Chalet at Beaver Lake

[OliverB]

Has anyone eaten at the newish restaurant upstairs inside that cool 60s architectural chalet at Beaver Lake? If so, what was it like - food, style, service, cost, etc? Any idea what it's all about and whether it's worth checking out? I'm talking about the supposedly "fancy-ish" restaurant (Pavillon?) and not the cafeteria downstairs...

[williej]

We went a couple of years ago and would never ever go back. We were served warmed over chicken that tasted like it had been cooked the weekend before our visit (we visited on a Wednesday evening) over a dry couscous. We should have complained but were so disgusted by the meal, we didn't. The service was also disinterested.

If someone has had a better experience, please weigh in. We would need an awful lot of convincing to return. But the outside atmosphere is so nice, I wish there was a better restaurant up there.

On the contrary, the little tea room up the road (Maison Stewart?) was very good.

[OliverB]

Sounds awful!

I was speaking with friends who, ironically, went last weekend. They said it was surprisingly not bad and even pretty good. This is a couple who frequent Hot & Spicy though and not exactly people who's opinions I'd ut much trust in on these matters.

Dried out chicken and couscous sounds terrible. Perhaps there's some new life int he kitchen though? If the prices are reasonable and the menu looks alright, I may give it a shot this Sunday night and report back.

[OliverB]

Is this a steakhouse?

http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/Cuisine/Restaurants/bistro-le-pavillon-sur-le-lac-aux-castors

I kind of hope so, since Montreal is so lousy with them. This would actually be a great setting for an old fashioned steakhouse that doesn't cater to the business-conference and tourist crowds. Reminds me of a clubhouse in some swinging country club with the cool mid-century mod design. I just wonder if the food is junk or worthy of a dinner date? What a perfect spot - fun and unique- for that, especially this time of year when the leaves change! I just heard about this over the weekend and am really set on checking it out!

Edit: a french bistro apparently?
http://www.montrealplus.ca/montreal/v...

and it's been going since '07? Has anyone even heard of this before? There's not a single review on the internet in 4+ years?

[unlaced]

We wandered into the chalet a couple of weekends ago on a Sunday afternoon and they were just packing up for the day. Prices seem quite reasonable, I think it would be worthwhile checking out. But the atmosphere, at least inside, is not the best. The restaurant part is just one corner of the top floor, the rest is set aside for the cafeteria (which is on the same floor, not downstairs as you mentioned - downstairs is set aside for the skating rental and storage I think)

Maybe if you were outside on the terrace it would be a bit nicer, or perhaps in the evening? Let us know if you check it out!

[OliverB]

Oh, I thought the cafe was below with the skate rentals and lockers. They used to have a little tuck counter that served sodas, fries and chips, etc. It's been a while since I was inside that building. Is there any separation between the resto and cafe inside, like a dividing wall at least? Did you get a look at the menu offerings?

[unlaced]

No dividing wall, hence my comment about the atmosphere. You could be sitting having a nice lunch and obstensibly be looking out at the view and the people chowing down on food from the cafeteria. I think they maybe have some of those tall reed decorations to create a bit of a sense of space, but we both commented on how the lack of division of the room was a little strange. Maybe at night it feels different? Or given their stated capacity on one of the websites you linked to, maybe they transform the cafeteria seating area at night.....

[SnackHappy]

The only thing I ever heard about the place was that it wasn't very good. There have been a few media reviews and mentions on this board.

BTW, Montreal is not lousy with steak houses. They are few and far between. You misused that idiom.

[mangoannie]

It is such a beautiful location; the menu looks more simple nowadays - they must be able to do grilled salmon or caesar salmon with grilled chicken adequately, both these dishes are $16 and $18. Other choices bavette, tortellini, salmon tartare, farfalle....of course the parking metres never stop on the mountain so have to factor that in. I think it is a deal for this unique setting, even for a glass of wine and appetizers. I did not realize it still existed as got negative reviews when it opened a few years ago. Its only open Wed. til Sunday starting at noon. It wouldnt bother me the the self-serve being nearby afterall in most restos there is a kind of mix with bars where people come for drinks/snacks. It would be gorgeous when the leaves are coloured, might give it a try then.

[OliverB]

Hmm.. the menu doesn't really appeal to me from the above descriptions. Sounds like very basic timewarp grill cuisine; salmon, pastas, etc. So much for a Seasons in Vancouver sort of wishful establishment. Do you know if it's a fixed menu or changes seasonally or weekly?

I may check it out this weekend... don't know if I'll eat there (it's nice to just picnic on the mountain with fruits, charcuteries, cheeses, wine, etc) but I'll likely give it a shot someday soon. I've always loved that building, apart from the zero cool mod design, there's something really nostalgic about it too. I think this would probably qualify as the city's only restaurant in a park that I can think of.

[unlaced]

There is a new- this-year restaurant in Parc la Fontaine now, something Espace de la Fontaine. The Gazette reviewed it awhile ago, fairly favourably.

[chickenbruiser]

"1958: Designed by architects Hazen Size and Guy Desbarats, Beaver Lake Pavilion is officially opened."

[TheSnowpea]

I run by every other day and there never seems to be many or any people sitting at lunch time, so I've assumed that it's either dead or not doing so well.