If you’re looking for a French great place to eat in Montreal, I have to say that Le Boulevardier is a definite contender in the downtown area. It’s on the second floor of the Germain Hotel, but it doesn’t mean you have to stay there to hit it up (although I do recommend it), so secure your reservation; you’ll agree with me it’s a must after reading my Le Boulevardier restaurant review!
Backstory and General Impression of Le Boulevardier French Restaurant
Le Boulevardier Restaurant is inspired by classic French cuisine and it offers a range of dishes that highlight seasonal and locally sourced ingredients.
You’ll find it has a cozy yet upscale vibe, with lowered lighting but good upbeat music, marble tables surrounded by brown vintage-style leather chairs and silver accents. All this was created by the world-renowned Atelier Zébulon Perron firm.
Guests can enjoy cocktails and an extensive wine list, expertly curated by an in-house sommelier to complement the menu.
I found service at dinner to be attentive and knowledgeable and I had a really great time tasting Chef Florimond Hannoteau’s creations. Here’s a more detailed review of my dinner at Le Boulevardier, a place to eat in Downtown Montreal that I can highly recommend:
Seafood Appetizer
Forget French toast for breakfast, hello French toast for dinner!
As an appetizer, I opted for the French toast with lobster, snow crab and northern shrimp. I usually have trouble with temperature contrasts within the same dish, but this time I fell in love with the heat of the tender bread which complements the freshness and generosity of the seafood as well as the delicious, well-balanced creamy sauce.
And no, the seafood wasn’t drowned in it, yay! (which unfortunately happens too often with seafood, in my opinion).
Moving on to Classic Risotto with an Autumnal Flair
For the main course, I chose risotto with 4 pan-fried scallops, butternut and buttercup squash puree, Parmesan, guanciale, and squash espuma.
The various textures provided for great pleasure on my palate, just like my taste buds enjoyed the Fall-flavoured dish.
Although the dish was reasonably priced (41$) for the high quality of the ingredients, I found the portion to be a little small for the price if you were to only have a main course. However, paired with an appetizer, it was an OK size, quite representative of typical French cuisine portions.
A Sweet Finish at Le Germain Hotel’s Downtown French Restaurant
For dessert, the vanilla and caramel millefeuille with vanilla ice cream was a joy to delve into. Although a millefeuille can be quite rich, the chef’s take was interesting and much lighter than usual.
Crispy and airy, yet rich and sweet. The vanilla ice cream provided a refreshing cold touch. As well, pouring the caramel over the dish only once it was served to me at the table added to the visual experience. I can still feel the crispy sheets breaking as I bit down on them!
After a delicious Bachelder 2021 Chardonnay from the Niagara peninsula with dinner, Jordane Knab, Le Boulevardier’s sommelier, was proud to let me taste one of his finely selected, freshly released exclusive products, and for good reason!
He participated in the development of an amazing 2023 ice wine from the Domaine des Salamandres https://www.salamandres.ca/, a Quebec winery. He was right: its exotic fruit essences and sweet but not overpowering notes were amazing.
Just my kind of drink. Ice wine and ice cider are something you should try while in Quebec and this one will definitely satisfy connoisseurs and new recruits alike.
On a side note, I was extra proud to taste this, as it’s from Montérégie, the touristic region of Quebec I live in. From Hemmingford, to be precise. Check it out if you’re around there!
Breakfast at Le Boulevardier
What a different impression I got when I walked into the dining room under the light of day! Everything seems golden from the sunlight, but it’s just as inviting a decor as the night before.
There is a set menu with a variety of classic breakfast choices, like Montreal’s bagel, a healthy European-, continental- and American-inspired version as well as a few quicker viennoiseries options.
I went all out for the American breakfast, because you definitely can judge a place by its bacon (or at least I do lol)!
The first impression of my plate was great, with a generous portion of meats and a nice side plate of fruits and a pancake. However, I must admit it then fell flat and wasn’t up to the standards I’d expect for a luxury hotel on multiple levels. I’d therefore stick to dinner at Le Boulevardier, as it was 100% delicious!
Practical Info about Le Boulevardier Restaurant
- The kitchen is open for breakfast from 6.30 to 10 AM during the week and from 7.30 to 11 AM on weekends. For lunch, it’s from 11.45 to 2 PM on weekdays, and for supper from 5 to 10 PM every day.
- I was there on a Monday, and it was 3/4 full, which surprised me, so it’s always better to reserve a table if you can, especially on other nights.
- They offer an interesting 6-course tasting menu for $125 that can be paired with wine for every course for an extra $95.
- Why not combine this great meal with a stay at Hotel Le Germain? I did both and loved it. Read my review here!
If you’re looking for a refined dinner, Le Boulevardier is a delightful option for visitors while passing through Montreal’s downtown area! Hop in and see for yourself.
Let me know what you think in the comments below.
Read more about Montreal here:
- A Night at Le Germain Montreal: Staying and Eating Right Downtown
- Top 7 Montreal Landmarks You’ll Want to See
- Walking Tour: Old Montreal Self-Guided Itinerary: a Step Back in Time
- Best Places for Bowling in Montreal and Surroundings
- Top 5 Places to Enjoy the Montreal Fireworks Competition
- Graffiti in Montreal: Guide to the Best Street Art
Here are some other amazing tours in Montreal you may want to book!
- Try your hand at a bagel making workshop, an iconic Montreal institution!
- Vélo Festif MTL partying with friends (or new acquaintances) and biking collide.
- Combine bike and spa for sore joints with Fitz Tours.
- Spade & Palacio lead activities like Beyond the Bike Lanes, Beyond the Market, Beyond the Basilica, Mural Tours, and Beyond the Village.
- Secret Montreal offers hidden history tours of the Montreal red light district around what we now call the Quartier des Spectacles.
- Watch a Montreal Canadiens Ice Hockey Game Ticket at Bell Centre.
- Take a History Walking Tour of Old Montreal with Guidatour.
- Quartier des Spectacles offers a free walking tour around the Place des Festivals in the summer.
- Urban Marmotte and his owner Michel take you around the city for a Montreal by Night tour!
- Discover the RESO: Montreal’s Underground City + Downtown Tour.
- If you’re into architecture and quirky living spaces, Habitat 67 tours are for you!
- Indulge in some of the best bites in the city with Secret Food Tours.
- In the Shadow of the Mountain: Montreal Jewish History Walking Tour.
- The Montreal Street Art & Mural Tour with Fitz Montreal.
- Montreal’s Sin City Era & Golden Age Walking Tour by MTL Detours.
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