I am so very happy - and relieved, quite frankly, - that Moishe's has reopened after many years of closure. And not only has it reopened (albeit in a new location), but dare I say, it's as good - or even (gasp!) better - than before!
Those who know me and my family know that Moishe's has been an integral part of my family's history. Moishe's was a mainstay on The Main (Blvd. St. Laurent) for decades. My grandparents dined there. My parents dined there. My sisters and I were brought there as toddlers and children and teenagers for special meals. In later years, my parents dined there every Saturday, at the same seat by the window. It was our family restaurant. The owner and manager and waitstaff knew more about my family history than I did. They were like family. It was a real and personal loss to my parents when they closed. (My dad was around 90 at the time).
So we were all elated to hear of its reopening, now on Victoria Square. I booked reservations for my dad's 94th birthday dinner here, noting it's important to have a table in the "traditional " room. You see, the new Moishe's has different rooms, the first one being a throwback to the old restaurant on St. Laurent. And I made it a point to note when making the reservation that it was my dad's birthday.
We dined there last night. And I give credit where credit is due. I really worried that the place would let us down (since the old place was so special to us all). But wow, it was wonderful. In every way: the new site and decor, the service and the food. I hesitate to say this, but it was even better than before.
The new site has valet parking (nice!), and they give you a number to text 15 minutes before you're ready to leave, so your vehicle is waiting for you right in front when you leave. (Super nice valet guys, too. Bonus!).
The interior is better than I could have imagined. The vestibule/anteroom has almost a neighborhood bottega vibe, with graphic Moishe's wallpaper on the walls and corridor ceiling, and the ceiling is strung with a canopy of patio lighting. Immediately it feels inviting but "cool".
Inside, there's a spectacular bar area to your left, delineated by hanging greenery and with a phenomenal glass central chandelier. Very retro, and reminiscent of a past, more glamorous era, for sure. And to the right is the cavernous restaurant dining room, with the traditional "room 1" being the first area.
I loved this dining area so much. It was more modern than the past Moishe's, to be sure, with none of the fussy white linen tablecloths or candles, but instead wooden tabletops, round tables interspersed with large booths, and very modern, sleek table lighting fixtures. I loved the details that were a clear homage to the earlier site: the dark wood paneled walls, the metal coffered ceiling tiles, the 20's glass chandeliers. They incorporated the old with the new, and it felt fresh while still retaining the old charm.
The owners are new now, but the manager came up to my dad and chatted him up and wished him the happiest of birthdays and made my dad feel special, like the old Moishe's people would do. And our server was wonderful. And they made my dad feel like a king. I can't tell you how heartwarming this was to me.
Now for the food. I have to say, prices have increased, and it's extremely pricey here. More so than before. But even I was the first to admit, I didn't think the old Moishe's had the best steaks (my dad would disagree, but his opinions are heavily biased by nostalgia). THIS new Moishe's DOES have some of the best steaks I have ever had. We all had 19-oz. rib eyes, and they were cooked to PERFECTION. and seasoned TO PERFECTION. We also shared a Monte Carlo potato (as good as ever), spinach (as good as ever), and they brought the table their famous pickles and coleslaw and bread. (SO glad these side dishes remained the same!). And they brought my dad a millefeuille for dessert with a candle and, not only was that the nicest gesture, but omg it was a bloody amazingly delicious dessert: super light and fresh whipped cream with the flakiest of pastry and strawberry garnishes.
The meal couldn't have been better. The people couldn't have been nicer. And the restaurant couldn't have been better,in any way.t read more