Bar Dominion | A new version of the Dominion

There was the Dominion Square Hotel, the less glorious Dominion Pub and the superb Dominion Square Tavern. Now here is the elegant Dominion Bar. To revive this beloved place for Montrealers (and their visitors), mixologist Andrew Whibley from Cloakroom and chef Pablo Rojas from Provisions restaurant have combined their talents.

It was in the summer of 2022 that the team who had restored the place with great care – Alexandre Baldwin, Alexandre Wolosianski, Nicole Lemelin and chef Éric Dupuis – announced that the Tavern would ultimately not reopen post-COVID, due to lack of agreement with the building owners.

It was a particularly hard blow for the quartet. They were the ones who, starting in 2009, gave the historic establishment its soul. The pandemic and an expiring lease got the better of this project that the restaurateurs thought they would bequeath to their offspring.

As Alexandre Baldwin has repeated since the end of this adventure: “Business is business. » We would add: “The misfortune of some makes the happiness of others. » The team at the excellent cocktail bar Cloakroom and the renowned Provisions restaurant (which includes a butcher and wine bar) have decided to bring the Dominion back to life. Already, around fifty employees are working to make this possible.

The kitchen in which Éric Dupuis and his team worked miracles was particularly cramped, Pablo Rojas opted for a reduced menu, supplemented by an oyster bar and other seafood. That said, there are enough options on the menu so that we can prepare a nice feast.

The “Snack Foods” section is filled with some substantial offerings, such as the ham, fig and Manchego plate, the fried halloumi sticks and the muffuletta sandwich, for example. From the “Grill” you can choose octopus, chipolata sausage and even a 12 oz sirloin steak, among others. In short, no one will die of hunger here and the prices are very fair.

The inspired wine list, signed Marie-Ève ​​Deschenes, and Andrew Whibley’s cocktail program are two other excellent reasons to frequent Bar Dominion. To match the spirit of the place, the mixologist focuses on classics. He would like to see a row of martini glasses on the long bronze bar. Its “dirty”, with a touch of homemade sage and olive extracts, is exceptional. There are also “Negronis”, “Whiskey”, “75s & Spritz” (for bubbles lovers) and “Highballs & Fizz” sections. You have to forgive them for their English. The cocktail vocabulary is more developed in the language of Shakespeare.

In order to fade a little from the recent past as a restaurant and to affirm the new vocation of the premises which is now intended to be a gourmet bar, the new team no longer offers dinner. Doors now open at 2 p.m. and close at 2 a.m. We removed all the old tables for two, replaced by large solid wood high tables. Also no more old weathered mirrors. The lighting is more elaborate.

But we won’t lie to you: the place has a little less of its “1920s” luster than before, although the floor, the tiles on the walls, the old Canadian coat of arms and several other original elements are still there . However, this does not prevent Bar Dominion from being one of the best options in the city center for drinking and eating well in a period decor unlike any other in Montreal.

1243, rue Metcalfe, Montreal