Ian M.
Yelp
I live in the Mile End and work downtown, so I've walked past Aldea, probably hundreds of times since it opened, and I was always intrigued by the inviting elegance of the decor, and what seemed to be really beautiful plates as I saw them through their generous floor-to-ceiling windows as I passed. Finally, I decided to take advantage of a rare evening off from the restaurant I manage to try it, and I am beyond glad that I did.
Honestly, one of the best dining experiences I've had in Montreal. This place is a gem.
The key to the whole thing, and the thread that pervaded our entire experience, is attention to detail. And it begins as soon as you walk in the building. The room is simply and tastefully decorated, with a cozy, but modern ambience. The furnishing is stylish without sacrificing comfort. Before you order a single thing, you're already glad you came. Even the washrooms were spotless on a level I've seldom seen.
My boyfriend doesn't drink, so I just ordered a half litre of the house red for my self and was pleasantly surprised by the quality. It robust and fruit forward, with a nice little tannic zip - not the flabby offering you get from most places as "vin maison". He and I both opted for the Table d'Hote, though we were certainly tempted by the ample selection of tasty-sounding tapas. Ranging from $30-42 for three courses, the price point is reasonable on its face, however once you see what you get it's incredible.
We were presented with a basket of fresh-to-the day Portuguese crusty rolls and sliced cornbread, and a lovely unexpected amuse bouche of meatball (done in a still reminiscent of brandade) with a spicy mayo. We ordered a queso fresco and tomato salad on top of the fixed menu offering, and it came out simple, fresh, and tasty - exactly what you'd hope for from a dish of this kind.
Soon after we finished that our Table d'Hote appetizers arrived - Lisbon Shrimp for me, and the chef's salad for my co-diner. The salad was dressed in a light vinagrette, garnished with strawberries and some cressons (which was a nice touch), and the shrimp . . . my goodness; large, flavourful without being fishy, and steeped in a stunning rose-type sauce (I detected red pepper and paprika notes, but I could be wrong. It was so delicious I wiped every spare drop out of the bowl.
By this point, everything had been so delightful, we couldn't wait for the mains, and they didn't disappoint. My veal chop was huge (at least 10-12oz) and cooked to a perfect medium, with traditional Portuguese style roast potatoes, and sauteed asparagus and broccolini. It was lightly seasoned, with the perfect amount of char. If I did it over again, I might try to get a side of the sauce from the shrimp appetizer, but that's more a testament to how amazing that was, rather than an indication the chop was in any way lacking flavour. My partner had the Filet Mignon & Jumbo Shrimp skewer, which also came cooked to perfection. They shrimp had taken just enough grill fire to benefit from the flavour, but still maintained a nice soft texture inside, and the steak pieces were tender and juicy. His dish came with the same vegetable mix, but with chip cut potatoes, in place of the larger roasted potatoes I received. He loved them, and finished each and every one, despite rapidly becoming full from the generous portions.
The presentation of the plates was fantastic, and every time a new plate arrived at one of the adjacent tables we were following it with our eyes, planning what to order on our next visit. The Giant Shrimp plate, Seared Cod, and Octopus we saw all looked mouth watering, and we were wishing we'd brought a few more people so we could sample them all.
We finished off with a nice homemade chocolate mousse (which was elevated by stirring a couple spoonfuls of my espresso into it), and a classic creme caramel. We had to stop ourselves from licking the plate clean.
From a service standpoint, we couldn't really have asked for me. We were assisted by two veteran waiters, who were polished, without being pretentious, and friendly without being intrusive. There is an open kitchen, so we also had the opportunity to thank the cooks who prepared such a formidable meal.
The bill came out to $132, before tip for 4 courses. More than reasonable.
Aldea offers what are very much traditional style Portuguese dishes. They are not seeking to re-invent the wheel, but have clearly focused on freshness, quality, and careful preparation to elevate the fare over establishements offering similar cuisine (which are ample in the quartier). For my purposes, I know I will be back, and would enthusiastically recommend it to anyone, whether for a special occasion, important date, or just a really well-executed meal in a gorgeous, intimate dining room.
Again, in a city with such a diversity of offerings, this was one of the most satisfying overall experiences I've had, and it will be one of a small handful of go-to restaurants for me moving forward.