Posted at 1:00 p.m.
“When it came time to create the menu, we asked ourselves: if we had to switch to take out, could we do it with the menu we have? says co-owner Ryan Gray. The other establishments in the small group — especially Elena — have done well over the past two years with their pizzas, salads and exceptional sandwiches to go.
The experienced restaurateur is surrounded by chef Janice Tiefenbach and her right arm Willow Cardinal, sommelier Lawrence Fiset, manager Ellen Eamon, emeritus pastry chef Michelle Marek, butler Julio Mendy and Kyle Crouch at the bar, among others. It truly is an all-star, tight-knit team.
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PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
Gia is a steakhouse with an exceptional wine list.
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PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
On the left, the coffee, on the right, the wine!
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PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
The potatoes are served with a yogurt aioli.
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PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
Lettuce, marinated shallots and sunflower seeds make up this perfectly balanced salad.
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PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
Head chef Willow Cardinal, executive chef Janice Tiefenbach, sommelier Lawrence Fiset, restaurateur and sommelier Ryan Gray and manager Ellen Eamon are all partners at the Gia, which includes other associates.
1/5
Nestled in the hollow of Saint-Henri, in an old garage next to the historic RCA building, Gia is a steakhouse. The cuisine is inspired by that of central Italy, but without necessarily reproducing all the specialties to the letter. The name of the restaurant comes from the diminutive of Giovanna Tiezzi, co-owner of the Tuscan estate Pacina. It’s a “magical” place where Ryan Gray and his partner Marley Sniatowsky spent a lot of time. Remember that Elena bears the name of the patroness of the La Stoppa vineyard, Ms.me Pantaleoni. Needless to say, the women of natural wine inspire them!
The take-out menu at the new address is very simple: Cornish hen char-grilled, juicy and well seasoned; quartered fried potatoes; Fish nuggets ; salads; duck “ragout” pasta; and soft chocolate torta, among others. It can be ordered à la carte or as a formula for two or four people ($55 or $100). By picking it, between noon and 8 p.m., Wednesday to Sunday, we take the opportunity to buy a bottle of wine (starting at $42) and to leave with an excellent coffee. The new Café PS roaster is also installed in a closed room at the back of the restaurant and we cannot recommend enough that you try the beans treated with the greatest care.
Beautiful at rest and in broad daylight, the dining room must be a very special place when it comes alive, at the end of its dead end street. Hopefully we can move in soon. In the meantime, we have a very nice overview of it by simply going there to order, receive and leave cortado in hand.
1025 Lenoir Street, Montreal