Le Locale, Montreal

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MBO Montreal :: Montreal Nightlife & Clubs
  • Le Locale, Montreal

    Phil Brown | Last Updated: June 12,2008 4:30:17 pm
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    Le Local is a nice addition to the Old Montreal dining scene from the two-headed wonder chef team of Alexandre Gosselin (Simplechic, O Chalet) and Louis-Francois Marcotte (SimpIechic, Le gout de Louis). These guys are pretty serious about their food and have created a complex menu filled with dishes comprised of a variety of seemingly incompatible flavors. Gosselin and Marcotte have crafted a haute gourmet menu where items like truffle foam never seem out of place.

    The industrial design of the restaurant leaves a lot of empty space, but the furniture (built primarily from leather and wood) fills in the space nicely, transforming a potentially cold dining area into a warm and intimate one. The service is also fast, efficient and friendly, but the star of this restaurant is the food. Starters like escargot with mushrooms, garlic gnocchi in a bordelaise sauce, or suckling pork belly with Du Puy lentils, diced carrots and onions set the tone for a meal of experimental high-end cuisine that will make your taste buds shriek with delight.

    The main courses include anything from classic items like braised beef with a parsnip puree, to more experimental fair like shrimp risotto with Isle aux grues cheddar or pan-fried halibut with a salad of coco beans, cipollini onions, confit tomatoes, brussels sprouts and calamari, with a hazelnut and balsamic vinaigrette. Sure, it could take you half an hour to merely say the name of your meal, but at least you’re not one of the poor waiters who have to memorize the specials. Desserts are equally enjoyable with items like 70 per cent Valrona chocolate cake with nut ice cream and lavender creme brulee served with chocolate shortbread cookies that will make your toes curl.

    Le Locale is poised to be one of the hottest new dining spots in Old Montreal. Foodies will be blown away by the layered flavors of every item on the menu and should also enjoy being able to show off their culinary savvy while rattling their dish’s complicated names. So go ahead, unlock the pretentious gourmet hidden inside. You can’t eat at Denny’s forever!

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    AT A GLANCE
    Le Locale
    740 William Street, Montreal, QC
    514-397-7737
    Old Montreal
    Venue:
    Restaurant, Lounge
    Hours:
    Mon-Fri: 11:30am–Midnight
    Sat: 3:30pm–Midnight
    Closed Sunday
    Price Range:
    $$$ (Within Reach)
    Payment:
    aster Card, Visa, American Express
    THE BUZZ

    IN THE AREA

    16 Reader Reviews

    I went there only once. Nice atmosphere. Good choice of freshly baked bread. Main course was excellent with attention to detail. However, as mentioned by many others the service was poor. Good match for the price.

    1. Jean-François's Review :: October 23, 2009
    Jean-François's Rating: 3 Stars
    Service was so Bad... it all start with the person at the reception.. what is it with the Bluetooth mic , felt like we were at those American fast food place.. Well overated, there is so many other options for that range of price..

    Ciao !

    2. Carlo's Review :: August 26, 2009
    Carlo's Rating: 1 Stars
    Seriously...when you want to command the price and reputation - you better deliver. Very bad service, food ok - not anything to rave about

    3. Kat's Review :: February 25, 2009
    Kat's Rating: 2 Stars
    Ok food, ok/bad service, nice place

    4. Rodrigo Mendoza's Review :: February 15, 2009
    Rodrigo Mendoza's Rating: 2 Stars
    Not impressed. I went a couple of times (gave it more than one chance). Did not quite understand what the buzz was all about. I guess starlets from Le Blanc had nowhere to go after its shutdown and ...by default Le Locale became the new "great joint".

    Service was poor. Price was a bit over extended for the quality of food...ambiance was nice. Pretenses are high, false...and not justified

    5. Louise's Review :: January 16, 2009
    Louise's Rating: 2 Stars
    The worst service i've ever experienced!
    The food was tasty, the atmosphere was warm, bad service ruined the evning for me and my guests.
    Waste of good money.


    6. Meghan Harris's Review :: January 12, 2009
    Meghan Harris's Rating: 1 Stars
    This spot was a great surprise. We ate here over the weekend, and this restaurant and its staff managed to whip us into a great mood

    7. Brett Hudson's Review :: January 05, 2009
    Brett Hudson's Rating: 4 Stars
    have been a fan of this restaurant recently. Their appetizer (small plates) menu is great. The mackerel Napoléon is just about the best I have ever eaten. Their mains are delicious, too. We never have to wait long to be seated and the atmosphere is cozy.

    8. Lorraine Bernadan's Review :: January 03, 2009
    Lorraine Bernadan's Rating: 4 Stars
    Food is delicious. Service is atrocious. On my most recent visit we were a birthday party of 10 with reservations for 9PM. We were seated after 10:30PM. No free drinks at the bar, nothing. When I complained loudly to the maitre d' at 10:30, one of the owners came and threatened to throw me out, without even knowing what was going on, and he put his hands on me?! I have never seen such unprofessional behaviour in my life. Is this a high-end resto or a college pub?

    9. Rick's Review :: November 21, 2008
    Rick's Rating: 3 Stars
    Food was good. Service doesn't even register on my scale. Horrible attitude from the wait staff. Truly insulting.



    10. Bruno Brown's Review :: September 03, 2008
    Bruno Brown's Rating: 1 Stars
    Le Locale probably doesn't need another review, but I'm going to chime in with the already loud chorus of praise, anyway. I had the Fish special, and it was superb. The waitstaff are skilled professionals, and the wine holdings fit the menu nicely. A truly enjoyable meal - hard to do better.

    11. Wayne Breene's Review :: August 23, 2008
    Wayne Breene's Rating: 4 Stars
    Just devoured my risotto special and I must say.... nicely done, nicely done.

    12. Chris Randall's Review :: August 22, 2008
    Chris Randall's Rating: 3 Stars
    I really like Le Locale! The food was tasty and the prices reasonable by Montreal standards. Even the service was good!

    13. Elisa Mala's Review :: August 07, 2008
    Elisa Mala's Rating: 4 Stars
    I really liked the atmosphere of the restaurant, and the food was also very good, but I found the service was dismal.

    I saw someone who appeared to be a manager that was very rude towards another party that was also seated on the patio.

    I would not return based on the quality of service alone.

    14. Monique Foucheili's Review :: August 05, 2008
    Monique Foucheili's Rating: 1 Stars
    Good food cheap food. The chili is amazing.

    15. Ray Tereonne's Review :: July 30, 2008
    Ray Tereonne's Rating: 2 Stars
    I have to say, we must have been really lucky with our decision to first try Le Locale. Although I can't comment on anything else on their extensive menu, their risotto was the best I've had in town. Creamy and juicy...really divine stuff.

    16. Brenda Lewe's Review :: July 12, 2008
    Brenda Lewe's Rating: 3 Stars

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