Not too much hobbying done on my last trip, but got back to how I fell in love with this city in the first place: FOOD!!! :lol: While I couldn't / can't / won't ever be able to replicate the epic hobbying trip reports by members of old like muffinbuffer... I can be fairly epic in my appetite for the great restaurants in Montreal.
4 days, 3 nights, 15 restaurants:
Day 1
Europea - client lunch; very close to fun
, but alas, work beckoned; very elegant restaurant; always a favorite spot for working lunches; two excellent tasting menu options, both very reasonably priced; nothing over-the-top innovative, but classics executed well; I inevitably get the calmar citronné and the scallops every time I come; the lobster bisque / "cappuccino" is just gimmicky, but people like it.
Le Serpent - same family of restaurants as Le Filet and Club Chasse et Peche; falling in love with the neighborhood (is this Griffintown?), Le Local is just around the corner; pretty crowd, very cool warehouse space, food was so so; their "kit of 3" was excellent - hamachi, mackerel, salmon; the octopus with potato mousseline and salsa verde not so much, the cream sauce just doesn't go well with octopi (sharkman saved me with a much better octopus place later in the trip!); nice place to grab a drink, though.
Le Bremner - my go-to spot for seafood in Vieux Port; great staff; no princess scallops yet (in another month they told me); oysters and cocktails; and their decadent fried quail (they used to have a bucket, now they're more restrained).
Day 2
Lawrence - one of my favorite restaurants in the city in the last year; simple food, almost 'peasant' dishes, but beautifully cooked; weekend brunch is great, love the kedgeree and oyster mushrooms, but it's a madhouse, weekday lunches are much more peaceful; had an excellent beef tartare and the Matane shrimp (will have to repeat as they're only in season for a few more weeks).
(Schwartz's) - was in the neighborhood, and I walked from Lawrence, so why the hell not?? Delicious Montreal smoked meat. Oh, if only the Red Wings won, then Mike Babcock would've enjoyed himself some smoked meat, too... Oh well. So many years of coming to Montreal, I have still never eaten in the restaurant itself, I've always gone next door to the takeout counter, where there is
still never a line.
Le Filet - the oysters, the oysters, the oysters; two dozen, split between the jalapeno and maple syrup garnished and the gratin de miso - if I have a permanent fixture in my Montreal TDL, it's this place and the miso oysters.
Salmigondis - I had such high hopes for this place... So many great reviews, so I trekked all the way out to the middle of nowhere to eat... and was disappointed; the cooking was so bland... meh, and it's priced just as high as Vieux Port (WTF); the foie to start - such a tiny cut for $22, it's portioned like you're in the heart of the Plateau at an established restaurant or in Old Port, I could get a size like that at Le Local for $10 extra with my duck confit... I also sampled the venison tartare and the magret, OK, but no brightness in the flavors, all pretty standard and bland; rabbit for my main - again, bland inside; it's like they didn't stew it long enough or marinate long enough, the flavors on the outside didn't sink all the way in; tried the lamb as well, which the waiter recommended - meh. Thumbs down, way down.
(La Belle Province) - poutine, delicious crazy fatty poutine; the one on Prince Arthur and St. Laurent is my favorite - simple, clean, relative close to favorite watering holes; the one near Chinatown always seems to have drunks and sloppy drunks at that... Multiple SPs have told me Montreal Pool Room is the best - I think they've lost their taste buds...
Day 3
Elounda - thanks sharkman for the recommendation!
Way outside of 'downtown' - ok, not really, but sorta; worth the drive, though; I only recently learned that MTL has a huge Greek population, so had to follow up on the rec and try a Greek restaurant, no? Stuffed calamari, fried anchovies, octopus (Tunisian - who knew there was octopi from there? But no matter, it was excellent!!) to start; dorade, langoustines, chilean sea bass, lamp chops for the mains; got a chance to sample everything - delicious! Excellent value, fresh ingredients, simple cooking well executed - well worth the trek.
Ma Poule Mouillée - following up on this thread's recommendation, decided to try this place; I agree the poutine with the saucissons is excellent! And humongous! And they take credit cards! But the chicken is not as flavorful as Romados. Just not as aggressive in their seasoning. The original wins. But the poutine here is awesome. Thanks MERB! :thumb:
Les 3 Petits Bouchons - early dinner; had to follow up on Adam black's recommendation of this place for princess scallops; alas, no princess scallops either, not until November (so Le Bremner has better connections??
); oh well, food was still excellent, Quebec-style - rich and hearty and filling; I'll have to come back in November.
'Fun.'
Bouillon Bilk - after an early dinner with civilians, a late dinner for my own indulgence; my favorite 'high-end hipster' spot in Montreal since last year; and also oh-so-close to fun
, it's become habit to drop by here afterwards...; some of the most beautifully plated food, anywhere; bright, contrasting flavors; interesting, new-ish ingredients and inventive preparations; hamachi, crab, scallops, magret; done, a good day of eating.
Day 4
Kazu - was tempted and walked by to try again; ridiculous crowd and packed; while staring into the mess, I saw a waitress knock over a glass of water onto her customers, don't know how that doesn't happen more in such a cramped fire hazard... Skipped the line. Maybe next time. Again.
Vieux Port Steakhouse - I know it's cliche, and a tourist trap; but their before-6 prix fixe menu can't be beat, when you want decent food at a low price in a great location. Any other great table d'hote lunch deals in Old Port you know of?
Romados - pick up some chicken to take home; still the best flavor.
If anyone has similar restaurants that are better alternatives, LET ME KNOW!!! Reservations for this upcoming trip booked this morning! RDV's booked, too! Fantastic suite. Excellent weather, fingers crossed. VIP-1!!! Excited - and balanced in my excitement for once!
