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| - Framed black and white pictures hang over the long black banquette that runs the length of La Chronique, a French restaurant on two levels on Laurier. The charming hostess allowed us the pick of the seats as we were the first to arrive - window, of course. Other guests that followed chose seating along that comfortable-looking banquette, or the small tables against the opposite wall.
Can I say that I love the bread service in all the restaurants during my visit to Montreal? Here, it was fresh baguette spears and savory bread accompanied by creamy, room-temperature butter. Yes and multiple baskets, please.
My sister grilled the helpful server on the variety on the menu, including lobster and sweetbreads (surf and turf), venison, and Dover sole. I, however, very quickly settled on the latter. Three small fillets are shaped into round circles, resembling scallops (in shape/size), and served with puréed, slightly bitter celeriac root, wilted spinach, and savory mushrooms. While the fish was a bit under seasoned, everything else on the plate was delicious.
For dessert, I had La Chronique's interpretation of the Black Forest cake. The cake portion was thin and spongy, with a dollop of cream and wonderfully tart cherries. It was topped with a distinctive amaretto/almond ice cream and shards of milk and white chocolate.
This review would have been incomplete without a mention of service. In a word, impressive. Both the hostess and server managed a roomful of guests with warm hospitality and useful advice. They walked us through the menu and dining options (à la carte or tasting menu) and provided their insights on the most-loved dishes.
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