Renoir:

A Taste of Vietnam

Saturday, March 23, 2013 514eats

RESTAURANT ASIAN VIETNAMESE DOWNTOWN CORE UPSCALE <$60

The Pitch

Over the last few days, Sofitel Montreal hosted the head chefs from Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi for a week of Vietnamese cuisine at Renoir restaurant. We like to think of this as the only time you'll see chopsticks at a French restaurant, so we HAD to go!

The Mood

Mood image

The Food

Food Image

The event's Vietnamese menu consisted of five courses, with two mains to choose from (we went with both). At $45 per person, there is no denying the bang you are getting for your buck at a place of this standing.

Amuse-Bouche

Vietnamese amuse-bouche

"shrimp and pork rolls, mango salad"

Traditional Hanoi Bun Thang noodle soup thumbnail (click to enlarge)

Starter

Traditional Hanoi Bun Thang noodle soup

"with chicken and salty egg"

Grilled prawn with sugar cane thumbnail (click to enlarge)

Starter

Grilled prawn with sugar cane

"shallots and dill, spicy grapefruit salad"

Grilled marinated cha-ca fish fillet thumbnail (click to enlarge)

Main

Grilled marinated cha-ca fish fillet

"red onion and rice noodles"

Beef cooked three ways thumbnail (click to enlarge)

Main

Beef cooked three ways

"stewed with cinnamon, gilled in Lalot and thinly sliced steak with lemongrass, rice with mushroom"

Caramelized bananas in a rice crust thumbnail (click to enlarge)

Dessert

Caramelized bananas in a rice crust

"coconut cream and Japanese pearls"

tagged: GREAT VALUE TASTING MENU

The Verdict

We were delighted by the experience tonight. Aside from the great dining room and service, it was refreshing to eat Vietnamese gastronomy in a posh setting like Renoir's. Montreal definitely lacks a little when it comes to upscale Asian cuisine.

tagged: SOLID

Price per person: $45