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| - Way to dress up an otherwise pedestrian dish. Sure, poutine is a Canadian cultural classic, but when I grew up, french fries with gravy was my high school lunch meal--sure, without cheese curds mixed in but even with the curds, it is nothing more than simple. But Poutineville uses this "base" as a platform for a real meal!
I was surprised to see an offering for All You Can Eat. Poutine? AYCE? Why? After looking at the $15 poutine meals, I figured for my first time that a sampling was in order, hence the AYCE for the same $15. There are 5 choices 1) Classic (why bother), 2) Braised beef, 3) Smoked Meat, 4) Rocky (Philly steak with nacho cheese and cartelized onions), and the smoking' hot variation whose name I can't recall.
You start by ordering two bowls, and then follow up one at a time. I started with the 2 and the 4. The Braised beef was immediately one of my faves, and the Rocky was equally enjoyable, but the con quesa cheese made it a bit unusual and delivered a bit of heat to the throat.
My follow-up was the 3, which made sense to have Montreal Smoked meat on a Quebec style poutine. Of course I skipped the carb loading of the 1, and the hellfire of the 5.
I only got through 3 dishes. AYCE involving french fries takes you to overkill way too fast. Too many carbs, but a bit more of the rich gravy would have prompted me to finish the last of the fries. This is more difficult than AYCE sushi, since you don't feel a sense of accomplishment with a measly 3 bowls. But I left enjoyably stuffed, and pleased at the variety I had a chance to sample.
I can't eat this every week, or even every month without it ruining my svelte physique. But I will be back!
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