I'm a bit torn about Balzac's - which is why i'm running with the middle-of-the-line 3 stars. I'd like to give it more! Because despite the lovely Distillery District setting, the wonderful & kitschy/retro coffee related decor and just how welcoming the cafe is in general, I feel the coffee itself isn't up to scratch.
I thought getting a latte in a big ol' bowl would be super exciting, but in the end it was a bit sad - too much milk, not steamed super well, and the coffee's flavour ended up just being an afterthought amongst it all. So it could be super! I'll have to go with something smaller and more likely to let me actually taste the espresso next time, I guess. But I should reasonably be able to get a latte I can enjoy.
I'd like to go back and give Balzac's another go, because it seems like they could be great, as they are already now a nice spot to stop while you wander the area. For now, though, they're just okay in my books.