Don't be fooled by the name, I saw no large hams for sale anywhere. There were, however, lots of old-school memorabilia such as framed newspaper and magazine clippings, licence plates, and the such all over the restaurant.
The dining area consisted solely of bar tables: one along the wall, and one along the... well, bar. It seems tiny, but it wasn't crowded nor empty. Patrons sat where they pleased, but there was enough spacing between each person or couple to make everyone comfortable. It's the kind of restaurant you don't want to bring more than two people to -- there just might not be enough room.
The menu was short and sweet, consisting of two pages. One side featured hearty brunch items, and the other displayed lunch options that sounded just as delectable. It took a little while for the waitress to actually hand out the menus and pour our water, but she seemed flustered by something in the back room, so it's understandable. It bugged me that they served water in plastic glasses, but soon, I heard a crash followed by a shatter, so maybe that's why.
Naturally, I chose the Macaroni & Cheese ($10). There is an array of items you can choose to put in the lunch dishes, for example, lobster or duck, but I opted for the good old classic mac & cheese, made with four cheeses. Topped with breadcrumbs and crispy cracker bits, this baked dish astounded my taste buds. Elbow and curly macaroni, cooked to a perfect al dente, nestling snugly in a rich and cheesy sauce. My new #1 stress food. Next time I'll add duck to it!
M tried the Chicken and Waffles ($16)! The pieces of chicken were huge, two breasts fried to a lovely golden brown, resting atop a large, thin waffle, then drizzled with maple syrup. The chicken was good quality and had all the skin and fatty bits removed, and was not greasy at all. The only downside was that the batter was not crispy, but it was delicious nonetheless. The waffle was dense and went well with a bite of chicken. This dish also included incredible hash browns. Impossibly soft and creamy, these pillows of potato are made with sage and bits of smoked meat. I'd trek to the Old Port every day for these...
Overall, we had a really good time. We're definitely coming back; there's more than one thing I want to try! I also want to get one of their drinks, they look great on the bar menu and I saw quite a few customers sipping brightly-colored drinks. I can't wait!
286 Notre-Dame Ouest,
Montreal, H2Y 1T6
(514) 508-3872
