egardless of whether you think Connery, Moore, Brosnan, or Craig made the best 007, one thing you and your friends will be able to agree upon is that Bond Lounge & Grill is a sexy addition to the Mile End restaurant scene. More affordable and comfortable (read: less exclusive) than the fancy restaurants that line Laurier or the Outremont stretch of Bernard, owners Philippe Van Cleemput and Georges Koumbarako aims to make the James Bond lifestyle accessible to everyone in a sophisticated setting.

An outdoor terrasse will be open for dining in the summer months and enclosed and heated for smokers during the winter. Inside, the decor evokes a certain From Russia, With Love feel, what with the heavy red drapes evocative of a Red country. Recessed lighting set into an ornate, cast concrete wall feature running continuously at eye level looks futuristic, while the lovingly restored pressed tin ceiling speaks volumes about the history of the building housing the restaurant. A generous amount of booth space will prevent you and your friends from arguing over who gets to sit "on the inside!", while early birds can claim a spot on the crescent-shaped crushed red velvet sofa that looks like something out of a 70's porno flick. And I already asked: No need to order bottle service to sit down. It's not that kind of place, even though it looks like it should be.

The cocktails are straight out of a Bond film. The Dr. No is a refreshing cucumber cocktail, while the Octopussy is made with raspberry vodka, real raspberries, and sugar cane. The drinks are so good that you'll want to chug them down like juice, so you'll have to remember to pace yourself. Gratefully, Bond is affiliated with local chauffeur service Tolérance Zéro, so patrons who are not sober enough to drive themselves home can have the restaurant call the company, who will send two drivers over: one to drive the patron home and the other to drive the patron's car home.

The kitchen is open during the entire opening stretch, so if you suddenly find yourself craving some mini golf burgers with your cocktail at 2:30 in the morning, no need to worry. The menu is heavy on tapas, featuring numerous tasty nibblies that won't break the bank. Order the saganaki flambé just to watch your server douse the cheese in Ouzo and light it on fire before serving it to you with some lightly toasted baguette. It's melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Other good bets include the salade de chèvre chaud and the bowl of french fries with house mayo on the side.

Even with only four main dishes to choose from, you're still guaranteed to find something you like on the menu, as you can choose from the chicken, the beef, the fish, or the salad. My grilled salmon came drizzled in a light, citrusy sauce and served on a bed of rice, with flavourful grilled vegetables on the side that still maintained their crunchiness. My dining companion's chicken was blackened to perfection, Portuguese-style, and served with a side salad that was more than just mixed greens, splashed with Bond's sweet house vinaigrette. If you're lucky enough to dine there on a night when the crème brulée is the dessert of the day, I implore you to indulge. Made using real vanilla beans, it is sinfully delicious and worth every calorie.