Sitting down with friends we started by having a look at the menu, printed on a modest sheet of brown paper, and written down on a blackboard. The menu consists of simple French classics for prices so low you won’t believe your eyes. The card starts with five different first courses ($5) including pot de foie gras, melted goat cheese on mesclun and smoked duck on salad with Quebec blueberry dressing. I do not recommend the mushroom feuilleté, it is relatively small and tasteless compared to the other choices.

A variety of salads can be ordered as a first or main course. ($5 or $9) As for the principal dish, I ordered a filet mignon AAA with gratin d’auphinois and crystallized tomatoes for only $14.00, while my guests opted for Cod Brandade, a tasty dish consisting of mashed potatoes and frayed cod, clocking in at $11. The Coq au vin on the menu, is a top choice rooster and has been marinated in red wine for several hours.

Every night, for a reasonable 26 dollars, Mr. Philippe chooses three to five different bottles of wine that he personally suggests at each table. And what’s better than a nice selection of cheeses from the region to accommodate your wine for only 4$ each? Personally, I always preferred the sweet part and for $4 that night, we had the choice of espresso crème brulé, chocolate truffle, pear and cassis soup or apple pie, all homemade. The menu changes every two weeks and is inspired by the season. With winter coming, Mr. Philippe told me that soon it would be comforting hot meals taking over the menu.

Let me tell you that we experienced a superb meal, fitting in a fantastic tiny budget. The crowd seemed a bit older than we expected, but as the night when by, we realized that it was only a question of timing. In the end, Bistro Justine showed me wrong; this French bistro can’t be cursed, even if the building was. In fact, maybe the curse has been inverted, and now instead of always being empty, Justine finds herself constantly filled with satisfied Montrealers. - M.O.