612083 Tue Apr 14 17:30:24 -0700 2009 11 22 Quebec (including Montreal) 0 4596229 here's the predicament. i'm taking my parents for dinner, and they want the stereotypical white tablecloth, french restaurant, old building - nothing too adventurous. i want to give them that experience, while still dining somewhere that is at least a little hip and happening, with food worth spending good money for. price range is mid to high (not break the bank high). old montreal is the geographical limitation. thanks all! Tue Apr 14 17:30:24 -0700 2009 282772 ito 1 4596412 Club Chasse et Pêche...all the way. Tue Apr 14 18:39:01 -0700 2009 4596229 10894 Frenchie 1 4596618 I'll second the CC&P reco and would add a recommendation for Holder. The former is a bit more iconoclastic and adventurous with food that is very, very French even though the dishes are not French standbys. The latter is a brasserie/bistro with very lively atmosphere, a great open room in an old building and a menu that is brimming with traditional French dishes. http://www.leclubchasseetpeche.com/ Brasserie Holder 407 McGill Street Tel: 514.849.0333 Tue Apr 14 20:01:44 -0700 2009 4596229 18488 SnackHappy 2 4597415 Yep-those would be my 2 as well-CC&P-is obviously a step up in terms of cost and quality- But Holder is a nice upbeat option. Wed Apr 15 07:01:35 -0700 2009 4596618 49235 montreal traveller 1 4597555 Try Le Latini 1130, rue Jeanne-Mance corner René-Lévesque Montreal, Québec, H2Z 1L7 It's just outside Old Montreal. Wed Apr 15 07:36:40 -0700 2009 4596229 259263 bigfellow 2 4597596 I don't know, but wouldn't Le Latini fail to meet the French and "not break the bank high" price criteria? Wed Apr 15 07:49:48 -0700 2009 4597555 18488 SnackHappy 3 4597621 At lunch they can be very reasonable. Many of their dishes are Italian/French boarder food. Wed Apr 15 07:56:28 -0700 2009 4597596 259263 bigfellow 4 4597667 The OP said (s)he wants to take his parents out for dinner. Wed Apr 15 08:11:01 -0700 2009 4597621 48563 mainsqueeze 1 4599654 thanks for the ideas so far. i keep being led back to these two, as i research the web (it's hard from out here in vancouver). holder seems like a likely place, although i seem to get hints of a "see and be seen " vibe from other threads. their menu is more straightforward, and less progressive than c&p, which i think is good for the 'rents. Wed Apr 15 17:48:00 -0700 2009 4596229 282772 ito 2 4600687 Holder, however, is very very noisy - just be careful about that. On top of that, service is not always that great. You might as well want to consider Chez L'Épicier, which is more local than french, but classic and good. Yes - menu at CC&P might be a bit progressive, but it really is worth it. Thu Apr 16 06:56:19 -0700 2009 4599654 10894 Frenchie 1 4599985 New place, DNA, is really a great treat and less $$ than Club Chasse et Pêche. DNA is hard to find and our cabbie was a pain, taking us to Gibby's (Yuck) in Place d'Youville instead of 355 Maguerite d'Youville. But DNA is new and so totally worth it, imho. It is run by a chef who used to work for Jamie Oliver. And the food is superb. Wed Apr 15 20:13:53 -0700 2009 4596229 117023 Paphos.SK 2 4600783 Although I absolutely love DNA and would be the first to recommend it, I will say that it is doesn't fit the criteria of being French and un-adventurous. The food is more nouveau Italian market cuisine, with the atmosphere being very modern and sparse rather than old world French. The place that best fits your criteria is definitely Holder. Thu Apr 16 07:25:59 -0700 2009 4599985 175441 CookEatSleep