5000 Ans on St-Catherine

2176 St-Catherine
(near metro Atwater)
(514) 932-7565

OI! it's been a few months!
Sorry for the long wait, i admit i've been procrastinating on this blog :C
My first reason is that i haven't been to many restaurants lately and second of all, i don't want to review a restaurant without having been there at least twice.
I have a few things planned:
-Comparison of the 5000 Ans
-Tokyo Sushi review
-Post on New Year (tiger RAWR!)
-Some other restaurants i go to quite often but never thought of reviewing

On to this new post!
True, i've only been to this place once (yesterday night for a friend's birthday), but i can't help myself reviewing it..because it's korean? haha bias, yes.
If you quickly scan my previous post, you will notice that i've already reviewed a korean restaurant by the name of 5000 Ans.
Well, i've just discovered that there's another one, by the same name, on St-Catherine!
Unfortunately, I didn't get the chance to ask the workers there if it was owned by the same person, but just stepping into the restaurant and scanning the menu, i quickly saw that there were some resemblances and differences.
I will most definitely compare both but in a separate post or it would be too confusing!
Enough with my babbling! Here's the review :)

Ambience
The outside looks quite shabby, but do not be fooled because the inside is definitely homey!
It's a hip place for a younger crowd.
Walking down the stairs, you will spot on your left side a wall filled with mangas and on your right, many empty bottles of soju on an old piano :)
They have a backroom which you can rent/reserve if you intend on coming with a big crowd.
The room comes with a section for karaoke, a pool table, picnic table to eat on, and a casual lounge area.
And guess what?!, all of this for free!

Food
The number of dishes in their menu is of a decent size.
They have a lunch section and a dinner section (which i have a slight suspicion that it is the same with the only difference being the price haha).
What's nice is that they offer traditional korean cuisine and also japanese dishes (obviously koreanized!).
I couldn't resist and ordered myself up some beef bibimbap! (rice, vegetables, raw egg, hot sauce, kimchi, all in a hot pot bowl).
Some of my friends took the korean BBQ, others took ramen, soba, etc..
They also offer desserts such as green tea ice cream with dagwa (korean biscuit).

Must try
-Dolsot bibimbap (you all know how much i love my bibimbap).

Unfortunately, i didn't taste anything else so i can't suggest to you other must-trys!

Price
Reasonable price
Under 20$/person
I believe the KBBQ is (also) 30$, the bibimbap is 12,99$.

OVERALL RATING

10/10

Again, this rating is subject to change as i've only been here once.
However, i'm going there again next friday and will give an update!
Be on the look out for my next post for the comparison of both 5000 Ans!

Sorry sorry~

Hello food addicts!
I am not dead! don't worry...unless there's actually no one worrying about me *sob*.
Anywhoo,
I just wanted to write a quick note to say that i haven't been able to make any new posts yet because i am swamped with end of semester work at uni!
Thus, i haven't been able to eat at any new yummy restaurant.
When i do get time, I might do a review of a bakery or an old restaurant i always go to.
In the mean time, if you have any suggestions, please post them below!

Hope everyone is in good health!
Winter is coming so put those hats and scarfs on!

L'Avenue

922 Avenue Mont-Royal
(2 streets east of metro mont-royal)
(514) 523-8780

We all know about St-Denis being an ideal location to wander around for restaurants, bars and vintage shopping excursions.
However, we must not forget Mont-Royal which also delivers flavour to Montreal.
The restaurant L'Avenue is one of the best place by excellence to get your healthy meal to start your day. In fact, they are so famous for their breakfast that it is available to you until 4pm!
Perfect place after a hungover morning! haha
Not a fan of breakfast? Rest assured! they also serve dinner!
I've been to L'Avenue several times and it never fails to amaze me.
Find out why in the next section!

Ambience
When you step into L'Avenue, you step into another world!
As you could tell from the picture above, L'Avenue screams audacity.
The decoration of this place is unique and contemporary.
And they change it almost every season.
But in a few words, L'Avenue is Sin City.
The walls are spraypainted with a motorcycle hanging from the ceiling, on the verge of falling on top of you at any moment notice!
It fits in Mont-Royal's hip & chic atmostphere.
To be noted that at night, the lights are dimmed-down to enhance the ambience, so if you want your company to be able to see the decor appropriately, then eating in the morning or when there is still natural lighting is adviced!



Besides it's decor, the menu is also fitted.
It is also elaborately designed to go hand in hand with the surroundings.
As you can see below, it's comic book-like.
They have changed it and now it is in a newspaper format with fun headlines to read while waiting for the waiter.
I will at this point dully notify you that L'Avenue is not a place for those who are impatient as there is a line-up expected.
This place is so hip, you don't even have to ask why there is one!



Finally, another thing that is not to be missed when going to this restaurant is the restroom.
That's right..the restroom!
You think entering L'Avenue is wild enough, wait until you step into the restroom!
You step, once again, into another world. (picture below)
It is very dark and the lighting is red-tinted.
I wouldn't suggest you going in there if you have very bad vision.
But this restroom is also themed and let's just say that it's give you the impression that you just entered a filthy bathroom on the corner ally near a gas station (it's not literally filthy...but you feel dangerous and wild hahahaha).



Food
As i raved about earlier, you can get your breakfast or dinner.
You get your typical choice of eggs, sausage, bacons, ham, crepes, pancakes, waffles, etc...
For dinner, there is a bit of everything, from pasta, to hamburgers, to sandwiches, to thai dishes.

Must try
Breakfast
-2 Omega 3 eggs with sausages (served with fruits, well-seasoned potatoes and your choice of bread)

Dinner
-Kobe burger (made of the famous japanese beef!)
-Steak de bavette
-Philly cheesesteak sandwich

Price
The price is reasonnable.

[$$]
From this post on, i will instore the $$$$ rating system as other sites have so you can get a better idea instead of just telling you it's in your price range or not haha.

$ = under 10$
$$ = ~20$
$$$ = ~30$...and so on

OVERALL RATING
9/10

Do you have guests, friends, girlfriend you want to impress?
Bring them to L'Avenue, there won't be a dull moment!
I would've given a perfect score but i included the potential line-up factor.
I do hope you are patient enough because it's worth it and if you really don't like the idea, then simply go at another time (i.e.: not between 10am-1pm).

Enjoy!~

Cananut

6858 Jean-Talon Est
(near buffet La Stanza)
(514) 256-1212

Do you go nuts for nuts?
Haha, alright i admit that was lame but i couldn't resist!

I will unfortunately be reviewing less restaurants since school started and i'm on a budget crunch!
(Forever 21 has made a big dent in my wallet)

Have you ever gone to the supermarket, passed by the "nuts and dry fruits" section and gotten a sudden crave? Yet, it goes away the moment your eyes land on the price!

Well my sister's friend recommended we go get our nutty cravings satisfied by going to Cananut.

Sadly, i forgot to bring my camera so i couldn't take pictures...oh boy did i want to take them!

The place is amazing! you step in and there are bins filled with different nuts, rice and spices.
You get your favourite nuts (pistachio,walnut,hazelnut,sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds,etc..) in different flavours (lemon, BBQ, mixed,etc..).
They also come salted, half-salted and unsalted.

Fill up a plastic bag with your desired amounts and off you go!

Ginza

4593 rue Saint-Denis
(514) 904-0079

Another all-you-can-eat sushi restaurant!
My sister found this place a while ago.

Ambience
Ginza is a nice little hub.
You have the choice of eating inside or on the terrace.
It's very cozy and mellow.
Hard to explain but the dimmed-lighting enables you to relax.
There are two floors; on the upper one, you'll have the sushi chefs at the back preparing some yummy food!
Even the slight asian zen music just makes you feel at home, far away from a restaurant.

Food
They offer you the typical variety of sushi you find at Kanda or any other sushi shops.
However, they have a neat menu separate from the "ordering sheet" which gives you the name of the sushi and its composition.
They have a hefty recto-verso menu with large varieties and different specialties.
I am a BIG fan of BBQ eel and i must say Ginza offers the biggest piece out of all the All-you-can-eat sushi restaurants!

Must try
-Tiger eye
-BBQ Eal
-Paradise
-Shrimp tempura

Unfortunately, i only remember those.
I will deff add more to this list once i get the chance to go again
gomen ne~

Price
The average of 25$ per person like most of the all-you-eat places.

OVERALL RATING
8.5/10

It was definitely a good restaurant.
However, i'm not sure if it was because my mind was somewhere else but i didn't find anything memorable besides the charm and the specialties.
Or maybe it's because i went to too many sushi buffets hahahaha!