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| - Notkins was a really good find. First, the restaurant is absolutely beautiful - very chic and modern with its use of glass and wood everywhere. The oyster and raw bar in the middle of the restaurant adds authenticity to the restaurant and their oyster display was clearly very fresh.
Being our last meal, we went a bit wild and ordered almost everything on the menu - quite literally. We actually didn't get any oysters or items from the raw bar, but the fact that everything we got was so good shows that Notkins isn't just a one-trick-pony.
On this pleasant July evening, we opted to sit outside in their small but beautiful patio area. We started with clam chowder, gazpacho verde, calamari, oyster & kale salad, and salmon tartar. The chowder was as authentic/tasty as chowder you find in New England, but better because you don't have to deal with "Massholes". The gazpacho verde was very refreshing, as was the salmon tartar. I really enjoyed the kale Caesar, which was elevated with shaved parmesan and fried oysters. It would have been nice if the salad included at least one more fried oyster, since the two included were so delicious and went fast. The calamari was absolutely perfect. I didn't care for the green papaya salad it includes on the side, but the calamari itself was thick cut rings, perfectly battered and fried, yet still tender - yum.
Being quite full from the starters, we calmed ourselves for the mains - ordering just the steak tartar (which is an appetizer), the fish tacos, and the lobster burger. The steak tartar was very good, especially with the 63 degree egg that dressed the dish as you cut into it. The included chips for dipping into the tartar were good, but I would have preferred a sturdier chip to hold the tartar - but that's honestly nitpicking. The fish tacos were also very tasty, with a minimal and clean presentation. The lobster burger was one of the highlights; the patty was essentially a lobster cake with copious amounts of fresh lobster. The cheese surprising worked well and the fluffy bun really made the lobster even more buttery and tasty. The fries were perfection too, so crispy yet meaty with the right amount of salt.
Finally, yes the bathrooms at this restaurant are awesome. The 'portapotty' blue entrance door leads to blindingly beautiful white marble everything. It's weird to say, but these bathrooms were honestly gorgeous - the interior reminding you of a high-end Vegas hotel. Lastly, service was very good the entire evening. I would highly recommend Notkins if you're in Montreal.
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