Chez L'Epicier, still a good choice?
After hearing the news about the chef change at Laloux, i was wondering if L'Epicier was still a good destination, since there have been few recent reviews
-
My husband and I went there last week. It was good enough that I'd give it an A/A-. We went around 6pm, and enjoyed an almost empty restaurant. The waitstaff were attentive, the food presentation was very good, and we enjoyed ourselves. We only had a limited time - 1.5 hours, I think - for dinner, as we were rushing to catch a movie by the Sherbrooke metro, but we made it with time to spare. The ambiance was a little pretentious, almost Martha Stewart-like in its minimalism, and I had a little trouble understanding all of the big words on the French/English menu, but overall we agreed that it would be a good special occassion restaurant. It was very pricey - $120 before tip for 2 appetizers, 2 main courses, 2 desserts, and 1 coffee.
-
Heads up: I am an out-of-towner. I was there last Thursday evening, my third visit in 2 years. And while the food is nice, I am at a loss in explaining the lack of service on *every* visit. Well, actually not, since this time, anyway, they seemed to be woefully understaffed. No bartender, for starters. Hello?
We were happy to have enjoyed an early reservation, but the place filled up fast, and we wtinessed two (justifiably) unhappy tables having it out with the staff over the wait time for their food!
We waited patiently to order dessert - after having received dessert menus - for 20+minutes, and gave up and asked for the bill, which our overworked waiter understood.
We just won't be going back, and needless to say, we will tell friends going to Montreal just not to bother. Go to La Colombe, Au Pied De Cochon, Club Chasse et Peche -- anywhere where the owners realize that STAFFING is as important as the food.
