- a review on Restaurant Ïbiscus, 343 Saint-Paul, Est.

by M♥

Photo credit: Koralie Deetjen-Woodward & Alain Mercier

I am but at smiles as I write this review. A discovery that I have been literally, and am not  so saying lightly, waiting for. Oftentimes, the woman born of Haitian parents (me!) has wandered the streets of Montreal’s downtown buzzing area and its grizzled sister Old Montreal, nostalgically and too hungry and far from home, looking to eat a good plate of rice and peas (“diri kolé” for my haitian peeps) with Haitian-style mashed cooked veggies (“légum”), and saddly settled for something else. This feeling of nostalgia is now thing of the past, thanks to the opening of Saint-Paul St. new classy and exotic eatery, Restaurant Ïbiscus.

With its contracting creamy color palette, exposed bricks and dark wood interiors conceived by architect Aboudi Hassoune and decorated with notable abstract paintings by artist daughter and assistant manager Koralie Deetjen-Woodward, Haitian-born owner Christine Deetjen gives Montreal’s locals and visitors a place to discover Haïti’s wonderful cuisine within a space that reveals a charming ambiance present from day to night. Deetjen greets her customers like family as she did with us, easing them inside with haitian jazz or bolero as background music.

But let’s talk food, shall we? The restaurant’s chef Gérard Dorcy, also from Haïti, possesses a 25 year experience in Montreal’s hotel’s kitchens and other venues, that shows beautifully on our plates and in our mouths. The fried plantains and their crispy, not overly oily consistency and without the need to dip them in the traditional sauce is what gave it all away for us. Ladies and gents, this is Haitian fine cuisine. Each of our taste buds craved for more. So what’s more? The ever-so-popular “griots” (fried pork) are nothing less than what tender-crips means. And to my delight, the “légum” (greenlight for vegetarians) is on the menu and it’s M♥-approved! Ïbiscus’ menu offers a nice array of traditional entrées like the “giromont” soup (squash), “chiquetailles” (flaked fish and veggies delicacy), and “kibbis” (couscous-and-meat ball). For main dishes, the beef “tasso” (cooked spiced-and-minced sundried beef) and home-made chicken meal aren’t to be missed. Cooked to perfection with traditional spices, Ïbiscus made an even happier fan out of me by adding the creole burger to the menu.

And how about dessert? Their dessert menu changes everyday and I urge you to ask about their choice of the day. Organic Diva and I ate the sweet-patatoe cake commonly known as “pain-patate”. The sweets dish, presented on a small plate decorated with an edible orchid flower, is tastefully covered with a blanket of raisins permanently marinated in dark brown rhum, which drenches down within the cake. Besides the relatively short list of wines and commonly offered drinks, Ïbiscus offers Haitian beer and coffee, a hibiscus locally-made beer and a selection of five exclusive house drinks. Need I say more? I invite you to take a nice stride on Saint-Paul’s street and enter exoticism at Ïbiscus Restaurant. Say Paperplanes sent you!

M♥

Community

Ïbiscus official website: click here

Ïbiscus Facebook page: click here

Follow Ïbiscus on Twitter: click here

Quickview

Business hours:

Fall schedule

Mondays:                 Closed
Tuesdays to Fridays:     11h30 to 3h00 and 5h00 pm to 10h00 pm
Saturdays and Sundays:   5h00 pm to 10h pm

Price range: $$$ (16$ to 35$ for main dishes)

Payment: Cash, debit and all major credit cards

Nota Bene: “2 for 1″ happy hours on thursday.  Stay tune for Friday nights “live” with live music on the restaurants stage.

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