La Société Bistro: Montréal

Before we even stepped foot into La Société Bistro we could hear manager Eric Roubi’s contagious and inviting laugh – what an incredible way to remember an experience, no?! And as we wandered in from the lobby at Loews Hôtel Vogue, we spotted him hopping from table to table checking in on guests. It was immediately apparent that he had a flare for hospitality (something I later learned he honed in his native France). Together with his talented chef, Sean Reeve, he delivered great service and plate after plate of delicious goodness…

We kicked off our meal with some refreshing cocktails: the Rosemopolitan (vodka, white cranberry juice, lemon and rose water) and Pastaga (Ricard pastis, lime, St. Germain, cranberry juice and rhubarb bitters).

I asked Eric to bring us his favourite item from their seafood bar. And after tasting the shrimp cocktail I could see why he chose the dish; served at the perfect temperature, the jumbo shrimp were plump and mild.

Following the appetizing start to our meal, we were looking to ease into dinner with something warm and comforting. I ordered the onion soup (it’s a hard one to resist when you’re dining at a french bistro). The soup was full-bodied and topped with a golden aged gruyere.

My photographer opted for the carrot and lentil soup which was also delicious. And beautiful…

Having devoured countless Waldorf salads around the globe, I was excited to see it on the menu and decided to give it a shot. Although the dish was stunning, the vinaigrette was too rich and overpowering for my palate.

But what came next made up for it! The short ribs were absolute perfection. The soubise was rich and creamy, the meat was incredibly moist and the gremolata really livened up the dish. I highly recommend this hearty meal.

My photographer’s sweet potato gnocchi was also a standout. The brown butter, sage, kale and house-made ricotta came together well in this dish. And the gnocchi? Heavenly pillows that melted in our mouths.

And last, but certainly not least, Eric and Sean had a little surprise in store for us: the Willy Wonka platter. OMG. The board was a feast for the eyes and had everything from macarons to sorbets and truffles. We felt like we were five again and didn’t even know where to start…

Having dined at both the Toronto and Montréal branches of La Société, I do have to say the Montréal restaurant stood out just a tad more in my books. Why? The service was exceptional. Eric and his team did an incredible job guiding us through the menu and did everything in their power to make us feel welcome. We can’t wait to go back!

Special thanks to La Société for hosting us. As always, all reviews and opinions are entirely our own.