Only reason for going to this place is because it's close to place des arts.A perfect pre-concert dinner spot. The food was below average.Grilled octopus used a lot of bizarre dried black flakes(possibly blackberry), which tasted very tart and was way too much on the plate. It over powered the octopus. The octopus was cut into tiny bit pieces so small you cannot get a taste at. Main course was the beef tartare. It came with a half plate of potato chips, came straight from a packaged chips snack you can buy anywhere including a gas station. I know it's a wine bar but come on, you can make some more effort than that. Ordered a glass of wine before ordering food, and the waiter completely forgot. When I reminded him where's my wine after my appetizer has already arrived, he accused me of not ordering. He said he asked me if I want any drinks and I said no. Then I said remember I ordered the Italian white wine BEFORE food? He suddenly remembered now. After a while after serving main courses, the waiters come to the table SEVERAL times try to collect our plates. WE WERE NOT FINISHED FOR GOD'S SAKES! I felt the need to hurry up, so I finished first. They immediately took away my plate and left my friend's because she's not done yet. Naturally she felt the need to rush after mine was taken away. So she rushed to finish. If any of their waiters received proper training, it's a big NO NO. Why on earth do you rush your customers when there's empty seats all over the place? You are suppose to take everyone's plate all at once when everyone has finished. I felt so embarrassed to bring friend to this place. Better go some proper restaurant near by the concert hall next time.
After I submitted my review on bookenda.com, the restaurant choose not to publish it. Instead, sent me an email
" In regard to your critic about our food and service, we would like to make things clearer and answer some of your concerns. Our chef has a lot of experience and our policy is to cook everything from scratch. For what you thought as blackberries are actually olives dehydrated in the oven, as written in the menu. The chips with the tartare are homemade in our kitchen. We serve the octopus sliced thin cause it's a salad and we think all the ingredients in a salad should be the same size. Our team is working hard all the day to assure a good night shift, we are sorry you were disappointed on your visit. About the forgotten glass, we are truly sorry about that and we will speak to our waiter about that and make sure it won't happen anymore. Wishing to see you again at Bar à vin Place Deschamps, Lyne Simard,"
wow...
I just have some questions to ask this 'prestige 3 star Michelin chef' whomever he is:"have you dined at top restaurants? Have you tasted your food before sending out to the dining room? Can you tell the good/bad difference in food? I don't really care if it's olives or blackberry, it's tart as hell when you put that much. Should change the name to "black olives' salad". Go to Ferreira Cafe and try their octopus appetizer and you'll know what I'm talking about. If you've already tasted your octopus salad and you still think it's good, I have nothing to say. No wonder there are so many empty seats around. Good luck with your business.
p.s.Do not trust bookenda.com's review. Only the good ones can be published.