chateaulafite said:
chateualafite,
Thanks, but apparently you missed my post earlier in this thread in which I reviewed Baton Rouge's burger. It came in #2 in my taste test (see post #539 in this thread).
New Montreal Restaurant Thread
- Thread starter EagerBeaver
- Start date
chateualafite,
Thanks, but apparently you missed my post earlier in this thread in which I reviewed Baton Rouge's burger. It came in #2 in my taste test (see post #539 in this thread).
Original
The original was on the south/west corner of Monk and Allard where the metro entrance is located.It was demolished when the subway expanded to Agrignon and the owners moved to the location you mention.
In the early/mid 1960's used to go to the "original" after playing hockey against Ville Emard teams sponsored by Louis DiLallo.
Techman said:
The original was on the south/west corner of Monk and Allard where the metro entrance is located.It was demolished when the subway expanded to Agrignon and the owners moved to the location you mention.
In the early/mid 1960's used to go to the "original" after playing hockey against Ville Emard teams sponsored by Louis DiLallo.
Techman said:
I remember eating a Dilalo burger. As far as I can remember, it was around 1975 on Beaubien street, not far from Pie IX, or more precisely almost facing the Étienne Desmarteau Center. At that time I was doing track and field (400m and 800m runner) and between two qualification heats I had a burger there.
Speaking of hamburger, I had one yesterday at a small joint in Laval. The name of the joint is Le Croque on des Laurentides Blvd. (facing Le Lavallois SC). This is a very modest junk food joint (they were celebrating their 20th anniversary last week) What was special there is that I ordered a «bison» [buffalo] burger. They charbroiled the burger and the meat was very tasty. It was the first time I was eating buffalo. It was written on the publicity pinned on the wall of the restaurant that this meat contains less fat/cholesterol and more protein.
Who knows this kind of burger?
Protagoras- it is becoming more and more common in the USA to see Buffalo on the menu, especially as burgers. Ted Turner is supposedly one of the top owners of buffalo here in the United States. I had a burger ( I think it was Las Vegas ), and it was like beef, without all the fat and mess. Decent flavor. I like my burgers medium rare- so I cannot comment on if medium dries out ..Maybe someone else...
Regards
Smuler
Regards
Smuler
This is a comment on a Toronto place, but I imagine it's the same in Montreal.
This morning I was in Toronto, and decided that I did not want to pay $25+ for breakfast at the Sheraton Centre, so instead I stopped at an adjoining Tim Horton's for a breakfast sandwich (egg, bacon, and cheese). I know what the 3 components taste like, but I tasted NOTHING. Granted it was ersatz (processed) cheese, so there should have been no taste, but I do know the taste of bacon and eggs. I could well have been eating cardboard. The coffee was also nothing great. How do people eat that crap?
This morning I was in Toronto, and decided that I did not want to pay $25+ for breakfast at the Sheraton Centre, so instead I stopped at an adjoining Tim Horton's for a breakfast sandwich (egg, bacon, and cheese). I know what the 3 components taste like, but I tasted NOTHING. Granted it was ersatz (processed) cheese, so there should have been no taste, but I do know the taste of bacon and eggs. I could well have been eating cardboard. The coffee was also nothing great. How do people eat that crap?
I eat at Tim Horton quite often and, while it's not high cuisine, never felt like it was cardboard! Are you catching a cold? 
I have had that bacon on its own, and it does have taste; this did not.Doc Holliday said:The bacon they use for their sandwiches is the type of bacon that is pre-cooked & sold in a small box off the counter & takes 15 seconds to cook inside the microwave. The rare time that i do order food from TH, i usually order the BLT sandwich. It's not bad...but i find it expensive. I could get a great sub from Subway or Mr. Sub & pay the same price & have more to eat. I do find TH's coffee unbeatable, though. I usually order a large double-double. During the summer, i often bypass my diet & drink a vanilla iced capuccino. Man, they're great!!!
In the summer I go to Second Cup and get a frozen hot chocolate. I have had a few "ice cream headaches" from them, but it's worth it.
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incognito_NYC said:
Just wondering ... can you smoke your own cigars there, or are you required to buy from their selection? I figure if you're going to be spending money on booze anyways ...
Thanks.
Recent Reviews
I didn't really try any new restaurants on this trip, but I did try some new dishes at some old favorite restaurants:
Boustan, Crescent Street- I had a falafel sandwich here which was very good, and then went back the night of the GT at the Hotel de la Montagne, when I had dinner with Doc Holliday. I got the kafta kebab (a mix of marinated beef and lamb) and a side of stuffed vine leaves served with a garlic tzaziki or tzaziki-like sauce, and Doc had a chicken sandwich and potatoes served with the tzaziki like sauce. The owner of this place knows me now and calls me "New York," presumably because of the way I talk.
Hard Rock Cafe, Crescent Street - I had dinner here with Doc Holliday and AlexK. I ordered a burger cooked medium rare and this request was refused, which really pissed me off. They served me a well done burger. I spoke to an attorney friend of mine, and he told me to go there next time with a signed liability waiver citing the various Canadian health laws and regulations referenced earlier in this thread in regards to the cooking of meat, and further stating that as an American citizen I freely waive application of said laws to me. This is probably not enforceable legally, but it just might freak out the waitress and her manager enough to get me a burger cooked the way I like (medium rare with blood), which should be my right as a human being.
Reubens, St. Catherine - Ate lunch here with Doc Holliday and Rex Kramer. Was served a well done burger after my medium rare request was again denied. This burger was better than the one at Hard Rock Cafe.
Chez Cora, Stanley - Had breakfast here with Doc Holliday, AlexK and we were then joined by Rex Kramer. I had a strawberry banana smoothie, which was strangely served warm.
Amir, de Maissoneuve - Had the falafel sandwich. Good, but I like Boustan better.
I didn't really try any new restaurants on this trip, but I did try some new dishes at some old favorite restaurants:
Boustan, Crescent Street- I had a falafel sandwich here which was very good, and then went back the night of the GT at the Hotel de la Montagne, when I had dinner with Doc Holliday. I got the kafta kebab (a mix of marinated beef and lamb) and a side of stuffed vine leaves served with a garlic tzaziki or tzaziki-like sauce, and Doc had a chicken sandwich and potatoes served with the tzaziki like sauce. The owner of this place knows me now and calls me "New York," presumably because of the way I talk.
Hard Rock Cafe, Crescent Street - I had dinner here with Doc Holliday and AlexK. I ordered a burger cooked medium rare and this request was refused, which really pissed me off. They served me a well done burger. I spoke to an attorney friend of mine, and he told me to go there next time with a signed liability waiver citing the various Canadian health laws and regulations referenced earlier in this thread in regards to the cooking of meat, and further stating that as an American citizen I freely waive application of said laws to me. This is probably not enforceable legally, but it just might freak out the waitress and her manager enough to get me a burger cooked the way I like (medium rare with blood), which should be my right as a human being.
Reubens, St. Catherine - Ate lunch here with Doc Holliday and Rex Kramer. Was served a well done burger after my medium rare request was again denied. This burger was better than the one at Hard Rock Cafe.
Chez Cora, Stanley - Had breakfast here with Doc Holliday, AlexK and we were then joined by Rex Kramer. I had a strawberry banana smoothie, which was strangely served warm.
Amir, de Maissoneuve - Had the falafel sandwich. Good, but I like Boustan better.
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Alouette Steakhouse
Was in Montreal last weekend, and tried out a steakhouse on Ste-Catherine called "Alouette" (just a few doors east of Club Downtown). Arrived at 18h30 on a Friday night, and our party of eight was seated immediately.
Old-school, kinda dark, lots of brass and wood-panelling ... the decor has seen better days. Overall food was average, ranging from:
Warm over-dressed salads (house-salad was lettuce and some shaved carrot, not even a slice of tomato!) - 1/10
Calamari, over-breaded, greasy - 3/10
French onion soup - light savoury broth, could actually taste the onion which was not over-coooked (when you over-caramelize onions, the broth turns dark brown, which this wasn't). As much as I like cheese, they put in a massive slab that was overly-chewy - 6/10
Rib Steak, "Alouette Cut" (i.e. 25 oz.) - this massive bone-in piece of steak was grilled just as I like it, charred (but not burned) on the outside, and a perfect red medium-rare on the inside. Accompanied by a reasonable baked-potato. The Steak continues to instill a Pavlovian response in me every time I think about it - 9/10
Serviceable wine list.
Overall:
Looks: 5/10
Service: 6/10 (took a while for our food to come out, apparently they had a large group come in just before us)
Food: 7/10 (4 for the sides, 9 for the steak)
Price: Keg-gish, perhaps less ... for one person, average $25-30, incl. tax and tip, but w/o alcohol.
Repeat?: Yes! (but just because of the Steak)
Was in Montreal last weekend, and tried out a steakhouse on Ste-Catherine called "Alouette" (just a few doors east of Club Downtown). Arrived at 18h30 on a Friday night, and our party of eight was seated immediately.
Old-school, kinda dark, lots of brass and wood-panelling ... the decor has seen better days. Overall food was average, ranging from:
Warm over-dressed salads (house-salad was lettuce and some shaved carrot, not even a slice of tomato!) - 1/10
Calamari, over-breaded, greasy - 3/10
French onion soup - light savoury broth, could actually taste the onion which was not over-coooked (when you over-caramelize onions, the broth turns dark brown, which this wasn't). As much as I like cheese, they put in a massive slab that was overly-chewy - 6/10
Rib Steak, "Alouette Cut" (i.e. 25 oz.) - this massive bone-in piece of steak was grilled just as I like it, charred (but not burned) on the outside, and a perfect red medium-rare on the inside. Accompanied by a reasonable baked-potato. The Steak continues to instill a Pavlovian response in me every time I think about it - 9/10
Serviceable wine list.
Overall:
Looks: 5/10
Service: 6/10 (took a while for our food to come out, apparently they had a large group come in just before us)
Food: 7/10 (4 for the sides, 9 for the steak)
Price: Keg-gish, perhaps less ... for one person, average $25-30, incl. tax and tip, but w/o alcohol.
Repeat?: Yes! (but just because of the Steak)
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Sho-Dan Concept Japonais
After over-dosing on red meat the night before, we decided to try for something different, and settled on "Sho-Dan" located on Metcalfe, just south of Sherbrooke, around the corner from the Omni. (Although for some reason, the Groom still decided on the Steak Teriyaki )
Modern, trendy decor (i.e. sans bamboo panelling and tatami mats), with a main dining room and several smaller private dining rooms. We arrived at 19h00 on a Saturday night, and our party of eight was seated within five minutes.
The menu itself is reasonable, but not extensive. Not sure where the "Concept Japonais" comes in, as the menu items were fairly standard, and perhaps a bit light on some of the items I've come to expect (for example, non-existent rice-bowl "Don" dishes). A perusal of the website turns up "specialities" which were not in evidence the evening we were there, not sure how those items were overlooked.
Shrimp Tempura - slightly heavy on the breading, but not overly greasy. The shrimps were a decent size, and cooked just right - 7/10
Beef Teriyaki - came served on a sizzling platter, on top of a heaping mound of crispy bean sprouts and other vegetables. Served with a bowl of rice on the side. The steak itself was perhaps 10 oz., and served a perfect medium-rare, although somewhat over-sauced - 7/10
Sushi "Bonsai" Combination - large, but not massive pieces of fish, very fresh and just the right amount of rice. I'm a little foggy now, but if I recall, there were 10-12 pieces of assorted nigiri and 4-5 large pieces of california maki - 8/10
Serviceable drinks list, heavy on the cocktail selections, but surprisingly only had four choices of Sake on the menu.
Overall:
Looks: 8/10
Service: 7/10
Food: 7/10
Price: Upscale, but not expensive ... appetizers range from $7-10, and mains from $18-30. Note that miso soup, and salad are ordered (and charged) separately, unlike most Japanese resuarants I've been to (at least in Toronto). I personally spent $40 incl. tax & tip, but not including the Sake.
Repeat?: Yes
After over-dosing on red meat the night before, we decided to try for something different, and settled on "Sho-Dan" located on Metcalfe, just south of Sherbrooke, around the corner from the Omni. (Although for some reason, the Groom still decided on the Steak Teriyaki
)Modern, trendy decor (i.e. sans bamboo panelling and tatami mats), with a main dining room and several smaller private dining rooms. We arrived at 19h00 on a Saturday night, and our party of eight was seated within five minutes.
The menu itself is reasonable, but not extensive. Not sure where the "Concept Japonais" comes in, as the menu items were fairly standard, and perhaps a bit light on some of the items I've come to expect (for example, non-existent rice-bowl "Don" dishes). A perusal of the website turns up "specialities" which were not in evidence the evening we were there, not sure how those items were overlooked.
Shrimp Tempura - slightly heavy on the breading, but not overly greasy. The shrimps were a decent size, and cooked just right - 7/10
Beef Teriyaki - came served on a sizzling platter, on top of a heaping mound of crispy bean sprouts and other vegetables. Served with a bowl of rice on the side. The steak itself was perhaps 10 oz., and served a perfect medium-rare, although somewhat over-sauced - 7/10
Sushi "Bonsai" Combination - large, but not massive pieces of fish, very fresh and just the right amount of rice. I'm a little foggy now, but if I recall, there were 10-12 pieces of assorted nigiri and 4-5 large pieces of california maki - 8/10
Serviceable drinks list, heavy on the cocktail selections, but surprisingly only had four choices of Sake on the menu.
Overall:
Looks: 8/10
Service: 7/10
Food: 7/10
Price: Upscale, but not expensive ... appetizers range from $7-10, and mains from $18-30. Note that miso soup, and salad are ordered (and charged) separately, unlike most Japanese resuarants I've been to (at least in Toronto). I personally spent $40 incl. tax & tip, but not including the Sake.
Repeat?: Yes
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Was in the mood for Chinese food on my arrival Sunday. I remembered Beav's suggestion (from the first page of this thread) of Ruby Rouge, over at 1008 Clark, in Chinatown.
So I went with a couple of other members, and we had the dim sum platter, a beef platter, a shrimp and vermicelli rice platter, and I think a chicken with vermicelli rice platter that we all shared. The food was very good, and the prices were reasonable. There was a lot of food, and we could not finish it all.
I would definitely go back. Even the Chinese tea was good.
Beav, thanks for the resto tip!
So I went with a couple of other members, and we had the dim sum platter, a beef platter, a shrimp and vermicelli rice platter, and I think a chicken with vermicelli rice platter that we all shared. The food was very good, and the prices were reasonable. There was a lot of food, and we could not finish it all.
I would definitely go back. Even the Chinese tea was good.
Beav, thanks for the resto tip!
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For anyone in town today, I had this emailed to me from the HDLM Mailing List:
http://www.hoteldelamontagne.com/images/content/mailings/homard.jpg
To celebrate their 34th Anniversary today, Thursday's restaurant is offering all you can eat lobster for today only, $34.
http://www.hoteldelamontagne.com/images/content/mailings/homard.jpg
To celebrate their 34th Anniversary today, Thursday's restaurant is offering all you can eat lobster for today only, $34.
A Garcon! Brunch Revisit
My SO and I went to Garcon! last Saturday for brunch. This time we eschewed the usual brunch stuff like Eggs Benedict (which they do really well), omelettes, etc, and went for the brunch Table D'Hote (a bit expensive at $32 for brunch). It was the kind of menu I like to see - two starters, two mains, and two desserts. I hate to see long lists where nothing is done well.
We started with cucumber carpaccio (mandolin-sliced cucumber) with tomaoto panna cotta, tomatoes, and a bit of smoked salmon. There was a filmy sauce on the cucumber. It was a wonderful combination; the panna cotta (usually a dessert) was delicately textured and flavoured. The alternative was some sort of green salad, which we did not try.
We both chose the same main course - turbot. I always maintain that to have fish done right you have to go to a French restaurant; I have had too much overdone fish in restaurants that specialize in seafood. The tubot was sublime; poached to perfection and served with a celeriac mash and beet chips. Two sauces accompanied the fish; one I think had a bit of balsamico. The alternative was a stuffed leg of lamb.
For dessert I had a smooth, creamy chocolate cream that was served with strawberry sorbet; I would have preferred raspberry as it goes much better with chocolate. But, I really enjoyed them. My SO had strawberries macerated with pepper and balsamico. She said she enjoyed it.
A great experience, if a bit pricey. Accompanying wines would have been $22. I just had a glass of a nice Italian white (Gambellara, I think).
My SO and I went to Garcon! last Saturday for brunch. This time we eschewed the usual brunch stuff like Eggs Benedict (which they do really well), omelettes, etc, and went for the brunch Table D'Hote (a bit expensive at $32 for brunch). It was the kind of menu I like to see - two starters, two mains, and two desserts. I hate to see long lists where nothing is done well.
We started with cucumber carpaccio (mandolin-sliced cucumber) with tomaoto panna cotta, tomatoes, and a bit of smoked salmon. There was a filmy sauce on the cucumber. It was a wonderful combination; the panna cotta (usually a dessert) was delicately textured and flavoured. The alternative was some sort of green salad, which we did not try.
We both chose the same main course - turbot. I always maintain that to have fish done right you have to go to a French restaurant; I have had too much overdone fish in restaurants that specialize in seafood. The tubot was sublime; poached to perfection and served with a celeriac mash and beet chips. Two sauces accompanied the fish; one I think had a bit of balsamico. The alternative was a stuffed leg of lamb.
For dessert I had a smooth, creamy chocolate cream that was served with strawberry sorbet; I would have preferred raspberry as it goes much better with chocolate. But, I really enjoyed them. My SO had strawberries macerated with pepper and balsamico. She said she enjoyed it.
A great experience, if a bit pricey. Accompanying wines would have been $22. I just had a glass of a nice Italian white (Gambellara, I think).
Reviews From Past Week
Here are some reviews from my trip the past week in Montreal:
Manna (corner Bishop & St. Catherine): My most interesting find was Manna, a Korean restaurant with a very unpretentious and generic decor. I had lunch here with Banger, who recommended it. We were served complimentary side dishes including kimchee (spicy pickled cabbage), potatoes and another, sweet marinade pickled cabbage. I ordered fried pork dumplings which were quite tasty and served with two different kinds of dipping sauces, one a peanut ginger sauce which I also poured over the salad that came with the dumplings, the other a spicy soy dipping sauce. (Another member) ordered a Korean dish that I have seen before, but the name of it escapes me. It's a bunch of noodles and vegetables and a fried egg served in a deep bowl. (Another member) scrambled up all the ingredients which is how I have usually seen this dish eaten. I would definitely go back here for lunch, as the prices are reasonable and the food was good.
Zen (basement of Hotel Omni): I have learned that this Chinese restaurant located at Hotel Omni is hit or miss. Some of the dishes are very good and others are not so good. I had dinner here with a friend and we ordered 4 appetizers: steamed pork dumplings with peanut sauce, vermicelli with shrimp and chicken, crispy spinach with spicy fish shavings, and skewered chicken satays. The chicken satays, served with a peanut dipping sauce, were badly overcooked and dry. The best dish that we ordered was the vermicelli with shrimp and chicken, which was rather spicy and had a bit of a tangy lime flavor to it.
Hurley's (Crescent Street): I had a late night dinner here with Rumpleforeskin my first night in town. I had barely slept the 3 previous nights due to insomnia, travelling and a change in my diet, and I told Rumples the only effective way to combat my insomnia (since I had gone to several deps and was unable to purchase benadryl) was to eat a large bedtime meal consisting of a hamburger and ice cream. Believe me, it works. Anyway, we went to Hurley's, which does not exactly have the greatest burgers in the Crescent Street area (I think Winnie's does) because we were supposed to meet up there with Voyager and Special K. Calls were placed to both Voyager and Special K, and they later claimed not to have gotten them. In any event, I told Rumples I wanted to eat something so I ordered the house everything hamburger, and I believe Rumples ordered the roast beef au jus sandwich. The burger was overcooked and hard as a bull's prick, but with all the crap they dressed it with, it was reasonably tasty and I wolfed it down pretty quick. After this, we paid our bill and left because SK and Voyager at that point were no shows (I heard they showed up later). I told Rumples I wanted to head up Crescent and go to the Ben and Jerry's on de Maissoneuve and Crescent for some ice cream. I ordered a dish of the Cinnamon buns ice cream, which was good. I then walked back to the Omni and slept like a baby.
Chez Cora (Parc): I had breakfast here severeal times. I really like the Beautiful Beaufish which is smoked salmon on a Montreal bagel, served with a plentiful assortment of fresh fruit including banana, watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberries, pineapple, grapes, and apple slices.
Mikasa (Peel): I ate sushi here for dinner one night. I really like this place for sushi especially if I am staying at the Omni. Sho-Dan was closed the night I went here.
For those of you who still suspect that Chef has been shilling for Europea, I have received independent confirmation of the excellence of this rue de la Montagne eatery. I was comparing culinary notes with another American guest who was staying at the Omni and he told me the best meal he had all week was at Europea. He told me that he and his wife ate there, he spent $200, and "it was worth every penny." It was clear from our conversation that during the week, he had eaten at many high end restaurants that I was familiar with, so I did not take this praise lightly.
Here are some reviews from my trip the past week in Montreal:
Manna (corner Bishop & St. Catherine): My most interesting find was Manna, a Korean restaurant with a very unpretentious and generic decor. I had lunch here with Banger, who recommended it. We were served complimentary side dishes including kimchee (spicy pickled cabbage), potatoes and another, sweet marinade pickled cabbage. I ordered fried pork dumplings which were quite tasty and served with two different kinds of dipping sauces, one a peanut ginger sauce which I also poured over the salad that came with the dumplings, the other a spicy soy dipping sauce. (Another member) ordered a Korean dish that I have seen before, but the name of it escapes me. It's a bunch of noodles and vegetables and a fried egg served in a deep bowl. (Another member) scrambled up all the ingredients which is how I have usually seen this dish eaten. I would definitely go back here for lunch, as the prices are reasonable and the food was good.
Zen (basement of Hotel Omni): I have learned that this Chinese restaurant located at Hotel Omni is hit or miss. Some of the dishes are very good and others are not so good. I had dinner here with a friend and we ordered 4 appetizers: steamed pork dumplings with peanut sauce, vermicelli with shrimp and chicken, crispy spinach with spicy fish shavings, and skewered chicken satays. The chicken satays, served with a peanut dipping sauce, were badly overcooked and dry. The best dish that we ordered was the vermicelli with shrimp and chicken, which was rather spicy and had a bit of a tangy lime flavor to it.
Hurley's (Crescent Street): I had a late night dinner here with Rumpleforeskin my first night in town. I had barely slept the 3 previous nights due to insomnia, travelling and a change in my diet, and I told Rumples the only effective way to combat my insomnia (since I had gone to several deps and was unable to purchase benadryl) was to eat a large bedtime meal consisting of a hamburger and ice cream. Believe me, it works. Anyway, we went to Hurley's, which does not exactly have the greatest burgers in the Crescent Street area (I think Winnie's does) because we were supposed to meet up there with Voyager and Special K. Calls were placed to both Voyager and Special K, and they later claimed not to have gotten them. In any event, I told Rumples I wanted to eat something so I ordered the house everything hamburger, and I believe Rumples ordered the roast beef au jus sandwich. The burger was overcooked and hard as a bull's prick, but with all the crap they dressed it with, it was reasonably tasty and I wolfed it down pretty quick. After this, we paid our bill and left because SK and Voyager at that point were no shows (I heard they showed up later). I told Rumples I wanted to head up Crescent and go to the Ben and Jerry's on de Maissoneuve and Crescent for some ice cream. I ordered a dish of the Cinnamon buns ice cream, which was good. I then walked back to the Omni and slept like a baby.
Chez Cora (Parc): I had breakfast here severeal times. I really like the Beautiful Beaufish which is smoked salmon on a Montreal bagel, served with a plentiful assortment of fresh fruit including banana, watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberries, pineapple, grapes, and apple slices.
Mikasa (Peel): I ate sushi here for dinner one night. I really like this place for sushi especially if I am staying at the Omni. Sho-Dan was closed the night I went here.
For those of you who still suspect that Chef has been shilling for Europea, I have received independent confirmation of the excellence of this rue de la Montagne eatery. I was comparing culinary notes with another American guest who was staying at the Omni and he told me the best meal he had all week was at Europea. He told me that he and his wife ate there, he spent $200, and "it was worth every penny." It was clear from our conversation that during the week, he had eaten at many high end restaurants that I was familiar with, so I did not take this praise lightly.
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