I’m going to miss most in Montreal are summer evenings on the terrace at the Bistro Duluth. For the last ten years or so the Bistro has been a mainstay of my neighbourhood routine here on the Plateau, the location of countless 5-à-7s, impromptu dinners, hungover breakfasts, and late-night snacks. I don’t think I’ve ever been there and not seen and flagged down a friend walking by, and at least half the time whoever it is stops by and joins the table.

The nice thing about Bistro Duluth is that they have slowly but surely improved the whole offering. A few years ago the bar was pretty run down. the menu was over-reliant on mediocre versions Portuguese standbys, and the service was slack at best – whereas now the Portuguese cuisine has improved to the point that the Bistro rivals local champ Chez Doval in terms of sheer taste and quality, and at the same time the list of portos available, microbrews on tap, and even the wine list have all increased in quantity and quality.

Last night we stopped by and I had my usual Portuguese mussels and Nadia had a great red tuna steak, accompanied by a peppy bottle of Vinho verde. And, as should be the case at any good neighbourhood restaurant, the management gets to know the locals and provides great service.