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Thazard held a preview dinner yesterday and is now open, albeit in proverbial soft launch mode.
One guest, blogger Elise Tastet, wrote: "New spot on St-Laurent. Blown away by the food!"
A recap of the particulars:
- Key principals in the Japanese bistro include Edward Zaki (BarBounya, Chez Victoire) and Dave Schmidt (Maïs, Maison Sociale, Datcha, Kabinet, Le Mal Nécessaire)
- The executive chef is Hachiro Fujise, most recently at Schmidt's Café Sardine
- Service-wise Thazard will resuscitate classic, French-style guéridon service. Rather than tableside Sole Meunière or Crêpe Suzette, Thazard will, say, torch a mackerel in front of customers, sauce a dish or snip sprouts on a seaweed salad.
- About the cart service, Schmidt says: ""Thazard will capture that essence but with Japanese food. The cart service will be less dim sum trolley and more French old school."
- The restaurant will have a cocktail program. Staff recently ran some recipe tests at Kabinet.
- Zaki: "The kitchen will be open until 2:00 a.m."
- About the name. Thazard is a fish, otherwise known as wahoo.
- Hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 6:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. (kitchen too). OpenTable to come or call (514) 802-8899.
Here are some visuals of Thazard and yesterday's soft launch.