to, but I did enjoy it, not sure I would order it again though. For mains I had medium rib eye steak, which was really really good. It was nice to say I have been here, but I won't be back. In summary, the quality of the food doesn't make up for the lack of atmosphere. It wasn't the experience I had hoped for. The scale wont let me give it an atmosphere rating of 0, but if i could I would.

Ate here last night with my husband and we had a fab time. This is our second time to this restaurant and we weren't let down. We both had the prawns to start with which were gorgeous. I had the Ham Hock and Pork Belly and the dish was delicious but too much for me to finish. My husband had the cod which was really nice and a good size portion. The service was really good too although when leaving the restaurant there was no-one to give us our coats so we had to help ourselves.

I ate here with a group from work and was impressed. We had the set menu for €50 per person which was great value. The service was great and the atmosphere grand. I definitely will be back and I spotted a fab Pre Theater menu.

I ate here for the first time on Friday night & had a great time. The food is delicious especially the fish soup & risotto, the waiting staff are very good & helpful. Love the cocktail bar at the front & I cant wait to go again!!!!

My self and my husband went to Blazac on a Saturday night and forund the atmosphere fantastic, there was a real buzz there... The food was lovely I had steak and it was cooked to perfection..The cocktails were excellent and the wine list was varied. I would go back again.

I just came back from Balzac and have to put it simple: Balzac has been my best fine-dining experience of the year so far. The menu is imaginative and offers a great variety of dishes. Even though both our mains were extremely tasty (rump of lamb for me; two beautiful quails for my partner)I have to praise the quality of three small dishes in particular. First: the baby squid stuffed with Feta and chorizo: mouthwatering. Then the warm roasted tomatoes with ricotta cheese on top: mamma mia, a sublime combination with lamb! Finally, as we had decided not to go ahead with desserts and were instead having coffees we were treated by the manager to a little pot of warm madelenes: I am still raving about them! The room looks darker but a lot cooler than that ageing long period-style room La Stampa had here in his final hours. I am not really sure how service would be if this large restaurant is fully booked one night- but that is not exactly my concern and if they can maintain these standards then it is a serious competitor. For tonight I have to say: what an enjoyable meal!

Went for dinner on Friday night. Surprisingly quiet! Beautiful dining room but it lacks a certain je ne sais quoi. Good choice menu and the food is delicious. We had the french onion soup, stuffed squid (sublime), ribeye and monkfish tail. Desserts weren't too inspiring-we opted for a chocolate truffle cake and lemon fool. A very enjoyable meal but the staid atmosphere doesn't beckon us back!

Was here for lunch last Thursday. A bit disappointed. There were people dining at only 2 other tables so the atmosphere suffered. I had the ham hock, potato and soft boiled egg salad which was cold but the plates were heated. Am guessing warm was the desired effect. My main was lovely - mushroom gnocci. The dessert was a little too sweet for my taste. Had a really nice South African Sauvignon Blanc.

Ate here on a Saturday night. Phoend the restaurant on the day so could only get a 630 table. Arrived in tho the foyer to see maitre'd and waiter having a blinding row, but they put it on hold when we walked in. Had the Provencal Fish Soup to start, my partner had a crab creme brulee. Both were excellent. The fish soup accompanied by rouille, croutons and thinly grated gruyere. Perfect hint of warming fennel off the soup, very authentic, I loved it. For mains had monkfish which was on the bone, unusual but very nice, cooked to perfection, couldn't find fault. My partner had seabass w/citrus mash and chick pea salsa, again perfectly cooked and excellent. Desserts were v good too. Pricey for bistro food but highly recommended and look forward to going back.

Great dining room with good food - lovely parfait served in kilner jar, lovely mains and good coffee, service was pretty poor.

Ate with some friends in Balzac last night. Had eaten there over the summer and had a lovely meal. So what's gone wrong? Service was charmless and horribly, embarrassingly inefficient. Drinks didn't turn up or were late (like half an hour late) when they did, people were given things they didn't order and I know my coffee just never arrived. It was just cringeworthy. The food was also disappointing - artisan fish platter tasted like it came from the supermarket deli section. Edible but really really bland. The real killer was the steak. Completely inedible. It was so tough I didn't manage to chew through a single mouthful. I was there there as someone's guest or I would have sent it back. The person opposite me also had the steak and also didn't eat it. Other people seemed happy with their food so may have been bad luck on the beef front but it would really put me off. I expect a 29Euro steak to be at least edible. Oh, and when we left, the kitchen vents seemed to be blowing directly into the cloakroom. So my parting memory is of putting on my coat in a haze of rancid stomach turning chipfat. I won't be back, lovely decor nonwithstanding. Surely a restaurant this poor can't survive even in Dublin?

Fabulous setting and the service and food were great too!

I had read the review on Balzacs and was interested to try. The room as others have described is very impressive. Even though it's big you can still have an intimate dinner for 2 and people watch. I was disappointed in the food though. Oysters to start were good, but not great. I had scallops for main and was disappointed, the combination with orange didn't work. The bill for 2 starters, 2 mains, 2 aperitifs, 1 bottle of wine & a cheese board was €168 which is not good enough value.

I arranged for a group of friends to eat in Balzac just before christmas - based on magazine reviews I'd seen. It didn't disappoint. The room is great and the food was really imaginative & really good. All 6 of us enjoyed our meal and will be back again.

Although I wouldn't be the biggest fan of French food, I really enjoyed my meal at Balzac. I went there for the first time on a busy week night before Christmas. The dining room is very impressive and atmospheric. I started with the crab creme brulee. Although I was a little apprehensive at the description it was to die for, definitely a good choice! The duck confit was equally tasty, although the salad on the side was a bit sparse. Desserts also went down well, and in general everyone was happy with their choices. Special mention to the cocktail bar in the front, where the great bartender makes cocktails from an extensive menu, including daily specials. His martini is amazing! Go early and have a drink before moving into the restaurant. Prices are a little steep, but for this quality of food, well worth it.

Overall a very good but expensive experience. The starter was nice a cod with sun dried tomatoes, but it was not mouth-watering, for the main course the steak was one of the best I have had in Dublin in a long time. It was cooked to perfection. We had one lovely bottle of wine and shared a very large cheeseboard between 3 for dessert which was very enjoyable. The only complaint that I would have is that we were seated at a very small table and constantly had to juggle the water/wine glasses/cutlery to make everything fit. With a 12.5% service charge you expect service to be impeccable and I would have no hesitation in not paying it if the service was up to scratch. I found the staff somewhat snooty but perhaps this is what the are aiming for with the clientele? Overall I would recommend Balzac but at the moment it seems to be piggybacking on the name of a popular restaurant in Waterford which is possibly why it’s so popular. There are other restaurants in the city just as good for less €€€.

My partner and I dined here on the 23rd of December and we were looking forward to a great meal having heard wonderful things about the previous La Stampa. When we arrived there was 3 other couples in the dining area (for those of you who haven't dined in Balzac it is a very large restaurant and there is no chance of any atmosphere with so few people). Service was attentive for the evening and the Food was excellent. However at the end of the evening when we were given our bill our waiter informed us that he didn't know why anyone would dine in Balzac as the food wasn't that good and it was overpriced. I could not believe that someone would say this while handing over a bill for €180! For this reason as well as the fact the place has zero atmosphere I doubt I will return. A real shame that they haven't got this place right as the food was good and the room is beautiful.

I was simply disgusted by the lack of organisation and bad manners of the staff in Balzac during a corporate lunch last week. I booked the restaurant for 18 people for a late lunch, raving to my colleagues about the food we would get. I was embarrassed at how different the service was to what I had described. The menu was dropped from 5 options per course, to 2 choices per course, 24hours before the booking. Whats worse is the fact we had pre-paid. They refused to cook the steak blue, very rare, or even rare, IN A FRENCH RESTAURANT! I was disgusted. The orders came at different times, some people were finished while others had yet to get their main, and if people waited, the plates were cold. The desserts were threw down in front of us, and having asked for a double espresso three times, I had to leave without it as we were kicked out long before we expected. I am ashamed that I recommended Balzac... The cost and horrid service ruined the quality of the (cold) food. I will not be back.

Lovely lunch with excellent parfait of chicken livers served ina little jar with superb bread the only fault was no atmosphere in the restaurant as it was so quiet

I had lunch there on Friday with friends, the only booking we could get was 2pm. When arrived the lady that met us didn't take our coats, brought us to the table and left no menus or drinks offered at this stage. We had to call waiter for service, food okay but very expensive for lunch. Not a friendly place, we were asked to leave at 3.45pm as lunch was over, don't think I would return much better value and food in other restaurants.

Visited here a month ago with my French wife and some friends after a gallery exhibition opening nearby. We were shown to a very nice table in the main restaurant area. All agreed that the food was superb french style bistro fare and excellent value for money. The menu was complemented by a good wine list and again reasonably priced. The staff in particular were very knowledgeable and gave good recommendations which is a big plus and indicative of a restaurant that really cares. We didn't have puddings but the madeleines served with coffee were as good as I have ever tasted. I would have no hesitation in returning.

My wife and me ate here for the second time on Friday, having been here 2 weeks previous. The service was very good, generally, despite the fact that everyone seemed to arrive at the same time, and they were a bit in the weeds! Our starters were excellent, I had the warm Carpaccio of Haddock and my wife had the Crab Brulee. Really good, both of them. For mains my wife had the Plaice and I had the Pork Belly. Again top drawer. We skipped dessert. What I have a problem with is the fact that they add 12.5% service on to your bill. Bit cheeky.

I thought Balzac was just ok. I expected the food to be better, some of the starters were good (chacuterie plate was very nice & crab creme brulee was lovely) but others were not so impressive. Mains: Duck confit was a bit heavy and came with no sauce at all, just boulangere potatoes which had been cooked in a very strong beef stock and were not very nice as a result. Slow cooked beef was a bit dry. The room itself is lovely, a huge size for a restaurant and thus requires more staff than they have - they really should have more staff as they have to run around and still managed to leave us unattended several times. It was a nice enough meal but there are plenty of far better restaurants in the city in this price range.

Had a terrible experience here two weeks ago. My family and I tried it out under my suggestion, because it has Paul Flynn's influence. We arrived at 8.30 and the section at the back, obviously kept for large groups was empty. We were urged to order as "the restaurant will get full and then the kitchen will be busy and our food will be slow". I asked the waiter to recommend a full bodied red wine, however what arrived was only medium. The starters were unadventurous, and the mains poor. The rib eye was very stringy and very heavy with the salt on the fries. The service was cold and my sister was hit twice, once with a plate and a staff member hit her chair and she was pushed into the table. All the tables in that area were very cramped together, maybe it could be a better experience if seated in the main dining area, however it is not a risk worth taking.....I or any family member will never return! And for this appalling evening they put a 12.5% service charge on top of the bill. I wrote a letter of complaint to the restauarant manager and followed it up with two phone calls and I was told he was in the middle of writing a reply, and my details were taken and was told he would contact me......It's more than two weeks later. So it goes to show their public relations are as bad as the service.

I was very impressed with Balzac. My wife and I tried the pre - theatre last night and we were blown away for the quality and presentation of our meal at a very reasonable cost. Unlike many other restaurants, each plate felt individually prepared as opposed to carvery-esque food which would normally be served on an "Early-Bird" menu. The barman's Cocktails are a must before or after dinner - he created a 42 Below Feijoa Mojito for me to suit MY cocktail tastes. Masterful creation! We can't wait to return for the food or the drinks.

What have they done to this room??? It used to be one of the most fantastic dining rooms in all of Dublin & nows its just like a big old shed! Bland colours match bland flavours on the plates. It's trying too hard. Too much going on & not enough concentration on simple quality. What was the deal with the Tiramisu? A pot of cream goo with a greasy & burnt doughnut on the side? Just make Tiramisu for crikes sakes. Stop trying to re-invent the wheel! Staff are ok, just ok. Toilets were a mess when we went there. My girlfriend said the ladies were like the aftermath of a bad wedding. Would we go back?... no.

I'm French and for the first time in nearly 9 years living in Ireland I enjoyed French food. Bravo! The table was ready on time, food arrived after the other with no stress..... and all with a smile from the waitress. I would definitely recommend this beautiful French brasserie "made in dublin".

Beautiful room and interesting looking menu but my experience of Balzac was just ok. We booked for dinner at 6pm which is advertised as the start of evening service. However the dining room did not even open until at least 6.15, while we waited were asked on three occasions did we want cocktails. No, we wanted to have dinner ! Service was efficient but not welcoming or friendly. The fish was very good but the fried gnocci was slightly burnt. It could be a fantastic, stylish venue but I agree with a previous reviewer, it's pretentious. People do notice if the food and service are not worth the prices charged and there are many places delivering better food and with a warm welcome. Perhaps they had a bad night but so did we and we won't be back.

Very disappointing would be generous. Booked an early table to avoid Saturday rush, was informed the table was ours between 6 and 7. Aware of time limits, we arrived early to a stunning and empty room. We were promptly offered a pre dinner drink, we ordered, followed closely by food and wine orders. Feeling a little hurried, I noted the time to be 5 past 6. Without a blink of an eye our starters arrived, followed closely by the gin and tonics and wine. Sensing my frustation, the waiter cleverly hid behind his station. The scallops with gritty coral, simply terrible, the crab brulee was nice even washed down with a gin. It is now half 6 and we eagerly await the roated monkfish. Over cooked, uninspired, never again.

I brought my boyfriend here for dinner last night for his birthday, we were supposed to be in Paris but couldn't go so I thought the next best thing...a nice French restaurant and it was fab. We arrived an hour early to have some of the cocktails I have read about on menu pages before dinner and they were gorgeous. So gorgeous in fact we ended up having 3!! The barman was so lovely and friendly to us. Then we were taken through to the restaurant for dinner and our waiter was fantastic. The staff are so friendly, helpful and professional and I love the decor, it's still very like La Stampa but brighter. The food was amazing, the mussels for starter were really good. I had ribeye steak with bernaise and they put the bernaise in a separate little pot on the plate which I love, there's nothing as bad as your steak being swamped with sauce. My boyfriend had the quail which he said was fab, we had a lovely bottle of house merlot which at €26 was a tad expensive. We had a lovely night, it really was a treat. Will definitely be going back again it really is great for an occasion.

Lovely surroundings & fittings but don't think it is as good as its predecessor! I really enjoyed the old world faded French chic of the old place, but heh, its gone! The menu has good variety - just the right size - shame some of it wasn't available!! The starters were excellent but was dispappointed in the lack of taste in the Pot au Feu & the meat was tough! The waiters know their stuff though - a good detailed knowledge of the making of the dishes. Service was good, but it was a quiet midweek night! Pricey, but not unexpected. Plenty of other places in town to visit before I return!

Had a lovely dinner at Balzac last night with my mother. We started out in the cocktail room which I found very relaxed and comfortable. The cocktail prices weren't crazy - and my mum's sherry was very good value indeed. On to dinner. The bread that came to the table was excellent, as was the service. We shared the scallops to start which were nicely cooked - two came with the roe attached, and two came without. For main course, I had the stuffed quail, and my mother had hake with black pudding. Both came with a few of the duck fat roast potatoes which I wouldn't order separately again. They're only okay. We had a nice bottle of Château Pesquie, though I don't know what kind of mark-up was on it. My mother found the room unbearably warm, but when we mentioned it, the heat was turned off immediately. Unfortunately, she only let me ask towards the end of our meal so we didn't get the full reward of it being shut off. A very enjoyable meal, though the bill mounted up pretty quickly.

This place is not cheap. The mark up on wine would make Dick Turpin blush. I went there last Saturday night with two friends. The service was a bit hit and miss but very friendly. I started with seared scallops accompanied with minted French beans, orange and almonds. The beans were definitely minty with an orange segment on top but I could detect no trace of almonds. Unfortunately the three rather small and quite delicious scallops were a bit cold. My companions had chicken liver parfait, apple jelly and toasted soda bread on the one hand and artisan smoked fish platter on the other. The parfait was very pleasant but was indistinguishable from a supermarket bought Brussels pate when divested of the jelly. The smoked fish platter which consisted of thin slices of very ordinary farmed smoked salmon with a bit of smoked mackerel thrown in on a bed of lettuce was an insult at the price. Mains were slow cooked beef on a bed of vichy carrot with a side order of duck fat roast potatoes for two us and baked whole monkfish with pea beurre blanc for the other. The slow cooked beef, which appeared to be a boned out piece of shin, was very tasty if a little dry and the vichy carrot had both the taste and texture of a well known brand of baby food. The potatoes were quite lovely. My friend’s monkfish was declared to be beautiful. Turning to deserts, two us opted for the quite sinful and delicious chocolate cake. My other companion choose blue d'auvergne with mulled wine pear, which was horrible. The above was accompanied by 2 bottles of a pleasant Sancerre followed by 2 cognacs, 1 calypso coffee and 2 coffees. The bill came to €292 including service and we donated the €8 out of 6 crispy50's to the indigent restaurateurs association.

I really wanted to like this restaurant because I think the dining room is beautiful. The evening began badly with us having to wait nearly ten minutes for our table, despite having told the staff we needed to be out of the place quickly. We had booked the pre theatre at 6 and had explained to staff that we needed to leave at 7.15. I had two starters (smoked haddock carpaccio and the scallops) and both were very good. However, my partner's coq au vin was tiny and lacking in taste. We had a carafe of New Zealand Sauvignon which was lovely. However, my husband asked for another glass of it and was given another wine. When we told the waiter he insisted it was the same wine - we didn't have time to argue! Despite my food being good, I would not repeat this dining experience.

I really enjoyed the food here. Beetroot & French onion soup was delicious, followed by melt in your mouth beef. Even the tea cup for my mint tea was nicely warmed. Service was efficient but a little cold. Prices are slightly on the high side, but worth it.

We visited Balzac last Saturday night, for a 9 o clock sitting, asked if we would like to have a pre dinner drink in the bar, obviously we accepted. All four of us decided to have a Mojito, which was spectacular. We were then brought to our table which was situated in the centre of the very impressive dining room, however, two out of our party had pulled the short straw in that they felt they were ducking and diving to avoid trays of food and drinks, I however was not experiencing the same (thank God). My starter was the chicken liver parfait, cleverly served in a glass terrine, with toasted soda bread, delicious. This was followed by a mains that was out of this world, slowly cooked beef (cheek of beef, no less). The beef was so tender that it literally melted in my mouth and was easily cut with my butter knife!!!! Lemon Berry fool finished my meal, a little too sweet for me, but the dish was emptied none the less!! All in all, food, I would give 9/10, service 8/10 (a little slow). A great night was had by all, and we will be back!!!!

Beautiful setting but quite pretentious food. Worth a visit though.

Have eaten in Balzac twice recently. Was impressed to see chef Paul Flynn there on one occasion. The food was great- superb in places. Best kept secret is their Sunday roast crispy chicken with fab vegetables and duck fat roasted potatoes. I took my folks here and they loved it. Great for family Sunday lunch. Second time was for sat dinner with friends - had the hake, which was amazing, and the wild mushroom starter-cant fault the food. Service was good but patchy. Lots of management types managing and pleasant wait-staff waiting! Only gripe is that they all disappeared for a while late on but this seems to be common in lots of places as the night wears on. Oh yes and the wine list is expensive-pity because that's short sighted. I’ll be back though for that Sunday lunch!

I loved La Stampa back when it opened first of all and it has been a few years since it was at it best (the last good chef was when they moved the entire kitchen from Paffic - now SIN- over to La Stampa. The food here is very good, none of the menu disappointed. The room looks well and the new decor gives it a fresh look. The only thing that wasn't up to the par of the rest of the food was the service. Our waitress was under pressure, but it didn't mar the fantastic dining experience. I will be back again and again.

Gourmet cuisine without the pretence. Very much a Parisienne Brasserie, rather than a stuffy "book 6 months in advance" fine dining restaurant. Nice to see that the most common reservation about French restaurants (insulting and patronising waiters) has been avoided here; the staff are very friendly, if a little stretched, and they are knowledgeable about the original menu, which surpases my pitiful French! There is no such compromise with the food. Top quality, quite excellent. Fascinating combinations of flavours, ample choice for the adventurous diner and enough to cover the more conservative palette. My wife had the hake, we would both recommend it. We had three courses and a good bottle of Pouilly Fumee, the price was very reasonable indeed for what we had... Another new approach to running a French restaurant! My advice would be to make a night of it. Get in there early, have a cocktail in the tasteful bar beforehand and take your time over your meal - you may have to anyway - let the flavours develop and in doing so, do justice to their fine chef. I was recommended the seafood fondue later on, I will certainly be back to try it out.

I ate in Balzacs in August 2007 with some work colleagues. I found the service very poor. We were being led to our table when the waiter happened upon another group and led them to their table instead, leaving us standing there like idiots. It took about 5 minutes before the maitre d' noticed. He was very apologetic, it must be said. The service was haphazard. Our water was refilled but not our wine and we had to ask for another bottle. Also, they almost forgot to take our order for wine. Food was mixed. Starters were almost perfect, main courses mixed and desserts not great. Overall, not unpleasant but not as good as I'd hoped. Would not return.

We dined in Balzac to celebrate a special occasion on Saturday evening. The room is magnificant and lends itself to creating a superb atmosphere. Food was very good. Our waitress was very pleasant and helpful and knew the menu. Unfortunately she appeared to be overworked and was spread far too thinly over too many tables. This led to relatively poor service and detracted from the overall experience. If they could get the service right this could be a great restaurant.

Celebrated a special occasion here recently and have to say I was very disappointed. I asked the waiter for the wine menu and he pointed out that the wine list was printed on the back of the menu and that Balzac is a brasserie and not a restaurant!! That certainly put me in my place! The food when it arrived and after being presented with someone else’s dish, was good. The service however was appalling. I have never experienced such a lack of service in my life. I came away having spent a small fortune - certainly not "Brasserie" prices and felt terribly disappointed.

What a change. La Stampa gone, here is the new venue in what is for me the most beautiful dining room in the city centre. Balzac was an amazing French writer, who died after his writing 'j'accuse'. He would have 'accuse' the bill at the end of this meal for sure. The menu is interesting, smartly lay out and with a good selection. Pricey enough but not that bad.

Just dined here on Sunday night with Hubby. It was a very special occasion and the location was perfect. It wasn't busy but still had a nice atmosphere. Food was excellent. Try the Sunday roast option for two, it's fantastic. Service was just perfect and you enjoyed your evening with enough privacy. Highly recommend this restaurant. Not cheap but so worth the effort into the City.

What a gem. Myself and a group of the girls decided to celebrate a birthday here. What can I say I haven’t had such an amazing dinner in Dublin in a very long time. The dining room is so elegant you really do feel like you are in France. The food was out of this world we all went for something different and we all thought melt in your mouth everything was seasoned just right not one of us even reached for the salt and pepper all evening. The staff were fabulous as well very attentive and approachable. All I can say is if anyone is looking for me this Sunday ill be in Balzac sampling their brunch menu. This restaurant is a must try. Enjoy!!

My friend and I decided to investigate the and to our utter delight we were not disappointed. From the moment I emailed my booking to the telephone confirmation, later another call on my behalf requesting a later sitting (as the shopping was taking a little more of a toll!) to arriving and relaxing in the beautifully appointed ante room (it felt like it!). God we thought finally a restaurant where the experience begins from the moment you make the reservation has arrived in Dublin. The decor of the bar and the restaurant itself is beautiful, neither intrusive but feels sumptuous and obvious class. The staff were excellent. Friendly, informative and above all speedy, deft and discreet. We were even more delighted when we bumped in to an old friend from The Clarence. The excellent sommelier Shirin. At this point we just sat back and enjoyed the recommendations. I thoroughly recommend the Crab crème brulee and the Cod balande; in fact all the fish dishes were superb. As were the vegetables. The cheese plate was a little disappointing in that there was very little of it but that is the only criticism that I have. We obviously loved it. See you again very soon.

Ate here last week after a friend told us about it.. Food tasteless, waitress was extremely rude and bar manager really cocky.. Will never go back the table beside us said same thing... wouldn't recommend it to anyone..

Ate here on a Thursday evening - seemed very quiet for 8 o'clock but atmosphere was relaxed and enjoyable. Really liked the decor. Service was prompt, friendly and efficient. Crab creme brulee excellent to start and lamb and steak mains fantastic. Dessert cocktails not to be missed. Not cheap but worth it.

A large group of us ate here for a birthday recently. The ante-room and dining area are very attractive, somewhat reminiscent of a grand brasserie you would see in Paris. I have to say that while the food was pretty ok, the service was appalling. 2 of our group did not receive their mains until the rest had nearly finished theirs. In fairness these dishes were comp-ed.

I really thought that this was one of the best restaurants I've eaten in lately. Paul Flynn of the Tannery in Dungarvan, Waterford is in charge of the menu, which is French in nature. The dining room is elegant and not that noisy, which is a surprise, given the high ceilings. Our starters were the crab crème brulee and seared scallops, both delicious and served with tasty garnishes. Mains were the roast lump of lamb, served nicely pink and hake on garlic potatoes. The flavours of both mains were strong, but worked well with everything on the plate. Desserts were a lemon curd meringue fool (mmm especially the jelly at the bottom) and a lovely decadent chocolate truffle cake. We were taking it easy on drink so we ordered a carafe of Italian red from Puglia, which turned out to be a light yet tasty red. One complaint I would have was with regard to the espresso, which was closer in size to an Americano than I would have liked. There is a 12.5% service charge. With this, and two bottles of sparkling water included, the bill came to €140 approx. Given the quality of the food and the generous portions, I felt that this was appropriate. Service is obviously meant to be a little slow in this restaurant, and while occasionally we wished for it to be a little faster, it was nice to sit back and enjoy conversation in lovely surroundings.

Came here for my birthday this year, and loved it. Is a lovely large dining area, quite sparse, but I think that works well, and with large high mirrors at either end so you can surreptitiously spy on your fellow diners! Or, more usefully, see when the waiters are coming. Had a delicious asparagus starter and a wonderful steak for main course. Perfectly cooked and great service. I loved it, but sure, that's 'cos it was my birthday and I was being spoilt! ;-)

Six of us went here for a meal and six of us could not decide what to have, it all looked and tasted good. Service was excellent and the atmosphere light and airy. The waiter was very good and even stopped us ordering too much which I think relates to service and not profits

I was very interested is seeing how the Tannery ethos transferred from Dungarvan to Dawson Street. A group of six of us dined recently on a Saturday evening. All were very pleased with the quality of the food and the service. The dining room itself is worthy of a visit on its own. Superb sense of space. Tables are rather close to one another but the mirror effects are good. Even the persons facing the wall have a view of the rest of the room through the use of well angled mirrors. The wine is a little pricey! I recommend that you pay attention to Tom Doorleys review and recommendations for good wine at reasonable prices. Well done to Paul Flynn on the overall experience.

Ate here on Friday Evening. An early meal, about 7. When I had called to book earlier, I was given the distinct impression that it was all but booked out. It was at most half full, and less when we arrived. Anyway, the room is sumptuous; it makes you want to wear a tuxedo! I had the Crab Crème Brule to start, with pickled cucumbers and it was delicious. The mixture really works! For main I went for the grilled plaice with mash & citrus olive oil, my girlfriend had the Seared Scallops, Minted French Beans, and Orange & Almonds. We were both delighted. She does know scallops and these were perfection. The dessert menu is limited (actually I think the whole menu is a little limited) but we both found something agreeable in there, (a float & a crumble). We had a white from the Loire Valley, the name escapes me (45€) which was rather good. On the whole it is a beautiful place to eat, the food was excellent and there was plenty of service, if anything too much. €162 for the 3 courses and the wine. Result, I'll definitely go again.

Balzac has superb food arguably the most inventive at its price in Dublin. The room is lovely. The service is slowly improving from a very low base. Two sittings on a Saturday night. Atmosphere excellent /service poor.

Truly Awful Service. Food Pretty Good. Expensive. Wasn't worth it. I booked for a wedding anniversary. We arrived on time, and were shown to our seats at 8:15 and given a menu. First complaint is that I first of all thought a mistake had been made, as it looked as if we were shown to a table for 4, and that two of the seats were already taken by strangers. But no, this is how some of the tables were laid out. Not good. Cramming seats in this way is not the way to do things. There was less than an inch between the tables, and it was very difficult to have any kind of private conversation. By 8:45, we hadn't been approached by any staff. We went looking for service. Twice we asked. By 8:55, the manager arrived down and profusely apologised. We honestly just wanted to leave, but he was very nice and managed to get us to smile, relax, and stay. He gave us some complimentary glasses of champagne. Nice! Things started happening! Our waiter was from Spain, and was very polite and knowledgeable. Took our order, and food arrived - and food was very good too. We noticed other tables also suffering from lack of service, and it became a free for all - those who shouted loudest or made the biggest scene got the most attention. The couple beside us finished and left. Privacy at last. We order desert and Irish Coffees. Unfortunately, partly due to the cramming of tables together, our waiter was nudged from behind by another passing waiter just as he was putting my Irish Coffee on the table. Instead, a scalding Irish Coffee landed in my lap. Ouch. The manager apologized. He did all the right things, but we decided to leave. I'd go back for the food if the service was a lot better. Otherwise there are other nicer places to spend an evening.

Food very good. Service appalling. Worst I've experienced in years. Interior so bland and unimaginative. La Stampa was far superior in every way. Too expensive.

Had a good meal here. The room must be the best dining space in Dublin. Wonderful high ceilings and nicely laid out room, bright and airy. We had the Brandade of Cod and Crab Crème Brulee to start with and both were excellent choices. For mains we had the slow cooked beef, which is carved in the room, was very good but may have been getting a little cold as the fat had turned white, which maybe a sign that it had been resting too long. I had the Bourride of Chicken which was very tasty as well but the tarragon did over power it a little, none the less both plates were finished. We didn't think we could have a dessert but next time I think that the Vanilla ice cream and Pedro Ximenez sherry will be a must. Had this before in Fenn's Quay restaurant Cork and it is excellent. The staff are all very polite and friendly. It’s a new restaurant and definitely has the formula correct, in time this will only improve on excellence.

I ate here last night and it was great - I had the onion tart and then the quail pie. Both were excellent. Service was good and the atmos too. And check out the Dyson hand dryer in the toilet - it works!!