Greater Montreal area reviews I forgot to write (2 of 2)…read more
I did not where I was going to eat and it was about dinnertime. I was making my way back toward Centre-Ville along Sherbrooke from Montreal's hinterlands, meaning out east beyond the 25. I am using the word hinterlands facetiously ... these suburbs have a lot of nice detached brick single level ranch homes. I used to think the term ranch was weird ... a ranch home is simply a one-level home and has nothing to do with Texan Southfork. The term is ubiquitous throughout the United States, with Minnesota and Washington calling them ramblers. Is this last observation any surprise?
In Montreal, I usually look for Italian, Greek, Portuguese, or Canadian food. There's a lot to chew on right there. It was like a wild card that evening, meaning I'd take whichever of these cuisines came into view and looked good. Along Sherbrooke from Place Versailles inbound toward the Olympic complex, there is a lot of retail, restauration, and lodging and, with the lower density, parking is usually had for free.
I saw a Casa Grecque location. I know it's a chain, as is Pacini's. I'd never been to Casa Grecque. There are "maisons" and "cavernes" with "Grecque" appended to them in and around Montreal, so Greek food is obviously popular.
I like to have certain things on a Greek platter - either beef or poultry souvlaki, a Greek salad, roasted Greek potatoes, and rice. You will note that all of these things are present, except that the potatoes and rice looked like more of a garnish than an actual side that comprises a platter. All of it was undoubtedly very tasty.
The interior of this Casa Grecque store was very nicely finished and I liked having a table near the windows on Sherbrooke. The prices were standard for the genre and being part of a modern chain, but the portions made the platter's value more tenuous. The service was definitely cordial and the person providing the service had Greek roots. I asked him, 'What nationality are you, if I may ask?' You can do that in Montreal and Toronto. It's the order of the day and is often a lead-in to some great conversations in what is truly a world city. Of course, you should not do this in Seattle, Portland, and Minneapolis because you have to walk on eggshells on topics surrounding demographics. And, in the heartland, it wouldn't make much sense to ask since many people are so homogenized and wouldn't know how to address such a question. This is why I like going to Montreal. I've never ruffled anyone's feathers and they assume I'm a local ... when I was born on a palm-lined street.
Casa Grecque on Sherbrooke is a restaurant that serves up good Greek food in a pleasant environment. If the portions were just a little bit bigger, I would have gladly given them 4 stars.
