Balans Soho
High jinks in low places from the break of day to bedtimeAverage Reviews
About
Established 1987 on a corner of Old Compton Street, Balans has always been about fantastic food, great people and having a really good time.
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Reviews
Based on 2746 reviews
Kim H.
08:22 14 May 23
We managed to get in on Sunday morning before the crowds arrived, about 9am. We were greeted immediately and allowed our pick of tables. Our server gave us...AJ R.
00:37 16 Mar 23
Oh my gosh, came here to catch up with a friend and it was so much fun! The waiter was hilarious and super attentive. I asked him for his recommendation of...Mr Liv
01:33 12 Feb 23
This place is unbelievable, great choice of food and drinks. The staff are extremely nice and welcoming. The gent at front of house is exactly that, very accommodating and polite.The food, the pair of us had the pancakes. Along with a couple of coffees. Absolutely 5 star all round! The best we’ve come across in London so far without fail!One thing I would add, I don’t personally believe in added gratuity on the end of any bill. I think tips should be given for great service and not compulsory. We gave an extra 15% to our waiter but it’s really not needed in a place like this when the staff are so good.. I didn’t get the waiters name, but if they were all like him, everyone should be tipping 15% with the service he gives.Will be back for sure!!Steven W.
12:37 17 Jan 23
Made reservations for Balans and was recommended by Joe Locke so I really wanted to check it out. Cute restaurant with a tree in the back that is inside....Brandy C.
03:30 14 Jan 23
We were seated immediately upon arrival. The waitresses were very friendly however, I didn't receive a reordered alcoholic beverage when asked. The food was...Kenn Andersen
17:04 18 Dec 22
This place is amazing, the food was great, the staff attentive and kind and so cozy an atmosphere. We had our plane home cancelled and was happy because then we could go back for another meal. Especially those pancakes, never had them more fluffy and delicious....Adam McVey
10:25 30 Nov 22
My girlfriend and I had a lovely time at Balans. The atmosphere was lovely and friendly and our waiter was great. He made the experience all the better.Food is great too. We both had the curry and I highly recommend it.Wine menu is also fantastic and when I didn’t know what to order our waiter gave a fantastic recommendation.Ron R.
11:58 09 Oct 22
The atmosphere here is very nice. The prices are a bit high. We arrived for a late lunch about 16:30. We were told we must order food before 17:30. We...Claire Dew
17:43 07 Sep 22
I popped in here for a quick dinner before a show and SO glad I did. What a place!Friendly and attentive staff.Great menu. Fantastic for people watching- Inside and out.I asked if I could minus and add some items to a particular dish (I’m a fussy eater) and the staff were great and didn’t make me feel inconvenient even tho I was!I was very fortunate to stumble upon such a lovely place before my show.Megan Jacques
20:28 03 Sep 22
Its so lovely you spend all your money! 😅 staff are wonderful and welcoming, foods nice and cocktails are AMAZING try the espresso Martini you won't be disappointed! Also Medusa is delicious 😋Ray Fu
20:30 25 Aug 22
Went there for team lunch. More of a brunch place if you're into that. Had steak and eggs with crispy potatoes. Very good price and portion. Steak was cooked perfectly. Potatoes were a tad greasy. Booth tables are a bit small. Coffee was amazing. Overall pleasant experience. Staff were fun and friendly. Make sure you get the spinach. It's good for you! Noisy coffee and smoothie machine if you're sitting next to the bar. The back area is more quieter.Martina Rubino
19:44 20 Aug 22
I’ve been wanting to come and eat at this place for a while and I finally did two days ago. The store felt cozy and welcoming, and so were the staff. The breakfast was good and the coffee one of the best I’ve had in London. Will definitely go back.Sundos Malaikah
11:41 14 Aug 22
The place has a lovely vibe, very friendly staff and nice seating area. However, the food is pretty unimpressive in my opinion. I had Egg Benedict with salmon and it was okay but the muffins aren’t that fresh. On an additional note, the flat white I had was really good. Was nice for a quick brunch, don’t think I’ll come again.Shine
12:39 05 Aug 22
Went for lunch yesterday for the first time. It was great, lovely inside and had table by window. Meal was great - fish and chips and eggs florentine. The pudding at end was simply divine. The waiting staff are very good and efficient. Will come back as a great Soho spot to eat.Ishika Cuppoor
23:26 14 Jul 22
Excellent service and very yummy food. Decent price and overall I really enjoyed my time there. The waiters were all so friendly too ! Will definitely be backDj W.
18:51 02 Jul 22
Bomb.com breakfastI'm from California. Lived in New York. I know good food. This is it. Cheers.Pam S.
22:25 19 Jun 22
Promptly greeted at the door and seated. All of the waitstaff were friendly and attentive. Overall great service. Food was excellent. We had Fish...Alice
18:23 18 May 22
Had the loveliest spontaneous lunch date here today! We ordered the cheesy omelette, eggs florentine and ended with a Delicacy dessert to share and it was all delicious. Great vegetarian options!All three members of staff that were waiting today around 12/1 were so friendly, attentive and simply good vibes (I believe one was named Diego, great shirt).Definitely will be recommending!Lara Vujovic
00:04 02 May 22
We came late on a Sunday and expected to be able to get food and drinks. Drinks arrived on time and were okay.The food took about 30 mins and the burger came out cold and the side salad came out without any dressing. The squid was nothing to write home about either.Service was terrible. Super slow, no smiles or friendly greetings. We felt like a nuisance when we asked for things like allergen menu, water, and clean plates (they brought out dirty plates initially). These seem like pretty normal things to ask for, but I had a feeling the servers would have slapped us if it were socially acceptable.I gave two stars because the guy from the kitchen immediately added olive oil dressing to our salad, and quickly swapped the dirty plates for clean ones. He was the only great member of the staff. The decor, music, and atmosphere was also nice.You can see in my other reviews that I’m not difficult and generally like to have a good time at restaurants, but this experience was just too bad. We opted out of the service charge.Linds T.
13:09 30 Apr 22
Such a delicious spot! Our group of 5 loved our lattes, fresh squeezed orange juices, avocado toast, English Breakfast, pancakes, and all sides. We are in...J L
15:32 28 Apr 22
Very good atmosphere. The food delicious !freshly juice and food beautifully presented. The service is really very good, the bar tidy. Good music playing, great place to work with a computer and have a coffee also convenient to have lunch. I would recommend and will definitely come back again!J L
10:19 24 Apr 22
Very good atmosphere. The food delicious !freshly juice and food beautifully presented. The service is really very good, the bar tidy. Good music playing, great place to work with a computer and have a coffee also convenient to have lunch. I would recommend and will definitely come back again!Shen Sim
23:45 18 Apr 22
Firstly, the servers are so nice and friendly! A good space with window seats. Fun if you love to people watch. I tried the chicken dish, I wouldn't say it's fabulous but it's an interesting Asian British fusion and I don't mind having it again. The cocktail was good!Noam M.
22:59 11 Apr 22
Chose this place almost at random and was surprised at how good the food was. The Togarashi & Peanut Tofu was really tasty, done well. My companions were...Sara Chaves
13:20 10 Apr 22
I was very disappointed with the dinner. We didn't have to wait a long time for the table, so that was great. I had the big plate pork T-Bone and my friend had the Salmon and both dishes were a bit disappointing.The Salmon was basically only the Salmon, definitely needed a side dish, but for the price we thought it didn't need the side dish, and nothing was said when we ordered.The pork was very very dry. And the vegetables with it had some burned parts, literally black! I understand it could be slightly burned on the tips, but in this case it was at least one of the sides of the veggie, black.We order another small dish that was the Ham Hock Terrine but we didn't finish it, because the Ham was literally out of the fridge, cold and tasteless. Definitely not returning. For the price it was, I'm very surprised.J L
11:53 01 Apr 22
Very good atmosphere. The food delicious !freshly juice and food beautifully presented. The service is really very good, the bar tidy. Good music playing, great place to work with a computer and have a coffee also convenient to have lunch. I would recommend and will definitely come back again!David Johnson
11:54 23 Mar 22
People who arrived 15 minutes after us got their food which was basically what we ordered (by half). After inquiring, our 'other' half came quickly but was old and crusty while the missing half took a further 5 minutes. Obviously we were forgotten and our food given to the other table. Was not crowded so no excuse. The fresh food was good, so giving two stars.J L
16:42 16 Mar 22
Very good atmosphere. The food delicious !freshly juice and food beautifully presented. The service is really very good, the bar tidy. Good music playing, great place to work with a computer and have a coffee also convenient to have lunch. I would recommend and will definitely come back again!Suzanne Gill
11:32 12 Mar 22
Late night anniversary meal after a Theatre show, so we needed a restaurant that would be open late. I made a reservation for Friday night, and even though we were late (due to the show encores) we were still able to have a meal. The staff were pleasant.I must admit I didn't read the reviews and had just looked at the overall score. However, we enjoyed our food - burger and salmon. The salmon tasted great but I would've preferred if it came with more vegetables.The only downside for me were the Ladies toilet which seemed to have a leak. There was a quirky packet of matches on the table which we found amusing.Ashlee de Klerk
16:49 05 Mar 22
Lovely vibey brunch spot. French toast is nice but a bit on the dry side - they are generous with the toffee sauce but I wish the bread was a bit more soaked. Pancakes are light and fluffy, but again a bit on the dry side.Saira J. Barlas
21:32 25 Feb 22
The chicken and beef are absolutely halal here! The menu is delicious! The service is also great! The ambience is great and present. I loved the dining area as well.Just please tone down on the sweetness of things - the sugar can overkill!Noam M.
21:02 15 Feb 22
Chose this place almost at random and was surprised at how good the food was. The Togarashi & Peanut Tofu was really tasty, done well. My companions were...Mr Liv
16:16 14 Feb 22
This place is unbelievable, great choice of food and drinks. The staff are extremely nice and welcoming. The gent at front of house is exactly that, very accommodating and polite.The food, the pair of us had the pancakes. Along with a couple of coffees. Absolutely 5 star all round! The best we’ve come across in London so far without fail!One thing I would add, I don’t personally believe in added gratuity on the end of any bill. I think tips should be given for great service and not compulsory. We gave an extra 15% to our waiter but it’s really not needed in a place like this when the staff are so good.. I didn’t get the waiters name, but if they were all like him, everyone should be tipping 15% with the service he gives.Will be back for sure!!Lester W
10:36 06 Feb 22
Great Pancakes but NOT the syrup. My pancakes arrived covered in a blanket of thick ultra sweet syrup. It was a bit like glue in consistency and detracted from the otherwise great pancakes. It’s a shame they don’t offer real (not flavoured but actual) Maple Syrup. I’d gladly pay extra for that as an option. TIP: Ask for the standard syrup on the side.Noam M.
01:11 06 Feb 22
Chose this place almost at random and was surprised at how good the food was. The Togarashi & Peanut Tofu was really tasty, done well. My companions were...DAVID GRIFFITHS
15:43 29 Jan 22
Food was good. Service excellent and staff eager to serve.Found the beer very expensive for canned. But, it was a memorial get together for my late brother who loved the place. We will be back next year!Jenny Casey
08:09 23 Jan 22
Balans No.60 Soho was lovely. We had brunch there and the food was delicious; the best pancakes I’ve had for a long time. Completely affordable but top quality. The staff are great, they’re super polite and friendly. The decor inside is super quirky, exactly what you’d expect from Soho!Derrick Hart
21:13 13 Dec 21
Breakfast was amazing. We had the lobster benedict. The muffins are a plump, the eggs poached to perfection and a good amount of lobster too!Service and staff were attentive and drinks and food came at just the right time.Nothing was a bother and a nice slice of mince pie with the coffees was the sweet treat needed at the start of breakfast after a late night drinking.Definitely recommend.Karolina Kaluba
19:04 06 Dec 21
I'm shocked I haven't been here earlier. A place where you can shamelessly eat breakfast at midnight while sipping a cocktail listening to mix of ABBA, Vengaboys and Britney. Brilliant staff, good atmosphere, great food. Thank you!Harris Waqar
19:27 25 Oct 21
The pancakes were the highlight here! Amazing in every way. We had an excellent brunch with great service. The Eggs Benedict / royale were perfect. The Eggs in Hell have the perfect amount of spice in them, and the potatoes are delicious. We got the pancakes with banana and berries, highly recommend them.Tomas Krejci
23:44 28 Sep 21
Always good to eat here. Great octopus starter.Ruben is the best waiter😉 In years the nicest service we had here. It's good service usually but he was super sweet tonight.Nicole Parker
16:21 25 Sep 21
I visited from the states and did not have high hopes for English food. But I tell you, I was pleasantly surprised at how flavorful the food was. I ordered the Full English with French Toast and it was delectable. I truly enjoyed my meal. The service was great! We didn’t have a reservation, walked in and were immediately seated. Didn’t wait long for our meals. Our waitress made meal recommendations and explained different food items I was unfamiliar with (I.e black pudding). I will most definitely be back.Sarah Aramayo
14:38 19 Sep 21
Came here for our daughter's 18th birthday breakfast during our trip to London after having it recommended to us by a number of friends. Fantastic! A lovely feel to the place inside, friendly helpful staff and the food was so good! Don't even think twice about ordering the Lobster Eggs Benedict - just do it!Salvatore G.
03:44 14 Sep 21
Joyful and gay friendly environment. The food is average but the staff is really nice and the restaurant is in the heart of the gay street. Just remember to...Nick Lennon
21:55 13 Sep 21
Absolutely amazing! Been here a few times this year, every time is amazing, last visit (September 11th/London pride) our waiter (the guys who looks like Roy from IT crowd) was an absolute babe!Even when I split my drink all over me he was there quick as a flash with paper towels.And the food is always tasty and filling ☺️✨Lucy H
11:30 12 Sep 21
We visited Balans for lunch during the week and was a very pleasant experience. I didn't want to eat anything too heavy and Balans hit the spot as they serve all day breakfast . We had "eggs in hell" and pancakes with bacon, fresh juice and a coffee. The bill came to £27 which I though was reasonable for the West End. The staff were friendly and polite and made the experience very enjoyable. I'd definitely recommend Balans if you're in the area.희리둥절heeridungjul
12:23 06 Sep 21
I have been here with my boyfriend around 11.45am without any expectations, but the food were surprisingly good and the service of Fabio was fabulous. He was so busy with so many customers, able to deal with everyone even if obviously he was under stress because alone, but still smiling and trying to give the best service, and he did! Thank you Fabio, we will definitely come back 🙂Vladimir Milic
07:12 26 Aug 21
We were there late and pretty inebriated. They get us in quick and with no fuss and got some lovely greasy food in front of us in no time and it hit the spot just right. The fact the staff keep a smile on throughout was nothing short of amazing for 2 AM in Soho.Jamie Henderson The Small Business Bear
07:42 14 Aug 21
Very accommodating giving us an extra space so a third person could join us and the waiter was very chatty and helpful which was great.The curry was a bit thin and tastes a bit 'chip-shop' and the Caesar Salad was presented in a deconstructed way, which was fine, but again the dressing wasn't as good as it could have been and was too thin.I've been going to Balans since I moved to London and would go again, but probably order more drinks (which are great!) and less food.Mark Lloyd
14:53 04 Aug 21
Came here randomly as it looked decent and we just wanted to go find some dinner after a meeting. The food here has no right being as good as it was! It's not the cheapest, which I had put down to the location, but when the food arrived it was clear that the price is because it is really damn good food. We came for dinner and my fiance had the duck, which is a really generous portion and he was very impressed by. I had the fish and chips which was really impressive, as its very easy to do badly, but this one was excellent. Decided to get the warm donuts for dessert, but one plate would have been enough for both of us. Generous portions, good food, really happy that we stumbled across this place.Bernadette Cleaver
15:05 19 Jul 21
Had a wonderful lazy Sunday brunch here. Fantastic warm and welcoming staff. Excellent food and outstanding service. Will definitely returnDavid Butler
13:25 14 Jun 21
Possibly as a result of new ownership, but the quality of Balans has diminished just as their prices soar. Undoubtedly the hospitality industry has been hit hard, so it is understandable that venues might increase their prices, but there still has to be some correlation between cost and quality. I went for one of the most expensive items on the menu (baked halibut); what arrived was a paltry portion of halibut that would have seemed small as a starter, let alone a main. Other items which used to be welcomingly affordable are now priced at a premium unjustified by either the taste or size of what arrives.There are definitely other restaurants close by offering either equally good food at more reasonable prices, or vastly superior food at the same price, but give Balans No. 60 a miss.Rihan Khan
08:31 14 Jun 21
This place is really nice place to eat brunch to just have a simple breakfast to kick off the day. Loved the iced coffee that they served up here. The customer service was really nice and really attentive guys, thanks guys!Mario
21:34 01 Jun 21
Our waiter Omar was friendly and very polite, our starters: mac and cheese, risotto asparagus was superb. My hamburger was, unfortunately, very badI ordered medium well and I got it very well done, and the meat was dry, dry, dry..., fries were included but very bad quality and cold. 17.50 for a burger I think you expect a perfect meal. Any way I will be back there to try something differentMartin Conroy-Edwards
12:24 25 May 21
I'm so happy this venue managed to survive the endless government closures. It's always been a staple of Soho for me.Amazing atmosphere, excellent food and drinks and wonderfully friendly staff.This is the perfect place to relax with friends, or like me today, on your own.Chiara Lorenzetti
18:04 09 May 21
Food and service always fantastic. If you've never been to Balans you are missing a staple in Soho hospitality.Cocktails, vegan burger, croquettes ... all was absolutely delicious.I've been a client of Balans for six years now and it's always that safe place to have great food and even better service with the kindest and funniest personnel.A must go!Caramel Biscoff
22:31 20 Apr 21
Great location and always a good place to catch up with your friends.I think menu is very overpriced than the ones on the same road.The sassy waiter gave us the bill even though we didn't ask for it. A big sign that he didn't want us around anymore.Not the worst experience but wouldn't be my first choice 😊einas omar
09:59 06 Mar 21
Lovely brunch. Went there for my birthday the place was nice and the food alwas amazing. Drinks were good as well and the service wasnt too bad.Jolen MacGowan
12:14 10 Oct 20
Really enjoyed the food at Balans. I had the scallops and duck breasts, and the portion size was just right and the flavours were delightful. A slight wait for everything to arrive because of how they're having to restructure due to the virus, but it's nothing massively worrying...I'd rather them take their time and take all precautions for safety! I will be returning in the near future!Carole J.
00:43 08 Feb 20
The decor is really nice , the ambiance too but the food is bland, below average . We had burgers yesterday which were really dry and tasteless . The fries...David S.
22:49 07 Nov 18
Visited for my first time and will be a frequent visitor in my future travels! Place: Very clean, and very stylish. Options for outside sitting (very...Cheryl O.
02:00 13 Oct 18
This was so good. The food was so delicious that you don't need salt & pepper. The eggs are cooked to perfection. The restaurant is adorable & the staff...Sally G.
11:35 26 Jun 18
The smoothie was delicious. It had a good balance between the strawberries and bananas. Which the portion was more though for the price that was paid. The...
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12:00 PM - 11:00 PM
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Monday
12:00 PM - 11:00 PM
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Tuesday
12:00 PM - 11:00 PM
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Wednesday
12:00 PM - 11:00 PM
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Thursday
12:00 PM - 11:00 PM
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Friday
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Saturday
10:00 AM - 11:00 PM
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Sunday
10:00 AM - 06:00 PM