Montreal & Quebec City, a trip report
Oct 4th, 2005 | 12:00 PM
#1
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Joined: Jan 2004
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Montreal & Quebec City, a trip report
Just back from a 4 day trip to Montreal last week with another couple, we had a really great time, what a beautiful city. We took a lot of advice from this board so here's a little report!
We stayed at the Omni Hotel right next to the Peel metro stop. Very nice hotel which gives you complimentary morning coffee and juice if you sign up for their Select Guest membership.
We arrived quite late but my husband and I were anxious to get out so we walked down the street and had a late night snack at Alexandres on Peel- onion soup, mussels, beers. Our meal was pretty good, not the best not the worst.
Each morning to start our day we would have breakfast at the Au Pain Dore on Peel. Great place for cafe au lait and a chocolatine or croissant.
The first day we spent in Vieux Montreal for sightseeing, the archeological museum and lunch on the main place, at the Adventure Café. Obviously very touristy but fun and nice to sit outside with the sun out and have lunch.
Later while my friend and I did some shopping on St Catherine the guys had beers at Trios Brassieres
Dinner on Friday night was at Toque, the chef was in the house which was nice and we all had the chef's tasting menu with paired wines.
We had drinks after at Suite 701 (I think it was called?)
The next day we finished up some sightseeing in the old town and decided to stop for a snack before heading to the Latin Quarter. Yum, our first poutine! I don't know why people say this is gross, we loved it!
On to our lunch at Schwartz’s Deli! Even though it was around 3pm by now there was still a line. Our waiter was fantastic! he recommended the medium fatty smoked meat sandwich. We also had pickles and a side of cole slaw.
My girlfriend and I had some very relaxing massages at the spa at the Omni. We also hung out in their hot tub for a while and I know she got up one morning and swam in the pool which she said was nice and warm.
Dinner that night was at Chasseurs and Peche. I had the foie gras appetizer and the surf and turf which was butter poached lobster and black pork. Both were very good. Our service started out really good but continued to go down hill through out the night. We all really wanted to love C&P but by the time we left we were pretty disappointed.
Headed to the casino for some craps after dinner. Very fun and HUGE!! Although not having a cocktail while on the gambling floor was a bit weird for us who are use to Vegas.
Bagles at St. Viatour café the next morning before driving to Quebec City for the day. Great bagles, I loved that they were firmer and smaller than the huge pillowy ones we get out here in Seattle.
We drove the 'scenic route' to QC, ugh. Don't bother, there is nothing scenic about it and it takes almost 1 hour more.
In Quebec City we walked around the lower and upper towns. So beautiful! Lunch at a little touristy cafe, we tried the traditional Quebec meat pie which was pretty good. Drinks at the Fairmont Hotel for a little rest, I had the icewine martini.
Dinner at L’Eschaud that night. What a fantastic restaurant! I had the mushroom tart to start and then the duck confit which was soooo good!!
The next day we visited the Jean Talon Market and had lunch at an Italian place next to the butcher, I can't recall the name but we had great pasta and my husband had fantastic mussels with Sambuca in the sauce.
Dinner at L’Express for our last night, this may have been my favorite place!
We walked to the Go Go lounge for drinks after, great bar!!
On our last afternoon we explored Mount Royal. We took a cab up to the viewpoint and then walked down. It has spectacular views of the city. Then we had lunch back at Alexandre's on Peel. We all had steak frites with shallot butter while sitting outside. The lunch here was really good! A perfect way to end our trip.
Thanks for all your advice and input, it really helped our trip.
We stayed at the Omni Hotel right next to the Peel metro stop. Very nice hotel which gives you complimentary morning coffee and juice if you sign up for their Select Guest membership.
We arrived quite late but my husband and I were anxious to get out so we walked down the street and had a late night snack at Alexandres on Peel- onion soup, mussels, beers. Our meal was pretty good, not the best not the worst.
Each morning to start our day we would have breakfast at the Au Pain Dore on Peel. Great place for cafe au lait and a chocolatine or croissant.
The first day we spent in Vieux Montreal for sightseeing, the archeological museum and lunch on the main place, at the Adventure Café. Obviously very touristy but fun and nice to sit outside with the sun out and have lunch.
Later while my friend and I did some shopping on St Catherine the guys had beers at Trios Brassieres
Dinner on Friday night was at Toque, the chef was in the house which was nice and we all had the chef's tasting menu with paired wines.
We had drinks after at Suite 701 (I think it was called?)
The next day we finished up some sightseeing in the old town and decided to stop for a snack before heading to the Latin Quarter. Yum, our first poutine! I don't know why people say this is gross, we loved it!
On to our lunch at Schwartz’s Deli! Even though it was around 3pm by now there was still a line. Our waiter was fantastic! he recommended the medium fatty smoked meat sandwich. We also had pickles and a side of cole slaw.
My girlfriend and I had some very relaxing massages at the spa at the Omni. We also hung out in their hot tub for a while and I know she got up one morning and swam in the pool which she said was nice and warm.
Dinner that night was at Chasseurs and Peche. I had the foie gras appetizer and the surf and turf which was butter poached lobster and black pork. Both were very good. Our service started out really good but continued to go down hill through out the night. We all really wanted to love C&P but by the time we left we were pretty disappointed.
Headed to the casino for some craps after dinner. Very fun and HUGE!! Although not having a cocktail while on the gambling floor was a bit weird for us who are use to Vegas.
Bagles at St. Viatour café the next morning before driving to Quebec City for the day. Great bagles, I loved that they were firmer and smaller than the huge pillowy ones we get out here in Seattle.
We drove the 'scenic route' to QC, ugh. Don't bother, there is nothing scenic about it and it takes almost 1 hour more.
In Quebec City we walked around the lower and upper towns. So beautiful! Lunch at a little touristy cafe, we tried the traditional Quebec meat pie which was pretty good. Drinks at the Fairmont Hotel for a little rest, I had the icewine martini.
Dinner at L’Eschaud that night. What a fantastic restaurant! I had the mushroom tart to start and then the duck confit which was soooo good!!
The next day we visited the Jean Talon Market and had lunch at an Italian place next to the butcher, I can't recall the name but we had great pasta and my husband had fantastic mussels with Sambuca in the sauce.
Dinner at L’Express for our last night, this may have been my favorite place!
We walked to the Go Go lounge for drinks after, great bar!!
On our last afternoon we explored Mount Royal. We took a cab up to the viewpoint and then walked down. It has spectacular views of the city. Then we had lunch back at Alexandre's on Peel. We all had steak frites with shallot butter while sitting outside. The lunch here was really good! A perfect way to end our trip.
Thanks for all your advice and input, it really helped our trip.
Oct 7th, 2005 | 05:57 AM
#4
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,660
Likes: 0
Glad you had a great trip and find my fair city beautiful, Stormygirl. Interesting comments about the Montreal bagel; it's true that they're less "pillowy" and smaller than what's often called the New York bagel. They're also have a bit of sweetness about them and are cooked in furnaces following a long Romanian tradition that somehow worked its way into becoming Montreal lore. It's a continual source of light-hearted one-up-manship between New Yorkers and Montrealers as to which is better, the New York bagel or the Montreal bagel.
I personally find the Montreal bagel is better eaten on its own, while the New York style is nicely accentuated with cream cheese or lox or capers. Montrealers are often quick to criticize the enormity and blandness of the NY variety. My NYC uncle won't hear of it (the Montreal style is too sweet he says).
My Mom says the bagels are different animals altogether and I agree....
Cheers. DAN
I personally find the Montreal bagel is better eaten on its own, while the New York style is nicely accentuated with cream cheese or lox or capers. Montrealers are often quick to criticize the enormity and blandness of the NY variety. My NYC uncle won't hear of it (the Montreal style is too sweet he says).
My Mom says the bagels are different animals altogether and I agree.... Cheers. DAN
