Lawrence is undoubtedly one of my favorite restaurants in Montreal. Located in the heart of Mile End, Lawrence serves up Canadian bistro classics with a French flare.
The food itself changes rather frequently and the menu features fresh (local, where possible) ingredients. Last night I had the pork chop with braised radicchio and mustard fruits. The pork was so succulent and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Pork can be so overcooked, dry and bland that I often avoid it at all costs when ordering at a restaurant. But a friend of mine recommended the fatty (in the best way possible) incarnation that they serve at Lawrence and I was not at all disappointed.
My boyfriend had the braised octopus and he said it was also perfectly cooked. Octopus is a funny fish to cook and many many chefs have a hard time avoiding the 'rubber factor,' where octopus inevitably comes out chewy as all hell, reminiscent of jaw-breaker chewing gum. Such is not the case at Lawrence where the food artists in the kitchen are well versed on cooking seafood. Our party of 10 guests had most of the items of the menu and some of the other fan favourites included Striped bass (again, the seafood!) and bay scallops and potato cake on the appetizer menu.
Lawrence is also a great place to drink; the wine menu--red, white, and rose--is extensive and the serving staff are more than happy to suggest some perfect pairings. In a departure from my usual ordering of a dry white or pinto grigio I opted for a beer on tap (en fut). The Blonde de Chambly was just the kind of beer I was looking for--not too bitter but rather a light beer with a citrusy flavour intermixed with an almost honey-like sweetness. A really nice--and award winning--option for all those diners sick of the usual wine options. In terms of cocktails where were a number of satisfied drinkers in our party. The whiskey sour was probably one of the best I've here had--hands down. And I am connoisseur of whiskey sours! Ha!
The decor--for all you foodies who also love indulging in fabulous decor--was really creative and on-point. The wallpaper in the washrooms and the industrial-chic touches paired with more traditional pieces creates a really pleasant space in which to dine.
Just a note about the staff--the service was flawless. I had originally made reservations elsewhere but our party grew to an unwieldy 10 people and we needed to switch locations. I called on a Saturday afternoon for reservations and the crew at Lawrence made it work for us! While dined rather late--10pm--it was totally worth it and I will be forever grateful for their accommodating efforts.
GO! You must! Its one of Montreal's finest.