The Burgundy Lion is a bit of a classic; a healthy blend of class and comfort, stability and fun. Although it is well known among Montrealers, I still thought it deserved to add another positive review to their collection, a review that I am now writing.
The pub located on Notre-Dame Street opens late and serves food until 11 PM (definitely a plus for night owl like my husband and I). They've got a good selection of appetizers and good main courses too. Being vegetarians, we usually go for the samosas or seasonal vegetables as an entree, and their veggie burger as a main dish. The veggie patty is soft and seems to be made of lentils and beans as far as I can tell. Taste-wise it's pretty good, though if I had a suggestion to make it would be to add chili or some other spice to enhance the flavor which currently is a bit tame.
Their deserts are also pretty decent; the blueberry and the rhubarb pies are both nice.
They've got a huge selection of whiskeys; over 500 according to their menu. Adventurous drinkers will most likely enjoy this feature. They also carry beer on tap, cider, wines and cocktails. They make a mean Irish coffee too (and by that I mean good and strong.)
While The Burgundy Lion fills up very quickly on weekends, weekdays are usually a good time to go if you're looking for some intimacy and a manageable noise level. Every time my husband and I have been, we've had a flawless service whether the room was packed or not.
I recommend The Burgundy Lion without hesitation; they deserve their good reputation.