Mon Balzac Restaurant & Piano Bar — Restaurant in Gdansk

Got SCAMMED and was treated very RUDE. During my dinner I ordered a glass of Ardberg 10, a wisky I know well and love. I was served the wrong wisky, a cheap scotch that barely had the same taste to what I ordered. When I notified the waiter he told me the taste must be off because the bottle has been open for a while. ((BIG FAT LIE! I do not believe that in a place as popular as this a bottle would be open for so long that the taste would be that dramatically off + having a bottle open does not make certain notes dissapear and other notes randomly appear)) I was given a glass of Ardberg from a "new" bottle. And was notified that the first glass of wisky would be free (I sure hoped so because it was not what I had ordered and I barely drank any of it) After I finished my glass of Ardberg and had my desert I had asked the waiter for a second glass of Ardberg and the bill. The worst part: THEY HAD THE AUDACITY TO SERVE ME THE WRONG WISKY AGAIN! The first time they served me the wrong wisky I thought they made an honest mistake, but when I had drank the second glass of the garbage wisky they served me I knew they thought I wouldn't notice. They must have thought I was stupid. Though the only stupid thing I did was not calling the police....

The outdoor seating is very nice, I would definitely recommend. As well, our server was very good. He came and checked on us when needed but otherwise left us alone. He also spoke English which was very helpful!

The food was really good! I would say this cafe is mostly Polish but with an Italian flair (bruschetta and 3 types of tagliatelle on the menu). We ordered bruschetta and, while it’s good, it’s only 2 pieces/slices so not good for sharing other than 2 people (even then you may not want to share as it’s pretty tasty). I ordered the Zurek soup which has sausage, egg, and broth. It is super tasty! So tasty I ordered another bowl. I would say the portion size is good for a light lunch but not if you’re really hungry. Lastly, my date ordered the Polish beef sandwich. It was good but, again, the portion size will not fill you if you’re very hungry. I also ordered their seasonal lemonade and it was refreshing and just a tiny bit sweet. Absolutely a delight!

Overall, you could probably find cheaper food with larger portions. However, the location and ambience were worth a tiny up charge to me. Especially considering the normal cost of an American meal...

First of all, the plush, gold love seats on the patio made this restaurant really stand out from the rest. Gdansk offers foodies so much, but this interior sparked our interest right away. Whether it's your eyes or your stomach that leads you to Mon Balzac you may just leave a piece of your heart there, too.

Our host and server, Monika, made it so easy to relax and enjoy a locally inspired meal; my husband had steak with golden mash and me, sea bream with asparagus and mixed greens. Fresh, well prepared and uncontrived our plates were full of color and flavor. We ate slow, drank plenty and enjoyed Monika's ebullient conversation. To be clear, she was only there exactly when we needed her.

Before Covid, we traveled internationally often for work and pleasure. Michelin yes, but local fare with personal touches is much more enticing for us. It's often difficult to weed through culinary options in a touristy, and in the case of the Gdansk, abundant scene. This place is easy to recommend and will be wonderful to return to. Thank you Monika for all of your personal assistance. We...