Mas Cuisine, Montreal

ou’ve traded in your Porsche for a practical Ford Focus. On your last trip, you flew Coach. You’ve even switched from Listerine to the no name stuff (and for some reason, it hurts when you pee). The economy is in a lot of trouble and you’ve made a lot of concessions. But there’s one thing you can’t give up: eating well. Well you’re in luck, my Recession-weathered comrade, because Michael Ross has opened up an affordable new restaurant in Verdun called Mas Cuisine.

Montreal foodies may remember Michael Ross from Brunoise, the restaurant he ran with his partner Zach Suhl. With its exquisitely prepared dishes and reasonable prices, Brunoise became somewhat of a destination, impressing critics and diners alike. When the restaurant closed in November 2007, many mourned the passing of one of Montreal’s finest. Suhl kept up the Brunoise name at Brasserie Brunoise, but Michael Ross has gone solo with Mas Cuisine.

Those who miss the former St.-Andre Street resto should be pleased with Mas. Ross held down the kitchen there, and now he handles almost everything himself, employing only his wife Sandra Auger (who acts as pastry chef) and one line cook. Like Brunoise, the prices are kept refreshingly low, but the food is still some of the best you’ll find at a fine restaurant in Montreal. The trick is to cut down on frills like opulent interior design and high-priced cuts of meat and vegetables. Dishes are intricately-prepared and the recipes are constantly tested, but they’re made with simple ingredients.

“The idea has never been to undercut the competition,” explains Ross. “I just price myself according to what I believe each dish is worth.” This philosophy sounds simple enough, but you’d be surprised how seldom it’s followed in the restaurant business. Oftentimes prices are jacked up, with the rationale that “you’re paying for the service” or “you’re paying for the décor.” At Mas Cuisine, all that is leveled to the extant that, for the most part, all you’re paying for is your dinner. Crazy notion, right?

Address: 3779 Wellington Street, Montreal, QC
Contact: 514-544-3779
Cuisine: French
Area: Verdun
Venue: Restaurant
Hours: Wed. to Fri.: 12:00 pm – 2:30 pm
6:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Sat.: 6:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Price Range: $$ (Affordable)
Payment: Master Card, Visa, American Express

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