Leméac, Montreal

February 25, 2016

Few cities are as food-obsessed as Montreal and if you haven’t been yet you’re missing out on one hell of a chow down extravaganza, from greasy fast food to upscale creative cuisine. There’s a young and hip cuvée of amazing chefs contributing to the experimental restaurant scene and every new restaurant is adding to the already amazing dining culture with creations likely to be replicated in the world’s culinary capitals which are all paying attention.

My recent trip home though highlighted that, besides all that novelty and excitement, Montrealers’ longstanding favorites like Leméac were still the best guarantee of a wonderful meal and proof that the city really kicks ass on all fronts! Honestly, living in Montreal and not having been to Leméac would be a shameful admission, and I urge all my visiting friends and readers to put it near the top of their list next time so they can experience the iconic French bistro and its amazing food.

Opened since 2001, Leméac is the meeting point of the Montreal jet set (we spotted two big local celebrities within 10 minutes of arriving) without being the coolest kid in town. It has managed to remain at the top of the food chain by consistently serving a classic menu of splendidly executed French dishes for which everyone keeps coming back. It sounds simple but is honestly so hard to do and they have somehow succeeded in keeping this big space in trendy Outremont filled to the brim day and night after all these years.

The familiar dishes on the menu are all fabulous and you should carefully listen to your waiter’s wonderfully passionate and genuine recommendations which in an ideal world would be promptly followed by your ecstatic “I’ll take it all sir!” Sadly, you’ll need to settle on a few choices whether it’s the steak frites, foie gras au torchon, homestyle blood sausage, freshly flown in cod or any other of the tempting classics on offer. The best ingredients coupled with a simple and refined execution will have you silent for a while as you savor your meal in one of Montreal’s very best restaurants, glancing through the immense windows at one of the city’s best thoroughfares of Avenue Laurier.

The great wine list and selection of local cheeses would make a perfect ending to this fantastic meal, though please do not walk out without trying their famous pain perdu (French Toast) which always have everyone staring in awe as it crosses the room (photo at the very bottom below). Leméac might be a classic but it sure isn’t ordinary and you should definitely put your trust into the recurring eating habits of Montrealers who truly know how to enjoy their food…

Oysters flown in fresh daily from Nova Scotia, served exclusively here

Duck foie gras au torchon

Homemade blood pudding, celery root purée, cider sauce

Mushroom ravioli, demi-glace, pine nuts and arugula

15 oz aged Rib eye steak, pepper sauce

Braised beef short rib, barley stew, Swiss chard and mint pesto

Fresh Icelandic wild cod, fennel and potato purée

Fruitcake with ice cream

French toast, milk jam ice cream & maple caramel – The homemade brioche is two-and-a-half inches thick and the combination of hot and cold is just…wow!