No visit to Montreal is complete without dinner at Queue de Cheval. Pricey. But worth every dime. Built in a converted bank, this high-end steak restaurant welcomes one to come in and eat well and drink well. The lights are low, the decor is dark and the center staircase ascends above an open kitchen with the requisite open flame. From the moment you enter, you know you are in for an experience. The fact that 19 people say "Bon soir, Monsieur" before you sit down reinforces this.
The service is impeccable. The dining room, even when crowded, is a bastion of intimacy. Never will you hear anyone at the next table. Always, there will be a staff member ready to pour your wine. (Rarely will you see him before he does.)
When dining here, one should be prepared to go full tilt. Wine -- go for the good stuff -- Dinner -- they show you your own cut of meat -- Dessert -- you won't be able to say No. Just say Yes. At my last experience, three of us shared a Caesar salad for two, a J. Lohr Cabernet, I had a 10 oz. filet, one friend had veal, and another a Kansas cut of steak (it was big.) We finished with a decadent white chocolate cheese cake. Our wallets were lighter. But we were happy. And with the exchange rate, it's actually quite reasonable. Bon appetit!