By Olivia Kona
Hip and delicious, Avocado Sushi is a little treasure of a restaurant that you’d expect to find in the heart of Montreal nestled among the spiralling staircases of the Plateau or Mile End.
Located in the Pointe-Claire Village, since 2012, in a quaint and comfy building, it has a relaxed vibe perfect for decompressing after a busy day. Inside, it’s bright and airy and outside, there’s a perfect little front terrace.
Owners Dominique St-Laurent and Sylvie Longtin, friends since high school, wanted a name that worked in both French and English, so they called their business Avocado after their favorite clothing store in Ireland.
Their aim, as Sylvie said, is to be “a very local, happening soirée place for those who would rather not hang out with teenagers”. And they’ve succeeded. Their twice monthly Martini nights are extremely popular and very social. Be sure to make a reservation before you come.
When it comes to the food, my dining partner, who’s a frequent restaurant-goer, appreciates their fresh, top grade fish and seafood, as well as the innovative dishes with their stunning visual appeal, as do I.
“We get fish every morning from local companies. We put in a daily order and try not to order too much at a time,” said Sylvie.
Our most recent visit on a Saturday night at 6:00 pm was quiet enough to have a pleasant conversation and our delightful server Jasmine took care of our every need.
We started with a Margarita and warm Hakutsuru saki. Both were excellent. Neither overpowered the food and, in fact, complemented the sophisticated flavours.
The tartars are a must try. Fresh tuna can be sourced from regions where the fish is not always delicately flavoured, but Avocado Sushi’s are high on the exquisite scale. We had the sublime meal-sized Sashimi Salad which included tartars, crab, shrimp and a tasty salad with their homemade sesame dressing, which you can now buy bottled to take home.
The hot and cold presentation of the delightful rhubarb crisps, served with fresh blueberries, raspberries and ice cream, ended a perfect evening.
After each visit we leave absolutely beaming. No wonder we keep coming back for more!
Avocado Sushi
270 Chemin du Bord-du-Lac, Pointe-Claire, H9S 4K9
514-505-4055