Maestro S.V.P. – St. Laurent / Oyster Bar and seafood Bistro

Bonjour,

the other day my wife and I went to the Maestro S.V.P., a small oyster bar and bistro at 3615 Boulevard St. Laurent.

The Maestro S.V.P. is not a big restaurant, it contains maybe 12 tables and the bar.

One of the first thing you will notice, when you enter, are dozens of oyster shell hanging at the entrance wall. All having autographs of celebrities on it.

Next thing will be the impressive menu-board at the end of the room with dozens of different oyster names on it. Every oyster fan will freak out on this variety.
They start with “A” like the Aspy Bay from Nova Scotia, end with “Y” like the Yaquina from Oregon and have lots in between. Some from Japan, some from New Zealand, they come from all over the world. You, of course, won’t find all the oysters on every day, but the menu is written with chalk, so it can be updated every day.

You are not so experienced in oysters and don’t know every single one by its first name and recognize it by its shell? Glad to hear that, I’m neither.
So just ask the waiter to help you out with a recommendation. Or order a plate of a dozen with different sorts of oysters.
Oh, you want them cooked, or as tapas? No problem here. You can get them in every variety you want, including as a shooter (which, at least, is a real experience). 🙂

As a starter we had a plate with 4 Totten ( from Washington), 4 Lucky Limes and 4 Coromandel (from New Zealand). It was the first time for us tasting oysters with different pedigrees, and it was really interesting to realize the subtle differences in taste, size (ok, not so subtle) and even texture. It’s like wine tasting, but more salty. 😉

For the main courses we chose the caramelized atlantic salmon and the red tuna. And they were both fantastic. Cooked perfectly, so that they stayed juicy and contained their very own fresh flavor, and served with great tasting sides like small fingerling potatoes.

Next time will try out the tapas menu. It holds some 40 different tapas, sorted by seafood, mussels, vegetables and side dishes. Everyone should find something he likes… very!

The wine list is quite impressive. It has good to great wines from all over the world, including Austria, Alsace and Greece.
Oh, you like beer with your oysters? You will be in good company, as long as you take a dark one, like Boréale noir, which the waiter will happily recommend if being asked.

All in all this is a great place to be.
Did I mention the happy hour? 1,99 $ per Oyster?
I didn’t? Shame on me…

Enjoy (you will),

Erik