Balans Soho Society Kensington High Street (Bar, Restaurant)

Top 10 things you need to know about Balans Soho Society High Street Kensington restaurant:

1) Balans Soho Society proclaims, "Living well is the best revenge". This can be tricky to follow if you take a calorie counter on a dinner date. That’s if they haven't wondered into Soho by mistake, as this branch is based in fashionable High Street Kensington.

2) The decor is disarmingly calm and akin to a bohemian Euro-cafe with its olive-green walls and muted wooden furniture. Surely your fitness fanatic date will let his/her guard down?

3) Servers are dressed in an equally relaxed style: checked shirts, smart jeans and brown aprons, subtly removing any barriers to your culinary enjoyment.

4) The clientele are mostly dressed in a smart casuals, but they do look like they've been on the treadmill for at least an hour before dinner.

5) Your guest might say there are 625 calories in a bottle of wine, but the server will probably say, "Well, you could have the bland, nondescript bottle of still water, or you could have the bottle of fresh, dry Il Banchetto Rosso, which is extremely quaffable and goes well with all dishes, including seafood".

6) Starters are generally problem-free in terms of calorific damage. The scallops are light, delicate and pillowy, although your diet-conscious guest might choose to avoid too much artichoke puree. 

7) Who said eating vegetarian dishes has to be boring? The burnt aubergine baba ganoush is refreshing and flavoursome. However, the abundance of flatbread might add to your waistline.

8) Indulgent options include their famous burger, but there are healthier fish options like roast hake and sesame tuna. With white beans and tomato stew to accompany the hake, and pak choi with the tuna, this is a menu that won't offend your health-conscious guest.

9) That is until he/she reaches dessert. The banoffee pie is all butter, sugar, whipped cream and bananas: indulgently irresistible. Hopefully, by this point, they would’ve drunk enough glasses of wine to have ceased counting calories.

10) The Balans lifestyle is about relaxation and enjoyment. It's the kind of cafe society where you can chat for hours with friends without ever checking the time or turning on your smart phone. Whether you are a gym fanatic or a couch potato, this is a universal lifestyle that we can all sign up for....read more