Théophile: Chic wine bar at Promenades St-Bruno

A shopping mall on the South Shore is probably the last place you’d expect to find a nice place where you can drink good wine. But that’s exactly what Théophile offers, a very nice wine bar nestled in the CF Marché, the gourmet hall of the Promenades St-Bruno.

From the outset, the magnificent decor by BlazyGérard is in stark contrast to the preconceived image of a “shopping mall restaurant”. With its high ceilings, large windows, sumptuous lighting fixtures and leather and velvet upholstered banquettes, it feels more like a chic downtown restaurant—or even one in New York. And that’s exactly the look the two owners, Lyne Simard and Pierre-Vincent Riverin Lemieux (who are also behind the Place Deschamps restaurant at Place des Arts and the café and bistro Le Parva at the Grande Bibliothèque de Montréal) wanted to recreate.

“We wanted to bring something from Montreal, but on the South Shore,” says Lyne Simard, who lives in Saint-Bruno. Given the scarcity of wine bars in the area, we are delighted!

The dining room has about 100 seats, plus about 60 outside on the Terrasse du Marché, a lively public square at the entrance to the CF Marché that offers a host of summer activities for young and old. Inaugurated in 2021, the gourmet hall brings together restaurants, local artisans and gourmet stores under one roof. In sum, it’s a very nice epicurean destination on the South Shore!

An evolving cuisine

At the helm of the kitchen is chef Robin Filteau Boucher, who has been active for a while now: first at Chez Victoire with his mentor Alexandre Gosselin, then at the now-closed Laurea with Hakim Chajar, before heading off to Bali to open the Gypsy Kitchen+Bar, a concept he brought back to Montreal and which has been transformed into Name’s On The Way. Sprinkle in two appearances on the TV show Les Chefs, and his track record speaks for itself.

At Théophile, he offers a local, evolving and seasonal cuisine. Fish and seafood are his specialty, but you will also find meat and vegetable dishes on the menu.

During our visit, we tried the asparagus with Louis d’Or—crispy and perfect with the generous shavings of cheese—and the trout tartar with sour cream and dill oil, fresh and delicious. For the main course, we liked the Arctic char served with artichokes en barigoule and Jerusalem artichokes, but the highlight was the homemade lobster bucatini: al dente pasta, topped with half a lobster, lobster butter and bisque, it was pure delight. We couldn’t help but eat every last bite, despite our very full bellies.

Parents beware, our two year old critic also enjoyed it: the kitchen offers a children’s menu that changes daily.

Don’t be surprised to see the chef come by at the end of service to shake your hand; Robin is not one to hide in the kitchen and is always on the lookout for constructive comments from customers.

A nod to Saint-Bruno

In the dining room, Lyne Simard hovers between the tables with her team to make sure everyone is well received. The service is friendly and knowledgeable.

Sommelier Samuel Vachon’s wine list is designed for the clientele and offers everything from the most conventional to the most funky, depending on your tastes. A changing selection of about fifteen wines offered by the glass also allows regulars to make great discoveries.

The bar prepares very good house cocktails, whose names are inspired by the history of Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville: 1845 (the year the city was founded), Mgr Gigi (Monseigneur Gilles-Gervais, parish priest from 1939 to 1969), Victorin (for Father Marie Victorin, a famous botanist who gave his name to a city park). Moreover, the name of the restaurant is also a nod to a historical figure: Olivier-Théophile Bruneau, the last Sieur de Montarville.

For any occasion

Théophile lends itself well to all occasions: a 5 à 7 on the terrace, a dinner with family, or simply for a drink with friends. “It’s more family-oriented in the early evening, but the atmosphere becomes more lively after 8 p.m.,” promises Lyne Simard. The restaurant is also open for lunch from Tuesday to Friday, perfect for a business lunch or a tasty break while out shopping.

If you’re looking for a nice place to have a drink and a good meal on the South Shore, Théophile Bar à vin is waiting for you.

Cheers!

Written by Mikael Lebleu
Photography by Théophile Bar à vin

Last update: August 18, 2022

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