Balsan Restaurant

A contemporary

market-driven bistro

showcasing refined, yet rustic fare

with an American sensibility.

Restaurant Tabs

About

Balsan’s rustic, artisanal food is built around fresh, local ingredients sourced from small farms across the Midwest. There is a soft and nuanced touch in the preparation of dishes ranging from raw bar selections to modern interpretations of classic bistro fare.

Normal Hours of Operation:

Breakfast

Monday - Friday: 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Saturday & Sunday: 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Lunch

Monday to Friday: 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Brunch

Saturday & Sunday: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Dinner

Sunday - Saturday: 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Late Night

Friday & Saturday: 10:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.

Private Dining

Featuring a unique Chicago private dining room, Balsan is perfect for a gathering of up to 30 guests for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

To inquire about private dining, please complete our online form.

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SWEET

Muffin of the Day - 5
Pastry of the Day - 7

Cinnamon Roll with Icing - 8

Seasonal Fruit Plate - 17

Granola, Choice of Milk - 8
Yogurt Parfait - 13

Granola, Fruit, Preserves

Steel Cut Oatmeal - 12

Honey Mascarpone

Buttermilk Pancakes - 17

Burton's Maple Syrup, Butter

Brioche French Toast - 18

Seasonal Compote, Mascarpone, Candied Nuts

SAVORY

Breakfast Sandwich - 19

Egg, Speck, Comte Cheese, Eggplant

Two Eggs Any Style - 19

Potatoes, Bacon or Sausage

Spinach Omelet - 20

Mushrooms, Uplands Cheese

Smoked Ham Omelet - 21

Onion Confit, Triple Creme Brie

Smoked Salmon - 21

Traditional Garnish

Eggs Benedict - 22

Pancetta, Arugula, Hollandaise

SIDES

Applewood Smoked Bacon - 6
Pork Sausage - 7
Two Eggs - 7
Toast - 4
Seasonal Fruit Plate - 6
Bagel - 6
Fingerling Potatoes - 6

*Menu ingredients are seasonal. Items and pricing subject to change.

TO START

A selection of salumi, domestic cheeses, freshly baked madeleines and scones served with chocolate hazelnut spread, lemon curd and preserves

ENTREE

Steak and Eggs, Fried Eggs, Grilled Rib Eye, Crispy Fingerlings - $26
Eggs Benedict, Fried Green Tomato, Griddled Ham - $21

Granola, Yogurt, Fruit, Preserves - $19
Baguette Pain Perdu, Strawberry Rhubarb Compote, Crunchy Oats - $20
Smoked Atlantic Salmon, Sourdough, Traditional Accompaniments - $24
Croissant Sandwich, Farm Eggs, Comte, Speck - $21

Veal Breast Tartine, Sunny Side Up Egg, Red Pepper Ketchup,

Fines Herbs $22

Caesar Salad, Grilled Chicken, Anchovy, Parmesan, Crouton - $22

BLOODY MARY & BUBBLY COCKTAILS $10

Bloody Margaret, Gin, Cucumber, Beer Back
Bloody Belly, 6 Hour Bacon Vodka, Salumi, Lime, Beer Back
Spicy Bloody, Vodka, Chipotle and Arbol Chilies, Beer Back

The Original, Vodka, House Mix, Pickled Beans, Beer Back
Very Berry, Blueberry, Mint
Tropic Rain, Ginger, Lime

Red Bush, Cucumber, Rooibos

Barbly, Rhubarb

*Menu ingredients are seasonal. Items and pricing subject to change.

CHARCUTERIE & CHEESE

La Quercia Prosciutto - $8

La Quercia Speck - $8
Salumi - $7
Potted Chicken Liver Mousse - $8
Suckling Pig Terrine, Calvados Soaked Cherries, Fines Herbs - $11

Duck Rillette - $8
Selection of Artisinal Cheeses - $7 - $9

PLATES

Green Garlic Soup - $10

Chicken Noodle Soup - $10

Potted Eggplant, Ricotta Salata, Sourdough - $8

Hamachi Crudo, Pickled Mushroom, Radish, Citrus - $14

Young Greens Salad, Carrot, Radish, Shallot Thyme Vinaigrette - $11

Roasted & Candied Beets, Smoked Ricotta, Pear, Frisee - $14

Shrimp Cocktail - $18

Wood Oven Fired Margherita Flatbread, Burrata, Basil - $13

Wood Oven Fired Tarte Flambee, Bacon, Onion, Creme Fraiche, Comte - $13

Caesar Salad, Sourdough Croutons, White Anchovy - $16

- Chicken - $21

- Shrimp - $23

- Rib Eye - $22

Tuna Melt, Caraway, Comte, Giardinara Broth - $15

Club Sandwich, Roasted Chicken, Smoked Ham, Salumi, Herb Mayo - $18

Grilled Salmon, Parsley Root, Asparagus and Frisee Salad, "BBQ" - $21

Grilled Burger, Provolone Cheese, Tomato Jam, Pickled Onion,

Horseradish Aioli - $16

Bucatini Bolognese, Veal Cheek, Parmesan - $20

Roasted Chicken Breast, Three Sisters Grits,

Wild Mushroom Fricassee - $23

Steak Frites, Bordelaise - $29

*Menu ingredients are seasonal. Items and pricing subject to change.

Bitter

Potted Eggplant - 8

Grilled Sourdough, Ricotta Salata

Artisan Greens - 12

Radish, Shaved Asparagus and Carrot, Shallot Vinaigrette

Beef Tartare - 15

Arugula, Cerignola Olive, Shallot

Sour

Green Garlic Soup - 10

Nettle, Sprouts, Aleppo Pepper

Mussels n' Clams - 16

Lemon, Pastis, Spring Onion, Fines Herbs

Charred Octopus - 14

Romesco, Pickled Grape, Hearts of Palm, Watercress

Salt

Oysters - 21

3 East Coast and 3 West Coast, Cocktail Sauce, Mignonette

Hamachi Crudo - 16

Pickled Mushroom, Citrus, Radish, Toragashi

Prawns - 18

Traditional Cocktail Sauce, Lemon

Fruits de Mer - 75

Prawns, Oysters, Mussels, Octopus, Lobster

Caviar Service - 75

1/2oz Osetra Caviar with Traditional Accoutrements

Salt²

Cheese Board - 9 / 16 / 23

Beer Mustard, Honey, Brandied Cherry, Sourdough

Charcuterie Board - 8 / 15 / 21

Beer Mustard, Cornichon, Pickled Ramps, Flatbread

Artisan Board - 24

2 Meats and 2 Cheeses, Beer Mustard, Honey, Flatbread

Mangalica Prosciutto - 14

Cornichon, Beer Mustard, Grilled Sourdough

Suckling Pig Terrine - 11

Mustard, Watercress, Grilled Sourdough

Umami

Scallops - 33

Black Rice, Spring Vegetabes, Parmesan Nage

Halibut - 36

Morel, Fiddlehead Fern, Basil Butter, Sorrel

Grilled Salmon - 25

Parsley Root, Asparagus Salad, "BBQ", Gremolata

Roasted Amish Chicken - 26

Hen of the Woods, Grilled Ramps, Marble Potato

Dry Aged Sirloin - 35

Crispy Potato, Spring Vegetable Salad, Jus

Veal Cheek and Beef Bolognese - 22

Rigatoni, Parmesan, English Pea, Ramps

Crisp

Crispy Farro Cake - 16

Butter Poached Radish, Pickled Mushroom, English Pea

Asparagus Flatbread - 15

Robiola, Truffle, Spring Onion

Tarte Flambee - 14

Ramps, Local Bacon, Comte, Creme Fraiche

Prosciutto Flatbread - 15

Sunny Side Egg, Mozzarella, Tomato Confit

Margherita Flatbread - 14

San Marzano Tomato, Buffalo Mozzarella, Basil

Balsan Toast - 12

Chicken Liver, Pickle, Grape, Watercress

Sides

Grilled Asparagus - 7

Olive Oil, Lemon, Ramps

Hand Cut Fries - 7

Midnight Moon, Troagashi, Crispy Herbs

Roasted Morel and Fiddlehead Ferns - 14

*Menu ingredients are seasonal. Items and pricing subject to change.

First Course

Green Garlic Soup

Nettle, Aleppo Pepper

Charred Octopus

Romesco, Pickled Grape, Hearts of Palm, Watercress

Main Course

Grilled Salmon

Parsley Root, Asparagus Salad, "BBQ", Gremolata

Veal Cheek and Beef Bolognese

Rigatoni, Parmesan, English Pea, Ramps

Sides

Grilled Asparagus

Olive Oil, Lemon, Ramps

Hand Cut Fries

Midnight Moon, Toragashi, Crispy Herbs

Dessert

-Pastry Chef's selection of seasonal dessert

$31 Per Person

*Menu ingredients are seasonal. Items and pricing subject to change.

Press

Chicago Magazine 50 Best Sandwiches

November 1

Chicago Magazine names Balsan's breakfast sandwich the best in the city...

ChicagoMagazine (Balsan) 10 2012.pdf

Chicago Michelin Guide 2012

January 1

Casual and cosmopolitan Balsan is burrowed inside the chic Waldorf Astoria Chicago Hotel and is the easygoing, casual-chic dining option at this hip hotel.

Balsan_Michelin_Guide.pdf

Team

Herve Cuyeu

Executive Chef

A native of Bordeaux, France, Executive Chef Herve Cuyeu began his culinary career at the age 15 at a restaurant in the historical monument of St. Jacques de Compostelle. Chef Cuyeu graduated from the Lycee Hotelier of Guyenne, Bordeaux at age 18 and later developed his unique style and approach to cooking, which draws upon the time-honored traditions rooted in the Bordeaux region of France.
This experience served as the inspiration for Chef Herve’s culinary and cultural journey that continues today, as he oversees all conceptualization and creation of cuisine at Waldorf Astoria Chicago.

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Chicago Weather Forecast

Fri

56 °F /

48 °F

Sat

55 °F /

48 °F

Sun

60 °F /

51 °F

Header Navigation

Make a Reservation

Balsan Restaurant

A contemporary

market-driven bistro

Restaurant Tabs

Normal Hours of Operation:

Private Dining

Follow Us

SWEET

SAVORY

SIDES

TO START

ENTREE

BLOODY MARY & BUBBLY COCKTAILS $10

CHARCUTERIE & CHEESE

PLATES

Bitter

Sour

Salt

Salt²

Umami

Crisp

Sides

First Course

Main Course

Sides

Dessert

book your table

Chicago Weather Forecast

Fri

Sat

Sun

Follow Us On

Header Navigation

Search form

Make a Reservation

Balsan Restaurant

A contemporary

market-driven bistro

Restaurant Tabs

Normal Hours of Operation:

Private Dining

Follow Us

SWEET

SAVORY

SIDES

TO START

ENTREE

BLOODY MARY & BUBBLY COCKTAILS $10

CHARCUTERIE & CHEESE

PLATES

Bitter

Sour

Salt

Salt2

Umami

Crisp

Sides

First Course

Main Course

Sides

Dessert

book your table

Chicago Weather Forecast

Fri

Sat

Sun

Follow Us On

Salt²