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| - It was the final hours of our trip to Montreal, and if we hadn't found poutine before departing, I'm pretty sure I would have had divorce papers waiting at home. Enter Frite Alors, which saved the day!
We got off to a bit of a rocky start when we sat, chatted with the friendly waitress, admired the mod interior, perused the graphicutesy menus and then had to leave because we weren't carrying cash. (WE NEVER CARRY CASH. Neither do most savvy travelers. Get with the times, people!) However, once we'd found an ATM, we circled back, because not only does Frite Alors have poutine: in fact, it boasts an entire menu of poutines. Diners choose from close to a dozen variations that include sausage, bacon and / or grilled vegetables in addition to the golden standard of gravy and fresh cheese.
I was craving classic French food and swooned over the Croque Monsieur: ham, cheese, and mustard on toasted bread, though this one also came with fresh lettuce and tomato (they were added after the toasting, so it was a nice crispy-melty contrast. But what really tugged at my heartstrings was the option to substitute a small salad for half the fries that came with the sandwich. I'll repeat that in case any American restaurant happens to be listening: Instead of a GIANT PILE of fries, they allow the option of a reasonable number of fries and a small salad -- full of fresh, crunchy vegetables and drizzled with a creamy vinaigrette. I had been dreaming of that perfect healthy-junky equilibrium for years!
I was really craving a Belgian beer, but thanks to our shortage of cash (we were trying to use it all up before recrossing the border) it remained a dream. That silly, needless inconvenience is the only reason I can't give five stars for such a fantastic experience!
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