With MTL à Table in full swing, it’s restaurant time again in Montreal!
That means special prix fixe $21, $31 and $41 dinners (and late-night specials and $15 brunches) with a couple of choices each for appetizers, mains and desserts (or in the occasional case of tapas, all the savoury dishes your heart could desire). The event runs up until this Sunday evening (Nov. 13), so you better book your reservation quick!
To help you choose, here are my top picks for this year’s meal deals at some of the city’s top restaurants (that even gluten free people will enjoy):
This wine bar isn’t just about amazing magnums and vintage Champagne or tasting flights of well-curated reds. It does those well, sure, but it also does a mean piri piri-style boned quail, which is supposed to go great with a Languedoc wine trio. With all those choices, even if they’re small plates, it’s a steal at $31. And the late-night menu (available after 10pm) is even more of a bargain:
First service
Choice of one plate: Fried calamari and onion OR Cod brandade OR Arancini, sun-dried tomatoes, provolone OR Charcuteries plate OR Salmon tartare OR venison tartare and homemade chips (that’s a lot of ORs…)
Second service
Choice of two plates: Port-steeped cheddar grilled cheese OR Cavatelli, boar bolognese, pine nuts, ricotta salata OR Mini bison burger, matchstick fries OR Crispy braised lamb, onion cream OR Beef hanger steak, fingerlings, red wine butter OR Boned quail, piri-piri, vegetable caramel OR Green beans, truffle oil and roasted almonds OR Crispy mushroom tart, spinach, soif boiled egg
The wine pairing is $23 extra: 
Third service
Cheese plate
OR Choice of dessert
Réservation (514) 288-7779
Then there’s Laurentide Bistro La Coupole. You wouldn’t think this place was awesome, feeling a bit corporate, located in a hotel and doing a busy lunch service. But it’s lovely. And the menu is inventive, using incredible local ingredients from the Laurentians.
First service
Poached oysters and “Bleu d’Élizabeth” cheese, Mushrooms and Baby Spinach
OR Red deer tartar and beetroot, Horseradish with Cranberry
Second service
Pan-fried trout fillet, Cream of Oyster, Squash Ratatouille
–
Roasted piglet shoulder chops from Gaspor Farm, Homemade BBQ Sauce with Smoked Oyster, Cantonnier Cheese, Roasted Apples with Cabbage, Braised with Bacon
–
Third service
“Beets” Entremet, with Blue Honeysuckle Fruit and Apple Cider
OR Chocolate terrine with cranberry and blueberry, Walnuts, Pear Sorbet
First service
Poultry liver mousse, pecans, wild berries and mustard
OR Squash soup, morels, peameal bacon, croutons and seaweed butter
OR Arctic char gravlax, burnt cauliflower, salted juniper berries, fried lichen, seabuckthorn
Second service
Great lakes walleye, clams, seaweeds, potatoes, rose hip winter broth
–
OR Squash, buffalo mozzarella, chickpeas, sumac, sunflower seeds, almond milk, corn
OR Elderberry lacquered guinea fowl, celeriac, leak, indian celery, sage and long pepper crumble
– 13 $*
Third service
Mozzarella mousse, Labrador tea, chocolate cake, strawberries, balsam fir sugar
OR Apples, oat and sage crumble, molasse mousse, suqash, apple jelly
Réservation (514) 270-8000
4. BARBOUNYA – $31
I haven’t been to this place yet. Mostly because of the whole “I can’t eat pita” thing (gluten), rendering this supposedly lovely restaurant out of my reach. But this menu seems more gluten-free-friendly (not Celiac, because cross-contamination is assured):
First service
Kale tempura, spicy tomato sauce, yogurt
OR Barbounya ceviche, tomato, chilli, spice mix
OR Beets, chickpeas, tomato confit
Second service
Barley salad, squash, sun-dried tomatoes, nuts
–
Grilled lamb köfte, tomato salsa
–
OR Duck magret, fig jam, spices
Third service
Walnut Baklava
OR Chocolate and tahini mousse
Weekend-Only Brunch – $15 (Nov. 5, 6, 12, & 13)
First service
Honey & kaymak; olives, tomato & ricotta; nuts & dried fruits; homemade spread & jams; bread
AND Borek; filo rolled with lamb and beef, eggplant, nuts
OR Mackerel, zucchini pancake, soft boiled egg
Second service
Potato croquettes, vegetables, poached egg
OR Lamb meatballs, roasted veggies, garlic yogurt, poached egg
OR Brioche French toast, tahini and chocolate, nuts
Third service
Roasted chicken, potato, veggies, egg
5. MILOS – $41
No MTL à Table best-of listing would be complete without this Greek fine dining institution. While it will cost you an arm and a leg to eat here most nights, the $41 prix fixe offered until Saturday, Nov. 13 is a steal:
Thank you for including us among your picks. We are indeed gluten-free-friendly! Just inform our staff when you come in and we will do our best to accommodate you. Have a great MTLaTABLE week! 🙂