if you had a car for one day where would you eat in MTL?

[emerilcantcook]

We don't normally have a car, and we are doing pretty well because there are so many excellent places to try within the reach of public transport. But we will be renting a car for a trip to Vermont in the upcoming weeks and we would like to take advantage of it.

So are there any places that we shouldn't miss in the Montreal island and environs that are hard to reach by public transport, but not to be missed if we can drive? What would be the thing you would do if you had a car for one day and you are open to eat anything. Well, maybe not smoked meat, since I live ridiculously close to Schwartz.

[Food For Fun]

MMMMM, hard to pick just one, lets see... Breakfast, dinner, lunch??? What type of place are you looking for???

[Keramel]

When some friends and I had a car for a day we went grocery shopping at Adonis on Sauve. That place is amazing, but usually it's too hard to lug the food home in the bus! Their prepared food and desserts are amazing, and the prices for staples are really low.

Other than that, I don't have any restaurant ideas, because I am usually in the same boat as you, without a car.

[morebubbles]

how about..
a Dosa masala at Bombay Choupati's on Sources Blvd. in the West Island
bSweet on Sources Blvd. (Lebanese), as I've recommended before, the crepe, but all their food is excellent, especially at lunch when it's best because it's all freshly prepared
Lyla's on Jean Talon, Vietnamese soup
Halal 786 on Jean Talon (Pakistani)

[carswell]

Bombay Choupati rules.

If not there and if in search of fine dining, I'd probably head to Saint-Roch de l'Achigan's À la table des Jardins sauvages or Ste-Adèle's L'eau à la bouche, where I've never been. Or maybe to Ste-Margeurite du Lac Masson's Bistro à Champlain, where I've not been in ages. In the opposite direction -- and worth considering as a pit stop on a trip to or from Vermont -- La Table Tourigny, between Magog and Georgeville.

www.jardinssauvages.com
www.leaualabouche.com
www.bistroachamplain.com
www.tabletourigny.com

[morebubbles]

Second the L'eau à la bouche rec. haven't been, but would love to go. OP, if you go, please review it here!

[Paphos.SK]

Oooh! yes... L'Eau à la Bouche.

Please do review it here if you go---

It looks expensive, though. I've been wanting to make a day trip to Ste-Adèle every time I visit Montréal and it just seems to fall off the list.

[hungryann]

I went to L'eau à la bouche 10 years ago and it was simply divine; their name is not an exaggeration. We had the Chef's discovery menu on Valentine's Day and it was a 10 course affair. I don't remember exactly all the courses ( a little too happy from the wine of the evening) but every dish was better than the one before and I remember thinking, with every mouthful,"I have never eaten anything this delectable" and to this date have not felt this way about any other meal. One standout was a rose made of smoked salmon that looked so life-like I thought it was a decorative piece on the plate! Definitely a must, if money is no object.

[lagatta]

When I have access to someone with a car (I don't drive), like Karamel I'd think much more of places to SHOP for food and cookwares, since I live very close to two métro lines and to the 55 bus. Schlepping! To Adonis, to the wonderful Iranian shop in NDG (Akhavan) http://www.akhavanfood.com/, to the cookware place over on Décarie...

[cherylmtl]

All of the above? How about Bombay Choupati for Dosas, then picking up groceries at Adonis (they have a huge store just down the street on Sources) and Apna Bazaar for Indian goodies, then Marche Akhavan (also now out on the West Island - not sure what street, though), and of course, the requisite stop at Ikea on the way home (doesn't everyone go to Ikea when they have a car for a day?).
In Vermont, don't miss American Flatbread for pizzas (my weakness - can't drive down there without getting my pizza fix...). There are the two original locations (only open weekends, I believe) and there's also one in Burlington, open every day.

[Keramel]

I went to Bombay Choupati for dinner last night and it is still going strong. Absolutely one of the best Indian meals I have had in my life. I was happy to be able to try the Dosas, and the Naan was so light and buttery. Also, we were able to order Butter Chicken spicy, which I had never thought of before, but it was absolutely delicious! I never would have known about it if it wasn't for Chowhound.

[Venusia]

I go to Bombay Choupati for my fix every 2 weeks or so, great inexpensive food but don't expect "decor".

With a car in Vermont, you have to stop at the City Market co-op in Burlington and stock up on things that you cannot find in Quebec:

- AOC butter imported from Poitou (what is it with French butter and why can't we get any here? Crazy delicious, and easy to spread straight from the refrigerator);
- North Country Smokehouse thick cut fruitwood smoked bacon, and Certified humane raised and killed to boot (best bacon I have ever eaten in my life). I don't know if you are supposed to bring it back but I was truthful and they let me though customs;
- Gerard's Bread or Red Hen artisanal bread- I like their levain and ciabatta;
- Artisanal Vermont cheese such as the ones from Lazy Lady and Jasper Hill Farms. The cheese guy used to own a cheese store in NYC and says the quality of cheese in Vermont in the last 10 years has become phenomenal, he is right. Oh, there is also organic Neufchatel cheese, it tastes a lot like cream cheese to me, but it's exciting anyway;
- Frozen American Flatbread pizza, I second its deliciousness;
- A huge variety of Vermont microbrews.

Have fun!

[cherylmtl]

But how do you bring back the frozen pizza, assuming you're not travelling in the winter? Can it semi-thaw, and be refrozen with no problems? I've seen it in the stores there, and seriously debated bringing it back, but not in the middle of summer. But next weekend, for example...

[Venusia]

I had a soft cooler with lots of ice packs. In August, I drove 4 hours one way to the beach and another time, 2.5 hours to Montreal. The pizzas might have semi-thawed (and even then! I used A LOT of ice packs), but it did not impact their taste or crust, IMO. I also filled that cooler with nitrite free frozen beef sausages, and they didn't thaw at all. In another cooler I put the cheese, milk, yogurt, bacon etc.

[rcianci]

You can buy Lady Lady Farm cheeses directly from cheese maker Laini Fondiller every Saturday, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM from now to the end of October at the Montpelier VT Farmer's Market. Red Hen Bread has a stand directly across from Laini's.

[cherylmtl]

I made the serious error in judgment of only picking up two packages of the North Country Smokehouse bacon when I was in Burlington a few weeks back...I figured I'd try it first, and see if I liked it. I am now officially addicted to the stuff - it blows the otherwise decent stuff I used to get from Queue de Cochon away...but I only have one pack left, and it's going fast... thanks for the recco, Venusia!

[Venusia]

Cheryl, I live to share! I wish we had great bacon like that up here. Maybe it's time for a romantic getaway to Burlington...

[hungryann]

From where do you get this bacon? In regular grocery stores like Price Chopper, etc or some specialty store?

[kpzoo]

Brunch at Déjeuner Cosmopolitain in Pointe-Claire is incredible. Go as early as you can to avoid lineups.

983 boul. St-Jean (corner Brunswick), Pointe-Claire, 514-697-8529

For the history: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/388407

[Richelle]

If I had one day in Montreal and unlimited funds, I would go and enjoy Queue de Cheval, it is my all time favortie place, I really don't care that it is so expensive and it is where my husband knows he is taking me for my fourthieth birthday...two years left and counting.
If funds were limited, then I would probably enjoy something more fun, unfortunately, because I am limited in my knowledge of all types of Montreal restaurants, I would stick to restaurants I do know, a restaurant that is little known, but serves the most amazing fresh Italian food is Fresca up on Des Grandes Praiires in St. Leonard...or even Ciociaros on Langelier for lunch.

[Keramel]

I'm not sure you understood the question... the op has a car for one day, he wants places that are out of reach from public transport.

[emerilcantcook]

Oops, I am a she :) But I guess my moniker "Emerilcantcook" is misleading. I got it in reference to the TV personality Emeril; a person I must have strongly disliked when I signed up for Chow (years ago, before this fancy setup). Of course, how would I know that Emeril will look like an angel compared to the state of Food Network these days.

[Keramel]

Sorry Emeril! I didn't realize... :) I often assume wrong about other posters.

[Richelle]

mmmmms....I see...well..sorry! LOL....

[morebubbles]

DiMenna's (Jarry near Langelier) for good Italian

[misterclowney]

i would definitely maximize my car and go to everyplace in mtl

[lagatta]

Well, a lot of places in Montréal are actually better-reached by the métro, and there is limited parking.

Still schlepping heavy cookware and supplies, but I would be intrigued by the West Island hole-in-the-wall Indian place that is getting such great reviews here.

[souschef]

Au Tournant de la Riviere, in Carignan.

[spankyhorowitz]

Jardins Sauvages.
This week is their mushroom feast.
I am going on Sunday.

[Keramel]

I thought I would revive this thread to see if anyone has any fresh ideas. After 12 car-less years I finally had to buy a vehicle for work. I am so excited to try these places out!

In particular, I am looking for cheap groceries and affordable restaurants as I am now broke due to said car purchase. But any ideas are welcome.

[blond_america]

I've always wanted to try Smoked Meat Pete. Don't think i'll be going there without a car.

283, 1st Avenue, L'Ile-Perrot

[Andria]

I ate there yesterday.. worth the drive IMHO. A nice Marco's spruce beer on the side and I was transported back to my childhood.