Montreal "foodies": Please HELP!!!
 

Trying to decide between AU PIED DE COCHON or LA BRUNOISE for a special dinner in Montreal.

Which would you pick?

Thanks/Merci!

P.S. Sorry for any spelling mistakes.

I would definitely vote for La Brunoise; I was once at Au pied de cochon and was not impressed with the offerings and general atmosphere, it does not say "special dinner" at all.....
I've never been to La Brunoise but have heard many positive comments about it.

Why are you limited to those 2 places ?
The spelling is perfect, btw.

Hi Mitch!

Actually, in addition to LA BRUNOISE, we'll be trying P'tit Plateau and La Colombe. Thanks!

Wow, Mitch is right brunoise and also right on limiting choices, actually the hype restaurant is Toque pronounced tokay if you are a real foody, but make reservations before you leave and if the wait staff doesnt like you who knows! What about other ideas like epicerie or cafe ferrrera. For foodies we have cheap and expensive,and we dont get hung up on a name!!! This is montreal maybe tonight smoked meat tommorow filet mignon et demain Fusion.

We have good/great restaurants on every corner and real foodies dont get hung up on a name,,,, Maybe you'll find a hole somewhere in Old Montreal that worth twice brunoise??????

Try this link http://www.toutmontreal.com/cgi-bin/...e,*restaurants

Chris,

We went to TOQUE last year when it was in its old location -- and LOVED it!

Le ptit plateau is wonderful, don't forget to bring your wine.....

If you like fondue, Fonduementale on st. denis is a good place to have it. I like Café Cherrier in the summer, a good place for people watching...

Another favorite summer place is Il Cortile on Sherbrooke st. , a bit east of guy street; the courtyard atmosphere is really special; reserve ahead of time...
Their ceasar salad is made of chopped up endives which I love...

We went to Toque when we were in Montreal two years ago and did the Chef Dinner with wine pairings and it was fantastic. You say it was in its old location - has it moved?? Just checking for our next visit to that dining paradise of Montreal!!! My husband was born and raised in Montreal and when he went to McGill he went to Ben's smoked meat. When we visited two years ago everyone recommended Schwartz's and it surpassed his memories. Is Ben's not as good as it used to be or is he just remembering (35 years ago) it better than it was?

Ben's has lost it; it's very ordinary and not worth bothering. It's a landmark for sure, a blast from the past as far as looks are concerned, even the waiters look original to the location but I live closeby and do not get any food there anymore. Sad, really.

I go to Reuben's for a good sm sandwich in that area.

Traveller,

Yes TOQUE has moved since we both went last time. I've heard the food is still stellar, don't worry.

Betty - glad to hear that TOQUE is still there - I can't wait although I don't think we will be back till Sept 06. We have only found one restaurant that outdid TOQUE and it was in Quebec City.


Mitch - Thanks for the Ben's answer. I have another question for you. My husband still talks about steaks at Joe's steakhouse. In fact I have to give him a dill pickle with his steak because that is what he had there. Now as I say we are going back a lot of years and his budget was limited. So - how is Joe's now or have you eaten there? With all the great restaurants in your beautiful city I wouldn't want to dine somewhere that wasn't as good. Decor and ambiance don't matter - just good food!! Thanks.

Unfortunately the best smoked meat in town is out of town, its in ile perot/pincourt just off the island on the 20 its called smoked meat petes its fries won two years in a row and its smoked meat once.

The old staples of Bens and Dunns arent what they used to be, although dunns was always more famous for cheesecake.

For steak, I still think Moises and Gibby's are the best overall value eventhough the Queu de cheval gets the best marks, I just find it overpriced, Moreover aged beef is an acquired taste, Moishes and Gibby's are a little less aged.

Dont forget when your in Montreal that we have some superb restaurants in Hudson, St. Sauveur and alike dont limit yourself to in town!!!

I'm pretty sure Joe's Steakhouse is gone, don't know since when; you bring me back in time though; like your dh, I do remember it fondly from when I was a student.

Now I like Entrecôte St. Jean on Peel st and de Maisonneuve, steak/frites with a parisian mustard sauce. It's a relatively fast dinner, they don't take reservations and there's only the steak/frites on the menu.

.

Mitch thanks for the steak info. My husband loves the sound of the restaurant you recommended - he loves his steak and frites!!! His mouth is watering already. By the way I see that Joe's is still in business. O'Neill that is good to know about Pete's. I don't know how long they have been there but my husband lived in Beaconsfield and I see it is not that far. We will have to take a drive out there. I had heard so much about GOOD smoked meat (we live on the west coast) that I had Schwartz fedex a couple of slabs as a surprise for him. Of course the freight was horrendous but the delight on his face when he opened the package was worth it. I had heard Schwartz will overnight fedex and does quite a good business with that as well.

If your hubby lived in beaconsfield then he'll know the location, just when you cross the Suspension bridge in Ste anne de Bellevue on the 20 to get off the Island there is a dairy Queen on the left which is an institution, just behind it is smoked meat petes, it aint faincy but it lives up to the awards.