Wienstein & Gavino’s has now become known as one of Montreal’s hot spots any time of the year. Located on Crescent Street, the busiest street in Montreal, it is at the center of the city’s nightlife. The Italian style restaurant was established nine years ago and is unique for the dishes and service offered, not to mention the always exciting atmosphere.

With an unfinished look of exposed beams, brick and wooden accents, the restaurant is alive with excitement any time of day or night. The two storey restaurant easily caters to its variety of clients, be it businessmen or women finishing a work day who would like to relax and indulge in a drink or two, a couple enjoying an evening out, a family celebrating a birthday, or a group of friends enjoying a meal and catching up.

Once we have been seated we are offered a steaming French baguette with a side dish of olive oil and balsamic vinegar while the waiter goes through some of the specialties. We order a bottle of Bourgogne Passetoutgrain while we peruse the menu. The list of entrees include a golden Calamari fritti, tender rings of calamari fried to perfection which we chose to have with a spicy mayonnaise but can also be ordered with a spicy Diablo sauce. A Salmone Affumicato, petals of smoked salmon atop shaved fresh fennel, red onion cucumber and capers with lemon and cracked pepper. My companion ordered Cozze in Bianco, mussels sautéed with vodka, lemon, garlic, cream and fresh dill. Our taste buds have now been tempted with the hint of alcohol and the spicy mayonnaise as we continue on to the salads. My companion and I shared the Insalata di Campo, fresh, crisp and slightly spicy leaves of Arugula and mushrooms in a balsamic vinaigrette, the perfect contrast to our appetizers.

Wienstein & Gavino’s is famous for its freshly made pasta, virtually all pastas served are made in their own kitchen as well as all of the sauces. One can choose among the many sauces such as: Alfredo, Pomodoro (tomato), Ragu di Carne (meat sauce), Romanoff (vodka, tomato and cream), with any choice of pasta such as: Tortellini, Lingini, Fettucini, to name only a few.

For the main course our waiter suggested the Gambieri con Guazetto, jumbo shrimp sautéed in olive oil, a hint of tomato, chili peppers and garlic on a bed of flageolet beans perfectly stewed in a tomato sauce accompanied with steamed rice, every bit as delicious as it sounded. My companion chose a meat dish, the Filetto di Manzo, grilled beef tenderloin on mustard and rosemary infused oil accompanied by Flageolet beans à la crème and wild mushrooms. To end the meal we shared the Bailey’s bomb cheese cake and the Death by Chocolate fudge mousse cake. Both were excellent.

With such an enjoyable experience we could not leave! So, we decided to take a stroll to the downstairs bar, which offers a happy hour from 4 to 7 Monday through Friday, where we further continued to enjoy our evening……

If your day or night need a touch of energy and exhilaration, take a stroll along Crescent and into Wienstein & Gavino’s dazzling atmosphere.