Montreal Business Trip - Help for Boss
Apr 5th, 2006, 10:15 AM
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Montreal Business Trip - Help for Boss
OK I need some serious help here! My boss is going to Montreal the beginning of May and he will be there for 5 days.
Can I please get some dining and quick sightseeing suggestions from you experts? I have not been to Canada since I was a teen and he is expecting me to be a font of information. HELP!
He is staying at the Le Centre Sheraton Montreal. He is looking for a few sightseeing ideas that are fairly local, since he is attending a conference and some dining suggestions. I would say mid range on the pricing of the meals. We are a community college in Chicago and money is watched very strictly.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Can I please get some dining and quick sightseeing suggestions from you experts? I have not been to Canada since I was a teen and he is expecting me to be a font of information. HELP!
He is staying at the Le Centre Sheraton Montreal. He is looking for a few sightseeing ideas that are fairly local, since he is attending a conference and some dining suggestions. I would say mid range on the pricing of the meals. We are a community college in Chicago and money is watched very strictly.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Apr 5th, 2006, 11:25 AM
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Apr 5th, 2006, 12:40 PM
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Check and see if there is something fun going on at the Bell Centre, which is just across the street. Maybe hockey playoffs? Go HABS!
Definately explore Old Montreal, Parc du Mont Royal, and if he's into it, he can go to the casino.
Definately explore Old Montreal, Parc du Mont Royal, and if he's into it, he can go to the casino.
Apr 5th, 2006, 03:31 PM
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The best way to see Montreal in a short period of time is the Gray Line bus tour. It is a great way to see everything in about 3 hours if I remember correctly. The concierge at the hotel can set it up and they come and pick you up in a smaller van and take you to the departure point which I believe is Dorchester Square. If time permits he can always go back to any of the places that he would like to explore more of but this is absolutely th best way to get an overall feel and view of the city. Its great not to have to worry about driving and parking etc as well.
Apr 5th, 2006, 03:45 PM
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A well-run conference should have a dinearound system, where groups of the conference goers have dinner together, at restaurants chosen by local experts attending the same conference.
I don't know where Dorchester Square is, but Dominion Square is very close to the hotel, and along the north side of the Square is (unless it has moved) a combo Quebec Province and Montreal tourist board office. Lots of advice, and brochures.
There used to be, and probably still is, a car rental office next door to the hotel. this would be useful if he's a great tain fan, and wants to go to the train museum on the south shore, near, I believe, Candiac.
Is your boss Jewish? If so, he might want to explore the Montreal jewsish culture in some depth. If not, he should just devote a meal or two to Montreal Jewish food. Which starts with Montreal bagels, and includes Montreal SMoked Meat. Nearest; walk up to St. Catherines Street and turn left and walk to Gy and go into the building and go to the far end and buy bagels. And/or go up to St. Catherines Street and turn right and walk to Dunn's and have a smoked meat sandwich. Even better, get directions to Ben's, and then have a smoked meat sandwich and a pickle.
After that, he can pick just about any kind of food -- Montreal is the gourmet capital of Canada. It's hard to find a bad restaurant, and there's a million to go to. the key is the read the menu outside, and make sure the place is crowded. If it's not crowded, it isn't any good.
Snacks -- from the food court at Gare Centrale, which is Central Station. Dependoing on where the meetings are, he might walk past there.
Depending on his intersts -- I think one of the big deals in Montreal is the piece of the Berlin Wall inside the courtyard at the back of the Intercontinental Hotel. I just go and visit for a few minutes, and then get on my way.
BAK
I don't know where Dorchester Square is, but Dominion Square is very close to the hotel, and along the north side of the Square is (unless it has moved) a combo Quebec Province and Montreal tourist board office. Lots of advice, and brochures.
There used to be, and probably still is, a car rental office next door to the hotel. this would be useful if he's a great tain fan, and wants to go to the train museum on the south shore, near, I believe, Candiac.
Is your boss Jewish? If so, he might want to explore the Montreal jewsish culture in some depth. If not, he should just devote a meal or two to Montreal Jewish food. Which starts with Montreal bagels, and includes Montreal SMoked Meat. Nearest; walk up to St. Catherines Street and turn left and walk to Gy and go into the building and go to the far end and buy bagels. And/or go up to St. Catherines Street and turn right and walk to Dunn's and have a smoked meat sandwich. Even better, get directions to Ben's, and then have a smoked meat sandwich and a pickle.
After that, he can pick just about any kind of food -- Montreal is the gourmet capital of Canada. It's hard to find a bad restaurant, and there's a million to go to. the key is the read the menu outside, and make sure the place is crowded. If it's not crowded, it isn't any good.
Snacks -- from the food court at Gare Centrale, which is Central Station. Dependoing on where the meetings are, he might walk past there.
Depending on his intersts -- I think one of the big deals in Montreal is the piece of the Berlin Wall inside the courtyard at the back of the Intercontinental Hotel. I just go and visit for a few minutes, and then get on my way.
BAK
Apr 5th, 2006, 08:20 PM
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There's a piece of illumination.
But if you are Jewish, you can go very, very deep into Jewish food in Montreal. And if you aren't, you can get a taste for two Jewish winners that people travel out of their way to enjoy.
BAK
But if you are Jewish, you can go very, very deep into Jewish food in Montreal. And if you aren't, you can get a taste for two Jewish winners that people travel out of their way to enjoy.
BAK
Apr 5th, 2006, 08:44 PM
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Your apparent condescending attitude aside, how exactly does a Jewish person "go very, very deep into Jewish food in Montreal...." Aside from the obvious smoked meat and bagels as you have correctly pointed out, I'm not familiar with any restaurants in MTL specializing in gefilte fish, chicken soup, matzah balls, and brisket.
Apr 6th, 2006, 03:16 AM
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bak, I live close to Ben's and it's gone way down in quality in the last 5 years so I would not recommend it any more; it's deserted most of the time.
buzymom, an evening in Old Montreal would be nice for your boss; at that time of year, he could walk around for a while and then have dinner.
buzymom, an evening in Old Montreal would be nice for your boss; at that time of year, he could walk around for a while and then have dinner.
Apr 6th, 2006, 08:43 AM
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Thank you so much everyone! One more question...any recommendations for dinner close by his hotel? He is staying at the Le Centre Sheraton Montreal HOtel located at 1201 Blvd Rene-Levesque Ouest.
Nothing hugely expensive please.
Traveller 69 I love the idea about a short Greyline tour!
With everyone's help here on this board I may even get a raise!! LOL
Thanks So Very Much!
Nothing hugely expensive please.
Traveller 69 I love the idea about a short Greyline tour!
With everyone's help here on this board I may even get a raise!! LOL
Thanks So Very Much!
Apr 6th, 2006, 09:58 AM
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There are a lot of restaurants/bars/clubs on Crescent street which is a few blocks to the west. A few chain restaurants (Hard Rock for one). I had a great meal at the pasta restaurant (I can't remember the name, it's next to the Hard Rock). A lot of American toursits. I'm sure some Montrealers can give you some more ideas for a more "Montreal" experience than Crescent Street.
Apr 6th, 2006, 10:01 AM
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I think the restaurant to which bm refers is called Weinstein and Gavinos. Never been there myself but I hear it's quite good. Another bet on Crescent street that many people seem to like is Thursdays.
Apr 7th, 2006, 06:03 AM
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Too bad about Ben's.
Can someone in Montreal give this man directions to Swartz's please -- that's enough of an adventure.
And what's the latest on the Bar-B-Barn Pn Guy? I used to think iit was very good food for a very reasonable price.
And, Buzymom, tell him he'll have no trouble eating. there are a great many restaurants close to the hotel, with menus out front. Montreal is easy to walk around,a nd easy to find food in.
Nothing much south east of him, but lots north, south, straight east, and west of the hotel.
BAK
Can someone in Montreal give this man directions to Swartz's please -- that's enough of an adventure.
And what's the latest on the Bar-B-Barn Pn Guy? I used to think iit was very good food for a very reasonable price.
And, Buzymom, tell him he'll have no trouble eating. there are a great many restaurants close to the hotel, with menus out front. Montreal is easy to walk around,a nd easy to find food in.
Nothing much south east of him, but lots north, south, straight east, and west of the hotel.
BAK
Apr 8th, 2006, 04:10 AM
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yes, Bak, it is too bad about Ben's; the decor is intact from the 60's, even the waiters; not many old style greasy spoon diners left from that era. If the food was decent, it would thrive but the smoked meat is better at Reuben's on st. catherine.
I would recommend having bacon and eggs there for the trip down memory lane; celebrity pics all over the walls.
I would recommend having bacon and eggs there for the trip down memory lane; celebrity pics all over the walls.
Apr 8th, 2006, 10:42 AM
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mitchdsj, I imagine that it can be a mixed blessing -- to live close to a place like Bens ..and to have it not be so good ..
We did not even skim the top of the great delis and bagel shops in Montreal on our visits, I think it would be worth the sacrifice to hurry back and do research! lol.
Gourmet Magazine did such a wonderful job of cramming the myriad great restaurants of Montreal in that issue, with neighborhoods such as Mile End and naming all the new places with new chefs and the always great Cheap Eats of Montreal.
My husband and I sat and looked through it, picking out where we want to go next trip-I am so tempted to say to hell with cold winters and move to Montreal
BAK, I always value your input on these boards ~
We did not even skim the top of the great delis and bagel shops in Montreal on our visits, I think it would be worth the sacrifice to hurry back and do research! lol.
Gourmet Magazine did such a wonderful job of cramming the myriad great restaurants of Montreal in that issue, with neighborhoods such as Mile End and naming all the new places with new chefs and the always great Cheap Eats of Montreal.
My husband and I sat and looked through it, picking out where we want to go next trip-I am so tempted to say to hell with cold winters and move to Montreal
BAK, I always value your input on these boards ~
