THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Restaurant La Coupole Awards

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Restaurant La Coupole Restaurant Review:

Although its namesake exists in a Montmartre brasserie in Paris and under the dome of the Académie Française, this La Coupole is a distinctive and suave restaurant located in the heart of Montreal's boutique Hôtel Le Crystal. La Coupole tries to match the hotel's contemporary look, with its oversize Swarovski chandeliers and quirky, grandiose seats. The high ceilinged, two-floor structure features an impressive aluminum rimmed staircase and dark hardwood floors. Alcoves are found here and there, with caramel brown upholstered chairs and modern paintings, for more intimate dinners. TV's dot the walls and are used when the restaurant doubles as a sports bar. Several small rooms act as private VIP areas, and in the summers a patio becomes a cigar lounge. The cuisine here is contemporary, a notch above what you might find at a French brasserie. Start with the Crystal sangría, with lychee juice, strawberry, blackberry and peach schnapps. The foie gras trilogy is a tad lackluster, while the beef carpaccio is strong with a bitter aftertaste. The catch-of-the-day, however, makes up for what can be a slow start. The white tuna is presented on caramelized beets with honey in a white wine sauce. La Coupole has an extensive wine cellar that includes many special private imports that cannot be found elsewhere in town, and there’s an emphasis on Californian and French wines.