Belleville
"If Balthazar spawned a small child, it would look like Belleville, with its tin ceilings, tiny-tiled floors, bar back glittering with wine glasses, and enormous distressed mirrors scribbled with plats du jour. Although the environs are tres Francais, the crowd, with its briefcases and baby strollers, couldn't be more Park Slope," says Citysearch. "As for the menu, it’s a lighter take on traditional bistro favorites—they’ve done their best to skim the cream and butter. The steak tartare is served with or without raw egg; the pork tenderloin comes with porcini mushrooms and apricots instead of potatoes; and the spicy fish soup with saffron rouille crouton is a tangy treat made without any dairy," says New York magazine.
Gothamist reports on "the newish Belleville Lounge, which occupies the corner bistro's back room. Here, in addition to events like open mics and the weekly Sunday night Drag/Tea party, menu items like duck rilettes ($7) will be served. The prices are good: a baguette will a side bowl of rouille will run you $3, and there's an entire tarte flambée menu." Still, we're anticipating some nasty comments because our own denton writes, "Love to see Belleville as the worst restaurant ever. I've been waiting months to pan them!" Yikes. What's your take on this place?
Reviews (33)
DitmasSnark wrote a review on July 20, 2009 12:05 PM
This place jumped le sharque years ago. Overpriced, mediocre (or worse) food, terrible service.
PHfamily wrote a review on July 20, 2009 12:07 PM
Terrible! slow service and the food left three of the four of us sick......
ebklyn wrote a review on July 20, 2009 12:21 PM
The food is ok, especially the brunch. Its best to go at off hours b/c when its crowded you will NEVER see your waiter.
Pragonetti wrote a review on July 20, 2009 12:30 PM
always good, best french in the slope! Never too busy so easy to get in, very french on the inside.
ProfRobert wrote a review on July 20, 2009 12:31 PM
I could swear I've read a thread here a few months back about Belleville. I haven't been there since 2007 when the food was so-so and the service abominable. There were a whole bunch of posts about how new management had come in and that it had gotten much better in the interim.
ou812 wrote a review on July 20, 2009 12:36 PM
Overpriced only because the service is terrible and the food is nothing special. I mean it's Okay. I have only been there once, but that was enough for me. If you are going to serve someone a chocolatte custard in ramakin, make sure it hasn't been sitting in the fridge for so many days that it has developed a thick skin on top and that has cracked already. Moutarde's blows them away for French but even they seemed to have slipped a notch lately.
11217 wrote a review on July 20, 2009 12:47 PM
If you've gone to Belleville prior to about 9 months ago, give it another try. It has been revamped in the past year, and is much better with regard to food and service.
Brunch is good.
DitmasSnark wrote a review on July 20, 2009 1:01 PM
I'm willing to give them another shot, though the last brunch we had there was a mess.
I remember it vividly as if it were yesterday [cue swirly harp music]...
They claimed to have run out of French toast, yet plate after plate of eggs and toast kept being served. Did they run out of cinnamon? Did the cook's bread-dipping hand seize up? It remains a mystery. Oh yes, then they charged us for the unavailable French toast when we finally flagged down a waiter for the bill.
Springs wrote a review on July 20, 2009 1:06 PM
great steak and eggs for brunch. service was usually always decent. maybe im not as high maintenance as some of the poster here are. good atmosphere to sit back and enjoy bottomless cups of coffee , read the paper and chill out.
EatItBrooklyn wrote a review on July 20, 2009 1:06 PM
Hmmm, very mixed reviews indeed, but I've have nothing but good experiences here. Great burger, great fries, good mussels & really tasty, perfectly roasted chicken. I love the interior too, like a train station in the French countryside. Only beer & wine (as of my last visit a few months ago). For photos of the food, check Eat It Brooklyn!
Pragonetti wrote a review on July 20, 2009 1:21 PM
I just wanted to say that everytime I have been there I didnt think the service was slow, I didnt think it was fast either. I thought it great for a nice casual meal with no where to be afterwards and my waiters have always been very nice.
randster wrote a review on July 20, 2009 1:26 PM
It was annoying that they only accept American Express (hence the ugly ATM machine at the entrance). Food and service mediocre.
denton wrote a review on July 20, 2009 1:43 PM
Yes, this was definitely featured as ROTD not long ago.
When they opened, we went frequently, it was right down the block from our place. Food was good, nice decor, nice vibe. It gradually went down the shitter. Randster, if they take Amex it's a step up for them. Seems like they lost the ability to do cards for a while. I wonder why. That's when they got the ATM. A sign of a desperate place, they don't have to give up the 2% on CCs, and they get another 1% from the ATM. I've heard people say it's gotten better lately, my review is based on my experience.
bibini wrote a review on July 20, 2009 2:21 PM
Since the management change, the Belleville has been heading up. Much more attentive experience and friendly atmosphere than its predecessor. Chef is better and more consistent. Good wine list at reasonable prices. Outdoor seating now. Comments on the old place are definitely accurate -- the resto was being run into the ground. But really if you haven't been here in the past 6-9 months, your information's way out of date.
rocketal wrote a review on July 20, 2009 2:30 PM
We live in the neighborhood and eat here often. It is, by far, one of our favorite places in the city. The food is amazing, the atmosphere is wonderful and the staff is wonderful.
11217 wrote a review on July 20, 2009 2:42 PM
Rocketal - Since that is your first and only post on brownstoner to date, I have to say that it would be MUCH more professional to simply state your affiliation with said restaurant and acknowledge its past issues instead of shamelessly shilling for it.
Your post makes me sorry I stood up for the place.
dirty_hipster wrote a review on July 20, 2009 2:52 PM
LOL @ the rip off of the Balthazar decor - red awning, same curved writing in the windows.
11217 wrote a review on July 20, 2009 2:58 PM
I could be incorrect, but hasn't Belleville been around quite a bit longer than Balthazar...?
dirty_hipster wrote a review on July 20, 2009 3:02 PM
Maybe - but has that awning?
11217 wrote a review on July 20, 2009 3:08 PM
Not sure, maybe someone who's lived in the hood a long time knows, but I thought Belleville has been around for ages.
When would you guess Balthazar opened, DH?
dirty_hipster wrote a review on July 20, 2009 3:13 PM
I think Bzar opened late 90s - like 96 maybe?
Regardless I'm pretty sure Bzar is just a characture of 100s of parisian bistros - nothing original by any means
bivouac wrote a review on July 20, 2009 3:25 PM
11217 - Belleville opened after I moved to the hood in 2000. I would say it opened in 2002 or 2003 maybe.
In any case, I used to love the place, but it did seem to go downhill over the last couple of years. I haven't been in a year or two, so I don't know what it's like under the new management. I would certainly be glad to give it a try again, although now I live closer to Bar Tabac and find their food to be pretty tasty, too.
DitmasSnark wrote a review on July 20, 2009 3:26 PM
11217 - I shared your suspicions about the apparent sockpuppet above.
goldie wrote a review on July 20, 2009 3:28 PM
ate here once a year ago. served us a rotten fish, and the manager just shrugged when we mentioned it to him. a.holes.
if its under new mgmt and is heading up , they should publicize that with a banner, because you only give a place one chance and no more when you get that quality food/treatment.
doldrums wrote a review on July 20, 2009 3:33 PM
since new magement has come aboard, it has taken a turn for the better
washingtonandatlantic wrote a review on July 20, 2009 3:33 PM
I'd say Belleville opened late 2003/early 2004 - was definitely after mid 2003 when I started spending time in that area.
And I think its fine - decent food, not that over priced, but just expensive enough that I never went there on a regular basis when I lived nearby. Haven't been there since I moved out of PS in 2005, but still have fondish thoughts of it.
crimsonson wrote a review on July 20, 2009 3:56 PM
We just there yesterday for early Sunday dinner.
My server was attentive and friendly.
Food delivery was a bit on the slow side but nothing unusual for typical NY restaurant.
Taste? Above average. The short loin was a bit on the bland side but the texture was excellent (soft/tender). I liked the risotto side.
Our outdoor table was a bit unbalanced and shakey.
Overall? I like Moutarde better. However, I will need to try Belleville's brunch.
denton wrote a review on July 20, 2009 4:23 PM
Like I said I lived down the block.. I looked at my digital photos and the first one I have is from 12/03, and it was open. I also remember taking some shots when the resto was under construction, and they're not in my digital archive, so I must have shot on film. 2001 I was still shooting a lot of film. Anyway we were all thrilled when it opened. We joked that it added 50k in value to the apt. It replaced a bodega.
grilledsardine wrote a review on July 20, 2009 6:06 PM
This place is about average. Not comparison to Balthazar in my opinion. And separately I hate it when publications try to categorize the people in a neighborhood as if French people don't use briefcases or baby strollers.
mummamo wrote a review on July 20, 2009 6:13 PM
went here a few years ago and it was atrocious. decided to try it again recently and were not only disappointed, but appalled at the crap they serve and their service. and by the way, isn't their sidewalk space too big and leaving the foot path barely walkable.
11217 wrote a review on July 20, 2009 8:49 PM
I don't believe that you created a screen name on brownstoner simply to trash this restaurant mummamo. No other posts. How interesting....
I'm guessing you work at Moutarde, which is the absolute worst restaurant in Park Slope.
And no, if you have ever been by Belleville you'd know that the outdoor seating doesn't in any way, shape or form interfere with sidewalk traffic. The sidewalk is quite wide there.
troll wrote a review on July 21, 2009 9:15 AM
The new managment is much better. If I was to improve on anything it would be the service. Otherwise its worth the trip
pastoralia wrote a review on July 21, 2009 10:03 AM
I went there when it first opened and really enjoyed it. But then the food went downhill. Recently, I went back for a prix-fixe dinner (great salad, excellent hangar steak, tasty frog legs) and was happy with it (8.5/10).
The Lounge next door is always a lot of fun for drinks.
All in all- they are improving but I still prefer the ambiance of Robin du Bois or bar Tabac to Belleville. Belleville has potential but I don't think it's been reached yet.
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