Found on the ground floor of the perennially popular Stratford Westfield shopping centre, this outpost of Balans boasts the restaurant group’s hallmarks of a cosmopolitan vibe, a please-all menu and an all-day offering.
The dining room here is a large space complete with high ceilings, tiled flooring and cosy studded velvet banquette seating. There are tables for both couples and small groups, while a dedicated bar towards the entrance is flanked by a few stools, if you fancy enjoying some pre- or post-meal cocktails. The restaurant also benefits from a huge outdoor terrace, perfect for when you are in the mood for a spot of alfresco dining.
The menu at Balans Stratford follows a similar format to its sibling sites, offering diners an affordable selection of all-day brunch dishes, as well as lunch and dinner. If you are stopping by in the morning, you can tuck into the likes of porridge, eggs any style or French toast topped with caramelised banana, warm maple butter and a dusting of cinnamon. Elsewhere on the menu, Balans embraces the global larder, featuring dishes inspired by European and Asian countries, alongside a few British classics - try the likes of a three cheese quesadilla or a Thai red curry.
You can’t talk about Balans Stratford without mentioning the epic line-up of burgers and sandwiches, which ranges from a classic beef burger topped with bacon and red onion marmalade, to a buttermilk chicken doughnut burger, which sees fried chicken marinated in Asian spices and sandwiched between a glazed ring doughnut. You can also pad out your meal with a selection of sides, such as miso spinach, mac ‘n’ cheese and crispy potatoes.
To round things off, take your pick from a selection of sweet treats such as sticky toffee pudding or a raspberry and oat bakewell sundae.