Parisian bistro vibes but with Montreal warmth.
Almost skipped it. Two nights of French in a row felt like enough, but one of our hotel staff highly recommended this place. Even at a weekday lunch, the place was completely packed, but we managed to slip into a cozy table in the back.
Most of the dishes we got were excellent, and some of the dishes were a modern take on a classic French bistro food. Some of my favorites were the the duck foie gras and salmon pot-au-peu.
Escargots – Instead of the expected cast-iron tray with bubbling parsley butter, these came in a ratatouille-like form, finished with a herby basil sauce. Didn’t get to fully enjoy the texture of the escargots, but I liked the texture overlay with portobello mushrooms.
Duck Foie Gras – Textbook execution. Would be a crime not to order this at a bistro. Impeccably toasted baguettes, creamy foie gras, and apricot compote. Classic trifecta that works every time.
Mussels & Fries – Fries were a dud, but the mussels were excellent. Less about broth, more about the punch of fresh tomato and herbs. The herbal finish was surprisingly assertive, but not overbearing.
Truffle Oil Salmon Tartare – Fatty salmon with just a faint whisper of truffle. Satisfying, but the idea of offering it in both appetizer and entrée size felt like padding the menu. Fries on the side (instead of greens) might’ve made it make sense.
Homemade Blood Pudding – Most French boudins I’ve had leaned firm or even crisped, but this one actually embraced its pudding name. Soft, almost cake-like, topped with peach compote and sweet cider sauce. Straddled savory and dessert in a way that made me stop and think.
‘Fleur de Sel’ Salmon Pot-au-Feu – Always thought cooking salmon in steam/water drains its flavors too much, but this completely changed my perception. Essentially salmon simmered with root vegetables but pulled off beautifully. The fish stayed tender and jiggly, the broth clean but rich with salmon essence. Even with a bunch of root vegetables like Brussel sprouts, carrots, radishes, and potatoes, the broth didn’t have much earthy heaviness (maybe just a hint of leafiness from...
Read moreUnprofessional and Disrespectful Service - Unacceptable Behavior
I am utterly disgusted by the abhorrent behavior displayed by the staff at this establishment. My recent visit to Leméac was marred by an incident that I can only describe as outrageous and deeply offensive.
Upon dining with a friend, while I happened to step away momentarily to take a phone call, our waitress took it upon herself to make unfounded and entirely inappropriate remarks. In a shockingly unprofessional manner, she insinuated that my friend was an escort simply because she was sitting alone for a brief moment. This blatant display of ignorance and disrespect is beyond comprehension and completely unwarranted.
It is utterly unacceptable for any member of the service staff to make such baseless assumptions and hurl derogatory accusations at patrons. This behavior not only reflects poorly on the establishment but also creates an atmosphere of hostility and discomfort for guests. No individual should ever be subjected to such humiliation and degradation while simply trying to enjoy a meal.
Furthermore, the quality of the food served at Leméac does not justify the exorbitant prices charged. The dishes were not only overpriced but also of subpar quality. The flavors were uninspired, and the presentation lacked finesse. It is truly disappointing to see such disregard for culinary excellence coupled with such appalling customer service.
In light of this disgraceful experience, I cannot in good conscience recommend Leméac to anyone. The management needs to address the toxic culture within their establishment and implement strict measures to ensure that incidents like these are never repeated. As patrons, we deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, not subjected to baseless accusations and substandard service.
I strongly urge potential diners to steer clear of this establishment until they demonstrate a genuine commitment to improving their standards of professionalism and...
Read moreI wanted to share an absolutely disgusting experience I had tonight at Le Méac. A mother-daughter evening completely ruined by a misogynistic man, and to top it off, no support from the restaurant staff.
The evening had just begun. We were chatting, telling stories, and laughing. Later in the evening, a group of six men sat down right next to our table. We didn't pay them any attention as we were having a good time. Suddenly, while we were telling stories, one of the six men started shouting at us, insulting us, and mimicking us non-stop. The whole restaurant went completely silent; you could have heard a pen drop. Everyone was looking at our table, trying to understand what was happening. We were completely in shock and scared. This misogynistic 70-year-old man was terrorizing a group of women who were simply having a good time.
During this painful moment, not one employee came to settle the situation. The manager could have simply asked the elderly man to stop or even to leave politely; instead this situation was left ignored and we had to endure the disgusting words of this misogynistic man.
We quickly decided to call our waiter ask for the bill immediately. Overall our meal was rushed and unpleasant and we felt extremely uncomfortable. Our waiter then told us that the misogynistic man is a regular customer therefore we assume the manager decided to do nothing about the situation to simply please their regular customer. The fact that the manager did not issue a single apology to our table is disgusting and I've never experienced such unprofessional behaviour in my life.
We came to this restaurant to have a good time and it ended up being one of the worst experiences I've ever had in a restaurant.
I am extremely disappointed and simply disgusted by the restaurant's management. Thank you Le Méac for allowing this man to ruin everyone's evenings in...
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