ou 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