This review for the Pavillon 67 buffet need not be combined with others. It stands alone because…read moreit is a very unique experience in Montreal, let alone being in the Casino de Montreal, which is on a much smaller island in the St. Lawrence River than the large island that Montreal itself occupies.
At one point, I believe I reviewed the original buffet here years ago, which was then closed for revamping. That means that it was updated ... and not outfitted with a new entourage of vamps. The old buffet was in a large interior room where the walls were painted in a medical grade robin egg blue that just felt weird. However, I gave it 5 stars because of how fleshed out the buffet line was, how delicious the desserts were, and how much I liked the mid-week lunch price.
I recently went here for the Express Lunch Buffet. This means the lowest price tier to have a meal at the Pavillon 67 buffet. Common sense dictates that there will be several tiers of prices depending on the day and the meal. Lunch mid-week will be less expensive, and that's what this was. Brunch on weekends will cost a little bit more. Dinners at the buffet will be more expensive, with Friday nights, weekends, and special events being the most expensive.
For this price, which looks even nicer when translated into American currency, don't be looking a gift horse in the mouth. They are able to do this because the selection is limited but still sensible.
There will be two major entrees and a type of pasta or two, not to mention pizza slices. The salad bar is actually respectable. The dessert choices are also adequate, with the items being tasty.
I helped myself and paced myself to 4 plates: one for salads, one for the main entrees, one for pizza, and one for a few select cookies and pieces of pie. While it didn't rock my world, all of it was perfectly fine, if not good. I also had coffee that they'd come by and refill as necessary.
With that thought, the service received from everyone was amicable, with a few even being humorous. Remember, this is Quebec and Gallic sensibilities prevail. It wouldn't be typical in either Calgary or Edmonton, where the friendliness is of the Western Canadian variety. I prefer Montreal styled cheekiness. The pricing for this mid-week adventure was to my liking. Lastly, one needs to mention how nice the space occupied by the Pavillon 67 is, up on a higher floor in the Casino de Montreal. It is very tastefully finished. I had heard that there was a view back to Montreal. It is in an adjacent spill-over room that was not being used for lunch and/or is the room in which the dinner buffet is held. You can see Centre-Ville from there, but the angled metal slats from the casino's trendy exterior design intrude to some degree.
If you are looking for something like a Bellagio (or Manhattan 5-star hotel) buffet, where it starts to look like and be priced like a gourmet buffet, you will be disappointed. If you are looking for a little less choice from a sensible selection of solid food across the different courses, not to mention being in a nice environment with good natured personnel and fair pricing, then check out the Pavillon 67 buffet in the Casino de Montreal. I would definitely come back.