nother Valentine’s Day will soon be upon us. With the arrival of this Hallmark holiday comes an immense pressure to please your mate. It’s a day when all the cards are on the table and relationships can be made or broken by the purchase of a single box of chocolates. Ok, maybe it’s not that dramatic, but it is a day when a date with the mate is all but guaranteed. And a Valentine’s date has to be a good one too. A good night on February 14 can excuse months of inattentive dating and also buy a few insensitive moments in the following weeks. Planning the night can be tricky. A nice meal is the best bet, but can be difficult to organize as restaurants are packed with other couples who all have the same idea. You have to plan early and you have to reserve. With that in mind we present a list of some of the best Valentine’s Day bets in Montreal. These restaurants won’t guarantee a successful night by any stretch of the imagination (you still have to put in a little effort, you lazy bastard), but at least they’re a good start. So, go forth and wine and dine your loved one. Just promise that you won’t buy a tacky cupid doll as part of the festivities. Trust us, that trick never works.


Aix Cuisine du Terroir

Aix is the right Valentine’s Day dinner choice for a fresh relationship in which the gentlemen involved has yet to prove himself worthy of his partner’s unconditional love. Let’s be honest here – most people can be bought, and, Aix is the perfect place to do so. Have the special

For the quintessential date night of the year, choosing the right place is imperative.

four-course meal that will be served on Valentine’s Day. Chef Carl Roder will be cooking up beef tartar, oyster canapés, seafood entrees, surf and turf and desserts to share. A team of reliable sommeliers and a valet parking service are at your disposal – essentials that guarantee you will impress your date with success.
711 de la Place-d'Armes, 514-904-1201




L’Atelier

L’Atelier is a useful V-Day venue for couples and singles alike. The scrumptious shared menu will have lovers intimately interacting over tartare de magret de canard with shiitake mushrooms or juicy roasted deer t-bone smothered in a creamy peppercorn sauce. For the single folk looking to hook up there is a long communal table where catching the eyes of that minx down the bench will be an easy task - just make sure there’s a knife handy for food-in-teeth checks.
5308 St. Laurent Boulevard, Montreal, QC. 514-273-7442.




Bistro Beinville

The self-described "cuisine conviviale" at Montreal’s Bistro Beinville is an apt description. The tiny twenty-five seat eatery is warm and cozy and the food is all about comfort. It seems as if Montreal has more bistros than people at times so it takes something quite special to be singled out from the rest and named one of the country’s best in enRoute magazine. It may be because of the venerable waitstaff or the imported wine list, but it is most likely that the bistro’s notoriety and success are based on the superb food. It’s traditional French cuisine, only better. The menu changes with the seasons and at most contains eight items. Every item is the same size (i.e. no appetizers, mains etc.) and any two dishes make a lovely meal. For some French food a cut above the rest settle into the quaint Bistro Bienville for a comfortable evening out.
4650 rue de Mentana, Montréal, QC. 514-509-1269.




Bistro Justine

Bistro classics at budget prices separate Justine as a secret gem from the crowd of French restos vying for top spot on Van Horne Avenue. Occupying the tiny space in Outrement, only 24 rustic wood chairs and tables fill the dining room where owner and maitre d’ Philippe Brault serves and does…well…pretty much everything. Brault mastered the art of service catering in Paris for more than a decade (notable clients include Karl Lagerfield from Chanel), before deciding to move to Montreal. The menu contains sweet little surprises like pot de foie gras, melted goat cheese on mesclun and smoked duck on salad with Quebec blueberry dressing. If that doesn’t have your mouth watering, indulge in Justine’s collection of delectable homemade desserts, including espresso crème brulé, chocolate truffle, pear and cassis soup or apple pie. Your date will be impressed with the intimate atmosphere, and your pocket book will be pleasantly surprised when the bill arrives.
1268 Van Horne Avenue, 514-277-2728