The Montreal Street Profiles series, considered by some/me to be the greatest set of blog posts ever written, has been busy. It’s covered Bleury, Parc and Maisonneuve, but then it got tired so it took a quick nap on a nearby park bench. But then it got right back up and strolled down Saint-Paul, Saint-Zotique and Crescent. It then decided to head a little west to explore Greene Avenue, in the heart of Westmount…

Though Westmount, home to most of Montreal’s wealthiest English residents, extends much further west and up towards the mountain, Greene Avenue is viewed by many as it “Main Street”. Running south from Sherbrooke down to Atwater, in a couple short blocks this upscale avenue, named in 1881 for the landowner G.A. Greene, manages to contain an incredible density of shops, restaurants and what is probably Montreal’s best English bookstore.

Nicolas Hoare: A quick story about Nicolas Hoare: my father, a professor and bookstore connoisseur, loves this place so much that when he comes to visit Montreal, our visits are planned around the hours he intends to spend there. Being my father’s son, I’m not insulted. It is a beautifully elegant yet unstuffy bookstore that is run by an incredibly knowledgeable staff and I leave there every time thinking that this what bookstores are supposed to be like.

Lululemon: This yoga attire store is a favourite of the area’s wealthy moms who want to wear the same leggings, often in the same size ( yoga keeps you fit), as their daughters.

Chez Nick’s: Nick’s has been a Westmount institution for over 90 years, serving breakfast and a lot of great sandwiches- including a Reuben that made our recent “Best in Montreal” list.

Bistro on the Avenue: Though people love Nick’s, the Bistro on the Avenue is an equally popular resto attraction. This French-leaning bistro is always packed for lunch, brunch and dinner. In the summer months, their outdoor seating is by far Greene’s most coveted.

Vago: Though the mood in the Bistro is often livelier, Vago has, in my stomach’s opinion, much better food. I’d venture to say that it’s one of the best places for Italian-American cuisine in the city.

Emma Boutique: I’ve never been anywhere close to going in here, but they appear to have nice clothes. I should add Georges Rech to that list as well.

Oink Oink: The perfect place to buy the most amazing presents for the wealthy child in your life. After Oink Oink, stop in and buy them some great and very probably expensive shoes.

Galerie D’Este: A great gallery that is home to a pretty impressive range of works from Canadian and international contemporary artists.

Antiquing: Greene Avenue is also home to some of the city’s most respected antiquities shops, like Lapidarius and Coach House Antiques.

Westmount Square: Though Greene extends further south, our tour today ends at Westmount Square, the mixed residential and shopping area that was famously designed by legendary architect Mies van der Rohe. Since I’ve only once been inside one of the residences (“apartment” would be an insult), if I’m here, I’m heading to the Tavern on the Square, which is a nice resto which functions basically as the epicentre of Westmount social life.

The post STREET PROFILE: GREENE AVENUE appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

When it comes to dining in an unfamiliar city, I always look for authentic epicurean experiences.

Get me out of the rat race of tourist restaurants and corporate chain eateries, and into a neighborhood bistro where I can actually observe (and participate in) the culture of the city. I want to eat where the locals are eating.

And you, my dear reader, probably share my affinity for local eating experiences.

The Claremont Café had been on my list of renowned neighborhood restos to sample for over a year. So I finally gathered my crew, co-bloggers @TamyEmmaPepin and @FreeMurphy, and we headed over to the neighborhood of Westmount to install ourselves on the patio for wine, appetizers and social media gossip. I quickly realized that my procrastination in visiting this bistro had been a foolish mistake.

As we chatted, we dined on the specials of the day – starting with seared tuna coated (appropriately) in Montreal steak spice, with Quebec asparagus and a poached egg. Next up was a chunky clam chowder with Genoa salami served in large cherrystone clamshells. And then onto a black truffle mac & cheese with a garlic crouton crust, essentially reducing any other form of mac & cheese to a whimpering shame.  The entrées were well matched with a crisp pinot grigio.

What had taken me so long to get there?

The café, in its current form, begun 7 years ago when Aaron Fraser and three of his friends rescued the restaurant from a state of menu-mediocrity and less-than-hospitable-service. Since then, with new décor and developing a friendly and knowledgeable staff, the place has taken a 180-degree turn. Any regular will attest to this metamorphosis.

I chatted with Aaron about the food, and where The Claremont Café exists in the wide spectrum of Montreal culinary options.

“We serve all kinds of food – sometimes the Chef jokes that we are “going to Tunisia tonight” as he creates his specials.  We need to serve certain staple items that the clientele expect, but our featured items are where the guys in the kitchen get to play.  Our specials are up there with any restaurant in the city and we are right here, in Westmount.”

And I get the sense that The Claremont Café holds a firm place in the hearts of those Westmount folks that frequent the bistro. As I was leaving, I ran into a friend of mine who lives in the neighborhood, and he said, “Be kind in your review of my favorite Montreal restaurant.”

Little does he know that, when I get to have authentic epicurean experiences, I’m always kind.

Go check it out.

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THE DETAILS

The Claremont Café
http://claremontcafe.ca
5032 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal
Phone: 514.483.1557
Email: claremont@claremontcafe.ca

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The post YOUR WESTMOUNT BISTRO: THE CLAREMONT CAFÉ appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.