User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; WinNT4.0; en-US; m18) Gecko/20001108 Netscape6/6.0 X-Accept-Language: en Xref: usenet.INS.cwru.edu rec.food.restaurants:54555 First, thanks to all of you who responded with suggestions. I did some research on them, and they all sounded very good. We hit some other places, however, due to cravings and where we were, and wanted to pass on quick reviews. We went to dinner at Nuances in the Casino. It was excellent -- beautiful decor, somewhat dark with abstract paintings and soft blue lights against rosewood panelling. Service was of the best -- the type that served new silverware every course, and we received chef's treats at the beginning and the end of dinner. The first treat was a bit of lamb presented exquisitely, and decadent truffles at the end. The menu was noveau french/continental. I had a clam and mussel cream soup that was served with a puff pastry dome on top. So good. My girlfriend had a lovely stacked salad with three lettuces. For dinner, she had beef tenderloin in a mushroom-onion wine sauce. I had duck breast that was served with duck confit spring rolls, an interesting and tasty twist. All was quite good, with a fair wine list and again, outstanding service. The total came to a little over $100 before tip, but in the conversion, that amount is closer to $70. Very much worth it, especially when you compare what it would cost in NY or somewhere else. We had a good mexican lunch at Casa de Mateo in Vieux-Montreal. It's supposed to be popular at night with mariachi bands on the weekends. It was good, solid mexican food, with both the tex mex style and more authentic dishes with cactus, etc. A good spot if you're craving mexican and margaritas, and the people watching was great -- get a window seat. Lunch specials were $9.50 and included soup or salad. That night's dinner was at a fabulous thai place on St. Catherine, on the edge of the gay village, called Bangkok Blue. Stylish casual atmosphere and a nice mix of thai food with some vietnamese influences. Wonderful po tak soup and spring rolls in rice paper with chicken, vermicelli and mint. Great pad thai and curry dishes. Prices were very reasonable and the house red was surprisingly good. Dinner the final night was at La Maree, also in Vieux-Montreal, on Rue Jacques-Cartier -- which by the way, is a fun little street that is closed to traffic and has many bistros and street artists. The restaurant is in an old mansion with tapestry walls that match the chairs. Think old county french through and through, in decor, dishes and presentation. Almost everything was prepared or finished tableside. Yes, they did the caesar salad tableside, which you just don't see anymore -- down to the egg, capers and sardines. My escargot were finished tableside, and my girlfriend's seafood bisque was ladled and finished with cognac. Just absolutely lovely, and tableside presentation that I haven't seen in years. Even the side vegetables were put on a flame while our main dishes were served, to keep them warm. I had pan-fried red mullet with mussels and clams, and the gf had veal medallions in marsala sauce. The medallions were two inches thick, just melted in your mouth. Creme brulee and homemade wafers and chocolate drops finished the meal. And very good wine list. Overall, I think Nuances' food has the slight edge on La Maree, but the experience overall at La Maree wins hands down. Dinner with appetizers, salads, two glasses of wine, one dessert and coffee was about $120 -- before tip -- still quite a bargain when you consider the exchange rate and the service. I was quite taken with Montreal and got an awful lot for the money -- not just food, but shoes, too! If anyone heads up there, please post and let me know what else you found. Thanks!
Montreal, Canada