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| - Classic, Iconic, steeped in French Bistro tradition L'Entrecôte Saint-Jean was said to be the favorite restaurant of , Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau former Prime Minister of Canada, perhaps for good reason during his day. Traditions have a way of waning and becoming long-in-the-tooth especially when the signature item, the entrecôte does not live up to it's venerable longstanding tradition of praise worthy accolades.
The interior setting of the restaurant is what you would expect in a very good French Bistro, the service excellent; yet, when the most memorable part of the meal is the frites, baguette and butter, then something needs to be rethought at the restaurant.
The simple Bibb lettuce salad with walnuts was under dressed; for that reason lacked flavor, the steak looked marvelous but was tough to cut even with a sturdy steak knife and lacked a robust beef flavor, the Dijon mustard sauce imo needed more Dijon to perk the entire plate up. The frites were perfect, some of the best without question and what can I say about the bread and butter in Quebec, c'est magnifique, once you have tried it you will understand why Americans make such a fuss about Montreal's bread and butter. As with most house wines in Quebec, I don't believe you will ever be disappointed they have always been more than adequate and priced reasonably.
2.5 stars is a more appropriate grade for the the dining experience; that would be due to the feel, charm and the sense of days gone by and the dignitaries who have passed through the doors of this charming French bistrot.
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