Montreal’s Newest Sake Bar is Blossoming in the Village

The Village is home to a new sake bar and sushi spot, as Le Blossom has opened up on de Maisonneuve, near Amherst.

It’s a coproduction between a trio of established restaurateurs: Dan Pham, now a mini-magnate in the neighbourhood with his Vietnamese pub Le Red Tiger, and Hawaiian snack bar Kamehameha, and twin chefs Viet and Nam Truong, who own Plateau sushi spot Geisha Box.

As reported when the project was announced, Blossom walks the line between restaurant and bar. Japanese rice wine sake is a big focus: Pham paired with multiple private importers to fill out a list of over 20 sakes, and mixing whiz Lawrence Picard put together a small cocktail list, including a couple of refreshments made with Japanese hard liquor shochu, and one with sake. It’s rounded out with a few beers, Japanese whiskys, and a short wine list leaning towards lighter white options.

The white-heavy wine list (and all the sake) are for good reason: it’s to better match the menu that centres around tempura and sushi — temaki hand-rolls with yellowfin tuna, lobster, scallop, and more, and tempura vegetables, shrimp, and fish, alongside karaage fried chicken, all with dipping sauces to match. A few udon noodle bowls, including a curry option, and sponge cake desserts (including a matcha take on it) round out the offerings. Take a look at the menu (although note that it’s subject to change in the early opening weeks).

It’s a cool space, too: designed by Guillaume Ménard, many of the 52 seats are at a bar that winds across the space, and the centrepiece is a huge faux-blossom tree in the middle of the roof. Take a peek.

David Maman

David Maman

David Maman

STATUS — Le Blossom is open at 1101 de Maisonneuve East from 5 p.m. until midnight Tuesday and Wednesday, and until 2 a.m. Thursday through Sunday (closed Monday) — lunch service should be added in 2018.

• Le Blossom [Facebook]
• A Resto-Bar Focused on Sake, Sushi and Tempura Is Coming This Fall [EMTL]