Good take-out eats near Sheraton Hotel? (Rene-Levesque & Stanley)

[duckdown]

greetings all

i head into montreal in a couple short weeks for when the UFC returns.

i am there for a total of 5 days, but my friends don't arrive until the third night, so I have lots of time to myself to try all the "local legendary food spots" and check out some good places to drink some beers

I am specifically looking for reccomendations hopefully within walking distance, I would consider taking a cab for one or two places if its really worth it ( i don't think schwartz's is very close to the hotel, so i might need to cab it.. maybe someone can clarify )

i've already got Boustan, La Belle Provence (had it before), and Arahova that are within walking distance, from what I can gather. We have reservations for Queue de Cheval on the Friday night, so that is also taken care of. I really wanted to try St-Viateur bagels but google maps says its a 50 minute walk for me... Damn.

Hopefully someone can share some reccomendations for close take-out eats (I'd feel weird dining-in by myself somewhere)

I appreciate the info! Thanks in advance!

cheers

[Ora]

I just got back form Montreal and I often saw people sitting alone and eating, especially at bistros. A place like Firegrill has a HUGE bar and you would not be noticed eating alone.

[thelonious777]

m:brgr (Brgrs)
Bofinger (BBQ)
Both pretty close and should not be weird to dine in alone/have take out. Agreed that QdC is ridiculously priced but steak is very solid.

[duckdown]

Bofinger's menu looks delicious, but the closest one I can find on google maps is at least 5km away.. And I cannot locate M.Brgr

Do you know where the closest Bofinger is?

Thanks!

I leave in 7 days, can't wait

[Andria]

1250 University (near Cathcart) for Bofinger
2025 Drummond (above de Maisonneuve) for M:Brgr

Both are very close for you.

[bigfellow]

I find M:Bgr is good but overpriced. I prefer Buns on St Catherine. But it is a hole in the wall.

[duckdown]

It does look pricey, but from where I come from (Toronto) it is basically *impossible* to find burgers that aren't frozen hockey pucks... I'd pay the premium if it's fresh-ground beef, cooked so theres still pink in the middle.. Sounds simple enough, but for some reason, in Toronto, it is an impossibility

I assume the burgers aren't frozen right?

Thanks!

[bigfellow]

Right, but you get the same quality in beef at Buns for half the price literally. OK, they don't do Kobe Beef. Their menu is basic, We have a thread on the place: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/5935...

[carswell]

Bofinger Barbecue, 1250 University, 514 750-9095

m:brgr, 2025 Drummond, 514 906-2747, www.mbrgr.com

[Andria]

You should consider eating out in China town for dim sum during the week. For dim sum, it is ok to eat alone... I have done it in San Francisco and Vancouver (well actually once I shared a table and therefore lunch with an older Chinese man who spoke no English).

[duckdown]

Thank you for the suggestion, alas, I am not a fan of Asian food sadly... I never really was educated in that type of cuisine so I wouldn't have a clue what I'm doing there

Thanks though for the information on both Bofinger and M Brgr.. Both look wonderful, and Bofinger is indeed nice and close! Thanks carswell also

Cheers!

[duckdown]

Thank you for the responses

Regarding Queue de Cheval, we also went last year and actually had an excellent dinner there, so the other people I'm with want to go again. It is expensive, yes, but the steaks were really good.

Thank you for the responses so far, sounds like good advice

Anyone else have any reccomendations?

Cheers!

[williej]

You can get St. Viateur like bagels in the Faubourg near Guy and St. Catherine. That is within walking distance.

[duckdown]

great tip -- definitely going to check that out

thanks!

[Shattered]

St. Viateur bagels are sold 6 to a bag at the Provigo grocery store on Parc just above Sherbrooke, come to think of it. That's right on the way to Schwartz's if you decide to walk it, and it's open til 11.

[emerilcantcook]

The ones sold at the grocery stores are usually too old though; at least the ones in my Provigo. Montreal bagels do not last long, they lose the texture after a day, even a few hours. The ones in the Faubourg are not bad, at least they are hot out of the oven. But St Viateur they ain't.

[Shattered]

I find the bagels are fine, they are fresh every day. Usually they are gone by the evening, so that's a good sign.
I agree bagels aren't the same when they're not hot out of the oven, but they last a couple days without getting noticeably dry or stale if you keep them at room temp in a tight plastic bag. Doesn't apply during our humid summers, though -then they messed up within hours.

[superbossmom]

Vasco de Gamas, on Peel, west side, close to de Maisonneuve, would be a good place to take out a bagel and smoked salmon, try an almond tart also; or you could eat there alone and not feel odd, it's a small place with a bar feel. They are not open all evening though, I think 7 is as late as you can order.

If you'd like a pasta place, Bistro Marinara, 1218 Stanley, close to Rene Levesque,
is very good and moderate; small tables and singles are not out of place.

[Shattered]

Schwartz's is about a half hour walk.

Queue de Cheval costs an arm & a leg, fyi, and not worth it, according to one of this board's regulars:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/5907...