No. 5: Le Vin Papillon

2519 RUE NOTRE-DAME WEST, MONTREAL, QUEBEC
VINPAPILLON.COM

Le Vin Papillon is the newest sibling of the Joe Beef and Liverpool House clan and, like in all other families, the youngest child has decided to be the most original and the most singular in order to stand out from the rest of the gang.

The approach has paid off well. Think of Vin Papillon as Joe Vegetable. For its menu—conceived by chef Marc-Olivier Frappier—is largely centered around roots and leaves and the like, cooked with all the butter, duck fat and house-smoked bacon needed in order to turn them into something decadent, delicious, and… not quite vegetarian. The wood-roasted cauliflower with crispy chicken skin is already a classic that several other restaurants have tried—unavailingly—to copy. Another excellent dish is paper-thin sliced celeriac dressed with bagna cauda, a composition which, perhaps more than any other here, illustrates something of the range of the delightful new possibilities that can be unleashed when vegetables fall into the right hands. The hands of a chef motivated by the idea of putting them front and center on the plate—with an imaginative twist. Behind the bar, the sommelier, natural wine advocate and co-owner Vanya Filipovic is a joy. Soliciting—and following—her recommendations is highly recommended.

Tuesday to Saturday
3:00 PM until 12:00 AM

North Americas best wine bar. Full stop. – ADRIAN MYERS

The kind of food that you want to recreate at home. – CHRIS JOHNS

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