They open everyday at 5:00 PM, and we were the first couple inside! The decor was warm and inviting, with a chic touch. The paintings, some large, some small, gave a unique look to the small restaurant. We were greeted with courtesy by a waiter in a cool hat, and lead to a table next to the windows.
The restaurant filled up quickly, and the chatter of the patrons rose to a nice rumble just under the jazzy tones of music. Good vibe. We were all ready for our meal. I had purchased a Tuango coupon, 49$ for 119$ worth of food. The menu was pre-decided, and in this case it was a relief, because I would certainly have had a hard time picking which fondues to taste.
We started with the House Salad, a small mix of greens with a deliciously light sesame dressing. It was the perfect appetizer and a great way to set the tone for the meal to come.
After the cheese fondue, we were each given a Mentale potato while we waited for our main course. The menu says it is a baked potato, but this isn't entirely true. The potato innards were scooped out after baking, pureéd and mixed with cheese, then stuffed back in and rebaked. Tasty stuff, and the shell is fun to eat too.
Here is the main course, a Chinese fondue with beef, filet mignon, salmon, shrimp and calamari. This was supposed to be the highlight of the meal, I suppose, but it's nothing to write home about. The broth was bland and uninspiring. The sauces, two mayo-based and one mustard-based were certainly anything but Chinese, and even the soy-based sauce was a bit weird. Although I applaud the addition of salmon, the chunks were so big that you had to leave it in the pot and eat your potato for a while so the inside cooked through. I know that salmon is fine to eat raw, and I trust this establishment in terms of sanitation and safe seafood, but it's not entirely pleasant to bite into a piece of fish that is still cold on the inside. The calamari was rubbery, as expected. I'm not sure why it's included on the menu. On a lighter note, I did thoroughly enjoy the filet mignon and the shrimp.
For dessert, chocolate fondue! I loved the presentation of the dessert plate; sprinkles and powdered sugar are so fun to eat. The chocolate was nice and smooth, but not especially rich if that's what you're looking for. I loved the strawberry sauce that came with the marshmallows, and I got to eat them all because M can't eat marshmallows. Yummy! One thing I noticed was that the pineapple wasn't very fresh, and its portions were small.
Overall, it was an enjoyable meal. A great spot for a romantic night - I bet this place is fully booked weeks before Valentine's! Just don't expect to leave with a thick wallet.
6325 Rue St-Denis,
Montreal, H2J 2K8
(514) 449-1446
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