That an establishment has an “artistic director”, of the caliber of Montreal painter Dan Climan moreover, says a lot about the importance of the place in the experience we have at the restaurant. Located in the former Public House, the new home of endearing star chef Danny Smiles, Le Violon wishes – with all humility! – being to Montreal restaurants what a Stradivarius is to an orchestra.
The transformation of the space at the corner of Marquette and Gilford streets is impressive. Having gone from a dark but warm pub to a chic bistro, the interior is now glossy and bright. The tables are adorned with white tablecloths, a rare occurrence in Montreal these days.
It’s certainly the large format of an elegant Dalmatian adorning the back wall that steals the show in the dining room. Dan Climan painted two custom paintings for “his” restaurant. The other is a scene of motocross flying above a row of pastel-colored cars. Everything is gentle in the choice of shades. Atelier Zébulon Perron also had a say in the decor!
It’s a particularly well-tuned ensemble that’s behind Le Violon. Three of the owners, Danny Smiles, Mitch Laughren and Andrew Park, worked together at the late Bremner in Old Montreal. They later all found themselves at Auberge Willow in Hudson Village when Danny was named culinary director. Joining the team are chef Sara Raspa and manager Kyra Lajeunesse.
Knowing that this core group has a large number of contacts in the arts and music in particular – they have regularly worked at the “Artist World” of the Osheaga festival and many international stars have celebrated their post-concert at Double’s, another establishment partly owned by Danny Smiles and Andrew Park – we can expect Le Violon to be talked about well beyond Montreal. That said, it is also a neighborhood restaurant, in the middle of the Plateau, where everyone can sit down.
But what will we drink and eat in this new establishment with great ambitions, you ask? Without a doubt, the French and Italian bases will be present. Fish and seafood will play the first… violins. Vegetables (from Birri and Parcelles farms, among others) and fresh pasta will also play a leading role on the menu.
Of course, a new restaurant always needs a break-in period before finding its cruising speed. Let’s not judge too quickly! But the Violin team aims high, with a fun, generous and warm approach to gastronomy, the way we like it. It opens to the public on Monday June 17 and reservations have already started to soar. Only Sundays will be off by the team, which will receive dinners six evenings a week.
