Bato Thai
1310 Ste. Catherine St. Est
Montreal, QC H2L 2H5
CANADA
Hours: Monday - Thursday, 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.;
Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.;
Saturday, 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.;
Sunday, 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
NO MSG

This restaurant has been here for a few years, and it's always a good choice for moderately-priced good Thai! On my recent trip to Montreal, I went for a reasonable lunch.

Decor - This restaurant is long, with a bar, front and center, 35-40 tables in all: in the front window enclave, lining the walls on either side of the bar, and in the back section. The restaurant is warm, with walls painted a warm red/yellow color, fish design tapestries hang from the ceiling, abstract metal sculptures provide backlit lighting and adorn the walls above diners, and various Buddhist icons and statues are placed about the room. As you walk in, a sitting Buddha on the bar greets you! Nice touch...

Service - Excellent. The Thai wait staff speaks excellent English and is accommodating. I initially took a table by the front windows, but it was way too drafty and cold for me, and they let me move further back to a more private spot. They were quick with suggestions, and were prompt with serving the food.

Food - Excellent, again.

Soup - Hot and sour soup came in a steamy chicken broth, with tofu, scallions, carrots, noodles and mushrooms, garnished with cilantro, vinegar and sesame oil. A bit on the busy side for soup, but I enjoyed it nonetheless, especially because everything is very fresh.

Entree - Sauteed beef with red curry with rice. This was really tasty - tender beef sauteed with bell peppers, carrots, cauliflower and broccoli in a red curry and peanut sauce, garnished with basil. If you use the chopsticks, you can pick up the pieces and combine it with the rice, but I thought the sauce was exceptionally good, and used my fork, instead, sopping up more of the sauce than I would with chopsticks!

Wine - An excellent, dry quart du vin blanc (small carafe of dry white wine).

Overall - You guessed it - excellent. With tax, the bill was $17.25 Canadian, $20 with tip. It's a fun place with excellent food, situated perfectly on Ste. Catherine's in the Village.

[This message has been edited by anonplz (edited 01-30-2003).]