Balon – LOST GEM
Balon struck me as being both a romantic dining spot as well as a terrific place to go with friends for a cozy, relaxed night out. Though relatively small, the space is warmly lit and well decorated, with ornamental star-shaped lights and a variety of seating, including bar stools, cozy lounging booths, and traditional dining tables. A few eclectic statues fill out the space, resembling the little figures one might find in a European garden, while rows of wine glimmer from behind the bar. The waiters and bartender are very friendly and impressively knowledgeable.
When Olivia, a member of the Manhattan Sideways team, visited on a Friday evening, a talented musical duo was serenading the diners. The two musicians, Thomas Leidenfrost and Marc Mills, played a variety of music, including Hungarian street songs, Irish ballads, general gypsy music, and a few familiar ditties (like the theme from Amelie). Tom and Marc, an accordionist and fiddler respectively, took turns occasionally singing to certain airs. Each had a well-trained voice that wound its way through the sounds of the space to become part of the overall ambience. The music was relaxed and ethereal, a perfect complement to the intimate, candlelit space.
