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| - I visited the Auberge St. Gabriel for the first time on a blustery September night. We were a party of four: my husband, two out-of-town guests, and me. We knew that the physical premises are impressive (see the many other reviews that talk about this), but we wanted to try the food because we need to select a restaurant for a group event that is being planned for later. To dispense with the ambiance immediately, I have to say that it is indeed impressively "old Montreal", but I also found it too dark (I had trouble seeing the menu) and a little noisy.
When I called to make the reservation, I asked if there would be choices on the menu for vegetarians, and I was told there would be, and I should ask the server. There was exactly ONE vegetarian choice on the menu, so I assumed that the server would tell me what else the chef might do for me. The answer was that the dish on the menu was my only choice. When will restaurants learn to provide more vegetarian choices?!! Among the options in the main courses there was one choice for me and I think at least six for the omnivores. Also among the little extra perks that are offered -- there was a plate of twisted bread with chorizo, and afterwards a very pretty plate with some vegetable content but also containing salmon -- there was nothing suitable for a vegetarian. In some restaurants I have been given a meatless tidbit when these little extras are offered, but I had the impression that at the Auberge St Gabriel the server never did process the fact that I do not eat meat. It is a small thing, but it does reflect on the degree to which a restaurant caters to customers.
But we were there to learn whether the food is really good or not. The bread was wonderful. We were given a serving platter with bread and a bread knife, and this was left on the table throughout the meal, allowing people to cut bread if they wanted more. We all started with the "fresh mixed baby greens", which was a very refreshing and copious salad. My three companions all chose the same main course -- the lamb shoulder -- and pronounced it delicious. My main course was the only thing offered to vegetarians -- Pasta Acini -- but I have to admit that it was delicious. It consisted of tiny rice-shaped pasta, well coated with a green sauce that I think was made from zucchini, and in it were also tempura zucchini flowers, figs and almonds. Creative and yummy.
Between the main course and dessert the Auberge offered us a macaroon and a small glass of cold cider. Very nice!
One of my companions chose the "Abracadabra" for dessert. It was a chocolate-y confection with amaretto ice cream. The other two both opted for the "Pie aux pouces", which included strawberries and mascarpone, with the novel feature that the server cuts it at the table in either one, two or three inch servings (hence the "aux pouces", which means by the inch). I chose the simple "chocolate pie", which was anything but simple. It was a rich chocolate construction and came with a spoonful of ice cream served on a square of what must have been chocolate shavings that adhered to the plate. The ice cream was melted, but otherwise the dessert was delicious, like everything else.
There was a surprise for me at the end, when we received the bill and were ready to leave. The server gave me a big brownie, wrapped in cellophane, and told me that it was for my breakfast. I wonder whether they give a brownie to all women customers (I was the only woman in our party), or whether it was an offering to make up for having so few vegetarian options. In any case, they made points (shall I say "brownie points"?) with that. I ate the brownie today and it was scrumptious.
My overall assessment of the Auberge Saint Gabriel is positive. Everything we ate was excellent, without exception. The reason for 4 stars and not 5 is the lack of vegetarian choices.
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