Buvette Chez Simone, Montreal

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MBO Montreal :: Montreal Restaurants & Dining Guide
  • Buvette Chez Simone, Montreal

    Phil Brown | Last Updated: May 29,2009 4:47:42 pm
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    You have to love a good wine bar. These distinctive little spots manage to offer the perfect opportunity to get trashed with a group of friends while still feeling, to a certain degree, classy and refined. Opened by a ragtag cabal of five wine-obsessed buddies (including Michel Bergeron of Bergerons Les Vins, and Fabien Lacaille from Bily Kun), Buvette Chez Simone has quickly become the go-to spot for in-the-know Montreal wine-lovers.

    It's a simple, small, tastefully decorated and easy-to-miss spot on Parc Avenue. In other words, it's well-suited to languidly lounging with a group of friends quietly pounding back bottle after bottle and enjoying some of the signature treats from the kitchen. The front terrasse is the prime scene-watching area, save for the hard wooden benches (pillows, please… anything).

    When it comes to food, Simone (I love that name) has a roster of worthy options. Though the fare is there to compliment the wine (like Scott Mosier to Kevin Smith), it's not an afterthought. The most obvious and commonly ordered choices include small plates of smoked calamari, cheeses, and salad dishes. Served in half portions, they up the sharing ante (just wash your hands first).

    If you're hungrier than that, go with a more substantial main – but there's not many. The oven-roasted chicken is probably the largest item on the small menu, served with lemon and herb marinade with roasted vegetables. Similarly, if you want to wrap your lips around a big sausage, there's a selection of cured meats, like rosette de Lyon, chorizo Portugais, and figatelli.

    Still fairly low-key, Buvette Chez Simone has a serendipitous allure. However, the masses continue to mount, so go before it takes off. Grab a few good conversationalists and a couple of good bottles and watch how quickly your night floats by.—PB

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    AT A GLANCE
    Buvette Chez Simone
    4869 Park Ave, Montreal, QC, Canada
    514-750-6577
    Wine And Cheese
    Mile End
    Venue:
    Restaurant, Wine Bar
    Hours:
    Tue-Sun: 4:00pm-3:00am
    Closed Mondays
    Price Range:
    $$ (Affordable)
    Payment:
    Master Card, Visa, American Express
    THE BUZZ

    IN THE AREA
    BU

    10 Reader Reviews

    It's late and you're hungry so where to go? Buvette Chez Simone of course. I've been coming here longer than I want to admit... but good service and food is consistent.

    1. Anne-Marie Garrison's Review :: March 05, 2010
    Anne-Marie Garrison's Rating: 3 Stars
    food is good, crowd is nice but staff is less than average, a little attitude, no smiles and always look overwhelmed even when it's not very busy. Expect to wait 10 minutes for a glass of wine at the bar.

    a bunch of them were at the Petit Italien on Bernard in Outremont before, i guess that's where they learned to have this snobish attitude

    2. Rick 's Review :: February 11, 2010
    Rick 's Rating: 3 Stars
    The two bites of food that I has (and the gallon of wine I had) were quite tasty, and the bathroom was clean. There was some basketball team at the bar and people kept getting really excited about it, and it was generally just noisy, inebriated fun. I have no idea how much I drank, but I threw up A LOT. Good times!

    3. Francine Corda's Review :: December 24, 2009
    Francine Corda's Rating: 3 Stars
    The food was great and the service was excellent, very friendly and attentive staff

    4. Gary Jenkins's Review :: October 14, 2009
    Gary Jenkins's Rating: 3 Stars
    The idea is great, its well crowded, the place is trendy. But I found the Carte des Vins quite minimalist for a wine bar, around 20 reds and 15 whites. All wines between 2 and 3 years old max. Exception made for a 1978 (!) of something. You will not find a mature Bordeaux. Somes restaurants in Montréal have a better choice of wine. But it’s worth a try.

    5. Etienno's Review :: January 03, 2009
    Etienno's Rating: 1 Stars
    Had dinner here after a strenuous evening run. i was on a strict diet at the time so i just got a couple of small plates. Prices were like my personality, mild and timid :)

    6. Rachel Hannah's Review :: October 20, 2008
    Rachel Hannah's Rating: 4 Stars
    Visited a few times now, and each time the food has been consistently average and satisfying. Kitchen in full view and a rowdy crowd provides a pleasant setting for the typical menu selections. Service is a little spotty sometimes. Street parking.

    7. Brett Huntingford's Review :: October 03, 2008
    Brett Huntingford's Rating: 2 Stars
    What a great little space. The food is prepared well and is so cheap it's ridiculous. I wish I still lived near this joint. I would have made it my regular grazing place.


    8. Matt Davidson's Review :: September 24, 2008
    Matt Davidson's Rating: 3 Stars
    Frankly, we were expecting to be blown away by the food, but that didn't exactly happen. Maybe it's time to lower our standards. Our table ordered a platter of small plates - cured meats, roasted chicken and a cheeze platter. All fairly delicious, especially the braised short ribs. I'd love to try their desserts next time.

    9. Blaine Edwards's Review :: September 11, 2008
    Blaine Edwards's Rating: 1 Stars
    Don't be fooled by the size - This little spot is very small but it packs a big punch. The small plates are great and the staff is the best, I pass by every once and a while when i am in the mood for a light snack and primo wine.

    10. Trent Randy's Review :: September 08, 2008
    Trent Randy's Rating: 4 Stars

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