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Le Bremner
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
22 reviews for Le Bremner
Review Highlights
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"The Lobster Parfait was probably the largest of the dishes..." In 4 reviews -
"...a strawberry rhubarb one and a peach long island iced tea." In 2 reviews -
"Chuck Hughes' latest restaurant, Le Bremner, is too cool..." In 6 reviews
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22 reviews in English
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Review from Janine T.
1/10/2012
Wow, I do not understand the mixed reviews of Le Bremner. Came here last night for dinner and was literally blown away by the amazingness of this restaurant.
The restaurant has been closed since before Christmas, so we snagged a spot on the first night that they reopened for 2012. As soon as I walked in, I was impressed: the exposed stone walls, the decor, the chandeliers, the funky windows; it's absolutely quaint and gorgeous. The music went from r&b to reggae to everything in between and it never drowned out our conversation.
As soon as we sat down, Max, the raddest server in Montreal, came over to tell us about the cocktails of the evening. Every single ingredient is made in house and they are spectacular; so spectacular that we each had two.
After having those knock your socks off cocktails, we fully entrusted Max and told him to bring us whatever the most awesome 5 things on the menu are and we sat back and waited to see what he would surprise us with.
- raw striped bass: the pistachio and mint topping was incredible and the fish was absolute perfection. Best thing I have ever eaten, ever. No contest!
- albacore tuna: it was sooo amazing and the panko and roe topping were so tasty. Like the striped bass, it melted in your mouth and the taste of the fish wasn't drowned out by the toppings.
- rosemary and ricotta bread - never would have ordered this on our own but wow, it was incredible. The honey and the cheese drizzled on top were a perfect pair.
- Merlu et Palourdes/hake and clams: never before have I fought over brussel sprouts with a dinner partner but here, we did it and it was epic (and I got the last one, drenched in buttery delectable sauce)
- Skatefish and potato salad was also yummy. Had a breaded crust on the outside and was cooked just right. The salad had a ton of garlic and was jsut plain awesome.
And for dessert, I had the pineapple upside down cake. My dinner partner looked over and instantly regretted his chocolate ganache choice so I gave him a bite of my dessert, but only a tiny bit because I adore pineapple and I think this was the best dessert I have ever had in...my...life...
This is in the top restaurants that I have ever been to. I am absolutely in love with Le Bremner and cannot wait to go back. -
Review from Tammy Y.
5/13/2012
Wandering aimlessly through the neighbourhood here and what you'll find is a mix of tourist traps and what I could only suspect were hidden golden nuggets. Thanks to my outgoing travelling partner, the owner of a boutique recommended "a nice place that is just downstairs across the street - the one with the red sign".
Indeed, that was just the spot and we were the first people there before they even opened. And good thing! As we enjoyed our cozy corner table, it became clear that Le Bremner is a popular spot. The cocktails were creative and delicious, and service is comfortable and inviting. Neighbouring tables eagerly peered over one another's shoulders eyeing the dishes. And for good reason - everything on the menu looks great and its hard to decide which dishes to share.
Perfect for a long, lingering dinner with friends or a date, Le Bremner is worth hunting down. Just look for the red sign! -
Review from Helen Adilia A.
Westmount, QC
4/22/2012
Soooo
Maybe I just don't get it.
So this is clearly a hot spot in Montreal. It was packed when we went and it was clear to me that everyone there was happy to be seen at Le Bremner. It definitely was a nice place, very swank ,very in, very small.
I'm a big foodie. I expect to get a good meal for what I pay. I am not shy to spend if I think its worth it. Maybe I'm use to what I guess some may call Joe Beef portions.
My conclusion is that maybe this is not my type of cuisine. Small portions, a medley of flavours yet flavours that seem to resemble each other.
The service sealed the deal for me, it was ok.
All in all if you are an out-of-towner check it out ... if you are a foodie Montrealer I would definitely go to Le Bremner. I just won't be a repeat customer. -
Review from Rod M.
I recently took my wife out to Le Bremner to celebrate our anniversary. Although it was Tuesday night and most of the other restaurants in Old Montreal were mostly empty Le Bremner was full. we had a great evening and were very impressed with most of the food not all the dishes were on the same level.
Here's what we ordered:
Giant Fried Oysters: Ok so they are not giant, i'd say large. They looked and tasted great, 4 stars.
Garlic Cheezy Bread: not something that you would generally associate with a top end restaurant, but wow was it good. 5 stars.
Hake & Clams: The clams were good, not great and the Hake, although cooked to melt in your mouth perfection, was completely without taste. Compared to the wonderful flavours that we experienced with the other dishes this was the Hake & clams was a a let down. 3 stars (would have been 2, but the hake really was cooked perfectly which deserves props)
Cornbread with Garlic Shrimp: so the shrimp were great, but frankly I can saute up some terrific shrimp with garlic and butter it's really not that hard. But wow,was that cornbread i just tasted, impossible, it was so moist so sweet, so tasty - now that's impressive. 5 stars.
For dessert it was a toss up between the jelly filled doughnuts and the pineapple upside down cake. Typically neither of these would be my first choice, I'm more of a triple chocolate fudge sort of guy. On the recommendation of our waiter we went with the pineapple upside down cake which we really enjoyed. 4 stars.
Le Bremner is a great restaurant that we really enjoyed and would go back to however, it is not worthy in my mind of 5 stars as there was just a little something missing. And when you're paying these prices you really need to over deliver on all fronts to get 5 stars in my books. -
Review from Melissa E.
Vancouver, BC
3/9/2012
3.5 STARS!!!!
Dude, our bill was CRAZY!!! But we knew it would be. Several AMAZING cocktails (kinda think that was the best part of the night...and the cutie bartender serving them up), wine, amuse bouche, food...do not expect to not break the bank. Our bill was $100 per person PLUS tip.
As I said, drinks were the most memorable. The food was pretty good but I think I am majorly spoiled in Vancouver. We had the spicy tomato salad (could make at home), a kind of pizza (also doable at home), then split 3 mains. One thing I have to say was a tad annoying was our waitress kept telling us how many plates we should order. And then when we didn't she questioned our decision. Look madame...provide suggestions then step away.
Our mains were the deep fried pork (not my choice) which was the biggest disappointment. I mean this was so deep fried you couldn't taste anything else. The second main was the skate which was shockingly delicious and light. I have had skate once before and it was nasty so this was a pleasant surprise. Lastly we had the shrimp and pork rice which was odd...basically just rice, could not taste or see any shrimp and also had 3 mussels on top. Very odd and wasn't quite sure where they were heading with this one.
But look, this place, minus the fact that it's entire staff was mainly anglophone (or so bilingual that even i didn't realize) is quintessential Montreal. I LOVE the space. I love the fact that it is not overly designed. In fact I don't even know what the design style is other than awesome. It doesn't overwhelm, it just makes you want to hang out and spend way too much money. This is one thing Chuck Hughes always gets right...Garde Manger is the same. You just kinda want to live or work there.
So, yes, i'm a fan, but maybe not for the reasons one would think when reviewing a resto. Go for drinks...lots of drinks and maybe a few snacks...cause those breadsticks are not filling but they are delicious!Listed in: Montreal Mayhem
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Review from Michael M.
3/26/2012
Excellent service and an extremely friendly staff compliment the well-crafted dishes. We had the PÉTONCLE CRU ET FOIE GRAS TORCHON (why hadn't anyone thought of this sooner?) appetizer where the thinly sliced scallops drenched in some sweet lemon marinade were adorned with foie gras shavings. What an unlikely combination.
Also had the Steak & Fromage while the gf had PAIN DE MAÏS AVEC CREVETTES GRILLÉES À L'AIL. Both were fine. Finally topped it off at the behest of the waiter (who also happened to be an amazing bartender) the lightest pancakes draped in a reduced maple syrup. Perfectly well balanced on the sweet...I could eat this for breakfast every day.
Only thing I would say is "get a sign" cause other than the "361" to adorn the front door, there is no sign that this restaurant exists. -
Review from Bob O.
4/23/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Place was awesome. Chuck Hugh's 2nd place in town rocks. Good service great food and cocktails with a homemade touch are must tries!! The food are served in real courses so take your time and share. A reservations is required and I Would take a later one. The ones to 1930 I believe they kick you put for later reservations. The place is small so not a lot of tables. Plan to spend 250 or so with drinks but well worth it. The food while not huge portions, like maybe the supersized US is used to , but very well done. Did not seem at all like the hip place to be just the place to go for a great evening of great sustenance!
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Review from Tara E.
11/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
A very popular spot, we lucked out showing up at 6pm (right when they opened). It's got a bit of a following thanks to Chuck Hughes who was the first Canadian to beat Bobby Flay on Iron Chef, and also has his own Food Network Show. Chuck was in the house the night I was there (yes, he actually WORKS in his two restaurants), although I didn't see him. But then again I didn't go into the kitchen.
The food was good. Really good. But not OMG-the-best-i've-ever-had. Which is too bad because it's been consistently getting 5 stars. Their homemade cocktails however, are probably worth the trip alone. Try the bourbon berry. YUM. (The pear rosemary cocktail tasted like soap however.)
The menu had changed so most of the previously mentioned dishes weren't available. We did try the kimchee with snow crab (yum!), and followed it by the seared tuna flat focicca (very nice), the cornbread with grilled shrimp (only ok), and the halibut with crispy pork (decent, but not rave worthy). We had the chocolate ganache pie for dessert. It was good, but not spectacular.
The service was really excellent though, so although the food was maybe only a 3.5 stars, I'll give that extra bit for the excellent excellent servers.
It is pricey though. We paid $220 for 4 cocktails, 6 oysters, and the 4 "sharing/tapas style" listed above, and one dessert.Listed in: Montreal
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Review from Annie A.
Montréal, QC
3/26/2012 Seated via OpenTable
I enjoyed my first dining experience at Le Bremner. It was a Wednesday night, so it was fairly easy to get a table reservation (9pm). The restaurant is located in a dimly lit stoned wall basement. Very cozy and comfortable. There is a small bar to your right upon entering. We first sampled one of their famous cocktails. Delicious...then we shared the Tuna Focaccia from the Things To Share section of their menu. Also delicious...my main dish was the Fried Pork cutlet with Bok Choy. It was OK, compared with the Focaccia. Next time I go, I am tempted to share a few items from their Things to Share section of their menu. Overall, very nice dining experience.
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Review from Yvonne T.
When I finally decided I was going to book my trip to Montréal, I knew that Chuck Hughes' newest addition, Le Bremner would be on my "To Eat" list.
After his Iron Chef fame where he defeated Bobby Flay with his Lobster Poutine, demand has been through the roof. Rumours are that his restaurant, Garde Manger was booked out by 3 months! In hopes of offering more of his yummy food to eager diners and without wanting to disappoint and turn away his customers - Le Bremner was born.
The ambiance is not too different from Garde Manger with its dim lighting and wood-accented furniture. However, I was able to nab a reservation a week ahead which was a blessing. The servers here are all very knowledgeable about the menu and can make some great recommendations. I must urge you to try one of their yummy cocktails with housemade syrups. I opted for the Posemary - which was made with gin, sake, lime syrup, rosemary and grilled pears. I was deeply and utterly satisfied. I dare say this was the best cocktail I had ever sampled in my life!
Bread sticks were offered to us, and I felt like picking one up and conducting a symphony when I saw how long they were. They were buttery and salted. To start we got oysters on the half shell which hailed from New Brunswick (Chiasson and Village Bay) oysters tonight. It was accompanied by a supporting cast of regular and cucumber mignonette with fresh horseradish, lemon and Sriracha. These were one of the freshest oysters I've had in a long time. We devoured these quickly.
Our second starter was the Lobster Toast au Gratin, which is essentially a Croque Madame with lobster meat in it. This would be the one dish that stands out in my mind when I recall all the wonderful culinary delights I sampled in Montréal. The béchamel sauce, the chunks of lobster meat, the buttery toast and the perfectly poached egg was like an epiphany in my mouth. It was oh so creamy and oh so delicious! I am dreaming of it right now... If there were only one thing I could change about this dish - it would've been the bread as I found it broke the delicateness of the overall dish. The bread was a very sturdy bread. I would've preferred something a little thinner.
For mains I ordered the Halibut which was served with Crispy Pork Rinds and Chantarelles on a bed of Mash. Le Bremner - how could you, Titan and ruler of all things seafood, manage to burn my halibut? It was as shocking and disappointing as learning that Santa was really just some chump in a suit. So close to being a perfect evening! I expected the crunchy (from the pork rinds), but not from the sound of biting into an unpleasantly burnt skin. The flavours, however, were perfect!
I also sampled the Cheese Steak which was topped with arugula and the thinnest fried onions imaginable. The steak was tender, but I thought there wasn't anything special about it. I wonder...If I hadn't tasted the wonder that was the Lobster Toast if I would've praised it more?
For dessert we had the Pear Tatin. Anything with the word tatin in it usually means longer prep time, so if you are opting for this, you may want to time it better so that you're not left nursing a glass of water and twiddling your thumbs when dinner is over.
The espresso at Le Bremner was so powerful I was almost thrust out of my chair. Alas, once the dessert came, it evened out the imbalance of boldness and sweetness :)
The tart tatin came out piping hot, and was topped with ice cream. A la mode boys and gals is the only way a pie should be eaten!
Verdict:
Being the restaurant that served me up my most memorable dish, I can't say that Le Bremner wasn't good, but is it one of the top 10 places I'd recommend? I must say no. The irony that I found out Chuck Hughes lost to Beau McMillan on the Iron Chef: Super Chefs only 2 days prior to my departure was an omen? Some would argue that in his defense, tofu, the secret ingredient of the battle was not Chuck's forte. My argument - if you are a celebrity chef, I expect you to know how to cook with any ingredient that is presented to you.
Although my most memorable Lobster Toast was consumed here, the tragedy that was the burnt halibut will also remain in my memory. The Lobster Toast is to Chuck's first win on Iron Chef as the Halibut is to his recent loss on Iron Chef :p -
Review from Lauren M.
WOW. Le Bremner was possibly the most memorable dining experience I have ever had. I am completely in love with it.
My girlfriends and I visited on a Saturday night for their late sitting (9pm).
Le Bremner is located in a basement with no signage (simply "Restaurant"). The interior seats 30 and the back terrase had seating for another 20 or so. The place is very dimly lit and keeps the reggae music pumping loud enough to enjoy but not drown out your conversation.
We sat up at the bar until our table was ready and sampled a few cocktails. We tried a basil & pineapple margarita, a strawberry rhubarb one and a peach long island iced tea. All three were amazing, made with fresh ingredients kept in mason jars lining the bar front. Our hunky bartender was chatty and explained the ingredients to us - even the syrups they use are made from scratch!
The menu here has "tapas" or shared plates and there were about 30-35 good options in total. Our waitress recommended 2-3 per person. We ordered:
Bacon cheese focaccia ($9) - Simple but possibly the best dish of the night! This is a must order dish.
Lobster parfait ($30) - comes served in an ice cream sundae dish - heaps of lobster meat, Bibb lettuce, caviar and cream fraiche. Amazing.
Asparagus and tomato salad ($9) - another hit, served with a perfectly soft poached egg and grilled asparagus.
Kimchi & crab ($20) - this was served on some kind of potato croquette with fresh crab meat and kimchi overtop. It was great but probably my least fav dish since everything else was outstanding.
Lamb & veal meatballs ($17) - again, heavenly, served with a tomato sauce and craim fraiche.
Naan pizza ($20) - this changes daily, but ours was topped with seared scallops and arugula. Highly recommend this too.
The food came out 3 dishes at a time, they gave us some time to digest in between courses, plus replaced our plates and cutlery with new stuff.
The service was faultless and all the staff were very young, hip and goodlooking.
We were WAY too stuffed for dessert but the jelly donuts looked awesome.
Our bill came to $190 including tax and tip for 3 people. Not bad and completely reasonable given the amazingness of the food, drinks and overall experience.
If Chuck Hughes ever decides to open a 3rd restaurant, I hope he will consider one in Toronto!
Next time I want a spot on the terrace! (there will definitely be a next time!!!) -
Review from Hayley G.
Vancouver, BC
9/25/2011
I ended up here the same way a lot of people end up here - couldn't get a reservation at Garde Manger. It turned out for the best, because this place was soooooo good!
The setting is casual and comfortable, but still relatively nice and high end. It's slightly dark since it's underground, but it doesn't feel at all dingy.
My boyfriend and I went on a Saturday night at 9:30 (we'd made a reservation earlier that day). All the tables were full and there were some people waiting, but it didn't feel too jam packed. Our reservation was for the bar and it turned out the bar is a totally great place to eat (and yes, there is a hook for your purse). It was nice having the bartender right in front of us - he was nice to chat with and he also made us the most excellent drinks. However, I wouldn't recommend sitting at the bar if you want privacy or if you're with more than 2 people.
As you're supposed to, we ordered a bunch of dishes to share. The naan pizza was to die for, the kimchi crab on crispy rice cakes was almost perfect, the sea bass edamame was great but not out of this world, and the lobster parfait was amazing (but maybe too creamy for some). As you can tell, this was not a typical menu. The food combinations were really innovative and if you're not into (slightly) experimental eating then don't go here - you won't find standard fish & chips or fish tacos.
For desert we had chocolate ganache pie and it was good but not excellent. Then again, maybe we were just too full at that point.
For two people wanting plenty of food and a couple of drinks you'll end up paying almost $200 after tax and tip, so don't go here if you're broke.
My boyfriend and I think this may have been the best meal of our lives. I 100% recommend it! -
Review from Lilliane G.
Toronto, ON
8/22/2011 6 photos
Saturday night I had what was easily one of the top 5 meals of my life.
Chuck Hughes' latest restaurant, Le Bremner, is too cool for words.
From the moment you step down off the sidewalk and through the doorway you know this is going to be a good night. You'll find yourself instantly seduced by the combination of it's riustic decor, exposed stone walls, hardwood floors, and dim lighting with Bob Marley playing softly in the background. It's difficult to resist swaying to the music as the bartender charms you with his easy smile and deliciously tempting concoctions - we couldn't resist - and every single cocktail we ordered tasted like a potion divined by the gods themselves. I had the Strawberry Rhubarb Manhattan, and my friends had the Peach Long Island Iced Tea and the Pineapple Basil Margarita...all three were mindblowingly deliciously and well worth the $12 each. The cute bartender even divulged his secret ingredient for the syrup they use in their Long Island Ice Tea!
We had made reservations and there was a short wait for our table, but we didn't mind at all. We happily sat at the bar soaking it all in, the drinks were delicious and it was a great spot to people watch, PLUS we had a view straight into the kitchen where all the action is!
Once we were seated, our server brought us the menu. Neeless to say EVERYTHING looked delicious.
We ordered the Bacon Cheddar Focaccia, Naan Bread Pizza, Kimchee Snow Crab on Crispy Rice Cakes, Lobster Parfait, Chorizo Sausage and Lamb Meatballs, and the Asparagus with Poached Egg.
The prices on the menu items we ordered ranged between $9-$30 each, with the Bacon Cheddar Focaccia being the least expensive, and the MOST DELICIOUS, with the Lobster Parfait at the top of the price range @ $30.
I'm going to list the stuff we had in my personal order of preference:
The Bacon Cheddar Foccacia was by far the group's favourite...what this place can do with simple bacon and a focaccia! Lord Have Mercy!
Chorizo Sausage and Lamb Meatballs - OMG! 3 huge meatballs packed with flavour and served with a thick, sweet tomato sauce...YUMM! The sweetness of the tomato was a perfect contract to the peppery/smoky flavour of the meatballs.
Naan Pizza - the naan pizza changes daily and this night's offering was scallop, the scallops were perfectly cooked, and the pizza was topped with a lightly dressed arugala salad (I love arugala on my pizza)! The pizza was nice and spicy too!
Kimchee Crab on Crispy Rice Cakes - the Kimchee was delicious, if I'm not mistaken there was a hint of heat in this dish and it worked perfectly!
Asparagus with Poached Egg - delcious, braised aparagus served with a perfectly poached egg and roasted cherry tomatoes...seriously, this who knew that something this simple could taste so heavenly.
The Lobster Parfait was probably the largest of the dishes, and it was loaded with fresh lobster, creme fraiche and caviar! The lobster was cooked perfectly with a sweet and buttery flavour.
The meal was a delicious and our six dishes were more than enough to feed us...I actually couldn't finish the last slice of naan pizza, and believe me, it was not for lack of trying. I almost shed a tear as as I witnessed my table mates cut up my last slice of naan pizza and share it between them. DAMN YOU tiny stomach!!
We had initially considered having dessert, their jelly donuts to be exact, but we're simply too full (amateurs).
I want to go back! I want to drink Strawberry Rhubarb Manhattans and chow down on Bacon Cheddar Focaccia. For the record, if I'm ever asked, that would be my last meal. -
Review from Liz A.
10/20/2011
My BFF and I came here on a Tuesday night, without reservations.
This has got to be one of the BEST dining experiences we've ever had. EVER.
First we tried to get into Garde Manger but it was full and we would've had to wait for an hour. So my friend, who is always in the know- directed us to Le Bremner, a hidden underground spot by the same chef as Garde Manger.
Upon arriving, the ambience was more romantic- dimly lit (great for couples) I loved the chandeliers.
We immediately ordered a bottle of wine- The 2006 Gamay, wonderfully delightful. These are the dishes we had:
Oysters by the dozen: OMG. To die for! Tasted fresh as if they were just caught from the water and placed in front of us. We were thrilled that they had siracha which paired perfectly with the lemon. Wow!
Kimchi Snow Crab: Perfection. Kimchi was not overpowering, but blended perfectly with the snow crab.
Asparagus: Again, perfection. The asparagus was cooked very well, with a little crisp to it and the whole stem was evenly cooked, unlike some places where the end of the stem was a bit hard and inedible. The poached egg, one of my highlights (as an avid egg lover) was perfectly AMAZING. I don't think I've ever been to a breakfast/Brunch spot (even in NYC) that has made a poached egg as good as this one. The waiter explained a special contraption they make the egg. HOLY.
Charcuterie and blue cheese platter: Cheese-need I say more?! My goodness, I thought I had died and gone to foodie heaven. Superbbbb!
The dishes definitely were nicely portioned...it didn't leave you feeling like, where's the rest of it?? The service was impeccable. They were extremely helpful and friendly without being too intrusive. This is a little on the pricey side, for the two of us it was $180 but really it was worth every penny. We came out of there extremely satisfied. We raved about this place to everyone. Everyone must come here at least once! I will definitely be back here. -
Review from Lesley T.
Le Bremner is famed Montrealer Chuck Hughes' new spot, hidden in a basement under a nondescript sign that simply says "Restaurant," in a less trafficked area of Old Montreal. With no official website that I can find, Le Bremner seems to be deliberately flying under the radar. I really liked the atmosphere: lots of brick and chandeliers, very warm and cozy. You feel like you've been just let in on a delicious secret.
They make some killer cocktails: I loved the berry bourbon. There was no official cocktail list, but the server recited a list of what was available that night. The dishes are all meant for sharing among the table, and are all roughly the same size (they don't really have appetizers and mains). It's a bit complicated to order for a big group (we were six) but our friendly server helped guide us. We got to try many things that way. Some of my favourites were the kimchee snow crab on rice cake, the lobster parfait, and the kohlrabi salad. Everything was delicious. And then came dessert: the strawberry shortcake was simply divine.
Reservations can be difficult to obtain: for best results, call well ahead, be flexible, and be patient. It's definitely quite a splurge, especially if you indulge in their interesting but expensive wine list like we did. But I think it's well worth it. -
Review from nicole h.
9/8/2011
We're not even back from our trip but I couldn't wait to review this place. Le Bremner is the little sister of Garde Manger. Chuck Hughes has done it again...and has managed to far surpass all of our expectations. This is--hands down--the BEST meal we have ever had.
Sit at the bar. If you're lucky Brynley or J-K will take care of you. They don't have a drink list; they muddle up whatever's in season and spike it up just right. Get whatever drink they recommend. This place fosters creativity and they tend to make things on the fly. They're like mixology magicians.
The food is ALL amazing. Smaller plates. Try as much as you can afford. Highlights include the seafood terrine, the crab kimchi, the shrimp with cornbread, and the meatballs...oh yeah, and the beignets injected with jelly and ganache ("made by Lucifer himself"). You will be completely mesmerized by everything that comes your way.
As far as the ambiance goes, it's just perfect. Quite literally hidden in a dark beamed basement with crystal chandeliers for a touch of sparkle. The mellow beats of Bob Marley keep the mood relaxed. All in all, it's a FANTASTIC time. -
Review from So A.
Toronto, ON
7/28/2011
I do not know where to begin. I was compelled to write about how amazing this restaurant is as I usually do not write reviews. This restaurant was recommended to my BF and I as we were hoping to dine at Garde Manger which was closed on a Monday. The decor was lovely the service exceptional. The food was divine - it is a dish sharing place everything we ordered was a mouth explosion. Here are some of the highlights of what we ordered:
-bacon cheddar focaccia
-naan pizza
-les vegies (i think this changes from time to time)
I need to speak about the cookies and milk - TO DIE FOR!!!!!! I wasnt expecting it to be that delightful, I mean how amazing can milk and cookies really be??? AMAAAAAAAZING - on another level, i was speechless. My BF ordered the strawberry shortcake and it was also extremely tasty.
Last but not least the cocktails were like no other. They were rich in flavour and very chunky. I was tempted to return for dinner the next day - you must go....run dont walk!!! -
Review from Trent H.
1/17/2012
The service was exceptional. If you like seafood go to this place instead of Garde-Manger (if you're wanting to eat at a chuck hughes restaurant). The only criticism I have is the decor on the wall is not the best.
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Review from pascal t.
Montréal, QC
12/24/2011
We went to Le Bremner not expecting too much, honestly. We liked Garde-Manger but with two visits there we always felt like the food was overpriced and just "solid".
Le Bremner, on the other hand, was a very good culinary experience. We ordered 7 different dishes and they were all very good and well thought out. Simple but well executed.
The white beet salad is amazing, and the onion rings were great. I wish they had one more vegetarian option as the selection is limited to 2 salads, 2 breads and 1 cheese dish which they didn't have in stock (the buratta cheese).
Come on Chuck, even your dog is vegetarian! Give us an extra option on the menu and make us all very happy! ;)
Service was solid, ambiance and decor very nice.
Overall, we were very pleased with our dinner, so we'll definitely go back. -
Review from Anabel L.
Toronto, ON
10/28/2011
as you wish
:Old Montreal:
If Hughes' restaurants were women, Garde would be a red-lipped blonde wearing a Mackage leather jacket toting a Louis Vuitton; Le Bremner would be the fresh-faced brunette in skinny jeans, holding a Chanel 2.55. It's just how I see things.
If the analogy was lost on you...I'll be more explicit: Garde is a trendy, loud and slightly chaotic hipster place, while Bremner is more of a reclusive bistro with a classy but comfortable feel. Both play groovy tunes. Both have cute guys, although Bremner's staff had more personality, which makes you want to stay a while and flirt a little.
If you recall, I didn't LOVE Garde, I liked her.
I LOVED Bremner. Stop here if you wish, but for you inquiring minds, keep reading.
Yes, I saw Hughes. That's right, he works his line. It was a nice surprise because I can count the number of times I've actually seen celebrity chefs in their restaurant, working, tasting, and schmoozing. Two. Chuck was the second.
Bremner opened in July and it's still bustling. Noteworthy mentions include the terrasse. I took a quite peek during a bathroom break, and it's gorgeous. The cocktails, mixology wonders not bar mixes, were amazing. (Specifically the pampelmouse one, or O-juice, if you will. It was a balanced mix of vodka, sake, mint, fresh grapefruit and some other stuff. It was O good, it was addictive.)
The menu is divided into seven categories: Chilled Items, From Outside, Bread & Cheese, From the Stovetop, From the Broiler, Vegetables, and Dessert. Order, as you wish.
My sister and I started with the kimchi snow crab because its reputation preceded our visit. Now, you should know that we are kimchi experts. So we were both pleasantly surprised that this dish wasn't a wishy-washy fusion concoction of pickled cabbage and spices calling itself kimchi. The flavours were actually reminiscent of actual kimchi. The dish was almost a perfect hit, but for the rice cracker/cookie. It was too big. I think (emphasis on think) I know what Hughes was trying to replicate here, a Korean dish called norengie. Norengie is the rice crust at the bottom of a stone bowl pot. If you add a little water or tea it releases the rice and you eat it. My unsolicited advice to Hughes would be to make the cracker half the thickness because conceptually I agree that the delicate snow crab needs a chewy/crunchy counterpart.
The culinary adventure continued with lamb meatballs that were soft and meaty with rich flavours.
The spicy bass with edamame was a favourite. It was delicate and deep - that's the only way I can describe it. There was so much going on in my mouth and it was all wonderful.
Another one of my favourites was grilled asparagus with poached egg. There was a lot going on on this plate and I liked it. Together it worked. Separate, not so sure. It was a bit like a mishmash song on Glee - unexpected harmony.
Dinner, however, ended on a sad note. Doughnuts were implicated (I am aware I have a problem with doughnuts. I'm in the contemplation stage of seeking help).
Due to my obsession with doughnuts, you can only imagine how crushed I was to learn they sold out. My poor sister, I whined about it for a good ten minutes, and pouted for another five. Then, after letting out le sigh of tout sighs. I got over it and resolved to go back on my next visit.
But listen Hughes...I live in Toronto. If you stumble across this review and feel compelled to ship me some doughnuts, why, you'd be the Wesley to my Buttercup. -
Review from Stacy S.
9/5/2011
We didn't think we could have a better dining experience in Montreal after eating at Garde Manger, until we went to Le Bremner at the recommendation of one of Garde's staffers. HOLY!
First off, I love that it's kind of an "underground" spot, both literally and figuratively. There isn't a sign, you kind of have to know about it, and it's well, a few steps down from the sidewalk. Again, we sat at the bar, our preferred spot to sit at a restaurant. As mentioned in other reviews, how else can you chat with those "in the know?" We were immediately greeted by one of the best bar keeps ever! He let us know that they make all of their own mixers with the exception of soda water. WHOA! Now that's talent. He mixed us up a couple of beauties while we perused the menu. I normally don't love mixed drinks (I am a purist with vodka martinis), but these drinks were out of this world. Fresh fruit muddled, added, shaken, wow! As we're looking over the menu, the staff from Garde who recommended Le Bremner walks in and immediately comes over to say hello. We felt like we were totally "in the know" and locals seeing some of their long time friends.
We were told to that it's more of a tapas style, that we should get a couple of things to share. We chose the burrata, but unfortunately they were out of it. HOWEVER, they offered a different cheese and let us try it before we actually ordered the whole dish. How many restaurants actually let you do that? Ah-mazing! We also had the tuna tartare, the fresh tomatoes, shrimp with cornbread (a little bit of heaven), and a fish dish. One was better than the next. The flavors were deep but balanced. There was so much going on in each dish in a good way, we were speechless (yeah - that doesn't happen often!). Just when we thought we couldn't eat more, we finished with warm chocolate chip cookies with sea salt. Perfection!
Bottom line: A MUST GO! No question about it. One of the best dining experiences we've had in a very long time. Right up there with some of the world's best! Thanks for the recommendation, Tim! See you next time we're in Montreal...for sure! -
Review from Bonjour B.
Montréal, QC
1/21/2012
I was not impressed. The food was so-so. I love Garde Manger so I was surprised. The dishes were just off in the taste combinations. Cocktail was ok, not great. The decor is really nice.
