I am a Montreal native and l'Orchidee was a standard hit in our restaurant repertoire for many years. Tonight, both my mother and I agreed that this family favourite has sadly lost its lustre.
The food was satisfactory overall and included crispy spring rolls, bean paste, general tao, fish with bean sauce, and a moka ice ream cake (from Baskin Robbins);
however, the ambiance was sadly lacking. The waiters had a tendency to speedwalk/sprint between the tables and the kitchen, which made us feel rather rushed ourselves. Much of the clientele was badly dressed - as if cargo shorts were the designated uniform for the evening! I am not one of those people who eat to be seen (as is the case for those dining at Cavalli across the street) but maybe it's time that l'Orchidee introduced a dress code to maintain a level of class.