What is it about Montreal? Is there something in the water? There's a certain kind of restaurant that's found only here (at least in this corner of North America: creative food, French-influenced but not traditional; well-priced wine list; friendly, professional and knowledgeable staff; casual elegance; and no pretension. No Toronto hipster vibe, no fawning over high-rolling douchebags, just fantastic food in a convivial atmosphere.
Les Trois Petits Bouchons is exactly this kind of place: a beautifully designed cellar room with exposed stone walls and blond wood tables, a seasonal menu written every day on a blackboard, and lots of wines available by the glass.
Our meal was nothing short of spectacular: delicate and super-fresh halibut ceviche; grilled octopus with pancetta was a flavour knockout; and the surf and turf for two - a lobster claw and a smallish steak - was just perfectly designed and balanced. The waiter suggested a 1993 white rioja that paired perfectly with the octopus and surf and turf, and felt like a steal at $85. I'd never had a white that had been cellared that long, and it was a revelation.
I'd love to go back to Les Trois Petits Bouchons and just have some apps and a glass of wine at the bar, and I wouldn't hesitate to spend $200+ on a special-occasion meal.