Voulez-vous bruncher avec moi?

The Pitch

In keeping with the subject of hotel restaurants from our last review, today we were solicited to try brunch at the W Montreal's ÊAT (short for Être Avec Toi).  Otto's replacement opened last December with an all-out splashy affair, which we also attended.  We saw enough that night – glitz and glamour aside – to make us want to come back, making it that much easier to exceptionally accept the comped meal.

tagged:  BRUNCH

The Mood

ÊAT is a statement restaurant in every sense of the word, with an emphasis on art and design.  The bright, vast space poses as a gallery of sorts, showcasing paintings and murals mostly following the street/pop art movement.  Waiters are clothed in avant-garde uniforms from local fashion designer Travis Taddeo.

tagged:  EYE FOR DESIGN

The Food

Être Avec Toi implying sharing with someone, the seafood-based menu aptly lists shareable dishes that are refined and beautifully-plated.  There is no shortage of options from mezzes and hors d'oeuvres to seafood platters and brunch staples.  Pastries, mimosas and desserts are served out of table-side guéridons (trolleys), which add some charm but can quickly hike up your bill; $5 per viennoiserie, yikes!

Two orders really stood out; the intricate salmon en quatre temps and that fabulous lobster benedict served next to the shell.  Sophistication and decadence of this order naturally come at a steep price – this is the W after all – so expect to dish out some serious dough here.  Our bill would have run up to $150 for two before tax and tip, so make sure your company is worth it!

Cocktail

Cocktail

$14

$14

Caesar fruits de mer

"huître, bloody Caesar"

Starter

Starter

$19

$19

Fruit frais, plateau pour 2

Starter

Starter

$28

$28

Saumon

"sashimi, saké eau du désir / mariné au citron, grillé à la cendre / tartare à la moutarde douce / fumé, crémeux à l'aneth"

Main

Main

$26

$26

Bénédictine de homard

Main

Main

$29

$29

Poisson fumé

"saumon, hareng, morue, bagel, fromage à la crème, condiments"

Dessert

Dessert

Cake pops

tagged:  FEAST FOR THE EYES GOOD FOR SHARING WALLET-BUSTER

The Verdict

Ultimately we found ÊAT's thematic elements – art, uniforms, guéridons – unnecessary and borderline gimmicky.  Having said that, it's easy to look past these distractions with the excellence and creativity displayed on the plate.  The seafood concept and opulence may be a game changer in the city's brunch scene, but it won't be easy to attract the big spending, jet set crowd over the long term.

tagged:  SOLID

Price per person:  $43.17