Suggestions for a small group with mixed budgets and palates?

[chefjeannine]

Hey all,

So I need some help finding a restaurant for a group of about 8 girls. Half of the group are picky eaters, the other half thrives on phenomenal food. Also, some of the girls are on a budget, and probably would not want to pay more than about $40 for their meal. On the shortlist are Au Cinquième Péché, Casa Tapas, Lemeac, Les Trois Petits Bouchons, Kitchen Galerie and Le Comptoir. Any thoughts on how these restaurants fit the criteria, and can you suggest places that may?

Thanks in advance!

-----
Kitchen Galerie
60 Rue Jean-Talon E, Montreal, QC H2R1S5, CA

Casa Tapas
266 Rue Rachel E, Montreal, QC H2W1E6, CA

[celfie]

have you considered Brasserie T? It is well priced and there is enough on the menu for picky eaters. The food is also very good http://brasserie-t.com/index-en.php

[chefjeannine]

Thank you all so much for the suggestions. I've come to realize that group dinners are always best when we can all share communal dishes. We did the Alep group menu once, and everyone is still talking about it. I'll look into Philinos, but I think i'm leaning towards Tapeo.

-----
Philinos Restaurant Bar
4806 Av Du Parc, Montreal, QC H2V4E6, CA

[Plateaumaman]

If you like group menus, you might enjoy the rijstaffel at Nonya then.

http://www.nonya.ca/menu.html

We did go out to Tapeo once, forgot entirely, which is not a great sign. Tuck Shop was fun and lively albeit rather noisy, nice thoughtful food with a lot of vegetables, but too expensive for some of us and rather an oddity considering the location.

[kpzoo]

Have you or anyone had the rijstaffel there? It looks intriguing!

[Plateaumaman]

I've had the $20 table d'hote on Tuesday and Wednesdays and tried many of the dishes on their rijstaffel menu. The rendang is very good, and the sate kambing too. And I love their gado gado and usually order the duck, Bebek Bengil. It's good enough that those of us who cook Indonesian at home are happy plus the ambiance is nice. Most people I've recommended it to love it.

[kpzoo]

Cool, thanks for the report!

[cherylmtl]

Tapeo is definitely fun with a group. Another great option, if you're looking to share dishes, is Daou.

[toaster8]

I second both Tapeo and Daou. Great food and fun to share. I think Daou would be more affordable than Tapeo, but the Faillon location is a bit run down. The Ville Saint Laurent location is a more fancy if it's a girls night out type of deal.

[OliverB]

I think the best bet within your set budget would be Philinos on Parc Ave. for Greek food. The menu is pretty safe and for 7 people, you can all order enough (large portions) to share with the table while staying well within your budget, wine included. Montreal Greek is always my 'go to' when eating out with very large groups because it's more fun and affordable to share and sample from a wider menu. Also ideal for the non adventurous eaters (grilled meats; chicken, lamb, beef, fish, salads, etc) and 3-4 apps and entrees should be enough to go around. I'd definitely cancel out Lemeac based on your criteria.

[chefjeannine]

$40 would be drinks, tax and tip included, and even that may be too much for some. Tapeo looks good as well, ill check it out. Any thoughts on Liverpool house? Over our budget?

[cherylmtl]

Unless you're looking at the after-10 special at Lemeac, or two apps instead of a main and an app, I think most of those places will be easily over $40 (Le Comptoir is not as expensive, but again, it might not suit everyone's taste). An app and a main at pretty much all of them will be close to $40, let alone drinks, tax, tip and dessert (most of those places will easily run $70 to $95 per person). You might be better off at a place like Au Petit Extra, where they have prix fixe menus that are in the high teens to low 20s. Liverpool House is way over your budget for sure. Bottega might be okay, or Magpie, if you're looking for pizza, but (at least with Magpie) the menu's pretty limited.

-----
Bottega
65 Rue Saint-Zotique E, Montreal, QC H2S1K7, CA

[cherylmtl]

If the $40 is only for food, then you should be fine - with drinks, most of these places will be higher, depending on what you order. All should be fine your group, although I have my doubts about Le Comptoir - it might be a problem with the picky eaters, and it's the least comfortable for a large group IME.
Kitchenette is another choice that works well with a group of 8, and a menu that should have enough choice to please everyone. Tuck Shop, if you can get a reservation, is another option, as is Le Chien Fumant. And if you're looking at Casa Tapas, what about Tapeo?

[Plateaumaman]

I organize a mamans' night out pretty regularly with a similar size of group - we've been to Casa Tapas and it was classic Spanish food, perhaps not interesting enough for those who like phenomenal food. I like Pinxto better for that, Basque tapas, although we haven't been recently. Haven't been to the others on your list.

Places we have enjoyed alot include Nonya (Indonesian food on Bernard, they close for month around Xmas but should be back now), Bambou Bleu (dirt cheap byob Vietnamese, ordinary but not terrible food), and Cuisine Szechuan (Guy near Sherbrooke) which particularly pleases anyone who loves spicy food and is fabulous while not being expensive, and Mon Nan in Chinatown for their peking duck special - they've moved, hope the special moved with them.