Lesley C

I miss Amanda Hesser on the food pages. I don't think the magazine does her justice.

I am that "critc" and I'll tell you it must be a slow news week because that story has been blown WAY out of proportion. That said, it's a mystery to me why some of Ottawa's best restaurants were closed that night. As for not eating the food in the restaurant I went to, I couldn't. The restaurant looked awful on the outside and was just as dark and dingy on the inside. Life is too short to dine in a restaurant that depressing, especially on a beautiful sunny night. And don't forget, the place came HIGHLY recommended by several people at my hotel.

I don't see why Bruni is surprised by the cooking method. Searing followed by roasting is the best way to go with a thick rib steak. Does this guy know ANYTHING about cooking? Or is he just one of those gourmet bon vivant types?

Someone just told me about a restaurant called Vice Versa. Anyone heard of it?

Ian I was told that, due to demand, the terrace is now only open for groups.

Yet another laughable entry. Le Bilboquet is one of the picks in the Top Food list. For anyone who doesn't know, Le Bilboquet is a friggin' ICE CREAM PARLOUR! And on top of that, far from the best.

I would like to make it clear that I said they did not provide French surveys in the past. As for the most recent web-based survey, I have no idea whether one was provided.

Wait, who says they have to go at all? A chef I know read me the results of the Montreal guide. I think the list is a complete joke. If I remember correctly, Fairmount Bagel scored higher than Club Chasse et Peche for food. I wish the Zagats would just stick to New York. The way this guide is put together(and the disgraceful amount of money they offer to the guide writer -- or should I say compiler) is insulting to anyone who cares about the restaurant business in our city. The Zagats make me hate Americans. They have reduced our wondeful restaurant scene to a list based on the opinion of so few. And question: was the web survey even open to francophones?

Well I don't know...seems to me that when this crowd turned from eaters to drinkers, things went downhill. Chefs are what brought that street its reputation as a gourmet destination. But now the chefs are gone, and what are we left with? Bars, baby bars. What about Med Grill? And Sofia?

Reserve a table for as early as possible, as in 6 but no later. And tell them your child is coming. I find dining early is the only way to go with kids, and telling the staff up front that you have a toddler in tow.

I saw people there Saturday night. Quite crowded, actually.

I don't know if this has been brought up on the thread, but has duck magret been outlawed as well? Magret is the breast of a force-fed duck, so one would assume any such item would be off limits as well.

I'm happy to see a thread on La Chronique, a restaurant that really can astound with its bold use of ingredients. My main comment about that review is the bit about the restaurant not having to evolve. Funny thing is, it has evolved tremendously. I can still remember the early days when de Canck was making dishes similar to what was being served in high end hotels at the time and dessert trios decorated with a squiggle of hard caramel. The thing that always strikes me when I dine there is how much the restaurant has evolved over the year, from rather ordinary to pretty extraordinary, I think. I remember a well-known food writer from Toronto telling me she thought La Chronique was not that hot. All I could think was, no lady, La Chronique is a great restaurant. You just didn't get it.

If I had gone around saying "the tuna tartare is better at La Chronique than at Toque!" I would have been out of this business long ago. I'll happily say the steak frites at Le Mas des Oliviers is one of the best in the city, but I always try to avoid saying something like, "the steak frites at Les Mas des Oliviers is better than the steak frites at L'Express." One thing I did say about the Taro black cod dish is: "The last time I tasted fish of this ilk was in Vancouver at a nouvelle-cuisine French restaurant called West, where the marinated sablefish shared a similar flavour and identical texture. But the Vancouver filet was a steep $39. Taro's black cod is $22. Nice." Notice, I never said which is better.

I think you boys spend too much time comparing sushi scenes. Instead, why not look at each restaurant for what it is, rather than what it is not. This "your sashimi is better than my sashimi" approach is so tired.

I would strongly recommend Toque! I don't think it has ever been better. I love all the other restaurants on that list, but right now Toque! is on a roll. As for a bistro, consider Au Petit Plateau. It's a BYOW place on Marie-Anne. You'll certainly run into an SAQ while in town, so pick up a good bottle and squeeze into a table there. Of course, I also adore L'Express -- and the wine list is unbeatable.

Thanks for that Alexandra. I was wondering what you had seen from your vantage point down the street.

Wow, great news! Is their new restaurant as tiny as the last?

I second Le St-Christophe and I also admire the service at Derriere les Fagots just down the street. I have had great service in many unexpected places. Some of the old french restaurants really impress, like Le Mas des Oliviers and Chez Queux. No comment about Chez la Mere Michel.

Boy, for the first time I can really say I loved a Bruni review.

Does he have no French? I would think the sommelier program at the Ecole Hotelliere des Laurentides would be one of the best in North America.

Fireweed, I wrote that story. PM me and I'll send you a copy. As for the Tapeo boys, I would be worried about having a restaurant cater such a large event. A 400-plus wedding calls for a real caterer. From what I hear, DeVienne has stopped catering to focus on his spice business. If you have the money, I would think Denise Cornellier would do a bang up job.

Looks like there's more better English there too. Doc thanks for the kind words. My only regret about that article is that I couldn't include more restaurants.

You know, I thought that was a great article. He was completely honest. I understood where he was coming from. He made some strong points. I didn't see this at all as whining, but more like reality. I wish Chris McDonald all the best for the future.

Le Bouchon de Liege also does great steak/frites, described as old dairy cow on their menu. Really flavourful steak, and surprisingly tender as well.