Heading up to Montreal tomorrow - suggestions ?

SteveH · 03-16-2011, 08:16 PM

Mods - if this isn't the spot; all apologies

That said, the woman and I are going to take a long weekend in Montreal. It seems a much more cigar friendly environment - not to mention the plethora of Cubans !

So far, here's my list:

http://www.stogiescigars.com/stogies.html
http://www.whiskycafe.com/en_home.html
http://www.queuedecheval.com/index2.php?lang=en&view=n
http://www.ribnreef.com/
http://www.montreal.lacasadelhabano.ca/main.asp

How about some local suggestions ?

Thanks !
Steve

icehog3 · 03-16-2011, 08:20 PM

I know some great places, but I don't think the Missus would appreciate them, Steve.

Tio Gato · 03-17-2011, 05:17 AM

Suggestion? Bring lots of money. Taxes on cigars are crazy high. Have fun!

Eleven · 03-17-2011, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icehog3

I know some great places, but I don't think the Missus would appreciate them, Steve.

RHNewfie · 03-17-2011, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tio Gato

Suggestion? Bring lots of money. Taxes on cigars are crazy high. Have fun!

Absolutely

mosesbotbol · 03-17-2011, 05:35 AM

The best place to smoke is an expensive evening. It's at Queue de Cheval; one of Montreal's best steak houses. This place is amazing in many senses. The decore, the food, the scene... Even the way they cook the steaks.

The bar is incased in glass and allows cigar smoking.

LCDH is worth a visit, but that's the only place I would buy a cigar since prices are regulated. There's an awesome bakery right next to it that I highly recommend.

Other cool places are: Schwartz (or Main across the street) for Montreal's specialty - Smoked Meat. Club Caisse et Peche is a top notch restaurant that is world class in Old Montreal. There's some great Middle Eastern restaurants throughout the city. Shopping on St. Catherine for clothes; the best fashion in North America. Eggspectation's for breakfast is special and unique. St. Laurent at night is a good scene. A restaurant The Globe is really good and the waitstaff will keep you and your wife's eyes wandering.

What hotel are you staying at?

RHNewfie · 03-17-2011, 05:43 AM

Another vote for QdC and Schwartz! There also used to be a good place called Moishies I believe that was good.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

The best place to smoke is an expensive evening. It's at Queue de Cheval; one of Montreal's best steak houses. This place is amazing in many senses. The decore, the food, the scene... Even the way they cook the steaks.

The bar is incased in glass and allows cigar smoking.

LCDH is worth a visit, but that's the only place I would buy a cigar since prices are regulated. There's an awesome bakery right next to it that I highly recommend.

Other cool places are: Schwartz Smoked Meat (or Main across the street) for Montreal's specialty - Smoked Meat. Club Caisse et Peche is a top notch restaurant that is world class in Old Montreal. There's some great Middle Eastern restaurants throughout the city. Shopping on St. Catherine for clothes; the best fashion in North America. Eggspectation's for breakfast is special and unique. St. Laurent at night is a good scene. A restaurant The Globe is really good and the waitstaff will keep you and your wife's eyes wandering.

What hotel are you staying at?

mosesbotbol · 03-17-2011, 05:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RHNewfie

Another vote for QdC and Schwartz! There also used to be a good place called Moishies I believe that was good.

Moishes is good, I love the pickles and the wine list is decent, but does not have the scene and decore like QdC. I actually like Main's food better than Schwartz's and there's no line. Not to mention some of the best matza ball and kreplach soup! Gibby's is also a top tier steak house to consider.

If you decide to go to Club Caisse et Peche, reserve a table now.

One thing to remember in Montreal is that people eat late. 10:30 PM reservation for a big steak dinner is quite normal. Club scene starts late there.

If you are driving from New England, there's a strip club on the right in Henryville, owned by Hells Angels, that is more cat house than strip club. You can't miss it. Probably best when with just guys, lol...

SteveH · 03-18-2011, 07:03 PM

Thanks guys!
We are at the St Sulpice hotel, down by the cathedral. Plans for tomorrow will be LCDH to pick up a few, and then we will be off to Mont Royal, general wandering, the hit up the Wiskey Club.
Reservations are set for QdC on Sunday.

I'll post up pics as they come!

Thanks again -
Steve

RHNewfie · 03-18-2011, 08:04 PM

QdC is $$$ but worth it!!

SteveH · 03-21-2011, 06:46 PM

Ok gents, here's the summary:
The trip both exceeded my expectations; and was also a great disappointment. Good news first ?
The food and bar scene there is spectacular. QdC was one of the best; as well as a Portuguese place in the old part of town called "SolMar". The wine and port selections are AMAZING
Now....Im still a noob; so take the next comment with some salt...But I really enjoyed the cigar scene. Granted, I hit up the real 'touristic' places (Stogies, Whiskey Cafe, etc), but we really enjoyed ourselves at all of the places. The available selections weren't as broad as the advertising would leave you to believe...But I was never wanting for anything that they didn't have. (Ok ok, I would have really enjoyed a Siglo VI @ Whiskey's....)
My largest displeasure however is reserved for LCDH. Not only are their prices extremely outrageous - the staff is quite frankly disgusting. Upon our arrival, the staff was having a rather distasteful conversation (rather loudly in Spanish), about a customer who had just left the store. After walking around the store for a couple of mins; I was ready to head into the Humidor. I asked the girl (In English) if we can go in, and she escorted us in.
At no time did she ask us any questions. She just stood directly in our way and tapped her fingers on a piece of paper rather impatiently. After looking around for a minute - I decided that I was not going to pay $46+tax for a Monte #2 (!), so we walked out of the humidor. When we walked out - she said "Thank you" in English - then proceeded to tell her coworker (In Spanish) that we're just more tourists wasting her time . When I responded to her in Spanish that perhaps her attitude is the cause of the lack of sales she began to apologize and we walked out.
So, that was that. I really did not make any big scores. The next time Im in Montreal I'd really like to get away from the tourist traps. I did find it interesting how much the price of BHK's is inflated up there...and how volitile the prices are. Every place we went to who had them for sale had the prices listed on a Habanos blackboard - and it was clear the prices changed often.
Enough of the banter; here's some pics ! We did hit a snowstorm on the way back; but its still a beautiful drive !

mosesbotbol · 03-22-2011, 05:12 AM

I thought the cigar prices whether at a mom and pop store or LCDH are about the same due to taxes and price setting?

That's really unfortunate that LCDH did not live up to your expectations. I know the manager is a nice enough guy. There use to be a Davidoff store down the street.

What did you order at QdC? Pretty dope place, huh? Did you check out St. Laurent at night?

SteveH · 03-22-2011, 06:48 AM

Pricing was all over the place. Maybe due to the parade, etc ? Not really sure....

Yes, QdC was awesome, I really wish there was something like that locally around here...

mosesbotbol · 03-22-2011, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveH

Pricing was all over the place. Maybe due to the parade, etc ? Not really sure....

Maybe some Canadiens will chime in on cigar pricing. I thought a Monte 2 was about $27 CDN?

03-16-2011, 08:16 PM	#1
SteveH You lookin at me ? Join Date: Mar 2011 First Name: Steve Location: Wilmington, DE Posts: 336 Trading: (4)	Heading up to Montreal tomorrow - suggestions ? Mods - if this isn't the spot; all apologies That said, the woman and I are going to take a long weekend in Montreal. It seems a much more cigar friendly environment - not to mention the plethora of Cubans ! So far, here's my list: http://www.stogiescigars.com/stogies.html http://www.whiskycafe.com/en_home.html http://www.queuedecheval.com/index2.php?lang=en&view=n http://www.ribnreef.com/ http://www.montreal.lacasadelhabano.ca/main.asp How about some local suggestions ? Thanks ! Steve

03-17-2011, 05:17 AM	#3
Tio Gato Uncle Kitty Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Jeff Location: Casa Grande, AZ Posts: 2,075 Trading: (11)	Re: Heading up to Montreal tomorrow - suggestions ? Suggestion? Bring lots of money. Taxes on cigars are crazy high. Have fun! __________________ "You stink like cigars Uncle Kitty!" Said my Boo age 3. "Kid, take care of your family and the hell with anyone else" My Grandpa Bubba.

03-17-2011, 05:35 AM	#6
mosesbotbol That's a Corgi Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Moses Location: Boston Posts: 6,171 Trading: (6)	Re: Heading up to Montreal tomorrow - suggestions ? The best place to smoke is an expensive evening. It's at Queue de Cheval; one of Montreal's best steak houses. This place is amazing in many senses. The decore, the food, the scene... Even the way they cook the steaks. The bar is incased in glass and allows cigar smoking. LCDH is worth a visit, but that's the only place I would buy a cigar since prices are regulated. There's an awesome bakery right next to it that I highly recommend. Other cool places are: Schwartz (or Main across the street) for Montreal's specialty - Smoked Meat. Club Caisse et Peche is a top notch restaurant that is world class in Old Montreal. There's some great Middle Eastern restaurants throughout the city. Shopping on St. Catherine for clothes; the best fashion in North America. Eggspectation's for breakfast is special and unique. St. Laurent at night is a good scene. A restaurant The Globe is really good and the waitstaff will keep you and your wife's eyes wandering. What hotel are you staying at? __________________ Port Wine & Claret \| British Cars \| Welsh Corgi's Last edited by mosesbotbol; 03-17-2011 at 05:42 AM.

03-18-2011, 07:03 PM	#9
SteveH You lookin at me ? Join Date: Mar 2011 First Name: Steve Location: Wilmington, DE Posts: 336 Trading: (4)	Re: Heading up to Montreal tomorrow - suggestions ? Thanks guys! We are at the St Sulpice hotel, down by the cathedral. Plans for tomorrow will be LCDH to pick up a few, and then we will be off to Mont Royal, general wandering, the hit up the Wiskey Club. Reservations are set for QdC on Sunday. I'll post up pics as they come! Thanks again - Steve

03-18-2011, 08:04 PM	#10
RHNewfie Have My Own Room Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Jeff Location: Oooooh Canadaaaaa Posts: 2,007 Trading: (15)	Re: Heading up to Montreal tomorrow - suggestions ? QdC is $$$ but worth it!! __________________ σπένδομαι

03-16-2011, 08:20 PM	#2
icehog3 Admiral Douchebag Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Tom Location: Clermont, Kentucky Posts: 70,553 Trading: (60)	Re: Heading up to Montreal tomorrow - suggestions ? I know some great places, but I don't think the Missus would appreciate them, Steve. __________________ Thanks Dave, Julian, James, Kelly, Peter, Gerry, Dave, Mo, Frank, Týr and Mr. Mark!

03-21-2011, 06:46 PM	#11
SteveH You lookin at me ? Join Date: Mar 2011 First Name: Steve Location: Wilmington, DE Posts: 336 Trading: (4)	Re: Heading up to Montreal tomorrow - suggestions ? Ok gents, here's the summary: The trip both exceeded my expectations; and was also a great disappointment. Good news first ? The food and bar scene there is spectacular. QdC was one of the best; as well as a Portuguese place in the old part of town called "SolMar". The wine and port selections are AMAZING Now....Im still a noob; so take the next comment with some salt...But I really enjoyed the cigar scene. Granted, I hit up the real 'touristic' places (Stogies, Whiskey Cafe, etc), but we really enjoyed ourselves at all of the places. The available selections weren't as broad as the advertising would leave you to believe...But I was never wanting for anything that they didn't have. (Ok ok, I would have really enjoyed a Siglo VI @ Whiskey's....) My largest displeasure however is reserved for LCDH. Not only are their prices extremely outrageous - the staff is quite frankly disgusting. Upon our arrival, the staff was having a rather distasteful conversation (rather loudly in Spanish), about a customer who had just left the store. After walking around the store for a couple of mins; I was ready to head into the Humidor. I asked the girl (In English) if we can go in, and she escorted us in. At no time did she ask us any questions. She just stood directly in our way and tapped her fingers on a piece of paper rather impatiently. After looking around for a minute - I decided that I was not going to pay $46+tax for a Monte #2 (!), so we walked out of the humidor. When we walked out - she said "Thank you" in English - then proceeded to tell her coworker (In Spanish) that we're just more tourists wasting her time . When I responded to her in Spanish that perhaps her attitude is the cause of the lack of sales she began to apologize and we walked out. So, that was that. I really did not make any big scores. The next time Im in Montreal I'd really like to get away from the tourist traps. I did find it interesting how much the price of BHK's is inflated up there...and how volitile the prices are. Every place we went to who had them for sale had the prices listed on a Habanos blackboard - and it was clear the prices changed often. Enough of the banter; here's some pics ! We did hit a snowstorm on the way back; but its still a beautiful drive !

03-22-2011, 05:12 AM	#12
mosesbotbol That's a Corgi Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Moses Location: Boston Posts: 6,171 Trading: (6)	Re: Heading up to Montreal tomorrow - suggestions ? I thought the cigar prices whether at a mom and pop store or LCDH are about the same due to taxes and price setting? That's really unfortunate that LCDH did not live up to your expectations. I know the manager is a nice enough guy. There use to be a Davidoff store down the street. What did you order at QdC? Pretty dope place, huh? Did you check out St. Laurent at night? __________________ Port Wine & Claret \| British Cars \| Welsh Corgi's

03-22-2011, 06:48 AM	#13
SteveH You lookin at me ? Join Date: Mar 2011 First Name: Steve Location: Wilmington, DE Posts: 336 Trading: (4)	Re: Heading up to Montreal tomorrow - suggestions ? Pricing was all over the place. Maybe due to the parade, etc ? Not really sure.... Yes, QdC was awesome, I really wish there was something like that locally around here...