looking for montreal dinner recommendations for a large group in june

[mongo_jones]

i'm going to be in montreal for a few days with a faculty group in late june. the group will be going out to dinner together the first night. i need recommendations for a place that can take a group of 14 people, about $50-60/head (incl. beverages). other limitations: has to be open on a monday night and should not be too noisy.

[mongo_jones]

oh, and not too far from the new residence hall at mcgill (park/pine).

[Orik]

Mondays are hard. 

 

L'Express? 

[mongo_jones]

a surprising number of places seem to be open on monday. i've suggested candide which seem like it could work with the budget: four courses for $41 (us), leaving $20/head for wine, tax and tip.

 

l'express not too loud?

 

i'm probably abandoning the group on nights 2 and 3. hoping to get into joe beef on the tuesday with my montreal friends maybe a couple more renegades from my group. on wednesday i'll probably do a tasting menu on my own somewhere--thinking les 400 coups or candide (if we don't got there on monday).

 

and then we're off to toronto--and i'll need to repeat the above questions for that city too.

[Orik]

Not too loud usually.

 

I thought Candide was closed Monday but maybe I misremember.

[mongo_jones]

you're right. not sure how i missed that.

 

well should i go there on my own or to 400 coups? or somewhere else?

[Patrick]

http://willtravelforfood.com/2012/04/09/restaurants-montreal-open-sunday-monday-nights/

This lists some decent places open on Mondays. Fairly sure it's not exhaustive, but some suggestions.

 

400 coups is a no go as it's been closed for a while. I would say Candide is worth trying but unlikely to blow you away.

 

I'll try to think of suggestions if I get the time

[mongo_jones]

 

400 coups is a no go as it's been closed for a while. I would say Candide is worth trying but unlikely to blow you away.

 

well, that would make it a challenge. i guess their website hosting hasn't run out yet.

[mongo_jones]

is there a tasting menu at damas? (how much?) that menu looks great but it would be torture to eat there alone and barely be able to taste any of it.

[Adrian]

is there a tasting menu at damas? (how much?) that menu looks great but it would be torture to eat there alone and barely be able to taste any of it.

 

Oh yes you can do that, but shared plates are for rubes, so you should order your own plate of bamia for personal consumption and not, any any costs, allow anyone to try. They should also not share their samke harra with you. Ordering from the mezzes identifies you as a tourist unless you demand they serve them in five courses a la russe.

 

Lemeac?

 

There isn't much good around Park and Pine. 

[mongo_jones]

i think l'express fits the bill for the group dinner.

 

i was asking about damas for myself, likely by myself. so, tasting menu, yes? i saw a reference to one on tripadvisor or somewhere but the restaurant's site does not specify.

[Orik]

I'm not sure they'll do the tasting menu for one, iirc it's more that they present things nicely to a group instead of people sharing plates like barbarians. 

 

But you can just go and order too much food. 

[Adrian]

Orik is right about Damas - I had a friend solo it and they did small portions of things all civilized like.

[mongo_jones]

okay, please to advise. if dining solo, how should i rank these options:

 

1. candide

2. pastel

3. damas

4. bouillon bilk (who also seem to have tasting menus not mentioned on their site)

5. le fantome

6. something else?

[Adrian]

Pastel over Le Fantome, pretty close with Bouillon Bilk. Pastel is well equipped to do bar solos. Damas is excellent too, and if it matches better with your preferences, do that. Haven't done Candide.

 

Have you done Chasse et Peche (has a tasting menu, not mentioned on the site) or Toque (if you can get past the fact you are eating in a room reminiscent of a hotel lobby, I think the best food)?