Six Years Later

The Pitch

Few stretches in town have seen an explosion in restaurants equaling Notre-Dame Street West's portion cutting across Griffintown and Little Burgundy.  From the list-topping Joe Beef, Le Vin Papillon and Foxy to the trendy Grinder, Bird Bar and Makro; the household names abound.

Less heralded eateries survive in the shadow of these marquee establishments, managing to stay afloat despite the competition surrounding them.  Case in point, Le Bureau Bar à tapas recently celebrated its sixth year in business by inviting a few influencers to sample its offering and announce a series of upcoming weekly events: think jazz + martini Tuesdays and wine tasting Fridays.

tagged:  MEDIA EVENT

The Mood

Cold weather calls for cozy, convivial settings; something Le Bureau provides with its warm, vintage décor and dim, sepia mood.  The dining room was quite busy for a Tuesday night, with groups of both young and middle-aged diners sipping a drink while enjoying a bite.

The Food

The evening's tasting gave us the rundown of Le Bureau's Spanish – Pan-Mediterranean really – menu.  As expected, food is served in small portions in terracotta plates placed in the middle of the table for everyone to dig into.

Commonplace oysters were followed by a handful of tasty hot tapas and a forgettable seafood risotto.  We also had the opportunity to sample the intricate cocktail list; a flute of gin with prosecco and lemon juice stole the show with its torched rosemary garnish.

Oysters

Saganaki

Grilled Calamari

Warm Broccoli & Pine Nut Salad

Confit Duck Wings

Seafood Risotto

tagged:  GOOD FOR SHARING ORIGINAL DRINKS

The Verdict

While the food tonight didn't blow me away – but then again, when's the last time Spanish food knocked you off your feet? – Le Bureau does score points for its neighborly feel, crowd-pleasing offering and reasonable prices.

Finally, this tapas bar's six-year anniversary marks an important milestone for both itself and yours truly.  As it happens, Le Bureau's opening in 2012 was my first media event as a blogger; which is why this writeup has a soft spot in my heart.