Critic is Happy to Meet Monsieur in Downtown Montreal

The critic for Le Devoir reviews Monsieur Restaurant + Bar this week, the complement to caterer Miss Prêt à Manger from owner/chef Kimberly Lallouz. Over the course of two visits, Jean-Philippe Tastet acquires a strong sense of the place. This is one dynamic restaurant: "Endiablé justement, Monsieur est endiablé. Mais heureusement sa frénésie tient davantage de la fougue que du débordement. Si vous aimez que ça bouge, qu’il y ait de l’action et des vibrations, vous aimerez beaucoup."

Monsieur's lunch (butternut squash soup, albacore tuna with grilled vegetables and forbidden rice) wows the critic first: "Nos assiettes nettoyées, il nous reste à peine assez de forces pour admirer le travail méticuleux de nettoyage des assiettes de desserts à la table voisine." A few weeks later Tastet returns for dinner and Lallouz and company seal the deal. Star plates include a rethought Niçoise salad, tuna sashimi, burrata, and pork spare ribs with sweet potato frites. A Quebec AAA filet mignon with cauliflower purée and sauteed spinach, and a dish of marinated, grilled octopus are the ultimate standouts, however. "Tout y était intelligemment conçu et réalisé avec goût." There are some qualms with Monsieur's desserts and wine list but overall the restaurant merits a strong recommend from the Devoir critic.