Date Visited: May 6th 2011
This trendy/bistro style restaurant is located at 1453, ave. du Mont-Royal E / Le Plateau-Mont-Royal, Montreal. We decided to try Chez Victoire for dinner.
We walked in and I have to admit, the restaurant was buzzing, until we were brought to our table on the second floor, where I felt like Tom Hanks on a deserted island. Except usually Islands are warm and sandy. We were treated to a Air conditioning, I mean seriously? AC when its 10 degrees and raining, my Fiance's teeth were chattering like the doors on a Lada Samara. The manager came to see us, he told us he would turn the heat on right away, which he did.
But at least Chez Victoire still had the opportunity to turn our night around with their food.
Wine: We chose a standard white house wine VDP. Which was actually pretty decent, and not too pricey, there were wine glasses set on the table and they were taken away right in front of us, so can someone please inform the staff at Chez Victoire, that even house wine is served in wine glasses, not miniature milk glasses, I can understand if the tumblers were already on the table, but dont replace them with the wine glasses already on the table. This is the first I've seen any of the sort and I found it quite bizarre.
Still no Bread...
Entree: Fried Veal Sweetbread with U10 Grilled Scallop and Chickpea Puree. The Veal Sweetebread was well cooked as was the scallop, but frankly that's about it. The best way I can describe this dish is bland. Very Very Bland. The menu certainly claimed it was supposed to be served with a Chorizo/Mango/Maple Syrup Sauce. Personally I don't think Sherlock Holmes could've found that sauce, or for that matter much any sort of flavor in this dish. $16.
Still no Bread...
Entree: Duck Tataki with Foie Gras Torchon. This dish was served with Edamame's, Soba Noodles, Wakeme, Sesame seeds and Cashews. I'm not sure if the Chef at Chez Victoire actually creates dishes with the intention of sucking every ounce of flavor out of the dish. This entree once again had no flavor. The Duck was sliced to thick, the Foie Gras was meager in portion, and everything else just fell apart from there. I actually had to ask for salt to inject some sort of flavor into my meal. $19.
We finally got some Bread!!! Three quarters of the way through the service.
Disappointment had set in at this point, but I felt at least I could salvage something from the night if the next dish could offer me something. I prayed to the food gods, would they answer?
The Surf and Turf: Lamb Ribs, with White Tuna Albacore. The lamb was well cooked, but I kid you not, more then half of it was fat, just a big chunk of fat sitting there on the top, waiting, lurking, like it was staring at me and smirking, taunting me to find the little bit of meat that there was. The Tuna was cold, cold as in it just got out of the fridge. This was served with some vegetables and a yellow mushy blob of what I eventually discovered was an egg yellow. 26$.
At this point I had no choice but to express my concern and discontent to the manager. I went over everything with him. He explained "this is a new menu, and the waiter is new, and that he hasn't had many complaints." But he apologized and offered us a Dessert. Honestly I didnt want the dessert, and neither did my Fiance, I just couldnt take it anymore. But just because I couldnt get enough I waited there, not sure what I was waiting for but I waited, and I waited and I waited. Then Finally from the depths of the kitchen emerged another living being, with a Dessert.
Dessert: 70% Chocolate Ganache Served with a Black Cherry/Yuzu Gelee, Vanilla Mascarpone, and a Black Cherry Granita. Did I dare even to put my spoon in this dessert? Yup. My Fiance looked at me with anticipation and a smile, the type of smile someone has when they know something sinister is going down. I didn't disappoint her. The dessert was right on par with everything else, it was a mess. A concoction, of chocolate and gelatin that made me feel like eating had become a sin. My Fiance had to try it, like we're into some sick torture fetish. She took a bite and understood right away. We looked at each other, I asked for the bill, and I never looked back. We felt a relief welcome us as we walked outside into the cold and rain.
Quick Summary: I felt like I was in a science experiment, and Bill Nye was the cook. Honestly I think my judgments on restaurants are extremely fair, and not too sound egotistical here, but I know my stuff. I can cook well, I know good food, good chefs and a good restaurant when I see it. Chez Victoire is none of those. But in the end its your call, it's your money and maybe Chez Victoire just had an off night ;)
Food: 2/10
Service: 5/10
Ambiance: 4/10
Price: 2/10
Overall: 3.25
Check them out here: http://www.chezvictoire.com/
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