How Do You Like YOUR Poutine?

Sometimes, you just crave classic comfort food. For me, today was that day. When pondering what to do for lunch after a late Saturday night, I decided that today would be the perfect day to try a restaurant that has been open for some time, but that I’ve never made it to before, Smokes Poutinerie. I had heard about Smokes from a few friends, who had indulged in their cheesy goodness post-bar on a Saturday night. They raved about it, but let’s face it – sometime late night eats seem so much better at night than they do in the morning.

Well, I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by the Poutinerie, even at 11:30 a.m!  A small restaurant that only has 2 tables and a bar that seats 10, the Poutinerie had the most casual of feels, which was exactly what I was looking for. Their slogan is “How do you like YOUR poutine?” and they offer a multitude of ways that you can have yours prepared. From vegetarian nacho to bacon cheeseburger, we took our time studying the menu, but in the end we ordered two classic varieties of poutine. (Traditional for me, Bacon for my date).

The laid back ambience of this place made it what it is. The band Real Estate’s album was being played directly off of the employee’s iPod. The walls were covered with published articles that gave them rave reviews. There were bags of potatoes piled up on display. They even made an effort to keep things green, using recycled paper napkins and having multiple recycling bins scattered around to ensure customers used them. They sold old-fashioned soda. Overall, the vibe I got from the Poutinerie was perfect for this Sunday morning.

When our poutines were ready, we dove in and I must say that my craving for comfort food was fulfilled. The traditional was everything that you expect from a standard poutine. Lots of cheese, served at the right temperature so that it was nice and gooey. I will admit that my date’s poutine with bacon was much better than mine, but I blame myself for not opting for one of their more diverse menu options.

In a nutshell, we got exactly what we were looking for. A tasty lunch that didn’t break the bank in an environment that made us feel comfortable and relaxed. I will definitely visit again (not too soon, because it’s an indulgent lunch meal!) and plan to order something a bit more adventurous!