Balthazar Restaurant, New York: Notes by photograph...

What makes the ideal brasserie? For breakfast? In New York? Keith McNally has the answer with his Balthazar Restaurant in Soho. As you step into Balthazar, it feels as though you have stepped within a baguette's throw of the Seine complete with enormous bowls of chocolat chaud and baskets of freshly baked hot croissants. The only downside to this place, as a testament to its popularity perhaps, is that tables are so close together it is almost claustrophobic. Service is friendly and well executed. Just ensure that you book if you plan on going for breakfast or brunch on a weekend. As a regular visitor to Soho, this is my favourite breakfast spot within easy reach of the hotels, and no culinary tour of New York could fail to at least mention this place. Keith McNally's extremely noisy at night Schillers may be his current hotspot but Balthazar is still his masterpiece.

Here are photos from various visits over the past 9 months.

just like home...

Roasted Pepper and Caramelised Onion Quiche with gruyère cheese and mixed greens.

Soft boiled organic egg with soldiers

Omelette with herbs and gruyère, with home fries and a side of cumberland breakfast sausage

Eggs Norwegian - poached eggs with smoked salmon and hollandaise on an English muffin.

Buckwheat Crepe with scrambled eggs, ham and gruyère.

Balthazar Restaurant, 80 Spring St., at Crosby St.; 212-965-1414