Another Innuendo-Themed Bar from Bar Magnate Sergakis — and Other News

DOWNTOWN — Sergakis strikes again with a new mega drinkery in downtown Montreal with La Grosse Bar, a 200-seater serving booze and bar bites at the usual rock bottom prices. It opened yesterday, with grand opening DJ events planned to run throughout the weekend. The sex-sells element is a little more muted this time around (especially when compared to the bar magnate’s last now-defunct venture based on Coyote Ugly), but still present when considering its Facebook cover photo of a woman and the line “Moi aussi j’aime La Grosse...” (or “I also like the big...”). Before readers think this is a stretch, it becomes clearer when looking at the menu and the signature cocktails with names like ‘Pleasure’, ‘Caliente’, ‘Passion’, and ‘Cheeky’. To top it all off, the drink selections include a bottle service component with full 40-ouncers of vodka, whiskey, tequila, gin, rum, and mousseaux for roughly three times the shelf price. Stay classy, Montreal.

La Grosse/Facebook

CÔTE-DES-NEIGES — As of a few weeks ago, the mountainside neighbourhood of Côte-des-Neiges now boats a new Filipino restauarant on its main strip, La Republika. Grilled inasal goods are at the forefront here, coming in chicken, pork, and seafood varieties. There are also the classic appetizers of lumpia, calamari salad, sisig tacos, and salmon ceviche. It’s a small spot, with 35 seats in total when including its front terasse.

PLATEAU — Souvlaki restaurant Alto tells Eater that an opening date has been set, following a fire that shut them down nearly two years ago. It’s a sigh of relief for its neighbours, as the business had been serving up grilled goods since 1987. It’s a tale of literally rising from the ashes, considering the lengths one McGill student went to, raising money to bring back the eatery. Expect to chow down on poutine, gyros, and brochettes sometime around August 20th.

SAINT-HENRI — It’s shaping up to be a busy year for Venice owner Charles Manceau, with a new rhum bar Broken Coconut already in the works. This announcement follows the openings of a third Venice outpost and the cocktail bar Paper Plane only two weeks ago, with Manceau informing Eater that this new spot will be up and running around the end of the month in the same neighbourhood as his latest locations. Stay tuned for more info.

• La Grosse [Facebook]
• Judge Says Description of Sexy NDG Saloon as “Sex Bar” Is Totally Fair [EMTL]
• St-Henri Thai Restaurant Appears to Have Locks Changed Unexpectedly — And Other Closures [Updated] [EMTL]
• McGill student raises money for Alto Restaurant, burned down during Parc Avenue fire [Global]
• Double-Opening Brings Venice and a Casual New Bar to St-Henri [EMTL]