Bouillon Bilk: Rediscovered Happiness

At the beginning of August 2024, we mentioned the imminent opening of Bouillon Bilk at its new address. Two months after being destroyed by a fire, this resurrection has been applauded by everyone.

Generous and Hyper-Positive People

Two months is not a long time, is it? “That’s true; it’s actually very short, but we were never defeated—just a bit sad, yes, but not overwhelmed,” explains Mélanie. “We immediately thought about what we would do and where we would settle. We thought right away about our staff, our suppliers, and our clientele, all three so loyal.”

“We” refers to Mélanie Blanchette (formerly of Leméac and co-owner of Bouillon Bilk, Cadet, and Place Carmin) and François Nadon (formerly of Brontë and Globe, and co-owner with Mélanie of Bouillon Bilk since day one). We should also mention Arielle and Annie, respectively the maitre d’ and manager, both of whom have been at Bouillon Bilk for 13 years. When people stay in a job at the same place for so long, it gives a good indication of how things are going, positively, of course.

The New Bouillon Bilk on Sainte-Catherine

And what about this new address? “We immediately contacted the owners, and everything was arranged very quickly and on the best terms. We made a few changes and improvements to the space [note: the former Accords Bistro, in the Vitrine Culturelle] to reflect who we are, and our clientele seems to appreciate it. On their part, our team has adapted well to the new kitchen, and the staff working in the dining area seem happy.”

It’s true that the decor evokes the former location, and you can feel the same gourmet atmosphere here as in the Bouillon Bilk of the past. Some details, though minor, will certainly be addressed, but we already thank the management for choosing to focus on what’s on the plates rather than beneath them; no tablecloths, but exciting plate compositions instead.

On the evening of our visit, the attentive and caring work of Éric and Annie contributed to our happiness. “We feel good in the neighborhood, and our clients who go to the Place des Arts are even closer and even happier to eat with us before or after the show,” the owner adds with a smile.

Lunch and Dinner: Still Eating Well at Bilk

And how about your plates? “We’ve kept our dishes and tasting menus. We know very well that we couldn’t remove certain offerings. For example, the scallops with zucchini, shiitake, and brown butter, or the hiramasa with yuzu kosho, grapefruit, and fennel are among the customers’ favorites. You can also come to us for one or two dishes, at lunch or dinner.”

For a restaurant of this quality—awarded a star by Tastet since its inception—the prices remain surprisingly reasonable. Given the care taken in the kitchen and the delicacy of the service, the five-course tasting menu at $105 or the eight-course tasting menu at $135 are excellent deals. Additionally, the very intelligent work of Minh Doan, the house sommelier, enhances the experience at this address with consistently relevant suggestions.

We wish everyone here to remain happy in what they do and to continue bringing joy to their customers.

Written by Jean-Philippe Tastet
Photography by Alison Slattery

Last update: October 09, 2024

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