Tiny Urban Kitchen

Exploring Food from Boston to Hong Kong and Beyond

  • About
    • About Me
    • Tiny Urban Kitchen’s Favorite Equipment
    • Press
  • Recipes
    • Recipe Index
    • Asian
      • Chinese
      • Taiwanese
      • Thai
      • Malaysian
      • Japanese
      • Korean
    • Appetizers
    • Soups
    • Salad
    • Pasta
    • Noodles
    • Rice
    • Vegetarian
    • Meat
    • Sweets
      • Baking
      • Ice cream
      • Cookies
    • Misc
    • Kawaii (Cute)
  • Travel / Restaurants
    • United States
      • Boston
        • Jen’s Picks
        • Boston
          • Allston
          • Back Bay
          • Brighton
          • North End
          • South End
        • Cambridge
          • Kendall Square
          • Inman Square
          • Central Square
          • Harvard Square
          • Porter Square
          • North Cambridge
        • Somerville
          • Davis Square
          • Union Square
        • Greater Boston
          • Brookline
          • Arlington
          • Belmont
          • Watertown
          • Newton
          • Lexington
          • Concord
          • Burlington
          • Natick
        • Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, Berkshires
      • Vermont
      • Maine
      • New York
      • Washington DC
      • Philadelphia
      • Orlando
      • Chicago
      • Las Vegas
      • California
        • Los Angeles
        • San Francisco
        • Napa
        • Sonoma
      • Seattle
      • Hawaii
    • Canada
      • Montreal
      • Canadian Rockies
      • Toronto
    • Argentina
    • Europe
      • United Kingdom
        • London
        • Oxford
      • Italy
        • Rome
        • Piedmont
      • France
        • Paris
        • Bordeaux
      • Spain
        • Madrid
        • Barcelona
        • Catalonia / San Sebastian / Girona
      • Germany
      • Belgium
        • Brussels
      • Switzerland
      • Greece
      • Finland
      • Norway
      • Denmark
    • Japan
      • Japan Guide
      • Tokyo
      • Osaka
      • Kyoto
    • China (Mainland)
      • Beijing
      • Chengdu
      • Shanghai
      • Shaanxi
      • Shenzhen
      • Xiamen
      • Yunnan
    • Singapore
    • Hong Kong
    • Malaysia
    • Taiwan
    • Thailand
    • Australia/New Zealand
  • Michelin
    • Formerly had a star
    • Michelin Recommended
    • 1 Star
    • 2 Stars
    • 3 Stars
  • Jen’s Eating Guides!
    • Boston Restaurants
    • Boston Dishes
    • Tokyo
    • Hong Kong
    • Las Vegas
    • Napa / Sonoma
    • Taiwan (night markets)
    • Taiwanese (casual eats)
    • Street Foods of Bangkok (Part I)
    • Street Foods of Bangkok (Part II)
    • Kitchen Equipment
  • Trip Reports
    • All trip reports
    • Around the World Trip Report
    • New England
    • New York
    • Washington DC
    • Las Vegas
    • California
    • Canada
    • Europe
    • Florida
    • Japan
    • China

L’Express Montreal

August 27, 2015 by Jennifer Che 5 Comments

wpid20866-DSC2451.jpg
This is the second post in the Montreal Jazz Festival Weekend series. The first post was an overview of our entire trip.

I’ve met several Europeans who have told me they are drawn to Boston because it is the city that feels most like home to them. For better or for worse, Boston’s cobblestone roads, abundance of rotaries (or “roundabouts” as they call them in Europe), walkability, and architecture make it one of the most European cities in the U.S. The British influence is clear, and Boston really holds true to its “New England” identify.

But what about those Europeans that aren’t British?

Drive up 5+ hours north to Montreal, and in many ways, you will feel like you have entered Paris in North America.
wpid21307-D4C3549.jpg
French is the official language in Quebec province (which includes Montreal and Quebec City). Rules dictate that commercial signs must be in French, and if another language is added, its font must be smaller. Children must go to French-language schools unless if the parents can show that they themselves had been raised in English-speaking schools.

The rules definitely make Montreal feel much more French than other parts of Canada.
wpid20852-DSC2461.jpg
For visitors like us, it means we get to experience many elements of France without actually flying across the Atlantic – such as, for example, the abundance of authentic French bistros and cafes.

L’Express is the perfect example of an old-school, authentic, Parisien-style bistro that has been around for 35+ years. The menu consists of French bistro classics, like rillettes, foie gras, croque Monsieur, and fish soup. The environment feels like an old French bistro – everything from the dark wood-paneled walls and the checkered floors to the waiters in black vests.
wpid20864-DSC2454.jpg
Each table comes with a huge jar of delicious cornichons (we took our liberties and ate quite a few!) and mustard.

Much of the menu stays constant (regular clientele would flip if they removed certain favorites), though there are always specials. To the dismay of Bryan (the only member of our party who studied German instead of French), the specials were only written in French. Thankfully, the waitstaff are quite fluent and they can always help you out.

The main menu is pretty standard, with Starters, Main Courses, and Desserts. The restaurant opens at 8AM, so there’s also a separate Breakfast menu.

STARTERS
wpid20856-DSC2458.jpg
In general, their classic appetizers are great. The Duck Foie Gras Terrine comes with mustard and has a pronounced but not overpowering liver flavor. It’s smooth and goes great with the pile of toast that comes with it.
wpid20860-DSC2456.jpg
For those of us sensitive to things that taste too much like liver (ahem, like yours truly), the Rillette L’Express is a better option. It’s still rich and creamy like a pate, but does not have the strong liver flavors you’d find in the foie gras terrine. It’s delicious, and I definitely ate more of that one.
wpid20862-DSC2455.jpg
One of our favorites was the Octopus and Lentil Salad ($17.90 CAD), which comes in a dramatic presentation that includes an octopus-leg covered cylinder filled with cooked lentils. The flavors are outstanding, with elements of seafood, aromatic broth, and olives. Definitely order this one!
wpid20854-DSC2460.jpg
The Fish Soup, or Soupe de Poissons($13.50 CAD) was also fantastic. A blended soup, it was full of rich, deep seafood-intense flavors. It also came with a phenomenal aioli made from egg yolks, saffron, bread, and garlic. It was fantastic. wpid20858-DSC2457.jpg
The  Sorrel Soup ($8.55 CAD) was also good, though a bit more unusual and less of a typical crowd-pleaser (unlike the fish soup!). It was herbaceous, slightly tart, and vegetal. It did not have the meaty umami that was so present in the fish soup. We all liked it, but the portion was large and I found that I had a hard time drinking such a large amount of the same, unique flavor. It’s good for sharing, but I personally wouldn’t order it if I had to drink the whole thing myself.

MAIN COURSE
wpid20846-DSC2464.jpg
French Poached Salmon with Chervil ($25.75 CAD) was cooked perfectly, still rare in middle and super soft. The chervil, or French parsley, came in the form of mashed potatoes, which were super buttery and decadent. Some diners loved the richness of the potatoes while others thought it to be too much.
wpid20844-DSC2466.jpg
Bryan was intrigued by the Croque Monsieur, or more simply the “Grilled Cheese and Ham Sandwich” on the English menu. It was good, but not particularly special, so I wouldn’t order it if my goal were to taste the restaurant’s most exceptional dishes. It’s great if that’s what you feel like eating, though – it definitely hits the spot.
wpid20850-DSC2462.jpg
The Roasted Quail with Wild Rice ($23.75 CAD) was also very good. The quail was nicely roasted and it came with a sweet wild rice, endive, and peas. I personally thought the sauce was a bit on the sweet side, but I am a bit more sensitive to sweet than most other people.
wpid20848-DSC2463.jpg
Bryan ordered the Lobster Risotto, a special of the menu that the server high recommended. Why, oh why, did we order an Italian dish at a French bistro? We were disappointed. Not only was it one of the most expensive entrees, the rice texture was not great (on the mushy side), and the flavors were just ordinary. I’ve had many better lobster risottos in Boston.

DESSERTS
wpid20842-DSC2467.jpg
Dessert was simple but fun. The French know their chocolate, and these Chocolate Truffles ($1.50 CAD each) were a nice, light way to finish the meal. Yes, we could have opted for some of the traditional French desserts, like Ile Flottante with Caramel ($8.95 CAD), a Chocolate Tart ($8.95 CAD) or the Orange Creme Caramel ($6.50 CAD). Instead,we were full, and we preferred to get one intense dose of chocolate that didn’t full up our stomachs even further.

All in all, L’Express is classic French and in general their food is excellent. Definitely get the octopus and lentil salad, the fish soup, and some sort of terrine/pate. Enjoy the cornichons and mustard. Most importantly, take in the environment around you and imagine, just for a moment, that you’re sitting in a bistro in Paris. It’s probably not too far off from the real thing.

L’Express Montreal
3927 Rue Saint-Denis
Montreal, QC

Filed Under: Canada, Montreal, Restaurant, Review, World Travel

« Serafina Boston
Hojoko at Fenway Boston »

Recent Posts

  • Arbor Hong Kong May 25, 2022
  • Mono Hong Kong May 23, 2022
  • Summer Palace Iconic Wine Lunch – Hong Kong April 29, 2022
  • Lucciola – Italian food at The Hari Hotel in Wan Chai March 22, 2022
  • Studio City by Cali-Mex Causeway Bay Hong Kong March 17, 2022
  • Petrus Hong Kong March 8, 2022
  • Ichiran Tonkotsu Ramen Hong Kong March 6, 2022
  • James Suckling Wine Central – Hong Kong March 2, 2022

Latest Chinese recipes!

Trackbacks

  1. Montreal Bakeries and Bagel Shops - Tiny Urban Kitchen says:
    September 2, 2015 at 3:47 pm

    […] This is the third post in the Montreal Jazz Festival Weekend series. Other posts include New Series! Montreal Jazz Festival Weekend and L’Express Montreal. […]

    Log in to Reply
  2. Lawrence Montreal - Tiny Urban Kitchen says:
    September 3, 2015 at 12:38 pm

    […] Jazz Festival Weekend series. Other posts include New Series! Montreal Jazz Festival Weekend, L’Express Montreal, and A Tour of Montreal Bakeries and Bagel […]

    Log in to Reply
  3. Market Jean-Talon & Mont Royal - Tiny Urban Kitchen says:
    September 12, 2015 at 3:35 pm

    […] Jazz Festival Weekend series. Other posts include New Series! Montreal Jazz Festival Weekend, L’Express Montreal, A Tour of Montreal Bakeries and Bagel Shops, and […]

    Log in to Reply
  4. Montreal Jazz Festival Weekend says:
    January 3, 2016 at 6:09 pm

    […] in this Series! L’Express Montreal A Tour of Montreal Bakeries and Bagel Shops Lawrence Market Jean-Talon and Mont Royal Patati Patata […]

    Log in to Reply
  5. Happy New Year! A Look Back at 2015 - Part I - Tiny Urban Kitchen says:
    January 3, 2020 at 9:15 pm

    […] also had a late dinner at very traditional French bistro, an excellent English style brunch, ate lots of poutine, and dined at Au Pied de Cochon, one of […]

    Log in to Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Welcome to Tiny Urban Kitchen!

JenChe

Hi, my name's Jen and welcome to my cooking, eating, and travel site! I am a Boston to Hong Kong transplant, born and raised in Ohio with parents from Taiwan. Feel free to head on over to the About page if you want to learn more about me, or just explore away, maybe starting with the Recipe Index or one of the travel pages! I hope you enjoy this site!
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Archives

Categories

Awards

Saveur
PFB

BostonGlobe

Most Recent Posts

Arbor Hong Kong

Arbor Hong Kong

Mono HK

Mono Hong Kong

Summer Palace Hong Kong Iconic Wine Lunch

Summer Palace Iconic Wine Lunch – Hong Kong

Lucciola The Hari Wan Chai

Lucciola – Italian food at The Hari Hotel in Wan Chai

beef quesadilla

Studio City by Cali-Mex Causeway Bay Hong Kong

Petrus Hong Kong

Petrus Hong Kong

Ichiran Hong Kong Ramen

Ichiran Tonkotsu Ramen Hong Kong

James Suckling Wine Central Hong Kong

James Suckling Wine Central – Hong Kong

Roganic Hong Kong

Birthday at Roganic Hong Kong

Caprice Hong Kong

Caprice Hong Kong – Four Seasons

France!

Restaurant Le George Paris
Yam'Tcha Paris
David Toutain Paris
Divellec Paris
Breizh Cafe Paris

Kawaii! (Cute)

Norway!

logo
Food Advertisements by

Chinese Recipes

Okra with Chicken
logo
Food Advertisements by

Shop & Support us!

Spain!

Girona Spain
Amelia San Sebastian

Japan!

Bulgari Il Ristorante Luca Fantin
Sukiyaki Imafuku Tokyo
Sushi Ishimaya Tokyo
Disney Sea Tokyo
Tempura Fukamachi Tokyo
Shinjuku Gyoen

Cambridge restaurants

logo
Food Advertisements by
Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2022 · Foodie Pro Theme by Shay Bocks · Built on the Genesis Framework · Powered by WordPress