Last Saturday, we decided to give brunch a break and try something different. We had lunch at Le Boucan, a southern-style BBQ restaurant in Montreal’s Griffintown.
The idea came up after a couple of friends who are going to visit Montreal asked for our opinion about the place. They saw it in one of those Food Network shows. Unfortunately, I didn’t have much to say because I had never really been there. That’s when I decided to head to Le Boucan, so I could give my friends my verdict.
Le Boucan: retro and laid-back atmosphere
Ambience
Le Boucan is fun. Like some other good eateries of Notre Dame street food scene, this BBQ joint has character. The hand-lettered menu written along the wall, the red-leather-bench booths and the old wood bar give it a retro and laid-back feeling. And its nice patio is exactly the kind of place you want to be in a sunny summer day.
Le Boucan menu: burgers, pulled pork, chicken and pork ribs.
Food
In the menu you find burgers, pulled pork, chicken and of course, smoked pork ribs. But I highly recommend starting with one of their appetizers. The cajun shrimps and the macaroni and cheese have a good reputation.
Mac n’ cheese. Yummy…
I had the mac n’ cheese and I didn’t had any regrets. It was delicious. Perfectly cooked pasta with a very creamy cheese sauce and breadcrumbs on top, which added some crunchiness to it. Yummy!
Ok. After the mac n’ cheese I have to admit that I was already full. That was quite big as a starter. But I couldn’t leave without trying the ribs. I ordered the half rack ($18) and I was impressed with the amount of food I got. So here is my advice: don’t go for the full rack ($26) unless you have a big appetite.
Le boucan ribs. Literarily finger-licking good!
The ribs were heavenly tender and meaty. And their home-made BBQ sauce had just the right balance of sweet and spicy. Literarily finger-licking good! As side dishes, choices are fries, coleslaw, potato salad, corn with cheese and green salad.
Le Boucan supports local breweries.
Highlights
I was happy to see that Le Boucan supports local breweries. I had a Bierbrier Ale for the first time and I really liked it. The beer and the ribs complemented each other very well.
Le boucan terrace
Service and price
Service was friendly and efficient. We had no problems in getting a last-minute reservation and we were welcomed with a smile. Prices are bit more expensive than the average BBQ joints in Montreal. But food was tasty and well executed. In short, I can tell my friends that Le Boucan is really worth a visit.
LE BOUCAN
1886 Notre-Dame Ouest (map)
514- 439-4555
http://www.leboucan.com
