664268 Mon Nov 02 20:01:59 -0800 2009 10 22 Quebec (including Montreal) 0 5151004 Ì'm attending a conference at the Delta Centre-Ville near Square Victoria for several days. Any recommendations for places for lunch within walking distance of that hotel? Thanks for your help! Mon Nov 02 20:01:59 -0800 2009 18706 Katharine 1 5151145 You are very well-located for great lunch! If you're looking for quick stuff, you're right near the underground network of food courts. You can enter through the Stock Exchange Bldg on Sq. Victoria and go downstairs. The adjacent food courts are actually pretty good (if pricey) because they cater to the elite business crowd. You can obviously get an array of dishes there. You're also not far from Chinatown (walk east along gauchetiere), where there are great specials for lunch. Most restaurants have 4.95-7.95 specials for soup/spring roll/ main dish until about 3 or 4pm. If you walk up from the square as well, there are plenty of places along Beaver Hall. One of favourite lunch places near-by is Titanic, which has great sandwhiches. Café Titanic 445 Rue St-Pierre Mon Nov 02 21:54:59 -0800 2009 5151004 290885 berbatov 2 5154034 Thanks so much! Although I live in Montreal and will be expected to give advice as a local, I am unfamiliar with this neighborhood, so this is very helpful! Tue Nov 03 20:56:42 -0800 2009 5151145 18706 Katharine 1 5155498 I work in that area. There's Le Beaver Hall on (where else?) Beaver Hall just above Viger. My personal fave restaurant at the moment is L'Arrivage, the 2nd floor restaurant at the Pointe-a-Calliere Museum. I take McGill, turn left at St. Paul, etc. The walk is worth it for the quality of food (lunch menus run from $11 to $20). You need reservations which can be made at (514) 872-9128. Wed Nov 04 10:53:06 -0800 2009 5151004 20128 morebubbles 2 5155525 I had one of the worst dining experience in my entire life at L'Arrivage. The minute me and my sister walked in, and told the elderly waiter (looked like he may have owned the place) that we were only there for coffee and dessert and not a full meal, we were placed at table littered with bread crumbs from the previous diners. From then on, they proceeded on ignoring us, seating and waiting on other customers for a full 20 minutes until I had to wave at another waitress to get menus. When we ordered, the owner came over, stooped over us shoving his face in front of mine and asked in an irritated tone what I wanted to order. I just got a glass of water while my sister ordered tea, at this point I was already fuming at how badly we were being treated. He snapped the menus shut, stalked off to the cash and threw the menus onto the menu stack and muttered something to the waitress who gave us our menus. Barely 30 seconds, and he plunks down my sisters tea with the check. After my sister finished, I decided to give him his due and didn't tip him. Upon leaving, he remarked to my sister, "Tip isn't included. Thank you. Good bye" in an arrogant tone. worst experience of my life. snobby, arrogant and downright rude. Wed Nov 04 11:02:36 -0800 2009 5155498 1113414 sharkbait88 1 5156158 Check out Le Cartet (106 McGill) - I think they only do brunches, but seriously - you won't regret it. Somehow it manages to be stylish and intimate at the same time. Beniamino & Co has two locations, one on Viger on the corner of Square Victoria, one lower down on McGill. Fabulous Italian - unpretentious, good fresh ingredients, friendly service. Only down side is that it is a take-out place, so unfortunately you'll be eating off plastic, even if you have it to stay. Boris Bistro (465 McGill) is a little more pricey, but the food is knockout, and it has a great wine list as well. I've only ever eaten on their terasse, which to be honest was the main attraction for me. I've never been inside so I couldn't tell you what that is like... Hope that helps... Wed Nov 04 14:11:15 -0800 2009 5151004 1121754 NickMontreal 2 5156332 The inside of Boris Bistro is a little dated. And I wouldn't classify the food as knockout - unless you mean it in a negative way. Very ordinary, especially considering the price. But a lovely terrace (although not where you'd sit in November...) There's always Holder, just down the street from Boris. And another one whose name I can't think of offhand, just next door to Holder (can anyone else think of it?) Wed Nov 04 15:03:56 -0800 2009 5156158 19331 cherylmtl 3 5157626 Re: Boris Bistro. Interesting you didn't like Boris... You’re not the only person around who doesn’t like it either. But I had a great meal there. I had a beautifully cooked risotto with tender morsels of rabbit meat and porcini mushrooms... And the wine list was good to boot. Like you said, the terasse is one of the restaurant’s main attractions... I’m dissapointed to hear that the inside is nothing special. Thu Nov 05 06:27:58 -0800 2009 5156332 1121754 NickMontreal 2 5156366 Le Cartet is a great idea, and they do a great lunch during the week, or at least they used to. Definitely worth a look. They used to have a choice of 3 or 4 different hot meals per day, with lots of cold prepared meals like salade Niçoise as well. Whatever you do, avoid the in-house hotel restaurant Chez Antoine like the plague. My husband was forced to eat there daily during an event last year and it was almost unbearably bad. Even the coffee was like dishwater, he said! Wed Nov 04 15:14:24 -0800 2009 5156158 66614 kpzoo 3 5157821 I agree with Le Cartet. I've been there for lunch and the food was great. How about Bar & Boeuf? Is it a good place for lunch (or dinner)? http://www.baretboeuf.com/ Thu Nov 05 07:32:36 -0800 2009 5156366 285732 Foie Gras Lover 1 5158306 There are many options in that area. It depends on what you're looking for. For something more casual, I like Soupe Soup (good soups and sandwiches) on Wellington just off McGill, or Benjiamino's on McGill. As mentioned, Le Cartet is a great option, and it would be easier to get a table there than at Soupe Soup or Benjiamino's. I also really like Holder and Vallier on McGill, though I've only been there for dinner. Graziella, an Italian place on McGill, has been getting great reviews from people like Lesley Chesterman, but I haven't tried it myself yet. My favourite place for a more special meal is the three-course lunch at L'Arrivage. It's unfortunate that a previous poster had a bad experience there. I've been there several times with coworkers over the past few years and we've had consistently excellent meals and good service. They do fresh market cuisine that's very well-presented and I've always really enjoyed my food. Thu Nov 05 10:15:43 -0800 2009 5151004 1109330 lesley_t