Montreal food

What I said about portion sizes was more of a general comment that it is harder to find huge portions around here. The places I mentioned were the ones that I could think of that fit with the OP's request, which included huge portions. Yes, a half chicken and "small" fries from Romados will feed me and my husband with leftovers, and each sandwich at Santropol seems to contain an entire block of cream cheese and half a loaf of bread; however, at Scratch Kitchen and Patati (and anything other than the mishmash at Cosmos) I find the portions quite reasonable. Some of the portions on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives are just over-the-top disgustingly huge.

Spent too much time in the hospital to do much travelling this year, but I walked into Myriade a few days ago after an absence of least a year. Anthony spotted me in the process of ordering an Eva Solo. After shaking my hand and saying 'welcome back' he said I have something really special for you. I have loan of a Bunn Trifecta for a month and I have just been practicing on it for the last six hours. You will be the first customer in Quebec to have a Trifecta brewed cup! He selected an Ethiopian for the 'launch'. What can I say? It was spectacular: a cup of full-bodied and rich textured, a fantastic aroma and a yet a very clean brew. I could drink this everyday! If Anthony starts using the Trifecta, and he asks if you want a brew from this machine -- "YES" is the only possible answer you should consider!

Anecdote, without a doubt, serves the worst breakfast I have ever eaten. As a result I would never try any other foord there. In case you wonder why I say that - my reply is plastic bread, watery eggs, undercooked bacon and coffee that is worse than Tim Horton's.

i mean,i agree fully that this service is suspect as their website is a complete joke. i wouldn't order anything from them, however, the service has been successful elsewhere.

amal bohsali? (across the street from Adonis on Sauve) I am sure I saw some tonight at Abou Elias. Is that dessert palestinian? Is there a palestinian grocery store in town? Would Israeli shops have it if it's palestinian?

Not a bad place, but not a wow restaurent either, Cresendo in Verdun has pasta (pick a type, pick a sauce + icecream) for kids. A PPP, the place boasts a view of the (modest) marina, access to the lovely bike path and a park with children's swings/slides/watergames. Oh, and the Ecole du Cirque is right next door. A really nice place to take small children especially in the summer where their terrace is always full of kids.

As of last Wednesday, Momesso still makes an excellent steak sub, with cheese, but I agree it's not the same thing as a Philly cheesesteak -- the steak is not sliced as thin, and there are more vegetables, but it really is a great sandwich.

Riz en folie on Mackay has shut down ...*sigh* Its website says it still offers deliveries, though, and sells its stuff at some stores, i.e. certain IGAs.

Hi everyone, I will be staying with a significant other in MTL for a few days and really need some advice on food, dessert cafes (open late preferably), seesha/hookah bars/lounges & a few nice restaurants. Food likes: Seafood, Sushi, Mediterranean, Malaysian, Thai & Italian (moderately priced). We are planning to spend at least 1 day in Old MTL - so any ideas would be greatly appreciated! Lunch Options: - Delis are fine too Dinner Options: - ? Dessert Cafes (day & also others that are open late) - ? Seesha/Hookah Lounge: - ?

This is the CSA I joined, the drop off is on Berri behind the Mont Royal metro station every Wed between 5:30 - 6:30 : http://www.lesjardinsdupetittremble.ca/ Even if you haven't signed up for a vegetable basket they sell individual fruits, vegetables, eggs etc.

There are a few threads on Mont Tremblant - if you do a search of this board, you'll find them. My personal favourite is in St-Jovite (well, technically it's all Mont Tremblant now), called sEb - you won't find better (or anything even close) in the village itself.

We've decided on Bonaparte in Old Montreal for tomorrow night. I'll let you know how it was. Thanks to all for your suggestions.

Cooking wise, i have only taken french pastry and chocolate classes, if those interest you i can refer a great class but not on the island of Montreal. For cooking, i have noticed some people offering in markets such as 440 and Marché Gourmand (i lived in Laval until recently). Loblaws also had cooking classes. My experience is that privately owned schools are much cheaper and the teacher/owner of the business has a more approachable and friendly way of teaching. I've even called my teacher once or twice to ask her advice when something went horribly wrong at home haha! Here's a place i'd look into. The lady seemed really nice but i have not taken her class yet: http://www.marche-public440.com/index.php/page/view/122.html

Oh - let me add: La Banquise for all the crazy poutines, and maybe Patati-Patata for its cuteness. And maybe Romados. And I would agree with Schwartz...I think if huge portions is a necessary criterion, it will be harder to find places in Canada than in the States - which is not a bad thing, in my books. But if you're looking for casual, creative places with character and love from the locals, we do have lots of those.

It has been a long time since I've been there but unless things have changed, I found that the Québécois took so much pride in their food that I never had a bad meal there, from diners to white table cloth ones. Yes they might not be friendly, yes they may not acknowledge knowing the English language but when it came to their food they would never foist the mediocre bilge that is so much the case here where tourists go.

Second location in Monkland Village(sharing the space with a Tea establishment). I think it opened in April 2010.

I've worked a line for quite a few years and it can be horrendous during a heatwave - and this in a closed kitchen (out of view from the public). Yeah, hats off to these guys for not blowing up (I seriously take into account that it IS a kitchen with sharp knives) . Double kudos for maintaining "such a friendly disposition"!

I would normally agree with you, EBob, but what if oysters really isn't Haggisboy's cup of tea. Plus if he's trying a beausoleil or a malpeque, chances are he'll come across this very same type at the next restaurant he tries oysters, giving him some heads-up advantage. Like I said, I always found the cheapest oysters the best. Maybe its turnover freshness, maybe its bad taste on my part, I dunno, but I rarely found an out-of-the-ordinary oyster over the top. Again, maybe I'm not trying the right ones at the right time or something, but I found some west-coasters too mineral, some imported ones lacking flavor and a few americans too watery. I did try some kumamotos ahwile back which were absolutely fantastic in every way - briny, meaty, fresh. Too bad they were so small. They were reputed to be Japanese, but my friends tell me they are also cultivated on the west coast.

I think it is unrealistic to expect to order food at any time of day from downtown to the west island without a surcharge and it is unrealistic to expect it fresh and hot. I have used a similar service in both San Francisco and Toronto.

"Of course no restaurant will ever admit this. It can be our dirty little secret [...]" I find most places , when asked, will be quite straightforward about whether their sauce comes from a mix or is made from scratch. Of course, most of the time you can tell just from looking at it. It's hard to reproduce the flawless aspect of a sauce made from a mix.