restaurant suggestions

[tiannas]

Thanks so much for the suggestions everyone, and the links to those sites, will definitely come in handy.

I think we'll try the Montreal Pool Room... Lol!

A little background, last time I saw this gentleman (which was also the first time), we went to Queue de Cheval, and we were both disappointed. The food just wasn't that good, and I was embarrassed by how expensive it was, especially as the quality and ambiance just weren't there.
However I don't think the Keg or Baton Rouge would be classy enough. I don't want to pick anything too ethnic, want to play it safe there.

 

[Sol Tee Nutz]

Queue de Cheval, and we were both disappointed.

I have to agree, went there for the first and last time. What an overrated place.

 

[EagerBeaver]

If you are looking for quality of food in the steakhouse category of restaurant, I would go with Gibby's, but Gibby's to me is lacking in the ambiance department - it's crowded, noisy and the tables are packed together. If you are there on a Friday or Saturday night, you will have trouble hearing conversation. They do have a more private back room, and if you can get a table in there, it might be a little better. I recall getting a table back there for dinner once with Special K and a friend of his. As I recall, it was not as noisy or crowded in that room.

Gibby's is expensive but not crazy expensive like QDC.

A few things I like about Gibby's are the complimentary servings of Montreal-style pickles and bacon bits, and their house salad dressing, which is honestly the best I have ever had. However, they only serve side salads at Gibby's, and there are no entree salads on the menu. When I eat there, my favorite entree dish is the trio of Canadian lobster tails.

Another steakhouse that has good food but even worse ambiance than Gibby's is Moishe's. I ate there once and the food was very good, but it is like eating in a cafeteria.

To me, the most solid choice in the downtown/Old Montreal areas for a combination of food and service is D'Emma, for reasons already stated.

Maybe you should go to a few places for test meals so that when you pick the restaurant you will be able to speak from some experience? If I let someone pick a restaurant for me, I would hope and expect they would have eaten there and personally tested the place out, and picked the place based on their own experiences.

 

[Lily from Montreal]

If you like french cuisine, there is the 917...at 917 Rachel...tiny but really good service and food and you can bring your own wine...Also same concept but italian is Eduardo ,corner of St-Denis and Duluth,very good and romantic ...never had a bad experience there...L'Académie on St-Denis is uneven ,either great or just ok, but very affordable and nice decor....

 

[LadyLover]

Que de Cheval is very overrated and OVER priced.

D'Emma is very nice although also very overpriced for pasta but great anyways for Ambiance and food.

If downtown is your choice then D'Emma but.... If you don't mind driving 20 minutes from the downtown core and having no parking issues I would highly recommend the "40 west steakhouse".

It's a bit pricey but probably one of the most beautiful restaurants in Montreal. I haven't seen any other restaurant in Montreal come close to how nice this place is inside. I love to go there for business lunches and the chocolate (and I don't really like chocolate) desert with the soft inside is out of this world.

If you go there you MUST have the Greek salad. It's my favourite Greek salad in Montreal and surroundings (can you guess my nationality ...)

 

[EagerBeaver]

Let's be honest, a lot of the downtown restaurants are overpriced, although I would agree that Queue de Cheval takes overpricing to a whole different level. Gibby's and D'Emma are both pricy, and honestly I think the Keg, which is not as good a restaurant as Gibby's or D'Emma, is overpriced based on what they are serving. To me, the best restaurants for the value and quality of what they are serving would be some of the ethnic restaurants mentioned, specifically Baguette d'Ivorie, or Casa Tapas, which is outside the downtown proper.

The problem with a place like 40 west steakhouse is that tiannas' date is probably not interested in paying 1.5 hours total travel time in a cab, and to tiannas, to eat at a restaurant that may be marginally better than some downtown or Old Montreal choices. I assume that this is why tiannas specified a downtown or Old Montreal location. Casa Tapas is maybe a 10 or 15 minute drive outside the downtown core which is not necessarily a dealbreaker on a 4 hour date. But 1.5 hours travel time in a cab may be.

Two other downtown core restaurants I would throw into the mix are Le Orchidee de Chine, a nice Chinese restaurant on Peel, and Mikasa, a sushi restaurant next door to Le Orchidee de Chine. Both of these places have been go-to restaurants for me for a long time. Mikasa is overpriced, but not offensively so, and their food is very good. Le Orchidee de Chine is serving very good, albeit traditional, westernized Chinese food. Both restaurants have suitable ambiance, Mikasa's being a little more romantic. But if ethnic cuisines are a dealbreaker, they are a dealbreaker. Nobody is going to stuff sushi or moo shu pancakes with sauteed duck (Le Orchidee de Chine house specialty) down the client's throat if he wants steak.

 

[cuthbert]

If you are in the Westmount area, La Taverna in Westmount Square is very, very good and reasonably priced.

 

[czar]

While some good suggestions so far, nothing very creative. I mean Baton Rouge? Keg? Gibby's?Really? While each are fine...given we are talking about Montreal there is so much to choose from! We live in such a gourmand city im surprised none of these came up.

Some of my favorites:

Tapeo on villeray Www.restotapeo.com
Excellent tapas in vibrant atmosphere.

Another great tapas place:
Pintxo on Roy
Www.pintxo.ca
Highly recommended.

Or

Confusion on St. Denis
Www.restaurantconfusion.com
Great and fun. Sit on the swings!

Bistro Cocagne on st Denis
Www.bistrococagne.com
Quiet casual resto Opened by the sous chef from Toque

Grenadine on Hotel de Ville Www.grenadine.ca
Byob - Very small busy place with view of the young chefs on open kitchen. Interesting menu fun atmosphere.

Cafe Ferreira on Peel
Www.ferreiracafe.com
Excellent twist on Portuguese cuisine, classy and romantic. Don't miss the pastels nata for desert with a port.

F Bar on Jeanne-Mance next to PDA.
Www.fbar.ca
Same chef as Cafe Ferreira but more vibrant casual style

Brasserie T on Jeanne-Mance next to PDA
Www.brasserie-t.com
Same chef as Au pied de cochon but bistro style.

The Tuck Shop on Notre Dame Www.tuckshop.ca
Bustling bistro with rustic decor.

Le Local on William in old Montreal Www.resto-lelocal.com
Fantastic food, great service and atmosphere but a little noisy.

Garde Manger on Saint Francois Xavier old Montreal Www.crownsalts.com/gardemanger
Chick Hugh's bustling resto. Rustic old Montreal decor. Ask to sit near the open kitchen for fun.

Grinder on Notre Dame old Montreal Www.restaurantgrinder.ca
More traditional bistro style

Holder on McGill old Montreal Www.restaurant holder.com

Places I'd like to try that have excellent reviews:
Joe Beef
Nora Gray

I often use Trip Advisor, RestoMontreal (previously mentioned) or urban spoon, Open Table to check reviews. But take with a grain of salt...tourists are not the most reliable reviewers.

 

[Larry1969]

Here's the website link of Juni, the Japanese restaurant located on Laurier street; www.juni.ca

Larry

 

[snoodle]

rl]http://www.borisbistro.com/bb/menu/plats_eng.php[/url]

Boris bistro is amazing food

 

[czar]

Yes Boris is good...and on a nice day the terrace is great!

 

[protagoras]

Downtown or Old Montreal area preferred.

My suggestion is the following one:http://restaurantlacoupole.ca/

It is located downtown at the Crystal Hotel, on René-Lévêsque. Not too expensive : 40$.

I went there with a fellow merbite a couple of years ago, and we were very satisfied. The maître-d'hôtel (a Frenchman) was very helpful, spiritual and funny without being too familiar.

 

[EagerBeaver]

Czar,

I have been to Pintxo and while it is good, they are really pushing the envelope with priciness. I paid $190 for 2 people. Granted we ordered drinks, but a Tapas-style restaurant should not be that expensive, and I have a fair amount of experience with tapas style cuisines. Casa Tapas did not inflict those kinds of wounds on my wallet, and the food is nearly as good as Pintxo, if not as creative. The difference with Pintxo is that the tapas dishes are even smaller than regular tapas plates, so you can try even more dishes, but you pay for that privilege - right through your nostrils.

I ordered a Spanish mixed drink there which was a mixture of sparkling white wine and a red colored liquer from Spain. I forgot what they call it, but it was quite good and I ordered another.

I have not been to Tapeo. I have been to many tapas restaurants in the USA.

 

[protagoras]

Czar,
I ordered a Spanish mixed drink there which was a mixture of sparkling white wine and a red colored liquer from Spain. I forgot what they call it, but it was quite good and I ordered another.
.

EB, it is probably what is called "tinto de verano" (i.e. Summer (red) wine).

The red colored liqueur can be La casera

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Casera

I visit frequently Spanish and South American markets in Montréal and now and then I can find Casera.

 

[czar]

I guess when I'm dining out for something special I expect to pay at least $100 per person including drinks.but I do expect a wow factor with either food, service or atmosphere.

Been a while since i was at Pintxo, and I must admit I knew the owner. Tapeo & Confusion are a little better priced for Tapas. I was at Tapeo about a month ago. I really liked it.

Another reasonable mid-range resto is l'Academie on st. Denis.

 

[EagerBeaver]

EB, it is probably what is called "tinto de verano" (i.e. Summer (red) wine).

The red colored liqueur can be La casera

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Casera

I visit frequently Spanish and South American markets in Montréal and now and then I can find Casera.

The liqueur was a liqueur, not a soda, so I do not believe it was La Casera and the name does not ring a bell. The drink was a sparkling white wine, mixed with the red liqueur, the resulting concoction being very slightly sweet and pinkish in color, and tasting like a robust sparkling wine, not a Sangria. This was back in fall of 2010 and I cannot recall what the names of the liquer or the mixed drink were, but I am almost certain the liqueur is a product of Spain.

It was the only time I was at Pinxto. I don't mind paying $100 per person and the food was very good, but I just felt that they push the envelope a bit with their aggressive priciness, especially since the plates and portions are tiny. You are getting dollops of food on each plate. It is like less than half of a normal tapas portion.

I go to a local tapas restaurant here in Connecticut where I can order as much food, it's just as good, and I will pay less than $50 for 2 people. It's owned by Ecuadorians. This is possibly not a fair comparison because there is a larger population of hispanics in Connecticut, proportionately, than in Montreal, and I can pick my spots better here than I can in Montreal. There are many good tapas restaurants in Connecticut.

 

[DeepYDiver]

Also on Rachel is a GREAT bring your own wine - but elegant and cozy - restaurant. Les Infidels. http://www.restaurantlesinfideles.com/

Perhaps the most appropriately named resto. for your date Tiana!

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

two words... FUCKING AMAZEBALLS

Some people like anything with balls in them.

 

[st-cum]

If you like Japanese tapas, try Kazu on Ste-Cath W. Always a line out the door at dinnertime every time I pass by.
http://kazumontreal.com/

 

[HUmm64]

In St Leonard the best and cheap Thailandais Restaurant.
Try the Chicken with Peanut sauce or the curry chicken.
Le gout de la thailande.
6361, rue Sherbrooke E (corner De Carignan) close to Langelier
Bring your own Wine, beer.
There is a SAQ express just across the street open till 10pm.
http://www.restomontreal.ca/en/1096/Le-Gout-De-la-Thailande