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| - This was the happiest meal I had in Montreal.
Quebec must have a different definition of hipster than the US, because this place was not hipster at all. The outside looks unpromising, and the inside is no better - it resembles a 1970's basement den, complete with taxidermy (hi, stuffed fox in back corner). But true hipsterdom requires that the ambiance be intentional and ironic. This was just a little lazy.
Even the menu is understated, with only a few options, none of which are described in detail. At lunchtime, there were just 2 or 3 other tables occupied.
I was eyeing the fried chicken sandwich and our very sweet waitress confirmed that it was her favorite, "depending on how indulgent you feel." Psh, I always feel indulgent. We also opted for a beef sandwich au jus with hot peppers. Both came with a side of fries and slaw for $3 extra.
First of all, even their homemade mayo is delicious - smooth and rich. The fries are the skinnier kind, which is odd to see in a big fat frites town. Also, they give you two slaw options: NYC style (creamy) or MTL style (vinegary). Get the MTL. It has a faint Asian taste I can't identify. But it is so fresh and so good. The two versions are actually not too different in taste, but why not try something newish.
Our food came after a brief wait. I don't remember the next 20 minutes clearly - I was sitting on a challah bread bun cloud, with juicy and crunchy fried chicken (boneless, dark meat, if you care) and cucumber slices all around me. Oh, it was also raining chipotle mayo. That's probably too descriptive. The sandwich was mindblowingly delicious. You may consider the fact that we walked 3 miles on empty stomachs to get here, but actually that probably made little difference. Fried chicken sandwich good. Get it.
The beef sandwich was a big thing sitting in a pool of lovely au jus. I had a yummy bite of it but mostly focused on my fried chicken. I'd intended to try the matzo ball soup but am glad I didn't. There just isn't the gastric real estate.
If you're looking for any old diner, you have a glut of other options (see what I did there). If you want comforting, delicious food obviously prepared fresh with thought and playfulness, in a low-key neighborhood setting, come to Nouveau Palais. The kicker is that prices are SO reasonable.
Also of note is that Nouveau Palais is a 5 minute walk from both famous Montreal bagel shops (St. Viateur and Fairmount). Think ahead. Wear your stretchy pants.
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