Ariel - Montréal

Top Class Restaurant with casual atmosphere I have been hosting an annual business dinner and more recently lunch at Ariel for over 10 years and also of course go there other times during the yearOur most recent event was beginning December 2015We hosted in their atrium a stand up tapas style lunch cocktail for over 20 peopleAs usual Dan's team (Dan = Prop) were top class and food was special as always One if the best places also for private quiet business lunch if you want clients to also have excellent food !

My husband and ate at Ariel last night and really enjoyed our experience. The food was outstanding! My husband had Cornish hen which had a nice light batter and cooked to perfection. He also had the gnocchi which was very light and flavorful. I had the cauliflower and red pepper soup which was creamy and had a slight kick which I thoroughly enjoyed. I also had the organic beet salad which was delicious. The young waitress was extremely attentive. I would definitely go back to this restaurant with family and friends.

12 colleagues so we had a table d'hôte. Both the chicken and the 12 hours braised Alberta beef were outstanding! The kale salad to start was fresh and crunchy. Apple tartin with vanilla bean ice cream for dessert. Accommodations easily made for both gluten free and an ape allergy!

I was taken to Ariel for drinks, appetizers, and dinners as part of a client event. It was a Monday night, and the restaurant was nearly empty, which made for a perfect environment for chatting and networking.The bar had a decent selection of wines and spirits. We were soon served three appetizers: deep fried macaroni and cheese; grass-fed beef sliders; and mushroom-cheese puffs. I do not care much for deep fried food, even less macaroni and cheese, but this combination worked. It looks like a fried stick of butter, but somehow the tastes and textures balanced out well--not too cheesy or powerful.Next came the sliders. They were very good, if a bit small. I passed on the cheese balls.We had two choices for appetizer: carrot soup and beet carpaccio. Learning that there was cream in the soup, I opted for the carpaccio instead. It was tasty and refreshing. My colleagues who had the soup spoke highly of it.Entrees were a choice of steak or Atlantic char. I went with the char, which was nicely cooked and had the consistency of salmon without the overpoweringly fishy taste. It came with delicious sauteed onions and green beans. I heard great things about the steak, specifically that it was so tender it tasted like brisket.We were served goat cheese cheesecake for dessert. I passed, but it seemed to be a specialty of the house.The food was very good, but the back room was particularly pleasant. It has a huge cathedral ceiling, giving the place an airy yet cozy feel. Like that room, the sky is the limit for Ariel.

Go for the Chef's choice! Starting with fresh oysters, Glazed octopus, smoked hummus, with pickled Fennel and Gnocchi that were all off the charts. Then the Fresh fried Cornish hen, traditional coleslaw and too many sauces to list that are the house special and should not be missed. If you imagine the best battered chicken you have ever had, you will find this a step up. Finish with a great cheese board and wines at prices for every budget and you have a meal that is meant for royalty. 2nd vbisit in 2 months and I will be back every time I am in Montreal.