Inspirational Eats

The newest Baton Rouge

It has been almost 33 years since the first Baton Rouge Grillhouse & Bar location opened at Carrefour Laval. Fast forward to today and there are now 30 across Quebec, Ontario and the Maritimes. I remain a huge fan of this brand, so it was with great enthusiasm that I got to experience the new Lasalle location at Carrefour Angrignon.

This marks the first Baton Rouge spot in the Sud Ouest. There is plenty of free parking, and the spacious venue seats 120 inside and 30 more on a seasonal terrasse. The entrance is fully wheelchair accessible, and the washrooms are compliant as well. In fact, there are several individual stalls. There is a choice of booths or tables for seating. Owned by the MTY Group, the Baton Rouge team always seems to be in expansion or full renovation mode. I have written stories over the past two years on the magnificent makeovers at the Decarie and Complexe Desjardins facilities.

The Baton Rouge menu features many tempting choices, such as the trademark BBQ baby back ribs, chicken, the finest AAA and Certified Angus Beef steaks, craveable appetizers, crisp salads, signature burgers and sandwiches, seasonal vegetables, premium seafood, lobster in season and decadent desserts.

I tried the prime rib for the first time (it was excellent), with their delicious fries on the side. A lobster tail as an extra was a nice treat. My friend enjoyed a perfectly grilled rib steak, along with some black tiger shrimps and scallops. We also shared a half rack of their famous ribs. For dessert we opted for the chocolate chip key lime pie and the white chocolate raspberry cheesecake. It was a fabulous meal, enhanced by servers Lena, Flash and Natalie.

They are located at 7077 Newman Blvd. Info: batonrouge.ca

Enoteca Monza Pizzeria Moderna

It has been six years since Montreal-based restaurant franchisor Foodtastic acquired the Enoteca Monza Pizzeria Moderna chain. There were only four locations at the time. They have since expanded with five more. We recently went for a lovely dinner at the Laval Centropolis location, which underwent extensive renovations through the month of October to mark its 15th anniversary.

There is a large parking lot, with accessible spots and a wheelchair-friendly drop-off zone. Everything is at the same level. Just call in advance to ensure you reserve the proper seating.

We started off with some glasses of wine and shared the focaccia quattro formaggi appetizer and a fabulous burrata. For the main courses, our table went for the margherita pizza, the vitello alla parmigiano and tortellini rosé. After sharing some glasses of limoncello, we ordered some cups of cappuccino and tea and waited for the decadent desserts to arrive: a piece of key lime pie and the dulce chocolate cake.

Info: restaurantmonza.com

The return of Moishes

It has been a year and a half now since the iconic Moishes Steakhouse reopened at its new Victoria Square location. Recently, I enjoyed my first meal there, coinciding with the debut of a beautiful terrasse. The Grandio Group, which also owns Le Cage Brasserie Sportive, Gibbys and a host of other dining establishments, purchased Moishes towards the end of 2018. Less than two years later, the doors to its fabled St. Laurent Blvd. closed in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. On June 14, 2023, it came back to life. We enjoyed a spectacular seafood tower and shared an equally appetizing 34-ounce porterhouse steak. For dessert we shared a mouth-watering piece of lemon meringue pie.

Valet parking is available for a fee. There is a wide and level entry through the front door, and, unlike the original Moishes on St. Laurent Blvd., the washrooms are accessible. Info: moishes.ca

Mike Cohen can be reached at info@mikecohen.ca. Follow his culinary adventures at www.mtlrestorap.com.