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OT: Vacations and Travel Thread

worm said:
Joe Beef is booked for the first half of my trip and closed for the second half.
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What I enjoy, even more than Joe Beef is one of their sister restaurants next door -- Vin Papillon.

Incredible unique food, prepared by the same Joe Beef Chef at half the price. Plus one of the most forward thinking wine lists on the continent.

The best part -- there are no resos! The place is open from 3PM from Tues-Sat. I usually head there around 4:30/5 and snag a table in their backyard patio. I start drinking some wine (the staff is very knowledgeable) and order small plates until I'm full. Their smoked carrot brisket sandwich and their homemade sliced ham are ridiculous.

https://canadas100best.com/no-5-le-vin-papillon/

As for other places, the Eater list is a pretty good recent overview. I'm not sure what hood you are staying in but I always recommend Mile End area. I like to be very close to Larrys so I can enjoy their excellent coffee/breakfast items when I wake up...and their midnight spaghetti


https://montreal.eater.com/maps/38-best-restaurants-in-montreal
 
xposbrad said:
aventura, my brother is in SI so I need to be in that area. Need to find an airbnb or something to stay.
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Cheesecake factory isn't on my preferred list of restaurants. Never found it that great.

I think that they have call ahead.
 
So I have a bunch of questions.... as I prep for montreal trip

A few questions around language....
I am assuming I can mostly get by in english?
Should I attempt my really bad french skillz ?


For places to eat...
https://pizzeriamoretti.com/ that place? - the reviews are pretty bad - so not sure if that was a joke or not

vin papillon - i would prefer being able to make reservations but if i go on say a wednesday at 4:30/5 would i be able to get in? hit or miss?

i am looking for 3 nicer places - so i think i will try moishes, vin papillion and one other - unless i am told otherwise

what about late night grub?

what about a cool pub/bar?


so we are going to osheaga but are in town from tuesday evening to tuesday morning (july 30th to august 6th)
what else do i need to do there?
- is that py1 thing any good?
- just walk around old montreal?
- is the forum still standing? does it look completely different?
 
worm said:
vin papillon - i would prefer being able to make reservations but if i go on say a wednesday at 4:30/5 would i be able to get in? hit or miss?
Click to expand...


I think you'll have no problem on a Wednesday 4:30

As for other spots, where you staying?

For me L'express is a don't miss. Classic Mtl Bistro. Chefs love it. Part of the appeal is that the kitchen is open very late, so you can get a proper steak frites at 1AM. Also free pickles.

http://restaurantlexpress.com/en/

PS: 90% of downtown restaurants and shops will serve you in English.
 
Anyone been to Sardinia before? Heading out with family in mid Aug, will be in the south (Cagliari outskirts)
 
Bolivia is pretty interesting.
Iguazu Falls is awesome.
I had all of Christ the Redeemer to myself when I was in Rio.
Christ the Redeemer (55).jpg
 
CH1 said:
What I enjoy, even more than Joe Beef is one of their sister restaurants next door -- Vin Papillon.

Incredible unique food, prepared by the same Joe Beef Chef at half the price. Plus one of the most forward thinking wine lists on the continent.

The best part -- there are no resos! The place is open from 3PM from Tues-Sat. I usually head there around 4:30/5 and snag a table in their backyard patio. I start drinking some wine (the staff is very knowledgeable) and order small plates until I'm full. Their smoked carrot brisket sandwich and their homemade sliced ham are ridiculous.

https://canadas100best.com/no-5-le-vin-papillon/

As for other places, the Eater list is a pretty good recent overview. I'm not sure what hood you are staying in but I always recommend Mile End area. I like to be very close to Larrys so I can enjoy their excellent coffee/breakfast items when I wake up...and their midnight spaghetti


https://montreal.eater.com/maps/38-best-restaurants-in-montreal
Click to expand...
This still the place to go?

And wife wants bagels....where to go?

We are staying a 10 min walk north of bell centre
 
worm said:
This still the place to go?

And wife wants bagels....where to go?

We are staying a 10 min walk north of bell centre
Click to expand...

A blast from the archives....my original post was pre-covid, so here's an update.

Vin Papillion is still solid -- worth it if the weather is backyard patio friendly but that Joe Beef team lost some of their top young chef talent as UFAs

one kid started Mon Lapin (ranked #1 CDN restaurant two of the last three years). I've always had a great meal there but now it's a tough reso and $$$...another chef started Beba, also amazing but all the way out in Verdun, so only went their once.

Mon Lapin is in little Italy which is great for all types of food. Pumpui is a really good Thai place, but it's more of takeout/no frills joint but they have a sit down/wine bar location not too far away called Pichai It's Thai food on a more authentic level.

As for bagels...I prefer St Viateur but you can't go wrong with Fairmount. Lucky for you, two St Viateur Bagel shops and Fairmount are all located within a 5 min walk of each other in Mile End, so your wife can try 'em all!!! Nothing hits like a bagel right out of a wood burning oven! (may not be the best way, but it's different)

If I had to pick one hood to explore it would be Mile End...lots of good coffee shops/bookstores/ etc and I would hit Larrys/Lawrence...great for brunch, lunch, dinner.

If you need a place close to the Bell Centre, Nora Gray is chef focused, relaxed, high end Italian place that's an 8 min stroll away.


I just looked at the Canada's top 100 restaurant list just to see...(I hadn't looked at the 2025 list before)

The list is just a talking point tbh, but I was glad to see Pichai recognized at 25, because it offers unique food at a reasonable price.

https://canadas100best.com/

Mon Lapin #2
Beba #7
Pichai #25
Nora Gray #90
Vin Papillion and Lawrence fell out of the 100
 
CH1 said:
How was it?
Click to expand...
Sensational - been to Corsica a few times, was expecting similar. If you draw a line cutting the middle of the island, one portion is sea/ beach vs mountains.

I was expecting the same of Sardinia… nope. Caribbean turquoise water ve Med blue, fantastic beaches - must see:

- Costa Smeralda - Porto Cervo, Liscia Ruja, and the Maddalena Archipelago

- Alghero (Catalan influence / heritage), & beaches galore towards Stantino

- Cagliari the capital is heavily Roman influenced

We didn’t make it to the mountains in Ogliastra but apparently breathtaking - was advised by a Sardinian friend the Ndrangheta have gobbled up quite a bit of the terrain, very similar landscape to Aspromonte region.

Rented a car and drove everywhere - no issues.

Waiting to hit Calabria within a couple of yrs before it becomes unaffordable.
 
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CH1 said:
A blast from the archives....my original post was pre-covid, so here's an update.

Vin Papillion is still solid -- worth it if the weather is backyard patio friendly but that Joe Beef team lost some of their top young chef talent as UFAs

one kid started Mon Lapin (ranked #1 CDN restaurant two of the last three years). I've always had a great meal there but now it's a tough reso and $$$...another chef started Beba, also amazing but all the way out in Verdun, so only went their once.

Mon Lapin is in little Italy which is great for all types of food. Pumpui is a really good Thai place, but it's more of takeout/no frills joint but they have a sit down/wine bar location not too far away called Pichai It's Thai food on a more authentic level.

As for bagels...I prefer St Viateur but you can't go wrong with Fairmount. Lucky for you, two St Viateur Bagel shops and Fairmount are all located within a 5 min walk of each other in Mile End, so your wife can try 'em all!!! Nothing hits like a bagel right out of a wood burning oven! (may not be the best way, but it's different)

If I had to pick one hood to explore it would be Mile End...lots of good coffee shops/bookstores/ etc and I would hit Larrys/Lawrence...great for brunch, lunch, dinner.

If you need a place close to the Bell Centre, Nora Gray is chef focused, relaxed, high end Italian place that's an 8 min stroll away.


I just looked at the Canada's top 100 restaurant list just to see...(I hadn't looked at the 2025 list before)

The list is just a talking point tbh, but I was glad to see Pichai recognized at 25, because it offers unique food at a reasonable price.

https://canadas100best.com/

Mon Lapin #2
Beba #7
Pichai #25
Nora Gray #90
Vin Papillion and Lawrence fell out of the 100
Click to expand...
Ya. Had not realized it's been so long. Thanks for all this.

Booked for Joe Beef. It's not far from hotel and still 46th on that list.

Tried booking Mon Lapin but I'll probably check back to see if anyone cancels as it's fully booked.

Looks like lots of top places by there and will check out the mile End area as well.

Where should I go celebrate the Habs win?
(considering we are in our 40s now lol)
 
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