up to the minute recs for vieux montreal

[catciao]

will travel for food, so...could you all help a NYer narrow the picks for some good local, creative cuisine in vieux montreal? Was thinking about L'Epicier, Aix Cuisine du Terroir, Garde Manger or Bonaparte. Which would you recommend? Or is there someplace else you prefer? Having not been, my research takes me only so far. And what about good seafood?
Thanks for any help you can give!

[ididitallforthegnocchi]

Try L'Orignal, on St-Alexis and Notre-Dame (in Old Mtl). I think it might be just what you're looking for.
The first 3 you mentioned are all very good too, and all very different.
But in my opinion, Bonaparte is an outdated stuffy hotel restaurant. (They do have a very nice breakfast though.)

[souschef]

I ate at Bonaparte once, and hated it. The menu really needs updating, and everything seemed to be covered in a tasteless brown sauce.

I ate at Chez L'Epicier once as well, and really enjoyed it.

[Flipperford]

I knew there was something strange about Bonaparte, when I ordered a martini and it came in a cordial glass with ice

[eoj]

My current favourite is restaurant DNA. It's Italian-based rather than French, so maybe not what you have in mind, but it's mind-blowingly good, especially the pasta course. It's amazing what a talented chef can do with the simplest of ingredients.

[catciao]

probably will look for something besides Italian because...the husband is and I used to work in some fine italian places so I prepare it at home. But good to know, just in case. Is it traditional or modern?
Kind of leaning towards garde manger, since it offers great seafood and is, seemingly, a bit more casual. We have resies for APdC on Friday, so perhaps it will be a little different?
What bistros would you recommend?

[eoj]

DNA is very much modern market-based Italian-inspired. It's not at all a spaghetti-and-meatballs and checked table cloths sort of place. The chef used to be head chef at Fifteen and also worked at the Fat Duck.

For bistros, I love Laloux. The pork-belly and scallop main I had there recently was outstanding. Practically drooling just thinking about it. Au Cinquieme Peche is also another favourite. Both these restos are in the Plateau, so probably about a $15 taxi ride from Old Montreal.

[westaust]

From the list you provided, I would recommend either Garde Manger or L'Épicier as i've had great experiences at both places, but ambiances are differents, I found garde manger to be younger crowd,more relaxed and noisier than l'Épicier.

[eat2much]

Garde Manger and Club Chasse et Peche

[tblanken]

Just ate at Garde Manger last week and it was very good. Nice aperitif of the day, Watermelon Belinis. Chuck's signature Caesar garnished with a crab claw was disappointing and watery. We ordered pecan salad and tomato, ricotta salad to start and short ribs and steak frites for main course. The desserts looked intriguing but we were too full. All was well cooked, portions are quite large. Service was attentive but not intrusive. It is a noisy, busy place but us 40 somethings quite enjoyed the atmosphere. We were disappointed that celebrity chef Chuck Hughes was not there that night.