"I dined with a friend recently at the Balsam Inn. She's a local Montrealer, I'm a former resident back for a quick visit. Neither of us had been to the Balsam, so it was a new experience for us both. It is conveniently located in the downtown core, across from Dorchester Square on Metcalfe near Rene Levesque.We were glad that we had made reservations, given that Saturday evening is very busy in downtown Montreal. The Balsam was a happening spot when we were there - diners streamed in the entire evening, but there never seemed to be much of a wait. We were immediately greeted at the door and were shown to a cozy table for two at the front next to the window. Thanks to an open half wall along the back of the restaurant, diners can see the kitchen staff busy at work; however, it makes for a bit more noise back there, so we were content to sit in a spot where conversation was easier. The atmosphere was relaxed, the lighting was not too dim but not too bright, and the decor was unpretentious but comfortably cozy.The Balsam has a unique selection of cocktails, so we both chose a drink to start the evening. My Kir a la Violette was a perfect choice for me - not too strong, just sweet enough.The waiter was knowledgeable with the wine list and made helpful suggestions - my friend had a red, myself white, and we were both entirely satisfied with our choice. (The wine must have been good, because I can't remember what kind we selected!)I started with the soup of the day (roasted red pepper, gluten free and delicious), while my friend had the arancini - perfectly done, the rice was creamy, not sticky, and the tomato sauce was just the right flavour for dipping.My main course was the hunter sauce papardelle - my first time trying this dish, but hopefully not my last. We both split the peanut blondie for dessert. It was sweet and salty, topped with vanilla ice cream.My friend is a real foodie and wine connoisseur, while I'm much less adventurous. The Balsam had lots of choices to please the both of us. I would definitely recommend the Balsam to anyone looking for a relaxing night out in a not-too-stuffy relaxing location."
