Marius: the return of the neighbourhood bistro
In 2000, Mont-Tremblant expanded to include the charming town of Saint-Jovite, today known as downtown Mont-Tremblant, where locals gather to escape the tourist-oriented atmosphere of the resort.
In January 2024, Restaurant Marius appeared on the gastronomic scene of the main strip and it is already poised to win over locals and visitors alike with its carefully curated and regularly changing menu showcasing quality ingredients and satisfying flavours.
It’s a quiet night on rue de Saint-Jovite. My son and I approach the twinkling lights adorning the wraparound porch of the clapboard century building which formerly housed the Cheval de Jade. New owners Chef Geoffrey Barry and Celia Willemin, his partner in business and in life, have created a fresh and welcoming space with a distinctive deep blue-green colour scheme evocative of their French Mediterranean roots. We are greeted like regulars and feel instantly at home.
We share an array of starters: unctuous gravlax with tangy yogourt and bright hits of citrus, a velvety foie gras terrine served with a heady ginger-mango chutney, and their signature crispy veal sweetbreads and caperberries paired with an outstanding parsley-anchovy sauce – all made in-house, as is everything on the menu.
For the mains, my son opts for fall-off-the-bone-tender braised pork shoulder and potatoes paired with a luscious sweet-savoury sauce poured table side by the Chef himself.
I choose the black cod served on a bed of creamed sweet potato and perfectly crispy parsnip chips. Divine.
Dessert does not disappoint. The pot au chocolat with homemade sugar wafer is heavenly, while the apple tiramisu is both surprising and supremely satisfying,
The food is matched by friendly service and an ambience that begs for small groups of close friends lingering around the table sampling everything on the menu with endless wines by the glass.
Marius will inaugurate its first spring season with charcuterie and seafood platters served on the patio. I intend to be among their first outdoor guests. Marius is open Tuesday to Saturday evenings. Reservations are recommended, but attending is a must!
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Jo Simonetti14 Posts
Jo est courtier immobilier dans les régions de Montréal, des Laurentides et de l’Estrie. Elle a également travaillé dans le domaine de l’investissement et a été journaliste et critique de restaurants pour le Montréal Business Magazine / Jo is a residential real estate broker serg the Montreal, Laurentians and Eastern Townships areas. Jo also used to work in investment, and was a journalist and restaurant reviewer with Montreal Business Magazine.
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