French or Quebecois restaurant Downtown (near Blvd Maisonneuve Ouest and Rue Mansfield)

[FeliciaYP]

For our first night in Montreal we wanted to find a restaurant for dinner near the hotel (Le Saint Martin Hotel Particulier on Blvd Maisonneuve Ouest and Rue Mansfield) we are staying at. We are looking for either French or Quebecois cuisine, no particulars in terms of price. We are thinking so far of either Le Mas des Oliviers or Restaurant Julien. Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated!

-----
Restaurant Julien
1191 Av Union, Montreal, QC H3B3C3, CA

[Fritzy]

Felicia,

What day of the week are you arriving? A Sunday or Monday could restrict your choices.

[FeliciaYP]

Fritzy we arrive Fri. Sat we r going to APDC. That's only reservation so far. Leaving Mon morning.

[kpaxonite]

Decca 77

-----
Decca 77
1077, rue Drummond, Montréal, QC H3B 4X4, CA

[OliverB]

There's Laurie Raphaël just up the street.

Personally, I'd go to Europa or catch a 5 min. cab into Old MTL and do Toque or the many fine Quebec regional menus in the area...

[Kareem]

Check out "Dominion Square Tavern" on Metcalfe below St. Catherine. Its a French/Quebecois resto and is pretty good

[prima]

I had a good experience at Ariel recently. Not sure if that's French enough. The menu has some international influences, but the restaurant still describes itself as modern bistro based on French tradition. http://www.arielrestaurant.com/concep...

-----
Ariel
2072 drummond, Montreal, QC H3G 1W9, CA

[Fritzy]

I found the food at Ariel disappointing -- hardly the place I would recommend as the first dinner to have in Montreal.

[prima]

Sorry to hear that. Maybe I was lucky.

If I wanted to have a French dinner downtown, within a few blocks of Maisonneuve and Mansfield, Ariel would still be at the top of my list. I've also had good dinners at Renoir in the Sofitel, which I'd consider French with some global influences.

If I just wanted to have dinner downtown, I'd chose Ferreira or Europea, but Ferreira is Portuguese, and I consider the menu at Europea is more eclectic/global than French. I would recommend Europea over Ariel, if the OP likes the look of the menu.

If I was looking for a good French restaurant for my first dinner in Montreal, I'd take a $10 cab from downtown, and head to Lemeac or La Porte.

Are there any French restaurants you would recommend that are close to the OP's hotel?

-----
La Porte Restaurant
3627 Boul Saint-Laurent, Montreal, QC H2X2V5, CA

Europea
1227, rue de la Montagne, Montreal, QC H3G1Z2, CA

[cherylmtl]

Not too far from your hotel (perhaps a 10-minute walk) is Brasserie T.

[FeliciaYP]

Thanks cherylmtl!

[FeliciaYP]

BTW, a friend just suggested Beaver Hall as an option. Any thoughts? Thanks!

-----
Beaver Hall
1073, Cote du Beaver Hall, Montreal, QC H2Z 1S5, CA

[sweettoothMTL]

Beaver Hall is good, you won't be disapointed, but I don't feel it's in a different leagues as the recs above, so no real bad choices here. My last feeling of Mas was that it was quieter, with an older crowd, compared to the others (altough I've only been to Beaver Hall for lunch, so the evening crowd may be different).

-----
Beaver Hall
1073, Cote du Beaver Hall, Montreal, QC H2Z 1S5, CA

[morebubbles]

I've been to Beaver Hall for lunch about 3 times with co-workers who wanted to go there; it's ok, not more than that IMO.

[kpaxonite]

yes, def more of a corporate business vibe

[Fritzy]

Mas des Oliviers would be a solid choice for hearty Southern French cuisine. Haven't been to Julien in a very long time. Le Caveau isn't too far either but I personally would favor des Oliviers: consistenly good food with highly professional and efficient service.