We really enjoyed our evening at Le Local during our recent trip to Montreal from Toronto.
Food - 4/5
To start we had the grilled octopus salad and the bitter lettuce salad. Very simple dishes elevated to a higher standard. I even made mention to my partner that these were both dishes my mother who comes from a small village in the north of Greece who's culinary indulgence is KFC (only on toonie Tuesday) would not be nervous to try and would enjoy very much.
For our mains my partner had the cheese ravioli with duck confit. It was very rich and decadent. The cheese filling was creamy and smooth. For a non pasta eater she adored it and so did I from the samples I fought for. My main was the catch of the day. A beautifully prepared pan seared white fish on top of Chinese broccoli, shitaki mushrooms mixed veg and sprouts with light Asian broth.
Desert came as a suggestion from the waiter. The pot de cream was just enough to satisfy my sweet tooth and cap of a lovely meal.
Service - 4/5
Our waiter was very well mannered and attentive. He was very knowledgeable and gave great recommendations on wine and the food. The best part was he was there when we needed something and absent so we could enjoy our company when we didn't need him.
Our only one complaint with the service came from the server who brought us bread. He seemed to throw down the butter and bread without so much as a hello or excuse me.
Location/Atmosphere: 4/5
The restaurant is situated just outside old Montreal tourist area. It's like finding a hidden gem that only local know about. The decor is industrial contemporary. A real nice touch using the old building to its fullest and adding some modern elements. My only complaint was with our seating. The chairs look to be wicker patio furniture. It made sitting at the table awkward and hard to talk to.
Price - 4/5
By Toronto standards we found it very reasonable. Two starters, two mains, dessert, coffee and two drinks each will put you in the $150-200 range. Not unreasonable for a nice night out.