Fancy a little fall getaway? You don’t have to go far to get away from it all. An end-of-day stroll on Île-des-Moulins, followed by a bit of strolling in Vieux-Terrebonne and — the highlight of the day — a meal at Le Xavier restaurant: that’s what constitutes an outing like love them !
Posted yesterday at 11:00 a.m.
Open for just over a year, Le Xavier is a major project. The heritage house that houses it dates from 1804. For a long time it housed the restaurant Le Folichon. Luckily, the team of owners includes two contractors specializing in renovations of this type, namely Mathieu Jean-Marie and Maxime Dupré, of Construction Vilan. The other two main partners are brothers Maxime and Yannick Laforest, also owners of the popular McTavish brewery in Vieux-Terrebonne.
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PHOTO DENIS GERMAIN, THE PRESS
The plate of delicata squash and mushrooms is very good to share.
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PHOTO DENIS GERMAIN, THE PRESS
The porchetta is particularly delicious and comforting.
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PHOTO DENIS GERMAIN, THE PRESS
Wines from here, from France and elsewhere make up a menu of artisanal estates.
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PHOTO DENIS GERMAIN, THE PRESS
There are a few cocktails on the menu, including this spicy margarita.
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One of the most important elements of the “refurbishment” is undoubtedly the wooden cathedral ceiling which was revealed by the elimination of the second floor. We only kept a small mezzanine. We must also mention the imposing central bar, made by hand (for several weeks!) with old books piled up.
A whole article could be devoted to the design of Stéphanie Bélanger (Rebel Design) and the very eclectic decor of this space, but let’s move on to the plate and the glass instead. Young chef Jean-Philippe Darveau is in charge of the kitchen, with passion and creativity. The one who has worked at the Deux and Oregon wine bars, in the northern crown, among others, says he is self-taught. He has a certain talent. Using basic ingredients and recipes that can be seen on just about every menu in Quebec (burrata, tartare, etc.), he manages to invent dishes that really stand out. An octopus with Thai flavors? It was a first for us.
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PHOTO DENIS GERMAIN, THE PRESS
The imposing central bar is made of old books.
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PHOTO DENIS GERMAIN, THE PRESS
Jean-Philippe Darveau (center) is the chef of the place.
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PHOTO DENIS GERMAIN, THE PRESS
Raphaël Gosselin, head waiter, worked at Toqué!, among others.
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PHOTO DENIS GERMAIN, THE PRESS
There are two small apartments for rent on Airbnb above the restaurant.
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Recently, Wednesdays are devoted to tasting. On those evenings, the chef has even more fun creating a multi-course menu to share, for the quite reasonable sum of $60 per person. It’s possible to add one of the two wine pairings ($50 or $70) created by the keen taste buds of sommelier Simon Di Battista. You will be served cuvées from artisanal Quebec, European, American estates, etc. Whether you fancy a simple $14 glass of natural white or an eye-popping bottle of champagne or burgundy, it’s possible here.
What is also possible is to extend the stay with an overnight stay in one of the two pretty apartments. These are above the second dining room, in the modern wing of the restaurant.
804 Saint-Francois-Xavier Street, Terrebonne