I was here simply because they are a gluten free option for one of our guests. The room belies what is to come, its contemporary well divided and pleasing to the eye. No overcrowded areas, the noise level is fun but non intrusive as many other BYOB places. For the rest its a BYOB chain so what can you say about the food. The appetizers were given a thumbs up by some of the guests. I had a few of the calamari which were actually better than expected having been well cooked so the batter was crispy. I tried the pasta which a friend had rated as good at our last visit, I found the linguine overcooked which can be forgiven as I like my pasta on the hard side. The sauce cannot be forgiven, it was bland and very overcooked Others had the lasagna which disappointed also. I must say it has to be expected in today's environment. The service though was good and attentive despite a full house in a raetaurant that must hold over 200 persons Liike many chain BYOB restos expectations should be limited. Ottavio's however has a super funky decor in a vast room that is beautifully divided. Some higher end restuarants could learn a thing or two. The menu is limited to pasta pizza and Moules. Sounds sparse but when you think about it it makes for some great advantages in th end. Such a menu means the food is fresh especially during the Mon-Wed nights when the moules are at volonte. The pizza was OK but I must say i asked for anchivies and hot peppers and I actually tasted the anchivies. The salad and salmon appetizers were very respectable although the bread was a little limp as if it was being stored in a plastic bag. Coffee was actually quite good and the service was prompt discreet and timed well,Ottavio pulled this off despite it being a chain, here also some higher end places could learn a thing or two. Should you go yuup! Can you bring a new date here yup just because the place is well put together...and get a decent bottle of wine it makes all the difference

This was my 4th trip to the restaurant, a last minute decision when the wait time for our first choice Haricana was 30 minutes. I was rather surprised that there was room at Damas on a Thursday night. On the phone I was asked if bar seating was fine, unfortunately my guest had other plans. We got a table in a n area I had never seen before right beyond the bathrooms. Apparently used for groups we learnt later.. The seating area in any other restaurant would have been great, yet it if felt we far from the action and tucked away not to be seen. The room was also quieter which in a sense also diminished the experience found in the main dining area. My guest I learnt was not a fan of lamb which is probably an item on half the items on the menu. I've often repeated what a waiter mentioned "chicken! you can make chicken at home" so we were left with less options. I ordered the eggplant salad which to my amazement well appreciated by my guest who after having ordered it also said eggplant was yucchy. This dish however has always been delish. Good ingredients make this dish pop. We flowed with shrimp which is a generous portion of large shrimp. My guest was impressed with the quantity size and flavour of these crustaceans. She even enjoyed the garnish that surrounded the dish. To my taste the shrimps were too soft not even bite to them, but then again shrimp have never been my favourite. The last dish was a lamb suggestion from the waiter...he went on a limb I guess. It was actually good as the lamb was braised in a tomato based sauce, yet there was a lack of flavour considering the ingredients. The wine was how can I say this nicely, not worth the price. The restaurant should include some more moderately priced wines with a little more punch. All in all we had a great evening but I am still looking for that wow factor I experienced my first 2 visits to Damas. The service was up to snuff and then some

By far the best value in dining anywhere in the city. The quality of the food more than makes up for a rather ordinary décor. The service is friendly and welcoming. My date and I return regularly despite the fact we live more than a 30 minute drive. If you haven't tried it lease do, the mackerel as art of the combo meals is absolutely stunning as is the salmon bones, you read right. Sushi selection is limited but what they have is fresh, properly prepared and delish.

I happened to be in the area and decided to try this place as it seemed right. it was 11:30 and there were already people waiting to be seated. We did get a table quickly and sat to enjoy a quick meal. First impression is that its way too cold for comfort, but as any good restaurant they listened to our comments and turned the puppy down. The service was good despite the fact we waited quote a while. Here again our waiter didn't ignore us but instead ably managed our expectations. The food was delicious. The eggs were well cooked the potatoes were tasty but not overly greasy. My companion had the pancakes which looked terrific and tasty even better with what I gather were fresh blueberries. both dishes had poached apples. They arrived steaming tender and just enough sweetness to make you want to drink the syrup at the bottom of the bowl. All in all a very positive experience in a restaurant that was packed and understaffed. For those other breakfast restaurants I have reviewed you may want to dine there a few times and take away some tips.

They have a location on Fleury street that I have now visited twice. The room is best described as a designer's bad dream. In other words unmemorable looking too much like a cafeteria. The stark lighting does not help. the food however is something else. On my first vist we were a larger group and the comments were positive all around. The pad thai was good, generous and properly spiced. The now ubiquitous General Tao was not drenched in sauce and lightly crisped, meeting the approval of our friend. Two of us had a Bol tye meal that included raw fish salad rice avocado and fish eggs. The presentation far surpassed our expectations that were based on the decor. The meal felt fresh and flavourful although my friend and I felt that the dressing, being tasty, overpowered the taste of the ingredients. We noted to consider asking for the sauce on the side the net time. I returned recently with another companion and ordered the same dish and again it was very tasty. P.S. the spring rolls are some of the best I have tasted and its a bring your own wine. The only other issue i have is they close early for my taste

I like this place simply because the owner operators seem to be genuinely nice folks. Some from my group looked beyond this fact and were not impressed with the service. It is molasses slow because food is not prepared in advance. lesson learnt: If you are in a hurry and have traditional expectations on long it should take to get served...pick another restaurant. Otherwise the food is prepared to order..so it is fresh, the ingredients are fresh. The spices are used judiciously. Overall the quality of the food justifies the prices. If you are offered the soup as we were (I still don't know what it was) take it its delicious. I would tend to order the African dishes over the greek specialties but the moussaka was actually great other than being a small portion.

I was introduced to this eatery is an area where St Martin meets the 13. First impression was of a local cantina serving some sort of Italian food. When I entered the decor spoke more of a sports bar and although it was busy and almost full, it felt somehow empty. My associates had already been here and raved about the subs and the pizza. So pizza it was . Overall everything was good. The crust was just thick enough, the sauce was just the right amount and the ingredients mixed well together. So all is good right? Somehow the food left me a little puzzled like the room..there was something missing, that WOW factor. The subs looked generous in size and from what was left in the plates also good. Of course it could of been me so I will reserve my final review for the next time I am there. For the service, Juliano has one hell of a firecracker in the young woman that served us. She has charm, a memory and is constantly smiling...hang on to her she can make any food taste better . Pricing is maybe a tad too much for my taste but then again it may simply have been me...

It may have been an off night or maybe there are few chioices in the area but the food was rather "very Average" to be kind. The dishes that did stand out werethe Nan bread and one of the guest liked the beef curry , but it really was bland. The briyani was also a little suspect flavourwise. All in all not a very positive experienec. Since I had recommended we try this it is unlikely I could get the other guests there again but I may try it once more just to make sure. The decor, well I need not add to what others have mentioned.

Before castigating this review consider I only give 5 stars to the very best of the best and Parthenon is surely a good restaurant. The decor is best described as "funtional" with limited good seating. The food this eveing was average with the calamar being the best choice over the chicken brochette and Pikilia for 2. I was taken back a bit by the flavour ofthe tomato slices in the Pikilia which had flavours from other ingredients or so it felt. The food is abundant the prices are more than reasonable and our server was patient and caring throughout. Great place for a casual meal when you want to feel sated

I will guess that my review will not meet with the opinions of others. Sounded like a cool place and it is. Small eclectic and located in a tucked away part of Villeray that I frequented in a past life looking for things other than breakfast on Sunday. As I guessed arriving there before 10:30 would assure us a table without a long wait and no sooner did we arrive that we had a "premium" spot by the window. Premium means we could actually get to our seats without having to climb over other diners..but not to worry. Miniscule place with a miniscule kitchen so service was slower than like but we were well advised of the delay which I find most professional. Food wise the menu is limited with crepes, eggs and healthier fare which for some reason I felt I needed after an evening of non indulgence. Poached egg, some yogourt and muselix with 1 slice of toast and some fruit. Pretty healthy right . I preceded this with a small glass of grapefruit juice which was actually quite good. Overall the egg was poached very well indeed but the rest did not call for much of a cooking technique. My guest had a crepe with cheddar, ham and asparagus. Crepe 100% cheese good but a little light, asparagus heavily grilled on one side only but my guest thought it was 100%, ham well too salty too abundant and actually too chewy. same fruits etc. Coffee acceptable but milk in small individual containers is a nono for a "cool" place. So not bad right but the kicker is it cost over $40 so I think there are quite a few other choices available and an extra slice of toast at a place called toasteur is not a bad idea

We had not been here for some years before we decided to have some chinese food that was somewhere other than Chinatown. I will go back to Chinatown when someone decides to make tasty food instead of cheap food. But Tongpour had left a good impression on some of us and we were not disappointed when we did return. The place is not much to look at a large room holding over 300 or maybe even 400 (dim sum sized) and the parking outside is a nightmare to navigate, don't ask. We always have the same thing because of a very determined member of our group so its Cantonese chow mein, rice and eggplant which is quite good. The dishes are huge and you can easily feed twice as many persons as you would think. But our determined friend eats nothing that swims or crawls in water and it is too bad because the salt and pepper shrimp are just too good to be true and at about 12$ for 10-12 shrimps they are a steal. The soups are good and one day we will try something else I am sure . Need Chinese save yourself the grief of downtown eat here and walk there ..cars are a hazzard near this area

I like this restaurant but hadn't been here n a few years so I was happy to see it still survived in an arae of Montreal that has seen happier days. This is not a place you sit and linger, you order eat and rush out...so my ratings are based on that style of restaurant. The prices are more than reasonable for the quality and quantity of food served. The room is literally unchanged and the menu from what I recall was a similar. I am a fan of asian food buthave had resrvations about Korean food without really knowing why. But one thing for sure is you want a seafood omlette/crepe this is the place. Nowhere else in Montreal is t as tasty or crunchy. I also ordered the mandu which were acceptable and the korean version of a sushi roll that was also acceptable. Service was good but rushed

I have been back a few times and had ups and downs. Was there at Christmas and had a whooping time but that was because of the company and not the food. do not get me wrong the ingredients are all very good and the flavours fresh and vibrant. My recommendation is stick with the regular dishes rather than the sushi which is uneven and I find bland..but then again sushi has been dumbed down for years. Want something delicious, the eggplant with beef is a winner as is just the eggplant. The shrimps are enormous and very tasty (from someone who does not like shrimp) You can bring your own wine which means its noisy, but the service is number one and there is a young male waiter that is just too good looking to be true and always smiling. I will return because of the freshness of the ingredients and the wait staff did I mention the waitresses are also hot!!

My second visit and this time again a toss up between Holder and Boris Bistro which has a splendid terrasse that will charm all comers. But I remember Holder having a better quality of food. The reception was very welcoming and we were seated in a rather nice part of the restaurant despite the fact I was dressed in can only be described as clochard circa 1988. My companion though more than made up for my appearance. The place is beautiful in a way that can not be readily understood. Practical with tables well located so that the nearness of other diners is forgotten despite the fact they could easily be pouring you wine without standing. tall ceilings add much to the feeling of privacy. Only one thing before I forget the washrooms had 2 urinals and the tiniest sink I have ever seen, really!! We had what I thought were the best part of the meal drinks and appetizers. My companion had the goat cheese on flaky pastry while I had the salmon tartare. The chevre was beautifully toasted on the top with just the right amount of warmth . It came with an olive tapenade that I felt was much too strong for the cheese, my taste of course. My salmon was delish with just the right amount of spice and herbs. It was listed to contain caviar but the quantities were unnoticeable to have much impact other than a few black specs. We then had fish and chips and the pasta with lardons and mushrooms. The fish and chips was good but not 20$ good and I would say they should bring theirs in from around the corner at the fish and chips shop.... The pasta was I should of expected drowned with a rich cream sauce that overpowered everything else in th eplate although the smokiness of the bacon was present. Wine was actually tasty but of course a compromise considering what we were eating. Creme brulee yes, coffee yes Now for service it was impeccable in many was prompt courteous and attentive, but I couldn't help but feel were being shuffled in and out with little concern to interact with the clients. I understand the concept of tourist trade and if Holder can live off of that super but me thinks the winter months could use a dedicated clientele that felt welcome for something other than their credit card. Would I go back probably but I would stop at the salmon tartare with 2 white russians...

I was stumped for a place to eat on Christmas eve, as is my habit, and I came once again upon the web site of Labarake and said why not. It was a little out of our way, in an area I know little about. The fact the reference point was Loblaw's at the Angus yrads did not inspire great things at first. What a beautiful room. The high loft like cement ceilings the wrought iron stair cases, the brick walls (that look a little too perfect). So the room is great the tables are properly sized in my opnion but the seating has fixed backs and the chairs are too heavy for me to find a comfortable position. It should be said this is my issue. We had a cocktail and I was happy to not to have to explain what a white russian is.After a few sips and a closer look at my guests quite provocative clothing I took a minute to look over the surroundings. Tables to the front the semi-open kitchen onto the back and left, very visible on the way to the WCs...quite clean I must say and the bar to the back which I find is misplaced, preferiingto see the bar closer to the entrance. Our waiter was great he actually took the trouble to greet me by my name. We began witha wine and unfortunately one of our guests prefers white so I did end up ordering something that really was not matched up with anything we had. Again I am rather unconventional and difficult so no shame on the waiter who had t bear with my questions.For the food. We ordered the cod balls on a stick, the scallops wrapped in ham and the calamari. Everything speaks about first class ingredients and freshness. The scallops were well cooked and beuatifuly presented on a rather large plate. The italian ham was a tad undercooked for my tastes ( Ilke it crispy although that would mean an overcooked scallop). The cod balls again were well balanced but underseasoned with the salsa even more so. They also were cold which took away from the flavour. The calamari were good with teh fish again very fresh tasting. The batter was less that crisp possibly becasue they we sitting one over the others. The portion was also a little small. For mains I had a hamburger which was well cooked well seasoned and had enough fries on the side to make McDonald's jealous. My partner's fisha nd chips again had a terrific quali†y fish but the batter was a little too thick and not crispy. A tempura batter would do justice to the fish they used. I did not taste the beef jowl but was give the thumbs up on this dish. Just tweak the food a little

Cold night with only a few places to choose from. The room is gorgeous for my taste with a comfortable temperature, which for some reason many restaurants can't maintain. Our server was very good although as the room filled it became clear the resto was sorely understaffed this evening. The result was unfilled water glasses, dirty dishes left on our table for almost the entire evening and the one thing I do not want to see, hurried staff. The cocktails were very good. The appetizers were uneven with the agedashi being the winner. The sushi was well made but uneventfull. The 3 rolls arrived in sequence and were enjoyable and beautifully displayed. The most notable was the last, a roll with a sweet taste that included strawberries. Overall the sushi was a little above average . You should though try the black rice dessert which included a very tasty topping of mixed fruits.

I chose this restaurant on a whim on an evening that called more for a home cooked meal since the weather was horrible and it was some 30 minute drive from downtown. My choice of Peruvian was simply a connection with my nephew's wife who is by all accounts Peruvian. Call me simple but I had no idea what to expect as far as menu so I did what anyone should do is follow the waiter's recommendations. Before I begin I have to say the room is quite ordinary with misplaced dollar store decorations on the wall. There were 2 large groups when we arrived and our reservation was sitting directly to the backs of one of these that left my companion rather distraught, she being claustrophobic. It is that one of the great mysteries of restaurants in Montreal again showed its face. I tried to explain to the waitress that this table would not do and could she find another table. She only looked at me with doe eyes and I realized she spoke little or no English and not much more French. Just as we were preparing to leave a young waiter arrived and found a nice table for us. For the food we ended up with a ceviche of fish followed by a beef dish that for the love of me I cannot remember. And here lies another mystery how restaurants can serve such large quantities of quality food at such prices. The plate was $20 dollars but more than enough food for 4 and the beef dish although lacking in tenderness . As we ate our meal there were several other dishes passed besides us that looked also disproportionately large and delicious. I really need to get back there one day when my appetite is as big as my eyes. Their wine policy is also great with a $5 bottling charge on rather good wine

I want to make the point that I respect ratings chart and give out stars rather frugally but always in consideration of the costs. I like this resto the food to me looks as authentic as possible with large portions, good flavours. This resto also takes its spicing seriously, so if you ask for hot be prepared as I was a little taken aback by a hot masala dosa which turned out was delish. You must try the chicken 65 simply because of its name..as my friend describes it an Indian general tao but better. Service is good the room is tiny so crowded but they do have the coolest swivel chairs that should be adopted everywhere. Overall a cut above many in the area...also they did not make a fuss over my nasty bad habit (unintentional of course) of spilling water

I believe they are running out of corners in this area to open Indian/Pakistani restaurants. I was in the area and needed to eat before my sugar levels went off the charts. This place happened to be across the street from my usual haunt and I decided why not. Strangely or maybe not so there were at least 8-9 tables on a Sunday afternoon at 3. Completely renovated the room looks nice but un-inspired, no barriers to create some type of ambiance. But I was here because for a thali dish you want all efforts on the food. The plate was fine with most ingredients fresh. A small dish of Paneer with onions was way too sweet and gooey for my tastes but otherwise a good dining experience. The service was top notch with waitresses (whom I have seen elsewhere before) actually smiled..this being a lost art form in Montreal of late. Me thinks I will give this place a try simply because I was well received on a day when i was just hungry and couldn't have cared less for these amenities. Can I suggest we start a movement to ban carpets in restaurants!!!

Third time is a charm they say unless you are eating here. The food is pedestrian. The food is typical Vietnamese (south asian) fare with heavy use of sauces that overwhelm everything. Service was weak mainly because one waiter on staff for both the rather large room and a terrasse outside. Result the sushi chef was helping out when he didn't have his hands in someone's sushi. Not cheap either with 2 meals over 40 dollars. It is a bring your own wine located right next to the SAQ express so there is some convenience. For my tastes there are at least 2 other restaurants within 5 minutes of this location that offer the same fare except better and cheaper. Maybe there is another saying for a forth visit who knows?