Restaurant review | Buvette Pompette: in a good atmosphere

Through the good times and, sometimes, the not so good, our restaurant critics tell you about their experience, present the team in the dining room and in the kitchen, while explaining what motivated their choice of restaurant. This week: Buvette Pompette, a haunt in the Petite-Patrie district where you can quench your thirst and get some casual food.

Why talk about it?

There is no shortage of refreshments in Montreal. The concept hits the mark, even if the variations around the theme are numerous. There are more refined refreshment bars with developed gourmet offerings, others with a more relaxed approach, of the glass and bite style. This is the case of Buvette Pompette, adopted by the people of the Petite-Patrie district since its opening in December 2022, thanks in particular to this major advantage: you eat and drink there at a very reasonable price.

Who are they ?

Federico Rivas is not new to the world of hospitality: he is the co-founder of Chez Baptiste, neighborhood bars (Mont-Royal and Masson). He is also in the team at Ward & Associés, a wine agency, and also a partner at vinvinvin. Born to a Spanish father and a mother from Rosemont, with Buvette Pompette he offers his most personal project of Iberian influence, both on the plate and in the glass. David Ward (from Ward & Associés), sommelier Delphine Lehoux-Bernier, Ariane Paradis and Camille Ferland complete the team of owners.

Our experience

It has a friendly and relaxed look, this Buvette Pompette. We set foot there, we feel at home. I was there on a chilly Thursday evening, the kind where winter hangs on. But nothing appears inside, in the crowded and warm room of the refreshment bar on rue Saint-Zotique.

Before diving into the menu, we do things the right way, ordering cocktails à la carte. Here, classics and local alcohols combine with Spanish flavors: the Bloody Marie, made with Pomodora vodka (flavored with tomato and basil), is enhanced with Pimenton, Spanish paprika; you can refresh yourself with a Tinto de verano, an Andalusian specialty composed of red wine and sparkling lemonade. For my part, I sip my coupette of Rubio, which plays around bitter notes (Bittersweet, Amer Amer, grapefruit), while my friend celebrates her birthday with a sparkling Pompette imperiale – bubbles, vodka, elderflower, lemon.

Now let’s dive in! To accompany the aperitif, patatas bravas and fried squid are a must. The first, a typical Spanish dish par excellence, honors its origins: cubed potatoes, fried, topped with their two sauces: the red salsa brava, a tomato sauce with pimiento, and a white aioli type sauce. It eats itself. The squid is very crispy, correct. Next time, I might prefer the ham croquetas or the pan con tomate.

Are we in the land of haute cuisine here? No. La Buvette Pompette does not have this type of ambition. People come here to eat generous portions at a good price, without pretension, in a pleasant atmosphere. Simple, not complicated!

Our piri-piri octopus, well seasoned, is a bit rubbery. The mountain of pearl couscous salad that accompanies it – with Kalamata olives, dried tomatoes, feta – adds a little roundness to the whole, with its chimichurri sauce. Garlic prawns with slices of chorizo ​​are the ultimate comfort dish. Again, the portion is generous for the price, just like this mountain of roasted carrots with pumpkin seeds and zaatar labneh that we struggle to finish. What the cuisine lacks in finesse, it makes up for in hearty portions and flavorful dishes.

No room for dessert or cheese! We finish it all off with a glass of rosé wine, with a full belly and a festive spirit.

In our glass

Although two of Pompette’s partners are behind the (excellent) wines of Ward & Associés, you will not only find imports from this agency specializing in Nordic wines. On the contrary, since the emphasis is on the Iberian Peninsula, wines from Spain, France and Italy are featured, with Quebec, German or Austrian here and there. Don’t hesitate to ask for advice; we will give you a taste, we will guide you. The taut white Osterputz, from the Alsatian vineyard Soil Therapy, with its high degree of drinkability, was a hit, as was Boombox, an Italian wine in spontaneous maceration, with just enough body to accompany our main courses.

Price

The prices are appropriate and the portions are generous: $5 and $10 for “small” portions of patatas bravas and fried squid, $8 for a pan con tomate, between $12 and $21 for more substantial dishes . As for alcohol, cocktails cost between $10 and $14 and there are several wine options by the glass for less than $15.

Good to know

From Sunday to Tuesday, paella (sea or land) is on the menu at Pompette, at a reasonable price. The refreshment bar is in action 7 days a week, from 4 p.m. to late, and the kitchens are usually open until midnight, at least. Reservations possible before 6 p.m., for groups of 6 people or more. And children are more than welcome!

414, rue Saint-Zotique Est, Montreal

Visit the Buvette Pompette website