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"I’ve been going to Balthazar since it opened in 1997 and it’s very nostalgic for me—at first I couldn’t even get in, and it felt magical and glamorous. It’s always crowded and great for people-watching; the food is regular bistro fare but reliable. I always get a martini and a burger—the patty isn’t too thick and it’s the fries that make it so good—and you don’t go to Balthazar if you want a quiet meal; the time to go is later." - Padma Lakshmi