Brasserie Balzac Restaurang — Restaurant in Stockholm

Let me start off by saying that as of January 2021 due to Covid restrictions venues cannot serve alcohol after 8pm. We were aware of this.

So we arrived for our 6.30pm dinner reservation. The venue is busy and packed so be prepared for quite a noisy environment.

Unfortunately our waitress was rather brusque and we have to repeat our order and clarify a few points repeatedly. It was not the fact that we spoke English, as she was very good on English too, she just did not want to listen. She was also difficult to get hold of when we wanted a couple of little extras.

Our entrees and main dish were of great quality and delicious- that I cannot fault. However, 8.15pm came and we were ready to order dessert We are then told that due to the restrictions in place the restaurant has to close at 8.30pm and there will be no time to get our desserts. I have to ask: why not mention this at time of making the reservation, or as soon as you arrive? We could have then made the decision to eat a bit quicker and make time for dessert, and then restaurant gets more money out of us, as well as satisfied customers. Instead we are left rather unimpressed and underwhelmed. It might have also helped if they had not taken so long to deliver the main dishes after our entrees.

A couple of other key points. It's an expensive restaurant. Fine, we knew that, but 75 sek for a bottle of sparkling water?? (that's about 12 euros/11 pounds).

Sadly I don't think we will repeat...

In general, a decent place to grab a bite if you’re doing errands on a weekend afternoon or so. I came here and brought my dad as a birthday lunch treat and we dined on Saturday around 15:00. Unsurprisingly, there were a lot of people as the place was almost completely packed. (Payday weekend).

We sat by the window and could not hear each other at all as the premises is quite large, tall ceilings and the echo is causing sounds to reverberate. Not a nice spot if you’re trying to have a decent conversation. I like that they offer multiple bathroom stalls at the back of the restaurant and it was easy to navigate. The food was really good, which brings the rating high for my review. Had the Steak Minute with french fries and tomato salad. My dad had the Entrecôte and he said it was one of the best ones he’s had.

What brings the score down was the fact that it was way too loud in there. Had to shout in order to be able to hear each other and when everyone does it… well, you get the point. Service was off. We were asked three times if we wanted a wine refill, coffee, dessert etc. It’s great that you’te trying to be hospitable to your dining guests, but I experienced it as trying to force me to order more from the menu than what I wanted. Not only is it pushy, but also disturbs the already unsuccessful conversation we’re trying to have while...

I had such a wonderful experience at Brasserie Balzac Restaurang. The flavors were absolutely amazing, and I can't recommend their tuna starters enough – they're a must-try. For the main course, I opted for the fish and it didn't disappoint. The mussels were also a great choice.

Now, let's talk about their French fries. They're hands down the best I've ever had. The balance between the crispy shell and the soft potato inside was spot on. And the best part? They weren't greasy at all. You could taste the oil, but it only added to the flavor.

The atmosphere had that charming chatty vibe you'd expect from a typical French restaurant. The service was really good and efficient, which made the whole experience even better. The food itself was delicious, and the pricing was fair.

One highlight for me was definitely the duck liver – so flavorful and perfectly cooked. Even the wines, including the house wine, were quite enjoyable. And if you're a fan of onion soup, you're in for a treat – theirs is tasty.

Overall, the portions were generous, the setting was lovely, and I must admit, Brasserie Balzac has become one of my favorite restaurants in Stockholm. If you're looking for an authentic French dining experience, this place is...