My partner and I walked to the train station to leave our luggage while we explore Old Montréal.
I thought I remembered how to get there from the train station but I must admit that I took a wrong turn. We finally figure it out and we were on our way to Old Montréal.
We browsed the neighbourhood but it was a bit early and many restaurants and shops had yet to open. We made it a pleasant walk nonetheless.
We found one of my favourite shop - Senteurs de Provence - which is just the right place to feed my addiction of tea towels, napkins and linen water!!!!
We entered and except for another gay couple (could they have the same addiction? Am I no longer alone in this world?).
The store sales person was obviously dubious of two men being in such a store and watched us like we were about to steal the whole merchandise. I wasnot affected by her behaviour (but BAD SERVICE to be so obvious) as I was determined to feed my addiction with something from Montréal. Indeed I did, I found some lovely tea towels and linen water. I was happy and ready for lunch now.
We walked around and looked at menus posted at the entrance of restaurants. One discerning thing is when you have waiters waiting at the door and being very friendly at passers-by - looks like they are dying for some business (Not looking good and it reminded me of a rip-off in Paris, France).
We had passed the restaurant Modavie earlier and commented about the charm of it. We continued looking around but eventually we decided to go to Modavie as we liked the menu and appearance the best.
Off to Modavie, we went. We were greeted promptly at the door and offered to choose our table. We decided on a corner table facing at St. Laurent and St.Paul, so that we can watch the "world go by" while having lunch.
Our waiter turned out to be one of the best thing in Montréal that week-end. Beside being good looking!, he was excellent at serving his customers, he interacted with us when it was appropriate. My partner is in the hospitality industry so we asked questions about who their customers were, what were the good seasons in Old Montréal, etc. He took the time to talk with us and really made our last meal in Montréal a great experience (GREAT SERVICE). The food was very good, the atmosphere of the restaurant really reflected the neighbourhood and Montréal.
Our waiter was British, had been living in Montréal for 6 years or so, had just returned from a 3 month trip to Europe and had some really funny stories.
The restaurant got quite busy after we had been there for one hour but he never lost track of the two of us sitting in the corner.
This is what customers want to feel, welcome in an establishment - whatever business it it - and leave happy to have patronize that business.
Modavie, we will be back but when we don't know when. My heart is set on visiting the "Rock" as it is the only place I have yet to go in Canada.
We went from this fantastic lunch and customer service experience at Modavie to a disastrous customer service experience on Via 1 back to Toronto.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Last Day in Montréal
Our friends "D" and "B" had mentioned that it was "de rigueur" to have breakfast at Beauties in Montreal, at least once in Montréal.
After last night's dinner, we agreed to an early start on the following morning (we are all really early risers). We decided that the boys will pick us up at the hotel at 8:00 a.m. for an early breakfast.
We meet the boys downstairs and we proceed, through almost deserted streets, to Beauties which is located on the "Plateau" if I recall well. We had a small detour, on the way, due to a police investigation.
We reach Beauties and the interior is exactly as described by our friends - Diner Style. We are almost the first ones in the restaurant and we are greeted cheerfully (GOOD SERVICE AT THIS EARLY TIME OF THE DAY) by two female servers who sit us at a window booth.
In no time, a rapport is established with our server, laughs are all over, coffees, fresh juices are served while we decide - once again - what to feed our now growing bodies!!!!.
Decisions are made, we have a great conversation and plan what we will do for the remaining few hours with our friends in Montréal. The place is filling up quite quickly and our waitress takes time to replenish our coffees. This is obviously a "neighbourhood" restaurant as the servers seem to "know" most customers coming in.
Our breakfasts arrive as ordered. the food is very good, the service fun and attentive. The conversation dies as we - again - feed ourselves.
Alas time to go. What a great experience, we had at Beauties (GREAT SERVICE).
For those of you reading this and employed in the hospitality industry, have breakfast at Beauties and learn what it is to make your paying customers welcome, give them good service and let them leave your establishment wanting to come back in the future.
We decided to tour the "ritzy" neighbourhoods of Montréal before leaving our friends to return to Ottawa. Montréal is a beautiful city (I was there many times in my youth but to party, so I never saw this side of Montréal).
Our friend "B" - the driver for the morning kinda remembers how to get there, through here and there and oops a dead end street! But we did see Montréal, eventually, and enjoy the beautiful homes.
Our last excursion was for us to go through the "gay village". Well we are hardly in the gay village here in Toronto, so I don't know what I was expecting - it's not any different. So my partner and I decide to skip the "gay village" completely for lunch and will walk around old Montréal instead and find a place on our own and did we ever!
We return with our friends to their hotel to let them get on the road to Ottawa and we go to the hotel to fetch our luggage and walk to the train station to leave our luggage while we explore old Montréal.
It was a wonderful week-end with our friends and we hope to repeat again soon in a new city. The four of us travel very well together and often that is not possible when travelling in a semi large group.
Next Post that restaurant in Old Montréal that I must first google to remember the name!
After last night's dinner, we agreed to an early start on the following morning (we are all really early risers). We decided that the boys will pick us up at the hotel at 8:00 a.m. for an early breakfast.
We meet the boys downstairs and we proceed, through almost deserted streets, to Beauties which is located on the "Plateau" if I recall well. We had a small detour, on the way, due to a police investigation.
We reach Beauties and the interior is exactly as described by our friends - Diner Style. We are almost the first ones in the restaurant and we are greeted cheerfully (GOOD SERVICE AT THIS EARLY TIME OF THE DAY) by two female servers who sit us at a window booth.
In no time, a rapport is established with our server, laughs are all over, coffees, fresh juices are served while we decide - once again - what to feed our now growing bodies!!!!.
Decisions are made, we have a great conversation and plan what we will do for the remaining few hours with our friends in Montréal. The place is filling up quite quickly and our waitress takes time to replenish our coffees. This is obviously a "neighbourhood" restaurant as the servers seem to "know" most customers coming in.
Our breakfasts arrive as ordered. the food is very good, the service fun and attentive. The conversation dies as we - again - feed ourselves.
Alas time to go. What a great experience, we had at Beauties (GREAT SERVICE).
For those of you reading this and employed in the hospitality industry, have breakfast at Beauties and learn what it is to make your paying customers welcome, give them good service and let them leave your establishment wanting to come back in the future.
We decided to tour the "ritzy" neighbourhoods of Montréal before leaving our friends to return to Ottawa. Montréal is a beautiful city (I was there many times in my youth but to party, so I never saw this side of Montréal).
Our friend "B" - the driver for the morning kinda remembers how to get there, through here and there and oops a dead end street! But we did see Montréal, eventually, and enjoy the beautiful homes.
Our last excursion was for us to go through the "gay village". Well we are hardly in the gay village here in Toronto, so I don't know what I was expecting - it's not any different. So my partner and I decide to skip the "gay village" completely for lunch and will walk around old Montréal instead and find a place on our own and did we ever!
We return with our friends to their hotel to let them get on the road to Ottawa and we go to the hotel to fetch our luggage and walk to the train station to leave our luggage while we explore old Montréal.
It was a wonderful week-end with our friends and we hope to repeat again soon in a new city. The four of us travel very well together and often that is not possible when travelling in a semi large group.
Next Post that restaurant in Old Montréal that I must first google to remember the name!
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
A November Dinner at L'Express in Montréal
After that delightful lunch at L'Académie, we are looking forward to L'Express for dinner.
The doorman at The Ritz Carlton gets us a taxi to take us back to rue St. Denis. The taxi driver turns out to be a delightful, well educated man, probably in his fifties. Our friend "B" sits in the front with him and they had the most interesting conversation about writing. "B" is a great story writer and they shared the individual enjoyment that writing brings to them.
The taxi driver thought that we were 4 nice guys and did say so when we arrived at our destination. (GOOD SERVICE).
This trip to Montréal had been planned since August. Our reservation at L'Express had been made since that time.
We entered the restaurant and were greeted by the Maitre D/Manager/receptionist. This poor guy was doing too many things at once and did not offer a very warm welcome. Our table was not ready, so we had a drink at the bar.
Finally we are seated at the back of the restaurant. Again one of the first thing that you notice here is the poor acoustics. It is very loud but people seem to be enjoying themselves.
We are offer menus from our waiter. We peruse it and each one of us finds items that interests us. The waiter returns, takes our orders and that is the last time we see him until the bill arrives (BAD SERVICE).
The food is delightful. The food runner knows exactly which position, at the table, to place the food but NOT once does he say one word - such as "here's your steak tartare". He is without a smile or a word................"hmmm maybe a bad night for him". Alas as soon as he joins his co-workers at the bar and chats, a big beautiful smile appears on his face BUT that "joie de vivre" is non-existent at every table he brings food to. (BAD SERVICE). He probably does not like interaction with strangers or he is just plain bored of his job.
We had a good dinner at L'Express (food wise) but we all shared the same opinion that the service was not up to the $$$ one leaves behind upon exiting!
Good food and bad service is a very BAD combination.
L'Express has been open many years, so are they too blasé?
Sunday morning, we trek to Beauties for breakfast - what a blast! Next post coming up!
The doorman at The Ritz Carlton gets us a taxi to take us back to rue St. Denis. The taxi driver turns out to be a delightful, well educated man, probably in his fifties. Our friend "B" sits in the front with him and they had the most interesting conversation about writing. "B" is a great story writer and they shared the individual enjoyment that writing brings to them.
The taxi driver thought that we were 4 nice guys and did say so when we arrived at our destination. (GOOD SERVICE).
This trip to Montréal had been planned since August. Our reservation at L'Express had been made since that time.
We entered the restaurant and were greeted by the Maitre D/Manager/receptionist. This poor guy was doing too many things at once and did not offer a very warm welcome. Our table was not ready, so we had a drink at the bar.
Finally we are seated at the back of the restaurant. Again one of the first thing that you notice here is the poor acoustics. It is very loud but people seem to be enjoying themselves.
We are offer menus from our waiter. We peruse it and each one of us finds items that interests us. The waiter returns, takes our orders and that is the last time we see him until the bill arrives (BAD SERVICE).
The food is delightful. The food runner knows exactly which position, at the table, to place the food but NOT once does he say one word - such as "here's your steak tartare". He is without a smile or a word................"hmmm maybe a bad night for him". Alas as soon as he joins his co-workers at the bar and chats, a big beautiful smile appears on his face BUT that "joie de vivre" is non-existent at every table he brings food to. (BAD SERVICE). He probably does not like interaction with strangers or he is just plain bored of his job.
We had a good dinner at L'Express (food wise) but we all shared the same opinion that the service was not up to the $$$ one leaves behind upon exiting!
Good food and bad service is a very BAD combination.
L'Express has been open many years, so are they too blasé?
Sunday morning, we trek to Beauties for breakfast - what a blast! Next post coming up!
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