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| - We'd heard a lot of buzz about Joe Beef so we knew that when we got to Montreal we'd have to check it out. On the whole, it was a great experience.
*Service - excellent. Even though our servers were BUSY it didn't keep them from being on point about order taking/food delivery/drink refills etc. Our waiter even went through the entire menu with us (as it was only in French). They were also really affable and friendly which is always a plus.
*Food -
Foie Gras Double Down. This is a MUST. This may be the most flavorful thing I've ever eaten. I don't know if I could stomach a whole portion because it's sinfully rich, but the few bites I had were heavenly.
Lobster Spaghetti. this looked like it might contain at least 3 whole lobsters, was cooked perfectly al dente, and had a rich creamy lobster sauce that somehow succeeded in not being overwhelming. Very nice, perfectly executed dish.
Steak Joe Beef. So deliciously soft the way steak should be. It had a nice strong peppery flavor (which I actually tend not to like). One note: it is a very fatty cut (NY Strip I believe?). Not usually my thing, but this wasn't my entree so I wasn't too concerned.
*Decor/Ambience - The place looks like a log cabin inside, which I actually really dig. The music was a mash up of things (think Tupac & The Smiths) which was very cool. Props to them for not censoring the music - this isn't a place for children.
Why not 5 stars? A few reasons:
- It's unbearably hot. Unfortunately, I had dressed for the 65 degrees it was outside, and couldn't remove enough layers to be comfortable in the stiflingly hot place. At $30-$50/plate, this always packed restaurant can afford another AC.
- No printed menus. I get that it's part of the charm, blah blah, but many of the seats are not in a place where you can comfortably see it. I, for example, would have been interested in the wine list, but it was on a chalkboard far away in a high traffic area and it just wasn't worth the trouble (or added heat/claustrophobia).
- About the prices. Totally fair considering what you're getting, but it'd be great if they did half portions on the entrees. They're all MASSIVE.
Bonus: Try their house brew. It's really tasty - but be aware that a bottle will set you back $10.
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