Located six-feet below street level, Les Trois Petits Bouchons has all the amenities needed to survive the deep-freeze that is Montreal’s winter: wine, good food, good company and more wine.

Their wine menu is original and rare. The wines are picked from all over the globe and the owners have an affinity for smaller vineyards that work in the old-fashioned way, which makes for better tasting wines. Unlike most other venues in the city with wine lists as impressive as this little gem’s, the food is not second fiddle to the drink.

The menu is full of gamey choices like deer, lamb and duck to compliment the reds and lighter fare like halibut to pair with whites.

The perfect winter restaurant has arrived and like a fine wine it will only get better with age. –J.T.