Ambiance like this doesn't come cheap. This coffee shop rivals some of the nicest places I've been in Europe. Awesome exposed bricks in an old building in the Distillery District. Balzac's, along with Mill Street Brewing, is one of the original tenants of the Distillery District that resurrected it from ghost-town status. They have a beautiful old-fashioned steam fountain on a lovingly resurfaced bar.
I believe they roast their own coffee here, although I didn't verify that. I enjoyed a nice cup of coffee (no need for cream or sugar here) along with a very satisfying and well-made ginger-molasses cookie that just melted in my mouth.
The only downside is that this place gets crowded and feels pretty touristy. It wasn't a coffee shop that I could really see myself relaxing in for more than a quick cup. I also found that the tables, condiment area, and washroom (what Canadians call a restroom) were on the dirtier side....almost unacceptably so.