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| - If I lived in this hip area of Montreal, there's no doubt I'd be a Gus regular. Even as a temporary visitor, I felt the good natured charm that encapsulates your whole being at this French brasserie.
We sat at the bar (aka, the best seats in the house) and were able to converse with Dave throughout our stay. Not only is he the Canadian doppelgänger to LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy, he's also a gentle giant with a nice dose of culinary creativity. That inventiveness extends to their cocktail program as well. Since I was there mostly as a barfly, the scale was tipped in the favor of Gus' libations.
From a guy who grew up minutes from the Mexican border, let me tell you Dave makes a mean margarita. He knives through limes right in front of your face and adds a few magic touches to elevate this already refreshing elixir into something special. The same goes for the rhubarb slush (procured from the next door ice cream parlor) which he adds rum to for a nice muggy weather respite. Calamari toast acted as a refreshing palate cleanser between meals to fully embrace the flavor profiles of both drinks. All the while yukking it up with the bar and kitchen staff who are so close, you could reach out and hug them. It elicits a kind of community feel that can only be accomplished when done just right. As you might suspect, Gus cracked the code.
Whether you're in Montreal, Poughkeepsie, or Tokyo, this is what a neighborhood restaurant should strive to be.
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