789 Jean-Talon O.
Montreal, Quebec
Metro: Acadie, Parc
Bus: STM 16, 80, 92, 93, 179, 435, 935
Visit: October 29, 2011
http://www.rotisseriepanama.com/
2011 has been a big year for me to try and get to like Greek food. Over the course of this calendar year, I got a know a Greek colleague who basically has been guiding me through Montreal’s Greek cuisine. But, I need to say that I’m not the only one who wants to expand their Greek horizons. Shortly after my post on Ellada at the end of September, a conversation on Twitter gave me quite the idea.
To see my post about my previous visit to the old Laurier BBQ, click HERE.
LOCATION CLOSED
381 Laurier O.
Montreal, Quebec
Bus: STM 46, 51, 80, 129, 435, 935
Visit: October 5, 2011
http://www.lauriergordonramsay.com
Earlier in 2011, we were all interested by the news of Gordon Ramsay’s involvement in Laurier BBQ. We were all discussing how his magical touch would turn the old dilapidated establishment and turn it into something of valor. There was so much discussion, that my family decided to take an outing last March to see what the place was like before they closed their doors. What I saw that night was something of a large disappointment. The food, the decor, and the general ambiance was sorely lacking. It was no wonder why the place was so empty for so long.
If we fast forward to August of 2011, after the whirlwind visit from the man himself, the “new” Laurier now sits prime in the middle of the Montreal restaurant scene. The biggest thing I was curious about was when I heard that the new menu was going to include a burger. I bided my time and sifted through blog post after blog post, waiting for the right time to make my second entrance. Even Eva Avila, former Canadian Idol winner, over Twitter, was gushing over the results of the newly revamped Laurier. The anticipation was too much to take. So, I was lucky to be accompanied by a close member of the family on this latest excursion to the much talked about location. This was fitting since we were both there the last time the family had an outing.
The one thing I was the most curious about on this day was the amount of people we’d find in the restaurant at 1:00 p.m. Well, much to our delight, the place was packed from the time we entered at 1:00 p.m., until the time we left at around 2:30 p.m. So, a month after re-opening, it seems like the new menu is sticking and making an impact. I was worried because of all the mixed reviews from the normal population, but nothing speaks louder than a jam packed dining room. It was so jam packed that there was about a 5 minute wait for a table.
After having a seat, I took some time trying to look over the place. The first thing I noticed wasn’t the decor, but the sheer amount of staff working the floor. In different color t-shirts, there were people for each and every task imaginable. I remember that the people in black t-shirts took orders and served drinks. The ones in white brought orders and cleared tables. Even though they all seemed busy, the floor was pretty crowded at times.
The decor was radically different from the last time I stepped into the establishment. Now, the last time, I only got to see one part of the restaurant. This time, I got a better look at the rest of the place. The banquettes were comfortable and more than enough room for the two of us. I got a glimpse of a few flat screen televisions at the back of the main dining room. The most interesting thing we saw was on our way out. It was a make-shift fireplace that is just asking for it to be touched, which one of us tried to do.
My visit to Laurier Gordon Ramsay had three tests as entertainment while waiting for food. The first test was the presence of the man himself, which as you know, he has better things to do then to wait for me in Montreal. Unfortunantely, mini-Gordon wasn’t available because he was devoured by a badger. I’m not making that up, by the way. I heard the kid Ramsay look-a-like doesn’t do this kind of stuff either. So, I was hoping that the restaurant could’ve hired someone who looked like him to greet customers, but my hopes were dashed when no one swore at me once.
All kidding aside, I had some real tests in mind. The second test involved whether or not I could talk my way into getting bacon in my burger. That didn’t work, though I’ll deal with the lack of bacon later on. The last test wasn’t really my idea, but we wanted to see if the staff were on the level. After they cleared the appetizer salad, we wanted to know if they would come back with another utensil. Wouldn’t you know it, within seconds, the new utensil made its debut on the table. That was impressive if you ask me.
The “Famous” Pickle Jar
I don’t get it.
My Ice Tea
Regardless of how the service was, is, or will be, I was more concerned about what people come to restaurants for, the food. The menu was revamped and there were a lot of things to choose from. For the purpose of this post, I’ll start with the dishes I did not have.
Market Salad
This salad was interesting as the presentation looked quite nice. I’m not going to go over a grocery list of items in the salad, but what I will say is that we made a nice count of things to be had. For some reason, if there was a carrot, there were only two of them. If there were red peppers, there were only two of them. If we spotted tomatoes, there were only two of them. I think you get the drift by now. The only thing there wasn’t two of was the chicory.
Chicory is something completely new to me. I haven’t heard of or had any in my entire life. Luckily, since this wasn’t my salad, none of it went into my mouth. When the salad was finished, what was left was the chicory. It’s an overpowering taste that really defined this salad and made finishing it not so easy.
The “Old” Menu
At this point, I noticed a piece of paper under the salad. Well, it’s cut up pieces of the old menu from the pre-Ramsay days. You’ll also notice the price of ice tea. Mine was $3.75. Think what you may about that.
Rotisserie Chicken Sandwich
You’ll notice the inclusion of kettle-style chips with each of the main dishes. They were a little harder than your normal chip. To me, they really didn’t add anything by being there.
These sandwiches include emmenthal cheese, dijonnaise, caramelized onions and arugula.
Since the sandwich was sliced in half, I got to watch this in two different ways. The first way was how it was meant to be eaten. The arugula’s inclusion was too overpowering and completely overshadowed the chicken.
The second half was completely stripped of arugula. But, it you’d look at the insides of the sandwich, you’d have a hard time really finding the chicken. The good part was that the lack of arugula during the second half really was a big improvement.
Lemon Meringue Pie
For this dessert, I was offered half of it and I obliged. This, was my first ever lemon meringue pie in my life. Having stated that, I have no reference point of which to compare this pie. I really don’t want to compare it to the lackluster apple pie I had back in March.
After taking a bite, you can really feel the lemony taste. The meringue was cool in the generous amounts. All the components really delivered, making the apple pie debacle a thing of the past. But, you’d could also call this a meringue lemon pie since the creaminess was everywhere. Despite that, it was a good pie, though not my favorite kind.
Milk Bottle
I decided to add this picture here, mostly because I found this interesting. I know you’re questioning my sanity now.
Mac ‘N Cheese w/Smoked Meat
This was my chosen side dish for my burger. Now, the thing that bothered me a bit was the fact that sides were not included with the plate. I think this was the first time I ever had this particularity pointed out in my Burger Search. For 6 dollars, you can have an upscale macaroni and cheese with the inclusion of a Montreal staple, smoked meat.
Now, I chose this side dish out of sheer curiosity. It wasn’t for the mac or for the cheese, but for the additional guest star. As a kid, I grew up with everyone’s favorite boxed product and it never ranked up there as my kind of comfort food. That’s funny because it’s a dish that so many people are ranting and raving about in restaurants.
The first thing I noticed was the size of the dish. For a side dish, it looked a bit small. However, after taking bites from the interesting plating choice, I realized that it was the perfect size. The finely grated cheese and color made this look interesting.
As for the taste, it was nothing really out of the ordinary. It just reminded me why I wasn’t a Mac ‘N Cheese person. However, for that dish, it was as good as can be. The thing I was really looking for was how the smoked meat was going to play a role in the consumption. For one, they were cubed pieces of meat. But, the distinct smell of smoked meat made you forget their shape real fast. The meat blended well with the cheese, as it never got in the way of the rest of the dish.
All Beef 8 oz. Burger
This burger contains Romaine lettuce, caramelized onions, and sharp cheddar cheese on a brioche bun.
Coming into this, I didn’t know what to expect. All I knew was that the sliders were getting good reviews from the people I keep in contact with. But, ladies and gentlemen, this is not Mr. Lew’s Great Slider Search, it’s all about the big dogs, burgers. So, my first look at this thing was strange because all I could see was orange. Normally, orange is a great color that I love to see. On a burger, it’s a different thing. That meant that I couldn’t really see the beef at all. It’s like the burger was wrapped in a cheesy coating, not that I’d ever complain about too much cheese.
My first bite into the burger met and exceeded expectations. The meat was thick and cooked properly. On its own, the meat didn’t really taste like much. It really needed the other components to really make it shine. There was an appropriate amount of dripping coming from the burger, which to me, is a good sign. So far, I saw the great potential in the burger.
The superstar components of the burger were the caramelized onions and the cheese. The sweetness of the onions complimented the burger meat so well. Even if the meat fell short, the onions were there to keep the game going. The cheese, in its very generous amount, just reinforced the onions’ job. The fact that the meat didn’t fare so well on its own was forgotten because it was in combination with the two main stars.
I wish I could say the same thing about the lettuce. I rarely ever have issues with lettuce on its own, but this time just was too obvious to ignore. When I tried to bite the lettuce, I had a very hard time separating it. It’s like the onions, cheese and beef all wanted to join my stomach club, but the lettuce was having second thoughts. Near the end, I decided to pull the lettuce all out. By itself, the lettuce was the way I enjoy it, drenched with juices, but I know that’s not as good inside the burger. It was the reason why when biting it, the burger followed and forced me to reposition the whole thing to get a better grip.
Overall, I didn’t really miss bacon whatsoever. The burger stands well on its own without any other tools of the burger trade. When biting your burger with all the ingredients together, you have a solid product. Even if there are glitches, they can easily be forgiven when the onions and cheese show up. While it may not be one of my absolute favorite burgers in Montreal, it was enough to show me that the new Laurier was well ahead of its predecessors.
9030 de L’Acadie
Montreal, Quebec
Bus: STM 19, 54, 100, 119, 460
Train: Chabanel
Visit: September 23, 2011
http://www.restaurantellada.com/
It’s been a fully charged Greek cuisine week for me. When I heard that our colleagues at school were planning a retirement party at this restaurant, I had mixed feelings. For one, my fellow food fanatic teacher cohort, who is Greek by the way, did not have rave reviews for the food. I also wasn’t going to pull out the full food blogger Mr. Lew hat for this evening, but I was convinced otherwise by my cohort. He was hoping that I would back up his previous statements. The rest of the personnel at school all felt that the food was quite good. I think I was going to make it my goal to see the truth since I obviously eat a lot.
1446 Sainte-Catherine O.
Montreal, Quebec
Metro: Guy-Concordia
Bus: STM 15, 24, 57, 66, 150, 165, 166, 420, 427, 435
Visit: August 18, 2011
http://konopizzacanada.com/
If you were at Osheaga recently, you probably saw a stand with a huge crowd around it. Well, that crowd were all patiently waiting for something called Kono Pizza. Now, I’m not an Osheaga person myself, so I only got word of the buzz days later through Twitter and the community of food writers I follow.
Kentucky Fried Chicken
3131 Cote-Vertu
Montreal, Quebec
Metro: Cote-Vertu
Bus: STM 17, 64, 70, 72, 121, 128, 170, 171, 174, 177, 196, 213, 215, 216, 225, 470, STL 144, 151, 902
Visit: October 23, 2010
http://www.kfc.ca/
I was passing by this location on one of my random bus excursions when I noticed a sign for the return of the Double Down. At that moment, I remember the neglected pictures I never posted of my encounter with this beast.
Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Lew has a long history with Kentucky Fried Chicken. Even since I was young, KFC was the pinnacle of Fast Food. But, as I grew into the Mr. Lew you “see” today, tastes change. As chicken pieces get smaller and smaller, Mr. Lew gets turned off. The taste changes and Mr. Lew leaves. Now, KFC has joined my list of former loves like Dunkin’ Donuts, McDonalds’, and Pepsi. It doesn’t help that the logo reminds me of someone.
Anticipation - Part 1
Anticipation - Part 2
Anticipation - Part 3
Double Down - Box
Double Down - Wrapper
Double Down - Peeking Out of the Wrapper
Double Down
Double Down
Tried: October 23, 2010
This concoction contains two chicken breasts, pepperjack cheese, secret sauce, and bacon.
To start, I’m going to be honest about what I was expecting before I ate this: death. The hype surrounding this ‘thing’. I’m always game for this kind of gimmick. The chicken itself was nice, but it overwhelmed everything else. Yes, there was cheese. Yes, there was sauce. Finally, yes, there was bacon, but I didn’t really notice. All this comes to is a gimmick, pure and simple. For the rest of that day, I was monitored closely by doctors, as I was fearing a heart attack.
LOCATION CLOSED
405 Sherbrooke Est
Montreal, Quebec
Metro: Sherbrooke
Bus: STM 24, 30, 144, 427
Visit: June 19, 2011
My father’s side of the family has a tradition on each and every Father’s day. Usually, we’d go to a very specific restaurant for the last 40 years. So, when I heard we were going to this relative unknown, my interest was somewhat peaked. This restaurant is so new (in my opinion), that it can’t even be found on any internet directory. The service seemed very tentative. You could tell by the way they carried out the soup to the various tables. The fact that there were 2 separate entrances made the greeting process quite awkward. The restaurant was about 3/4s full by the time we left.
For the majority of the dishes, I’ll try my best to identify them. When I go to a Chinese restaurant, I go under a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. That’s mostly because I don’t want to find out what I’m putting in my mouth.
Tea
Soup
This tasted a lot like a chicken soup. I didn’t really like the consistency.
Bowl of Rice
Lobster
Up until today, I have never seen lobster this big. Also, the portions were quite huge, not only for this dish, but for a lot of the others. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much taste, as the iconic lobster sauce was nowhere in sight.
Lobster Piece
Just for a reference point.
General Tao Chicken
Though the pieces look big and you’re given a lot of it, I found the dish to lack in taste. Once you get over the heat, there isn’t much to it, compared to other similar dishes I’ve tried.
Frog Legs
This is a regular dish that the family orders. I didn’t touch it today and I will never touch it ever. I don’t like the idea of eating or touching frog.
“Fish Pot”
This dish contains your various fish and shrimp in what looks like an edible bowl. The fish was very acceptable and the shrimp was quite large. The items surrounding the “bowl” are scallop pieces. I do not like scallop, therefore I do not touch.
“Mystery Dish”
I’m calling this the mystery dish because I was told one thing and it tasted like something else. I will not argue with the taste whatsoever, because I was one of the better dishes. But, when you tell me this is chicken and it tastes like fish, something has got to give.
Pork Chops
This dish was one of the decent ones. Though, I didn’t exactly like having to work around the bones. Then again, when you eat this, bones are a given.
Tofu
This dish really frustrated me. It wasn’t because of taste, but because the tofu pieces just kept on falling apart. As the pieces got smaller, they because so much harder to pick up with chop sticks. Therefore, any appreciation for the dish was completely lost in the multiple attempts in trying to pick them up.
Beef and Greens
This dish is as simple as it looks. The beef taste quite good and the greens were just like anything you could get in any restaurant.
Dessert
I don’t know what this is. This is the second time in three days that I have seen this unfortunate soup dessert. I was told that it was made with beans and it was supposed to be sweet. I managed two sips before giving up. I usually finish everything put in front of me. For this, I knew better.
Aftermath
931 Cremazie (Marche Central)
Montreal, Quebec
Bus: STM 19, 54, 100, 179, 460
Train: Chabanel
Visit: June 10, 2011
http://www.roasters.ca/
Being that I like going out with my colleagues when they suggest something, I didn’t hesitate when we were going to try this place. Rotisserie chicken is something that I’m fickle with. A lot of it is pure garbage and very few are worth the time of day. The first thing we noticed was the upscale decor, for chicken. That doesn’t add up for me. The server was cold and I felt like I was an imposition on them. The ice tea I was brought was clearly watered down. I was thinking about that for 30 minutes and I got a second opinion from my trusted colleague, who agreed with me. On the level of service, I’m not impressed. It makes me wonder whether or not I’ll return to try the burger I found on the menu.
Half-Chicken
Tried: June 10, 2011
The taste of the chicken itself was no different that medium-quality rotisserie chicken places. It was a whole lot better than Scores. The mashed potatoes, which I was happy to see was available, were lumpy and had too much garlic for my taste. I’m fussy when it comes to mashed potatoes, so that means there can’t be lumps. This meal is worth at least one try, but it won’t blow you away. The portion size, in my opinion, was a lot to handle, especially when I can feel it now, 4 hours later.
Half-Chicken w/extra sauce
Quarter Chicken Lunch Special
Mr. Lew revisited Laurier Gordon Ramsay in October of 2011, to see that, click HERE.
LOCATION CLOSED
381 Laurier Ouest
Montreal, Quebec
Visit: March 26, 2011
Bus: STM 51, 80, 435, 935
Currently closed due to change of ownership.
One of my family members (or someone really close to our family) suggested we reunite the siblings for a visit to this soon-to-be revamped Montreal restaurant. We all know that chef Gordon Ramsay is slated to turn this place into one of high esteem and valor. That remains to be seen. I’ll be interested to see if a burger finds itself on the new menu. This evening was also interesting because the restaurant dimmed the lights for Earth Hour.
Chicken Breast Meal
Tried: March 26, 2011
Rotisserie chicken is something that I now dread. Years of Scores chicken can do that to you. I am numb to this dish and this restaurant didn’t help that. However, the point wasn’t really the food, but the company. I really do hope that Gordon Ramsay has some sort of miracle planned, because I wasn’t impressed.
Apple Pie
Tried: March 26, 2011
I like everything that has to do with cooked apples. Everything from McDonald’s Apple Pies to the side dish at a Baton Rouge. When I saw this in the menu, I had to try it. I was disappointed because it was cold. That put a stop to my enthusiasm about apples for that one night.
Mr. Lew revisited this restaurant in March of 2012, to see that post, click HERE.
1102 Boulevard Saint-Laurent
Montreal, Quebec
Bus: STM 55, 80, 129, 150, 410, 427, 430, 435, 747
Metro: Place D’Armes
Visit: Ongoing
What does a half-Chinese person know about Chinese food? I guess no one will ever truly know. It seems like everyone has their opinions when it comes to Chinese food. This establishment is one of two in Chinatown that has been part of my family for the last 40 years. This particular one has been a regular stop during the week for the last 2 years. We have seen waiters come and go. We’ve been through new chefs. We know this place well. Just remember, if you see Chinese people eating in a Chinese restaurant, it must be somewhat decent. I’ve seen my share of Chinese people here.
Won Ton Soup - 12 pieces, no noodles
Tried: August 7, 2009
Dumplings with shrimp surrounded by vegetables.
This is my regular won ton regimen for the week. I will say, without a shadow of a doubt, that this is the best Won Ton I’ve ever had in my entire life. If anyone has a challenger, I am willing to try.
Beef Rice Noodles
Tried: August 7, 2009
This dish contains rice noodles, chop suey, onions, and beef.
If done right, this dish tastes pretty good. This is the second of my regular dishes at this establishment. The noodles themselves are a little more tough than your normal noodle. A good bite require you to take in all the ingredients together. Normally, I can take down an entire serving by myself. These days, that isn’t too easy. I do not suggest rewarming this dish as the noodles can get a little too hard to chew.
Beef Chow Mein Noodles
Tried: August 7, 2009
This dish contains mixed Chinese vegetables, beef, and crispy noodles.
This dish is one that my family takes on a lot. Again, when done properly, this tastes really great. To me, I’ve had this so many times that I’ve become numb to this dish. If the noodles are too crispy, it becomes really annoying. But when the noodles are too soggy, it isn’t too enjoyable either. You need a mix between the two to get this dish at its most effective.
Chicken Fried Rice
Tried: August 7, 2009
This dish contains chicken, rice, and onions.
A chicken fried rice can contain nearly anything. This is a staple of Canadian Chinese take-out. At first, I didn’t like this version because I was more accustomed to the take-out version. But, after trying it a few times, I was getting used to what was here. This is probably one of the best dishes to take back home and warm up later.
Won Ton Soup w/Noodles
Tried: March 12, 2011
This is the won ton soup portion with noodles shared by many. Much like my opinions about the won ton, the noodles aren’t bad. For one of the rare occasions, I drank the soup, which didn’t do anything for me. Still, the best won ton in Montreal.
Cantonese Noodles
Tried: March 12, 2011
I’ve had this dish so many times that I am no numb to this. For this occasion, I didn’t even get around to touching this. For those of you who like crispy noodles, this is the dish for you. Unfortunately, consistency is always an issue. There needs to be mix between crispy and soggy, no extremes. Still, on a good day, this tastes good.
Tofu w/Mixed Vegetables
Tried: March 12, 2011
This is a vegetarian option. At one time, I didn’t care too much for tofu. But these days, I tend to not mind it at all. This dish, in combination with the vegetables, is fine.
Honey Garlic Spareribs
Tried: March 12, 2011
I cannot tell the difference between honey garlic and sweet & sour. These are satisfactory, but you can probably get just as good from take-out.
Shrimp w/Lobster Sauce
Tried: March 12, 2011
The secret of this dish is not so much the shrimp. There are hardly any, but that doesn’t matter. It’s what you do with the lobster sauce that counts. Whether you mix it in with white rice or have the drenched piece of lettuce, you can’t go wrong.
Orange Beef
Tried: March 12, 2011
This was the popular dish of the evening having been ordered twice. This was supposed to be spicy, but I never seem to get what Chinese spicy is supposed to be. The taste of this dish was fine, as I have never had non-buffet orange beef before.
General Tao Chicken
Tried: March 12, 2011
Having had General Tao chicken like everyone on this planet, I didn’t find this to be the best ever, but a very tolerable version.
Crispy Chicken
Tried: March 12, 2011
This dish always tends to work for me. The chicken is never really cooked wrong when I see this dish. The half portion is suitable for people who are trying a bit of everything.
Curry Noodles
Tried: March 25, 2011
Much like your normal Cantonese chow mein, this noodles dish had all the elements, except for the inclusion of one additional guest, curry. I’ll be honest, I’m not a big fan of curry, and this dish didn’t help that. Though spicy, I never really got into the taste of this dish whatsoever, but that’s just a personal taste.
