The family-run Auberge des Gallant, located about an hour outside Montreal in Sainte-Marthe, has been in business since Gaspé native Gerard Gallant first opened the small inn and restaurant in 1972. Today, the site has expanded and grown, and is now a popular destination for weekend getaways, summer weddings, and extravagant Sunday brunches surrounded by trees, wildflowers, and a private lake.
The Auberge’s Restaurant 1171 is now run by the owner’s son Neil Gallant, who perfected his kitchen craft in various Montreal eateries like Times Dinner Club and Rosalie before coming home to take over the family kitchen. And what a gift that has proven for regular customers and visitors alike.
We booked an overnight stay at the Auberge on a random Friday in June, and made reservations at the onsite restaurant. One of the perks of living in Montreal is just how close and affordable a quick getaway to the country can be!
The restaurant space is warm and welcoming, with white tablecloths, perfectly polished wine glasses and silverware, and large windows that overlook the relaxing pool area and the woods in the distance. Think French bistro that shines a spotlight on local Quebec and Ontario ingredients. There’s also a well-stocked, wood bar with stone fireplace and ample seating space for those who’d like to stop and sit awhile before moving on to dinner.
The first thing you notice is the waitstaff, who are attentive, polite without being invasive, and impeccable with timing and memory. They took our drinks order (with mixed drinks an incredibly affordable $8.50 and up, made to perfection, and wines by the glass or bottles ranging from $28 to whatever you’re willing to splurge on). Orders were delivered promptly and in just the right glasses, which I’m always a stickler for.
For starters, we ordered the sushi-inspired smoked salmon, which was house smoked and served nigri-style, rolled around rice cooked to keep just the right bite, and served with soy-sauce and wasabi gel reductions. The plating was so inviting and the flavours did not disappoint. Other entrée options on the dinner menu included peppercorn tenderloin, shrimp with salsa fraîche, duck confit, and foie gras with a spiced coulis.
I ordered the BBQ wagyu beef bavette, which came cooked to the ideal medium-rare and cut into thin, tender strips that I never had to take a knife to. Every bite was sweet, rich, and deeply tender. The roasted vegetables it came with were warm and crisp in the middle, served on a vegetable puree that added all the saltiness the plate needed. I enjoyed every, last bite and was reluctant to share.
My husband opted for rack of lamb—a dish after his Irish heart. The lamb was also perfectly medium-rare, served with sundried tomato and basil pesto, and accompanied by a rosemary, cognac, and cherry-tomato sauce. The flavours were complex and so well seasoned, and the plate was thoroughly enjoyed and mopped clean with a basket of warm bread rolls.
There were also nut-crusted giant scallops, coffee-and-cocoa rubbed chicken, peppercorn beef tenderloin, and a selection of fish and vegetarian options on the evening menu—all of which we spied with envy being carried to other tables.
With little room left to explore desserts (which include the day’s crème brulée, chocolate lava cake, Quebec cheeses, and more), we settled on panna cotta, which was infused with thyme and verbena and accompanied by apricot slices in spiced syrup. The combination was a flavour masterpiece, and I left an apricot slice for last so I could carry the taste with me just a little longer.
Our glasses were always filled to the right spot, the wine remained chilled to perfection, the waitstaff remembered every part of every order and appeared exactly when needed, and we felt welcomed and well taken care of from cocktail to coffee. For a trip outside the city and a pleasant way to escape overnight, Restaurant 1171 really is well worth the drive along the 40—even during rush hour.
Our meal with 2 starters, 2 mains, 2 desserts, 2 cocktails, 1 bottle wine (before tax and tip) came to $180.00.
Restaurant 1171Auberge des Gallant
1171 Chemin Saint-Henri
Sainte-Marthe, QC J0P 1W0
Dinner is served every day between 5:30 and 8:30 p.m.
Tel: 1 800-641-4241
Photos courtesy of Auberge des Gallant and this here reviewer.
