“Honey! Wake up! We’re going to the Underground City!”. I’m trying to rouse a sleeping Mr NQN to no avail. Luckily non Metrosexual men like Mr NQN are of that breed that don’t require a lot of getting ready time and we’re off in twenty minutes. I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of an Underground City. Ever since my Canadian friend Gina told me about how some cities in Canada have their own cities under the ground that can shelter you from snow and the elements, I have always wanted to visit one.
We decide to brave the Metro system. Based on Paris’s Metro system it is very straight forward to use and we buy a 3 day pass for $14 each (although the machine doesn’t take foreign credit cards). We change metros and arrive at McGill where we follow the direction that most people are walking. It’s the largest underground complex in the world and is actually a mix of underground and above the ground complexes and tunnels. You just keep walking and it seems that the shops never end as it spreads across an enormous 12kms.
The shops are varied although I am yet to spot any designer boutiques (although we didn’t really go with a concerted plan of attack). They’re mostly mid range although that doesn’t stop me from going a bit crazy at Zara and La Senza as well as buying these cute little Sex and the City chocolates (I loved the Carrie one with the NYC skyline!). We’re struck at how similar it appears to Tokyo’s subway system shopping centres. We see some glass roofs and the sky peering in in some sections. Apart from a multitude of shopping centres, there are banks, hotels, condos, museums and offices and the whole thing stretches for a few metro stations. After a few hours spent wandering around and arms weighed down with shopping, we emerge at Peel where we take the Metro to Victoria Square and head to our lunch at Restaurant Beaver Hall.
Now I know what you’re going to ask and there are no beaver here despite the name. Either in alive form (although there are groundhogs and squirrels we were excited to see!) or on the plate. Now Mr NQN and I don’t argue much at all-it’s usually about him tidying up, but we had a fight over the dessert here! But more on that later 
We are led to our table in this gorgeous room which is full of rich woods, leather booths and is busy with the swift efficiency and even sounds of business murmuring of a business lunch crowd.
There is already bread on the table and we’re surprised to see sourdough bread. We’re so used to seeing it on restaurant tables in Sydney but this is the first time it has appeared here. It comes with a variety of accompaniments including an olive and caper tapenade, olive oil and butter as well as pickles to accompany your meal and tongs to remove them.
Amuse Bouche
A waiter presents us with an amuse bouche from the kitchen and it’s a creamy salmon mousse with mini baguette croutons. The mousse is wonderfully airy and distinct in salmon, cream and chives. In fact when we ran out of croutons I couldn’t let it go to waste and took to it with a fork.
Foie gras au torchon $14.50
We asked for some help with choosing our meals and we were recommended several dishes. Sadly they were out of lobster salad (arrgh I’ve been dying to try Canadian lobster!) but we settle on some lovely sounding dishes. We start with the foie gras au torchon which comes as three quennelles of foie gras pate. It’s said to come with a pineapple chutney but it’s a fig paste instead. It also comes with a lovely dark sourdough bread. Mr NQN isn’t a huge fan of foie gras because it is too rich for him but we both adore this. The foie gras pate is light and when spread on the spongey, airy sourdough the pate melts into a soft, buttery topping with that distinct foie gras flavour. The fig paste is absolutely perfect for this.
Parmesan crusted calamari and tartare sauce $10.50
I have to admit I’m a sucker for cute little gadgets and the little lemon slice squeezer is very cute. You press down on the lever and then tip it to pour the juice over the calamari rings which are coated in a lightparmesan and poppyseed studded batter. There are also two little pots of a delicious tomato sauce which tastes house made and a creamy tartare sauce.
Cute lemon squeezer
Salmon and vegetables, in a crispy crust with lobster bisque $22.50
The salmon fillet is topped with eggplant and zucchini and wrapped in a thin pastry and then baked. Whilst it is cooked through the salmon is not dry. The lobster bisque is rich and heady in lobster andsherry.
Mixed grill
The Mixed grill is huge and consists of beef fillet, lamb and pork flank with hand cut chips and watercress with a Bearnaise sauce. The steak is cooked medium rare just as ordered and is tender and well cooked as is the lamb. The pork flank with it’s lovely layer of fat and meat and appealing caramelisation on the corners has won our heart though. The hand cut chips are good and the watercress is welcome greenery but could do with a little dressing.
Pech-Céleyran Syrah 2009
Dessert time!
It’s 2 o clock and the business crowd has cleared all at once and there remains two other tables. The waiter comes by with a tray of desserts, all in square glass cups. This has got to be one of the smartest ways to lure a business crowd into ordering dessert. It’s ready made, small and can be eaten in four spoonfuls. This way of serving dessert is for lunch only and desserts for dinner time are served the regular way by ordering from the menu.
Strawberry Panna cotta
OK trouble time! I don’t usually like panna cotta in a glass as I like it wobbling in front of me in all of its glorious obscenity. Mr NQN takes this and lets out a disgusted sound. “Ugh this is terrible”. I read through it quickly and he quickly spoons it into his mouth. He’s lying of course and I take the dessert from him eager to get my share. It’s gorgeous, just the absolute right texture but the thing that sends it over the top is the strawberry sauce. It is strawberry season here and the sauce is the right amount of sweetness. “Hey! I want it back” he protests. “Too bad, I’ve got it, this is my half!” I tell him cupping the glass protectively and spooning it into my mouth eyes wide with excitement.
Cheesecake with mango coulis
For the cheesecake glass there is a thin layer of fine biscuit crumbs at the base and a layer of unbaked cheesecake and some mango coulis and some piped cream on top. The cheesecake is quite good but you know you cannot appreciate it after the panna cotta.
Mr NQN is still smarting over the theft of his strawberry panna cotta (which was technically my half) and when they come for a coffee order he asks if he can get another strawberry panna cotta. The waiter does a double take and then smiles and brings him another with a smile. Yes all is forgiven.
So tell me Dear Reader, do you ever get possessive over food?
Happy Mr NQN now that he has had a second dessert
NQN and Mr NQN dined as guests of Restaurant Beaver Hall. They travelled and explored Canada as guests of Tourism Canada and Tourism Montreal.
Restaurant Beaver Hall
1073, cote du Beaver Hall corner Belmont, Montreal, Québec, H2Z 1S5
514-866-1331 Tel. 514.866.1331
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42 Comments | Add your own
Yes but only dessert. That’s a nifty and practical lemon squeezer, now I need one.
I want that lemon squeezer!
i know just how you feel, i refused to part with more than one bite of a very delicious carrot cake once.
A girl can be happy with Zara
Lorraine…I’m so thrilled you got to try this restaurant…it sure has pleased my tummy a few times.
BTW…I get possessive over dessert only if the person I’m dining with refuses to acknowledge their desire for dessert too ;o)
Ciao for now,
Claudia
I’m a sucker for gadgets too – although that lemon slicer looks cool but not very practical at home. The pannacotta sounds delicious – no wonder Mr NQN is grinning so happily there in that last shot!
Chocolates and a carousel horse in one place – I’m there! I don’t get possessive over food – happy to share; but my brother does, even if he hasn’t bought it.
how awesome is that lemon squeezer!!!!
You’ve been mentioning foie gras a lot lately so I googled it and then felt really sick thinking about how the poor ducks are force fed
I like to share food, especially if it’s good, I want everyone to experience the goodness. But I do get cranky if people steal my chips lol
I don’t mind going halves – as long as I’m allowed to assess the desserts and have the better half second
I would love that pannacotta right now!
Sounds like you had a wonderful time Lorraine!
I wouldn’t have given the pannacotta back either if it tasted that good!! I have been known to ‘confiscate’ food at times myself, aah remembering my first tofu pad thai And yes I also want one of those lemon squeezers
what a terrific time spend! I was just holding my saliva over those lovely food! amazing discovery!
c gets more posessive than me! I always want him to share meals but he likes to have his own full meal!
love the lemon squeezer hehe
Hahaha! Hmm Soy and I haven’t fought much over food cos she normally prefers savoury food and is happy for me to take over after she has had a few bites of dessert. One thing she is possessive about is eggs! She always makes sure she cooks extra so I don’t come and eat it all!
That’s the cutest lemon squeezer in the world! And what beautiful plating of the foie gras
Now I know we’re all about food here, but that ‘underground city’ huh. I’ve heard so much about how Canadians get through their winter, but this… I have to see. Mmm, possessive about food – not sure but if I did, it’d be desserts for sure. Love the little idea for serving lunch time sweets, very clever, oh & the lemon squeezer… ohhh & the sex ‘n the city chokkies.
Yess. I must go there soon. Thanks for sharing.
Usually by the time dessert comes around I’m too full to be possessive but on an empty stomach it can be another story.
Love your nail polish btw!
The meal looks absolutely delicious. I’m a huge of panna cotta, inevitably order it at every restaurant that serves it. So jealous you guys got to travel to Canada and Montreal as part of their Tourism campaign, so lucky =)
I missed Montreal! We briefly stopped by to pick up dinner, but never really got to investigate it. I’d love to visit again, this time to the underground city!
I feel like I’m Joey from friends sometimes ’cause I generally prefer not to share food, even with my husband
But I try to be ok about it as not to seem too selfish!!
oh wow it all looks so beautiful! just love the desserts, my favourite part of the menu!
corrie;)
I love the picture of happy Mr NQN… love love!
Do I get possessive over food???? Hello??? Yes, yes, and YES! I’m like a 5 year old in a 35 year old body (make that 20 year old body LOL).
More and more I’ve come to the realisation about what an amazing place Canada is for foodies. I’ve got to visit one day.
Have a wonderful weekend.
*kisses* HH
Desserts or food…. no more sqables on a table which seats me with friends… they all know better than to take any food away from me by now
Lovely post…
Cheers,
The Variable, Crazy Over Desserts – Nachiketa
Catch me on facebook @ Crazy Over Desserts
I want EVERYTHING shown here! Ooh it looks so good! & yes, very definitely possessive over food! I never knew these underground cities existed! 12kms of shops? My heart was beating faster reading about it!
A great meal! I love the idea of those desserts in the square glass cups!
I love this Canadian tour, Lorraine!
Although I was born and raised there, I never got further east than Manitoba. 
I’d love to go to Montreal one day.
That parmesan crusted calamari looks amazing, I would eat plates of that. With lots of tartare sauce on the side too, haha.
I do sometimes get possesive over my food, but I still let R have a taste regardless (as I always can’t refrain from reaching over and stealing whatever he is eating!).
They named a chocolate after me!
The meal looks glorious Lorraine! Your description of the panna cotta is enough to tempt to into trying to replicate it at home right here and now.
Love that lemon squeezer too!
Amazing foie gras and a restaurant called beaver hall?
Sign me up immediately
I have the same sort of lemon squeezer but in the shape of a cute little bird. The juice comes out its mouth.
I only get possesive about food when BigJ takes all the pieces of meat from asian dishes and only leaves me the veggies. I like veggies, but it’s not a fair swap!
I’m lucky as A always offers me to try his meal but has to be coaxed into trying mine & then takes the tiniest spoonful.
This made me so nostalgic. I lived in Montreal for 3 months years ago – wish I’d known about this restaurant!
be honest–you snuck that lemon squeezer into your purse.
i love the shot with mr nqn in the background–hilarious!
I’m enjoying the trip report. Loved that dessert idea. Dad and I often share a meal or a dessert and lately I have been insisting on an extra plate so that I get my fair share. xoxo Mum
Ive only been to Canada when I was a kid. I am planning a return trip next year. Looking forward to it now!
love that lemon squeezer! yes, i do get possessive over food, but i try not to be overly greedy. it is especially difficult with delicious desserts… i might not have been able to share the ones you had.
The underground city is such a godsend if you need to go shopping in winter!
I’m sure I’d still somehow manage to squirt lemon juice in my eye with that gadget.
Looks amazing – but love love love the Sex and the City chocolates!
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