While host Kim Sullivan of Global Mornings Montreal sampled a mango sherbet-filled dark chocolate from local company L’Essence Glacier (here’s where you can find them) I recommended a handful of restaurants for Valentines Day. Here they are, with justifications:
- Nora Gray
Chef Emma Cardarelli makes incredible pasta, like squid ink fettucine with scallops, and ‘nduja-stuffed fried risotto with homemade mascarpone. - More Italian: Impasto
this is my other favourite Italian restaurant. It’s Stefano Faita and Michele Forgione’s place in Little Italy. Creamy polenta with stracchino cheese and the ricotta gnocchi. It’s not stuffy. The wine is great. Perfect evening. - Tasting Menu: Le Fantôme
Griffintown. It’s again not stuffy, even though you’re getting seven courses of delicious small plates, like tender lamb, duck, beef, and scallops. $65 a person. They’re very small but very rich courses. The best part is they can adapt the tasting menu to food intolerances, so vegetarian or gluten free or dairy-free, and it’ll still be great. One of the two dessert courses when I went last time was a fermented zabaglione, so warm egg yolk whisked for ages with Prosecco and sugar. It was a brilliant end. - Casual: Poutine or Sparrow
Well if you want something really casual, there’s restaurant Valentine, the poutine chain : ) That’s for if you really don’t think the relationship will last and you don’t want to invest in an expensive meal…
But for something in between, I love Sparrow. It’s a gastropub in the Mile End, so upscale pub food, with a great burger and steak, as well as my favourite tandoori chicken wings. Good cocktails too. The food might not sound upscale, but the ambiance is romantic-hipster. - BYOB: Thanjai
Located at Van Horne and Victoria right next to Plamondon Metro, Thanjai is South Indian and specializes in dosa – lentil and rice crepes stuffed with potatoes or spices – but they also do tasty chicken curries, vegetables and specialty Bangalorean rice dishes. The ambiance isn’t really romantic, but everything’s homemade and I feel a little better quality than some of the places in Park Ex. - You only have one evening free and your favourite place is booked: Le Vin Papillon
This is perfect because it doesn’t take reservations. It’s really romantic and serves small plates, perfect for sharing, like scallops or beef tartare sandwiches, or its famous whole roasted cauliflower and fried mushrooms. The sommelier has her own natural wine import company. They open at 3pm. Get there by 5:30pm or you’ll never get a seat. - Dessert: XO
You’re going to want chocolate, right? I still dream about this deconstructed chocolate mousse at XO in the Old Port’s world trade centre, with caramel whipped cream, brownie pieces and caramelized peanuts. Or there’s sorbet, if you want some lighter and more boring. Go for the tasting menu or just book a later reservation for dessert. - Where else can you find great restaurants: the Feed Me app
You can always download my app, Feed Me on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. We have a new featured category for Valentines Day.
Photos courtesy of Le Fantôme: Salsify and buckthorn; miso cod
Leave a Reply