Montreal restaurant advice
 

We are traveling to Montreal in mid-October and will be there 4 nights and 3 days. We'd appreciate restaurant advice (lunch and dinner), probably French/local cuisine. We don't mind spending the money for a wonderful meal, although from what I read, Toque is probably over the top.

We need advice both for choices close to our hotel (Hotel Le St-James in Vieux-Montreal) AND also anywhere within a taxi ride.

Thanks so much.

Hi Noussa,

If you click my screen name you'll be able to see other posts I've made and I list a whole bunch of restaurant options. My fave 3 are:

L'Express
Casa Napoli
Queue De Cheval

I've heard that Garcon is fantastic for french food....but quite pricey.

In the core of the city Weinstein and Gavino's has pretty good Italian and decent prices and the atmosphere is really good. Very popular place.

In Old Montreal pick your restaurants wisely as many are quite nice looking and have a good atmosphere but are tourist traps and the food is often disappointing.

For a quick bite in that area try Olive et Gourmando, For breakfast/brunch try Le Cartet, Jardin Nelson has an open courtyard with live music and is fun but I don't find the food to be that great.

Hope that helps.

Layla %%-

Hi Noussa,

In Old Montreal:
Club Chasse et Peche,
L'Epicier,
Aszu.

For bistro fare, add Au Petit Extra to Layla's suggestion of L'Express.

Au Pied de Cochon. Fodor's review here http://www.fodors.com/world/north-am...ew-148540.html

Personally, I would stay away from La Queue de Cheval and Weinstein & Gavinos.

JQ

I took my husband to Montreal last October for a few days to celebrate his birthday. We liked Olive & Gourmando for lunch - good chocolate brioche! We also went to Pied Au Cochon, which was fun, and Lemeac. I've actually been to Lemeac a couple of times (I was doing some work in Montreal over several months) and it was wonderful. They have a $25 fixed price menu for 2 courses after 10 PM, and I was able to have my favourite salmon tartare. You'd need to take a taxi there.

Thanks to all of you. You've named some restaurants that I wasn't aware of. This is very helpful.

near your hotel you should also consider Bonaparte and Verses at the Hotel Nelligan.

I agree with everyone's recommendations and would add as well Holder, which is close to your hotel and very good.

you should do a search on chowhound dot com and go to the Quebec board ; I agree that Toque is over the top, exquisite though.

Lemeac is also my favorite, a varied menu.

Bronte is a wonderful high end place, corner of Sherbrooke and St. Mathieu

Ferreira for fish, on Peel street

Vasco de Gamas, on Peel street, for lunch and coffee,
best sandwiches and salads

Guy et Dodo, on Metcalfe, for french food and atmosphere

le Muscadin, Mc Gill and Notre Dame, classic italian, high end but not over the top

I had a bad meal at Holder recently

Vallières on McGill, for lunch or brunch, good value, fun room

Club Chasse et Pêche, love it, reserve early

I guess I'll stop now. Mid october is a good time to visit, weather is still nice enough.

I second Bonaparte's.
Had a romantic birthday dinner there recently, with DH.
We had one of the recommended and sought after window tables, which was nice, but the view was of a side street with nothing to see but the intermittent horse and carriage go by. Against horse and carriage rides myself so not much of a plus for me, but the dinner was delicious and the service was very good.
The Inn looks nice as well.