Charles N.
Yelp
What a fabulous dining experience!
Many moons ago, a very good friend of mine, whom I first met through Yelp MTL, invited me to Gus, a discrete restaurant on Beaubien, with casual ambiance, music that is not too loud so you can still each other talk, and a small but high quality gourmet French menu with a Tex-Mex twist won't break the bank.
I still have vivid memories of my first visit which started with hand-crafted margaritas, made with the perfect balance of real freshly squeezed lime juice (not the bottled one), a splash of fresh OJ, tequila and triple sec.
This was followed by fantastically sautéed Brussels sprouts, with crunchy edges and yet soft and warm insides, finished with gentle touch of acidity and sweetness from the white balsamic caramelization.
And then, we feasted on best tasting Caesar Salad ever!Everything was made from scratch, right under our eyes, with whole anchovies, homemade croutons, cheese, sizeable bacon bits... and the best, with full step by step explanations from the Chef himself!
Then, I had the chance to attack a huge plate of perfectly seasoned grilled lamb chops topped with fresh mint leaves and crispy deep fried capers that keeps on calling you back for more - they're like "crack"! My pescatarian friendly, and partner in crime, asked for a slight variation with pan fried cod, basted in butter, oh my my, so delicious.
And for a mood-boost, since we each had a hard week, we indulged in a few glasses of carefully selected wine pairings, some were private imports.
For the final act, a moist and rich chocolate cake with some fine whipped creamed cheese, and the most amazing carrot ever - coming from someone who doesn't like carrot cake!
Truth be told, when asked what makes a dining experience at Gus exhilarating? I believe it is the combination of who you are dining with, the impromptu conversations with fellow guests, and David Ferguson (chef, owner, proud father and fantastic teacher), Josh (at the Grill), Ciaran (working his charm), and the crew, who prepare, cook, and serve you with all of their might and soul.
Pro Tip: Thinking of date night? Sit at bar to see it all come together like a symphony. One more thing, you must try the steak and/or the surf and turf!