Balfour

28 Oct 11: I normally research restaurants before I travel, jotting down a selection to choose from. This was a place I had not read about. Located near our hotel (George Hotel) I had my fill of pub foods. Six of us decided to give it a try.

We arrived without any reservations, The place was completely full but the manager got us seated in just a few minutes. We sat towards the back of the restaurant at a large table.

I started with the grilled goat cheese appetizer: Two large pieces of toast topped with goat cheese, roasted peppers and served with a salad. Next I had the Ravioli filled with ricotta and spinach in a sage butter sauce; Tony had the spaghetti Bolognese (£7.95). Both were large portions and very good. Along with our meal we had a nice bottle of Pinot Grigio.

Our friends enjoyed their dishes too.

We were happy with our restaurant choice, as the prices were reasonable and the food portions large. Service was a little slow to start but that was understandable due to the busy evening.

Here's my first ultimate test for what constitutes a good pizza: the crust better be tasty and good enough that you shouldn't mind eating it plain. I am pleased to say Balfour passed this with flying colours. My quattro formaggi was delicious, and at £12.95, quite reasonably priced for the central area where the restaurant is located.

My dinner companion wasn't feeling so hungry so settled for a nicely frothy cappuccino and a smashing genuine (and huge) tiramisu. The lady has lived in Italy, so I take her word for what's a good tiramisu seriously.

I like the interior of the restaurant - it simple, but warm and quite nicely divided between multiple separate areas, so even if the place is full, a level of intimacy is maintained. That being said, I don't think I have ever before commented on a music in a restaurant in a review (how picky can one get about that, right?), but sweet jesus, the entire dinner here felt like a throwback into a middle school dance with the corniest selection of old love songs ever.I think 10cc - I'm Not In Love was one of the better songs we've heard - that should say something! :D

This place didn't blow my mind per se, but I would definitely give it another shot for tasty portion of Italian comfort food if I'm in the area again.

Dishes here are approx £10 for pasta, which is what I ordered tonight. I ordered the Mushroom Ragu from the Blackboard, which is always a good idea! I'm here on holiday, so to my fellow travelers: always ask your waiter for their recommendation.

The restaurant was quite busy at 3pm on a Tuesday with two waiters working. The staff was polite and warm, service was a little slow since they were slightly overwhelmed. So I give a plus for their positive attitude! After I ordered, the food came within 10mins and it was so fresh and steamy. You can tell that the pasta literally just came off the pan, yum! The dish came with plenty of pasta and meat sauce with little surprises of different mushrooms inside. I don't know if my it's my congestion, but the dish lacked a little salt. Not quite sure about it, but I still enjoyed my dish...I'm not an overly salty dish kind of girl, FYI :)

Oh, I also ordered their apple juice that came in a wine glass with a lime inside. The juice tasted more like a lemon-apple drink, might have tasty with a shot of grey goose, lol. It was £2.

Just okay. Prosecco by the glass is nice. I had sort of fishy smelling grilled squid with really good chorizo, and a soggy rocket salad with an unnecessarily generous portion of shaved parmigiano. It was miles better than the airplane food I'd been subjected to a few hours earlier and if was stumbling distance from my hotel so that was good. Service was fine. I got my prosecco before my food which is the difference between 2 and 3 stars when the food was just ok. The pastas looked good so maybe that's where I went wrong.

The biggest Fish & Chips I've ever had. Taste is very ordinary, but definitely filling. Service was quite slow.

Really good food and service. And the manager had a TV out to watch the UEFA champion final match! Really nice local place. I would be inclined to return when I am in London again.

Started with mozzarella breaded and fried with salsa and a salad. The shared a pizza. Fresh ingredients! No complaints. Give it a try.

This local, independent, Italian restaurant is just the kind of place yelp can help you find. It's not famous or a chain, but has friendly staff and good food each time I have visited.

* They have a high chair for babies
* They give you lovely bread as soon as you sit down so you have time to read the menu without starving
* The staff *can* be speedy if you need to rush off after lunch to get back to work!!
* The spinach and ricotta ravioli is looovely
* I once came here with friends in the evening, and the staff didn't rush us at all, so we stayed for hours drinking wine and eating slowly. I don't even remember what we ate, (as I ended up really drunk) but I remember it as delicious.

Also, goodness! The previous review by "JD F" sounds so bitter (and rude!) It doesn't sound like my experiences here at all.

This is one of those places I never quite know what to call. Is Balfour a restaurant or an eatery? In truth they are the same thing really aren't they? My distinction comes from whether I would come here at night. Places I would dine at night, that can give that romantic tilt to my evening - restaurant. Place I would pop into for a decent business lunch - eatery. Balfour is a fabulous lunch time place for an upmarket meal. With a £6.95 lunch menu including two courses of delightful gastro style dishes, It is worth checking out after a troublesome morning in the office. Surprisingly to my uncultured mind, Italian doesn't automatically mean pizza. There isn't a margarita in sight, only good wholesome dishes of reasonably priced Italian/British food.

Do NOT go here.
Terrible and rude service, very mediocre food. So many other, good restaurants in the neighbourhood (incl Italian, see Brunswick Centre).
Extremely long waiting time, rude waiting service ignored every request (including food allergies! and the 'choose your extra topping' featured on the menu). Noisy.
No idea why people go here (just unfortunate tourists I'm sure)
Do NOT go here.

Best breakfast! Had a lovely Italian style poached eggs on ciabatta with perfectly made cappuccino! They do serve a fry up but it's got a nice twist. Staff was fantastic. Service was fast, and relaxed. Very friendly, clean. There are two WC locations (upstairs and downstairs) should you have the need. Location is not good for groups over 6 due to size constraints. Would make the trip if I am ever over that way. So great! I dream of this breakfast and have desperately tried to recreate the moment.