Balans Cafe

As I live in the area and am a fan of the Balans brand I come here frequently… but not as frequently as I did. Seems the food had gotten a bit… well, like they don’t care. Like it’s Stratford so they don’t bother. Came here a few times recently and was a bit underwhelmed. Had a breakfast burrito which looked great, but wasn’t cooked properly (tortilla was completely soft and cheese was the cheapest mildest tasting cheddar) and was utterly bland. I asked for Tobasco sauce which apparently could not be found anywhere in this establishment. How therefore, they make a proper Bloody Mary I do not know. Seems to me they’ve just gotten a bit lazy or decided they didn’t need to be as good. Shame as there is a serious lack of quality restaurants around here and they could rack up trade quickly if they were as good as the SoHo branch. Please, sort out this branch.

Average restaurant that is in need of a refurb… We visited the branch in Soho before and found this one boring and dated. There is some outside space bit not very inviting.
Would not visit again…

At 9.00 a.m.on a Saturday morning there’s more often a seat in a booth. Perfect for friends. Great full English with toast of your choice and eggs as you like them. Great friendly service. Nice food. Not as «busy» as other Balans restaurants, therefore really great for a get together.

I enjoy Balans in Westfield Stratford, its away from the hustle and bustle, and can relax either for brunch or for dinner. The staff are very attentive and the food service is quick. The only thing I would criticise, is the food. Its cooked well, but at the same time its quite ordinary. Had calamari for starters, wasn’t bad, herb chicken and the fish cake dish was alright and just plain chips. Trying to put it nicely somehow, but I guess the same reason I come back is probably the same reason why I go to Whetherspoon. But just paying that little bit more, actually the most recent visit cost quite a bit, its because they add on service charge and the mains are a bit pricey for what it is. However I have tried their other dishes before which are not the menu anymore and they were superb.

For brunch i had the Chicken quesadilla (starter size) that comes in 3 pieces and the Cinnamon french toast with strawberries and bananas. They were really good. The staff were friendly and welcoming which made me feel comfortable. I recommend going there for breakfast as well. they serve eggs, bacon, and the baked potatoes are to die for. they are really good.

Cool coffee, one cold dish which was ordinary (falafel) the other OK but not much fish (kedgeree). Service OK given it was busy. Nice location in Westfield stratford but it is fairly ordinary.

Decent breakfast, pretty good lunch. A good all day dining venue. I’ve never had a bad meal here but then I’ve never had a stand out amazing meal here either. A solid eatery.

I had a delicious breakfast this morning at Balans– bacon, potatoes, eggs, toast, and pancakes! The pancakes are «American», with the perfect amount of sweetness and spongeyness (yes, I do believe I just made up a word). The potatoes were great, too– just enough crunch! The wait staff was friendly and attentive. I would definitely go back for a huge breakfast!