Maison Bolívar: a Review

On October 1st, a new Latin restaurant right on Avenue des Pins, between St-Laurent and St-Dominique, opened. You might recognize the restaurant’s name from Símon Bolívar, a great icon of the modern South Americas.

I had the chance of being invited to enjoy a lovely super there. Hence, I decided to write this article. Don't worry though, I didn't let free food bias my opinion #honestbitch.

THE APPETIZERS

Colombian Yuka Frita

Fried Yuka served with House Mayo

When I first opened the menu and my eyes landed on yuka, I just knew I had to have it. Why? Because I freaking love yuka. This appetizer did not disappoint: the yuka wasn't overly fried, allowing it to be a little crispy on the outside and to keep it's natural pasty texture on the inside. It wasn't overly oily either, which was evident by the taste and the fact that it barely left any grease on the fingers.

The accompanying mayonnaise was good too. I couldn’t exactly pinpoint what ingredients it was made of, but it definitely had mustard seeds in it. Call me Chef Meunier. Thankfully, the flavour wasn’t overpowering. It didn’t taste too much like mayonnaise, mustard, or any of the other ingredients. In all, I didn’t get tired of dipping my yuka in it, so you know it was good.

Mexican Shrimp Tostada

Fried Tortilla, Nordic Shrimps marinated in Pico de Gallo and Lime Juice

A simple yet nice introduction to the meal. It tasted very refreshing, kind of like a mini serving of ceviche. The fried tortilla base was a nice complement to add some crunch. My advice would be that if you pick the Peruvian Ceviche as your main course, pick a different appetizer, as I found both similar in term of main flavours.

THE MAIN COURSE

Peruvian Ceviche Mixto

Calamaries, White Fish and Octopus, Seasoned in Lime Juice, Cilantro and Chile

After noticing they had yuka on the menu, I noticed they also had ceviche. Needless to say, I didn’t really read the rest of the menu before deciding what I wanted as main course. But I still pretended to read the menu and hesitate reeeeaaally hard between it and the Steak & Chimichurri. At least I know what I’m ordering next time... unless if I pick the Ceviche again. Because yes, it was delicious. The amount of each ingredient was perfectly balanced. The calamari was tender and melty, and the octopus was in enjoyable bite-sized pieces. The dish also came with a side of fried plantain slices, which was delicious and nice to clean your palate with between bites.

The dish was presented with a plantain chip placed in the middle, which was a nice touch. To eat the dish you get both a fork and a spoon: my advice is to eat it with your fork, as with the spoon scooping up the juice it can get too citrusy. Keep in mind though, ceviche is made with lime juice, so if you‘re not a fan of those flavours or raw seafood then you just shouldn’t pick this dish.

THE DESERTS

Churro Bowl

Fried Churro, Vanilla, Dulce de Leche Ice Cream

If you are a believer of the "There's always space for desert" saying, then you'll certainly enjoy the Churro Bowl. Not only is it of a generous size, the dulce the leche ice cream is gooooood and creeeeeeamy. The raspberry jam is a nice and classic flavour addition to the desert. I thoroughly enjoyed the contrast of cold ice cream to warm churro. I also liked that they added a mint leaf, as it is always a nice touch of flavour.

Sweet Plantain & Bocadillo

Sweet Yellow Plantain, Cheese and Bocadillo

Small & Sweet. That’s how I’d describe this desert. I really liked it! However, I have to say that it was very small. I basically ate it in 2 bites (beware, it is very hot. Don’t make the same mistake I made and burn your mouth.) Totally worth it though. The way they make it is nice too: the yellow plantain is stuffed with cheese and sweet jam-like gelly. It's a little ball of happiness.

MAISON BOLÍVAR, YOUR SECOND HOME

The owners of Maison Bolívar want to give their clients the sophistication of an evening restaurant, while still creating a laid back atmosphere. Every shift, the staff will be the same. This means that no matter the day or time you come, you’ll be able to recognize the friendly faces serving you. Whether you’re coming for a nice supper, or simply passing by for an evening drink is no problem either. Something I personally love about Maison Bolívar is that if you ever decide to purchase a bottle of their alcohol, you’ll never feel pressured to finish it. Why I say this? Because they’ll label your bottle to your name, and place it back on the shelf. Next time you stop by, your bottle will be there, waiting for you. Just like a second home.

I would like to thank Alexis and Gregory for so kindly inviting me.

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Me after walking out the resto