Your neighbourhood burger joint.
What comes to mind when I say cheat meal? Something that you should only be eating once a month because of the high calories and fats?
Well you know what, you can eat out and still have it be healthy.. ish. Let me introduce this restaurant in my hometown of Montreal where you can do just that - Notre-Boeuf-de-Grâce. They started with one location, and the name of the restaurant is a play-on-words of the borough it was first started in; Notre-Dame-de-Grâce. This is, as the name implies, is a burger joint (boeuf in French is beef), and I have to say it’s fantastic.
Their menu and ingredient list is definitely brag-worthy. They use high quality fresh beef, that's ground daily on site (and sometimes twice a day). They make a point of using local ingredients and make almost everything in house. This includes their wonderful fresh-cut fries, abundance of homemade sauces, house sodas, shakes, house beer and, of course, their handcrafted signature cocktails.
You might be wondering, "but what if I"m a vegetarian?" Well, there's some good news, despite their name, there are a few (very tasty) vegetarian options on their menu, like their Garden of Eden burger and the Devil’s Advocate (a Portobello mushroom burger).
For the purposes of this review, I am basing it off of what is at their N.D.G. location, as availabilities might vary depending on the location.
Ok - so if you're into the whole cheese thing; brace yourself for the CHEESE-US. This is just as godly as it sounds - it's a 6oz beef patty, topped with American cheese, grilled cheese buns, Umami sauce. GRILLED CHEESE BUNS. You read that right. I know two men who have ordered it and had trouble finishing, it’s crazy - but it’s also crazy good. This should definitely be your next cheat meal food of choice.
So aside from all of those, I'm someone who loves to make her own burgers. This way I can get exactly what I want, and can also pick the healthiest options. They also have these amazing sauces, and customizing your burger lets you choose which delicious one you want to eat.
So here's what I ate:
I had the 3oz beef burger, in a lettuce bun (because they can replace the bun with lettuce!). For toppings I added some caramelized onions, avocado, a tomato, and a fried egg. As a sauce, I chose the Green Goddess (which is a mixture of avocado and herbs).
The lettuce bun makes the burger feel lighter, because you don’t have all that bread weighing you down and filling you up. Not only that, but because of the almost non-existent calories in the lettuce, you’re free to top up your burger with whatever you desire. I think that’s a win-win.
On the side, I ordered a cocktail and some sweet potato fries. The fries are not those sad and soggy sweet potato fries, they’re crispy and make you forget that you chose the healthier fry.
As a drink I had the Heavenly Pink cocktail, which is a mixture of vodka, raspberry, cherry bitters and lemon juice, and I thought that it was fantastic. Not too sweet, but sweet enough. The other drink is their mojito, which is also delicious.
If you don’t have time to spend a leisurely dinner, fret not, you can pick up your order to go. This is great if you’re craving those amazing burgers, but you’re in a bit of a rush. Or maybe you want some for lunch, so you pick it up in the morning on your way to work.
Sitting outside on the terrace is a must, if you can. It’s a fun place to bring your friends, significant other, or family. There’s something on the menu for everyone, even if you’re a vegetarian.
They also have a to-die-for brunch menu, which I have yet to try. So if you feel like going for brunch, you definitely should, they don’t just serve burgers for brunch by the way. This place has such a cool vibe, so please go and check it out if you’re in Montreal and you’re in the N.D.G. area.
Allergen guide:
Vegetarian-friendly: Yes
Dairy free: Yes
Gluten free: Yes - but I would double check if you're celiac
Notre-Boeuf-de-Grâce Various locations - Montreal, QC
Opening hours (might vary depending on location):
Monday - Friday: 11am - 11pm Saturday - Sunday: 9am - 11pm
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