Fare to Share

The real Biarritz is luxurious seaside town in France at the border of
Spain. Following the theme, new restaurant Biarritz
offers market fresh cuisine with French influences and a Spanish tapas
flair.

Seating at the sleek new resto is communal, with a menu made for
sharing, listing small, medium and large plates designed to divvy up the
delicious fare. We got our fingers lickably messy with a starter of
summer fresh peas grilled right in the pod ($4), followed by four medium
plates, including a luscious beef tartar with a spicy kick served
alongside crispy homemade chips ($10), a rich gnocchi with fava beans
and morels ($12), crispy (but not deep fried!) sweetbreads with morels
and peas ($14) and a bright ratatouille topped with a fried egg ($9).
Almost too full for dessert, we forged ahead, finishing the meal with a
dark and delicious chocolate banana cake topped with vanilla bean ice
cream.

We may not have been in France or Spain, but we felt very European
nonetheless. Jennifer Nachshen

Biarritz, 4801 St. Laurent Blvd., Montreal, 514-281-2000, www.restobiarritz.com