Bu Restaurant in Montreal

After having shared the champagne and cheese tray at the Ritz Carlton, it was time for us to think about dinner. Our first dinner in Montreal in a long time.

We used the services of the concierge to try to find us a table at restaurants that had been recommended by a client of mine. No such luck on a Friday night. There was some tables available in a few restaurants but they were available way too late for the two of us.

About 3 weeks before our trip, the National Post had published a list of the best restaurants across Canada. Bu was mentionned in that newspaper.

We decided to try, on our own, to get a table at Bu. My partner called and we were told that they were full that night but if we wish to have dinner at their bar, they could reserve us 2 seats. We agreed as we love eating at a bar.

We took a taxi to Bu on Saint-Laurent. When we arrived, the place was near empty. We were seated at the bar, the service was prompt (Good Service) and we enjoyed a glass of champagne while looking at the menu.

The National Post article had mentionned something about Mama's food, so we expected "Mama" to be in the kitchen, in fact the chef was a young man of about 28 years of age.

The place got busier as the evening proceeded but was never full as we were lead to believe it would be (marketing tactic or lots of cancellations?). The fact that it never got full is not a bad thing as the acoustics in that restaurant are probably the worst ever encountered in such a place. Thankfully, being at the bar, side by side, we could have a conversation without yelling at each other as was happening in the restaurant.

Bu offers a tasting of wines with the food for a set price, however the tables are small. The set up is that there is 3 wine glasses for each customer, plus cutlery. By the time the food arrives on the table, there is hardly any place to place the food down - tables are too cramped (Good Idea for wine tasting - Really Bad Set UP).

We had a good dinner, slighthly different than what we expected from the article in the National Post.

Would we go back? Unlikely, it was an enjoyable evening but "nothing to write home about".

Ah but Saturday lunch, on the recommendation of a taxi driver turned out to be a very good find.