hen the steady-cam elite flock to Montreal to take in what’s becoming more of a scenester event than a racing event (uhhhh… Indianapolis 500 anyone?), there are certain social elements that occur in tradition: watching the race, talking about the race, going to the dinner party after. In honor of the mingling that comes after sitting in the sun for a prolonged period of time, comes MBO’S informative list of how/where to gather your crew, before, after, and in some cases during, the Grand Prix 2008. We engaged in an extensive hands-on investigation of the alcoholic beverages themselves, after which we rushed home to regurgitate bountiful notes and reviews (and to catch the last few minutes of CSI Miami of course). Here are the best Grand Prix ($$$$!) spots.



Aix Cuisine du Terroir
Chef Jannick Bouchard has delivered a menu of items, albeit heavy on meats, which are complex and intensely flavourful. As are his braised lamb shank, sautéed with wild mushrooms and rosemary, or his rack of pork, roasted to perfection and served high style with cabbage salad with apple slivers. In fact, Chef Bouchard's food just gets better and better, whether it in the luxe space of Aix, or his own beloved Les Remparts. Even the bar snacks are above par: Pabst's rosemary-scented goat cheese soufflés, quite simply, required eating. The dining room sports a thick French accent - from the modern Provence decor in the luxe setting within the Hotel Place d'Armes, to the dense cocktail list at the attached bar (the Dragon Cider Martini is alone worth the trip) - stages Aix a fine dining contender. Even if it didn't boast a cosmopolitan mix of bamboo screens, puffy banquettes, and a handsome, diverse clientele, and attentive service - Aix would be worth it for such culinary lovelies. – MA
711 de la Place-d'Armes, Montreal, QC, 514-904-1201, $$$$$



Au Pied du Cochon
After a period when our favourite Quebcoise restaurant (Cochon was enRoute's best new of 2002) the buzzing and oftentimes overcrowded restaurant is still regularly stuffed with a crowd (that appears to be Plateau-Mont-Royal's hippest) as this exciting bistro has character to spare. Chef-owner, Martin Picard, is well known for his way with starters such as onion soup, deep-fried oreilles de Crisse pork rinds, four kinds of crabs (summer only) and foie gras. In fact, there are four foie gras dishes on the menu, from foie gras flan to foie gras poutine. When your waiter sweetly tempts you with the now specialty item made with clever varietals, obey: This is a seriously excellent adult concoction. Crispy skin-on fries, tangled with cheese and gravy, topped with two chunks of foie gras, a reinvention of Montreal’s signature. Le Pied de Cochon has a very French influence and, just like every true French restaurant, it is not meant for those who watch their carbs or fat intake. - MC
536 Avenue Duluth West, Montreal, QC, 514-281-1114, $$$$



Altitude 737
If you’re hell-bent on serious, high-end drinking, try testing out some 737 mixology by ordering their satisfyingly strong vodka martinis. While staff churns out quality cocktail goods, it is evident that 737 is also Champagne territory. When your insides are suitably scorched, move on up to the terrace on the highest floor, wherein club-goers can soak up more drinking and dancing above the city. 737 can cram 1000 partiers into the various levels. Open throughout the year, 737 looks out over the view of the Montreal skyline, offering a bit of fresh air and the chance to get to know your one-night stand. While the high-energy scene can occasionally get overwhelming, locals are drawn into this roof-top haunt by the music, which is played loud enough to make the earth down below vibrate. And even though it can get cramped, rest assured that the $18 drinks are poured with a heavy hand. - RB
1 Place Ville Marie-Niveau, Montreal, QC, 514-397-0737, $$$$



Buonanotte
Do you like plush? Do you like martinis? Do you like wood? Well, Buona Notte boasts all that and more. Elegant and only mildly pretentious, this St. Laurent corporate bug-lamp caters to scenesters and bill-droppers alike. This place is good enough for the restaurant's endless repertoire of celeb visitors, it should be good enough for the wealthy and the beautiful – and it is. The resto even has proof of its Hollywood invasion as they made all 300 of them sign plates that can be seen adorning the venue's back wall – ranging from the Backstreet Boys, Ben Affleck, Denise Richards, George Clooney, Bono and Sylvester Stallone to Montreal's own claim to fame, Celine Dion. Besides heading over to Buona with the chance of spotting your fave household name, the venue itself is a desirable and popular nightspot. The intimate dance floor is moved by vastly varying beats from night to night, while the extensive wine list is static and impressive. Have a good night. – MK
3518 St Laurent, Montreal, QC, 514-848-0644, $$$$



Decca77
Decca77 has carved out a sweet bar-behavior niche for itself, allowing downtown lawyers, area hipsters and savvy blue-collar regulars an enticing space to while away their earthly anxieties with small plates of fresh market fare. One of the things that make Decca77 different from most of its predecessors is that it takes cocktail life quite seriously, making a visit highly memorable, even solo at the bar. With its hard edges, sharp corners and clean design, this lounge’s energy is steadily engrossing. This resto owes a huge debt to Chef Daren Bergeron, who has drafted original technique-driven, fresh-ingredient inspired cuisine; a mix of mostly tapas delights. Getting much attention is his Foie gras au torchon with pickled white turnip. Another hit is the ethereal, greaseless Venison tataki with radish salad and marinated shiitake. Or the tagliatelle with roasted sausage and parmesan. For dessert, a pistachio blancmange is served up with an amaretto foam; just the icing on a cake that’s almost entirely icing to begin with. Gloriously amoral, grown-up fun. – RL
1077 street Drummond, Montreal, QC, 514-934-1077, $$