Tag: bar review

Tucked between a frozen yogurt shop and a driving school on Mount Royal Avenue in the heart of the Plateau area sits Bily Kun. No, this is not the name of an exotic European city, but the name of one of Montreal’s best taverns.

Walking in you are enveloped by the warmth of the bar: the space is dimly lit by individual table candles and sparse lamps hanging from the noticeably high ceilings. Often described as ‘tavern-chic’, the decor is simple yet swanky; brick walls painted white with wood paneling, artwork that was more or less limited to a large painting of a willow tree and several mounted ostrich heads scattered about the walls.

After inevitably losing a staring contest to one of the birds, I realized that each had a distinguishing quirk: some wore hats, but all had names. I took my seat below Charles, a dapper little bird unfortunately losing the feathers on the crown of his head.

“So, why the ostrich heads?” I asked my waitress.

“Well, Bily Kun is kind of hard to pronounce, so the decorator wanted to add something that would make people talk about the bar and remember the place,” she said.

Fair enough.

Adding to the tavern’s atmosphere was the live music. On this particular Tuesday night jazz collective Trio Jerôme Beaulieu acted as a duo, playing the cello and the piano from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m..

When the jazz players ended their set for the evening, an eclectic playlist ranging from  alternative indie to instrumental hip hop took their place. The music was chilled out, keeping in tune with the bar’s poised, yet laid-back ambiance and catering to the nearly full crowd of 20 somethings to early 30 somethings.

While physical menus were available, I was overwhelmed by the dozens of different beer, cocktail and wine options listed, so I scanned the chalkboard menus above the bar instead, hoping the house specialties would narrow my option pool. Realizing I recognized the names of about five per cent of the drinks on the menu, I figured I should just ask my waitress what she recommended.

Drinks ranged anywhere from seven dollars to $14 depending, with cocktails at the steeper end.

At a 70 per cent alcohol level, Absinthe was the first on the list of specialty drinks. Although coming highly recommended for being surprisingly “not as strong-tasting as you’d think,” I decided I wasn’t feeling very adventurous and opted for a Czechvar beer, the recommended house beer. Czechvar is a blonde, hoppy lager with a smooth yet slightly bitter taste.

According to the waitress, Bily Kun is the largest carrier of Czechvar beer in Canada. Apparently Czech beer is extremely hard to import, which is why the majority of the beer listed on the menu are from different breweries around Quebec, like the St-Ambroise Apricot.

Food is also offered on the menu, but instead of your regular old french fries and onion rings, Bily Kun offers things like hummus and pita combinations and beef (or vegetarian) empanadas. Overwhelmed by options once again, I froze, fumbled and ultimately ordered nachos; I should definitely never be shown more than two options for anything.

Despite this unoriginal decision, I figured you could never really go wrong with beer and nachos, especially when it’s imported Czech beer and nachos with homemade salsa.

With cinq à sept far behind us, an electronic musician was gearing up for his set, as is the case most week nights after 10 p.m. Two Czechvars later, I was feeling full and deeply satisfied and called it a night. Nodding goodbye to Charles the ostrich, I made my way to St-Denis Street and into the early springtime chill.

Urban bar SuWu is an idyllic hipster hideaway, one that is bringing the concept of “soul food” back to the St. Laurent strip.

Flanked on both sides by glitzy, high-profile bars and nightclubs that are signature to The Main, SuWu is almost imperceptible to pedestrians.

Its interior, while significantly more relaxed than its bass-pumping counterparts, is no less remarkable. Mason jar lights hang from the ceiling, repurposed barn wood and shelves of flea market antiques line the walls, and the bar even boasts the head of a carousel horse. The eye doesn’t know where to settle since every glance reveals something new. When the place is in full-swing, the stereo pumps out mellow hip-hop beats into the warmly-lit venue, giving it a Brooklyn feel in a central 514 location.

The love child of young entrepreneurs, it boasts a painstakingly compiled menu and wine list. SuWu’s plates are served up tapas-style: small servings at reasonable prices, so that groups of friends can sample many of the decadent offerings at once. Some all-stars include their truffle oil popcorn, buttermilk fried chicken (interestingly served with french toast and blueberry coulis) salmon tartare, and mini lobster rolls. Their main draw, however, is the grilled mac ‘n’ cheese.

The idea sounds completely gluttonous and “all American,” but no words can really capture how savoury their creamy, herbed mac ‘n’ cheese is when grilled between two buttery slices of country bread and served with a spicy marinara sauce for dipping. The idea is not new, but it is a risky dish that Montrealers haven’t quite seen since the creation of poutine.

With chefs constantly experimenting behind the scenes, the menu changes from time to time, but the new additions are always exciting. Paired with a “signature” drink like the “Big Booty Ho” — a mixture of pineapple juice and banana liqueur — or a draft beer, the selection is always satisfying, and never overwhelming.

SuWu is also open for brunch on the weekends, and offers mimosas as a side.

The overall atmosphere is welcoming and laid back. The emphasis on quality food and quality service is refreshing in a neighbourhood of “bottle service only” and music so loud that conversation becomes obsolete. At SuWu, it feels as though you are in a place that’s been standing since the turn of the century, among the oldest of friends.

Which is a resoundingly good feeling, since friends will not judge you for ordering seconds. Bar is located at 3581 St. Laurent, corner Prince Arthur.

Looking to escape off campus for a while for some food, live music, beer, tea, chess and possibly a nap? There’s only one place in Montreal that can fulfill this impossible combination, and that’s L’Escalier.

Named for its characteristic hidden staircase smack in the middle of the Presse International building, L’Escalier can be easy to miss. Those who manage to find its seemingly mythical entrance will be transported into an equally magical cultural corner of Montreal.

Inside is a sprawl of different rooms. To the right is a café area where eclectic tables and chairs are set under dim, low-hanging lights in front of a stage that is rarely empty during the day. Their website has a schedule of the musicians (or slam poets) who will be performing. To the left is a shamble of well-loved couches and long dining tables, which are good for large groups. Beyond that is a room with

second-hand games, books on a take-one-leave-one basis, hanging ivy and high-backed chairs. By far the best room, though also the most difficult to snag, would be dead centre at the far back, which is strewn with pillows, and wherein shoes are optional.

Orders are made at the bar, which is conveniently at the entrance, and the always-smiling staff will bring your food or drinks to wherever you settle. It’s cash only though and there is no ATM, so take out some green beforehand.

Everything is vegetarian, but do not fret just yet carnivores! L’Escalier does not need meat to satisfy. Prices are very fair for what you get. The sandwich and soup or salad combo is highly recommended, which comes to just under $9, $8 if you show your student card.

There are inventive varieties that range from pesto-feta to veggie pâté, but the best are arguably the goat cheese and apple cheddar. Each has an excellent balance between sweet and salty, and the freshness of cucumber, tomato and alfalfa nicely accompanies the stronger tastes of the cheeses.

It is served on multigrain bread with a tuft of alfalfa, some slices of vegetables drizzled with sticky balsamic vinegar and a choice of soup or salad.

For those looking for a snack there are plenty of options like nachos, salads, samosas, hummus and even some gourmet pizzas for the more hungry. These range between $2.50 and $9, which makes them perfect to share between a couple of friends.

In terms of drinks there is coffee, tea, cocktails, beer, wine and occasionally an interesting homemade juice blend, all ranging between $1.75 to $23.50.

What makes this place special though is the atmosphere itself. There are always travelers and interesting characters waiting to be encountered.

L’Escalier is located on 552 Ste-Catherine St.

Strolling along St-Denis St., you begin to hear a whisper of tenor saxophone, gently guiding you down a narrow set of steps. As you pass through the door, you’re immediately engulfed by the rich tunes of Diese Onze, a cozy basement jazz club that is part bar, part French restaurant.

Intimate dining tables are nestled around a small stage, so close that the diners feel almost on-stage with the players as they sway with the rhythm. The best view, however, is at the bar, which is directly in front of the stage. At the far end of the club, diners are provided with a flat screen feed from the stage, ensuring that no one misses the show.

The food offered at Diese Onze is deliciously exquisite, and the menu is changed regularly. The friendly waitress is always ready to give recommendations and wine suggestions. Main courses are between $15 and $22 and include dishes such as the jarret d’agneau and morue à la provençale, and an interesting variety of tapas such as the salmon tartare, and a sumptuous foie gras, ranging from $7 to $12. This is certainly not a restaurant for students on a budget, and the delicate serving sizes, while beautifully presented, might leave you hungry by the end of the night. However, fans of fine dining will appreciate the rich flavours and skillful execution of these dishes. I recommend ordering one or two tapas to share for a sophisticated yet affordable date night, or simply skip the food, and enjoy a pint at the bar for $7.

The main attraction, of course, is the live music. Each night, Diese Onze features two bands, the first playing at 6 p.m., and the second at 8:30 p.m.. Their calendar changes regularly, providing a variety of jazz styles throughout the week. Conveniently, you can read a detailed schedule on their website.

The earlier bands are usually lively swing players with a bit of funk in their rhythm. You’ll definitely be bobbing in your seat. By the end of the evening, the music mellows out to a much smoother and mature, sensual sound. This is when the club gets really crowded, and conversation is drowned out by the music. Service also becomes much slower as the wait staff struggles to serve all of the clients. Evening shows incur an $8 cover charge, which isn’t ideal for students. The earlier show is recommended as there is no cover charge, not to mention the music is a lot more fun and the atmosphere is more casual.

“I liked the first band better,” said Kara Crabb, a creative writing student at Concordia University. “The second one was kind of flat. It sounds like hotel lobby music to me.”

Diese Onze is a sharp and intimate jazz club. A place to appreciate the music, and if you can afford it, the food. It’s the perfect setting for a fancy date or anniversary night. It may hurt your wallet, but the experience is worth it!

Diese Onze is located on 4115 St-Denis St.

La Distillerie, with its dark, intimate atmosphere and seemingly endless list of cocktails served up in mason jars, is every bit as unpretentious as it is trendy.

Of the three locations, I opted to quench my thirst at the original one.  With a capacity of approximately 56 people the vibe was cozy yet cool, with a spattering of tall wooden bars and low round tables to congregate at. The bar glittered with bottles of every type of alcohol conceivable and blackboards on each wall offered suggested drinks.

In the corner near the door, one of these such blackboards had Distillerie’s golden rules, from encouraging patrons to pose questions to the barman to discouraging hopeful underage drinkers (but kindly inviting them back to celebrate their 18th birthday.)

Known for its original drinks, the Distillerie menu features everything from your classic mojito, to their twist on a tequila sunrise renamed as the Yariba Yariba, to the old fashioned affectionately dubbed, the Mad Man. The bartenders, or mixologists, can fix you up pretty much anything your heart desires, if somehow you can’t find something to your taste on their extensive menu.

My heart was won, however, when several seconds after taking my seat the server set down a mason jar filled with goldfish crackers in front of me and kept them coming all night.

Distillerie publishes its own magazine, L’Alambic, featuring seasonal specialty drinks as well as their standard cocktail menu. Each season, L’Alambic focuses around a theme, and for this fall it’s burlesque. The stars of the show were concoctions based on Chartreuse, Amarula and whiskey.

I decided to sample the seasonal Winter High Heels, made with Chartreuse, vodka, mint leaves, cranberry juice and apple cider. It was a perfect blend of herbal and sweet, and maybe went down a little too smoothly. For Distillerie’s mixologists bartending is a craft, and they don’t hold back on filling those mason jars with hefty doses of booze.

The service was attentive and it didn’t take long for our drinks to appear after ordering. With that being said, trying to flag down the server for our bill proved to be a little more difficult.

Even at 5 p.m. on a weekday, the place was pleasantly crowded with fellow student-types reaping the benefits of happy hour. Every evening from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Distillerie gives its patrons one more reason to slurp back a few of their cocktails: the larger 14oz mason jars are $3 cheaper. Normally the large size jars range from $17 to $19, while the smaller versions are between $8.50 and $10.

Bar-goers gave off an easy-going vibe, with small groups immersed in conversation throughout the modestly sized room. The music, an eclectic mix of early 2000s pop, was just loud enough to drown out the voices of those around you, but not too loud as to inhibit conversation around one’s own table.

The sartorial favorite of Distillerie’s patrons seemed to be plaid shirts and jeans, with the occasional appearance of ripped tights or a floral dress. It’s definitely a casual place, so if you’re looking to get dolled up and wear your most back-breaking heels, go elsewhere. However the atmosphere oozes trendiness, making it a haven for hip twenty-somethings.

La Distillerie is located on 300 Ontario St. E., 2047 Mont-Royal Ave., and 2656 Masson St.

If you love to karaoke your heart out but haven’t consumed enough alcohol to keep your knees from knocking on stage, have no fear! CEO KTV Lounge offers a fine selection of private party rooms for groups of any size.

Located in one of the more well-hidden nooks of Chinatown, CEO is below the famous Ruby Rouge restaurant, in a basement veritably riddled with karaoke caves. It might be easy to miss, but if you’re in the know of where to look, then you’re in for a treat.

Descending into the open lounge, a fine selection of liquor catches the eye, as do the multiple wall-sized projections of karaoke videos to get newcomers in the singing mood. The couches are arranged in a square, intimate and comfortable, and are excellent for those who just want to drop in spontaneously when out with a couple of friends.

Where CEO KTV really hits their stride, however, is with their private rooms. While the small ones are cozy and can squeeze in six to ten people, the largest can easily accommodate more than thirty, if not forty.

After talking to the staff about what makes a night here particularly memorable, they answered that hands down, it’s the friendly atmosphere.

“Customers always come here and feel they know the rest of the rooms by the night,” said one employee with enthusiasm, explaining how the parties seem to always end up merging together. So for those who are social butterflies, this is the place to meet strangers and enjoy a quality glass of wine, whisky, or sake!

Except for soft drinks and beer, which are fairly standard prices, drinks are sold by the bottle. Wine ranges from $45 to $65, while hard liquor can range between $120 to $180. Renting rooms goes according to how much the final tab comes to. The small rooms are free if over $100 is spent on alcohol. The bigger rooms can go as high as $500. Although, keep in mind this is the total cost divided among possibly over thirty people.

Hope is not lost though. Students get a happy hour discount between 6 p.m. and midnight on weekdays and 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. on weekends, which is the very decent cover charge of $10 including a drink. The staff advises big groups to make reservations on weekends, but welcomes spur-of-the-moment drop-ins during the week.

The kitchen offers a very basic selection of instant noodles, pork dumplings, dried squid, and chips. It’s recommended to eat beforehand, particularly if over $100 will be spent on drinks that night. With that said, Chinatown is literally on the doorstep, so it’s easy to run out for a midnight snack.

The song listings themselves are displayed on impressively new touch screen computers and are easiest to search through by artists. There are selections in English, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Vietnamese.

Check out their Halloween spirit this week for their seasonal decorations and costumes!

CEO KTV Lounge is located on 1008 Clark St.

Pang Pang is two steps away from campus, making it convenient for after-class meetups. It may look small from the outside, but inside you’ll find it new and beautifully furnished, and who can ignore the immense mural in the entranceway? I’m talking golden Grecians frolicking. Once you’ve felt the touch of Bacchus, you’ll gleefully join the chorus.

Pang Pang has an impressive number of private booths available, from a cozy smaller rooms to spaces large enough to accommodate up to 22 people. Each room has its own flat-screen television, leather couches or benches, and in the larger rooms, your own coin-operated peanut dispenser. No matter what size, the rooms are comfortable enough you could easily kick back for a few hours.

“I like it because it’s intimate,” says Rosi Lutchman, a third year John Molson School of Business student and frequent Pang Pang customer. Lutchman says she likes “being in a room with friends as opposed to singing in front of a crowd full of strangers.”

Once seated, you never need to leave the room. if you want to place an order, simply press the button on the wall and a waitress will come to you. However, if you’re shy of the mic, I highly recommend a stroll down the hallway. The drunken howling of other guests will always cheer you up!

Drinks are nothing fancy, but reasonably priced at $4 to $6 for beer, $4.50 a shot, and $6.50 for mixed drinks. There are two types of rental rates, room rates and Happy Hour. The cheapest rate depends on how many people you are and the time of day. Small rooms of one to four people are rented for $25 and hour, large rooms of five to 12 people go for $30 an hour, and V.I.P. rooms of 13 to 22 people are $50 an hour. Fridays and Saturdays are $15 an hour per person.

The karaoke system can be somewhat difficult because the controller’s keys are all in Korean, but with help from the staff, you’ll get the hang of it. Most impressive was the range of songs available, with 25,000 to choose from in English alone. It isn’t all Queen and Shania Twain either. Songs are as new as PSY’s “Gangnam Style”. Although reading the lyrics is another story. Add to that a plethora of Japanese, Korean, and Chinese songs, and you’re set.

Snack offerings include chips, nachos, and fried dumplings, but with the amount of restaurants on campus, it’s more satisfying to eat elsewhere. That being said, Pang Pang is cozy, clean, and conveniently placed. Whether it’s a casual get-together or a birthday event, you’ll have a good time!

Pang Pang is located on 1226 MacKay St.