The Pitch
We first reviewed Satay Brothers in early 2013, a few weeks after setting up their small Saint-Henri outfit on Saint-Jacques Street West. Fast forward to exactly one year ago and the boys had expanded to newer digs, one street down on Notre-Dame. Still as popular as ever, on our second visit of the new domicile, we had to wait about ten minutes before being seated on this busy Saturday night.
tagged: WAIT IN LINE
The Mood
The siblings have eschewed the cozy, quiet nature of their previous abode for a roomier and infinitely cooler locale. The narrow but deep interior features a central bar and open kitchen at the end with large, communal tables scattered throughout; be prepared to share one of those with strangers. Tonight's boisterous young crowd enjoyed the seventies funk music flooding the oriental-inspired dining room; the whole vibe reminds us of hip Asian eateries in New York City.
tagged: GROOVY TUNES
The Food
With the larger space came a broadening of the offering as well. The new printed menus list old chalkboard favorites such as lemak, buns and satays, plus a host of new, exotic items and specials covering various Malay/South East Asian cuisines. Finally, the drink menu counts a number of wild tiki cocktails which could have impaired our judgment. Therefore, for the sake of lucidity, we opted for a dark n' stormy and spiked lemonade, hoping they were less potent!
Laksa Lemak
"chili shrimp coconut milk soup". We've said it before and we'll say it again: this is hands down our favorite soup in town. We just love its rich, spicy coconut gravy with all those goodies (shrimp, sprouts, egg…) swimming in it; simply sublime!
Fried Prawn Fritters
"with tamarind sauce". These subtly-flavored crowd-pleasers were beautifully soft and airy inside, while the accompanying dipping sauce helped bump up the taste. However, we would have enjoyed a slightly crispier crust.
Chicken Buns x2
"sesame chicken, onion puree, bok choy kimchi". Tonight's specials featured a chicken variation of those popular, fluffy bao buns. The kimchi added some crunch and tang, elevating this street food staple to a whole new level.
3 Mushrooms Yam Noodles
We learned something new tonight: the Japanese make glass noodles out of an Asian yam known as konjac. Stir-fry those with a medley of mushrooms and scallions and you've got yourself a delicious low-calorie noodle dish, another special on the menu.
Kapitan Chicken
"house made curry, jasmin rice". Large chunks of succulent chicken (both white and dark parts) are layered in a bowl of pungent, thick, creamy coconut curry; which you will want to ladle all over that bowl of fragrant rice on the side.
Kueh Salat
"sticky rice, coconut cream, pandan". An exotic dessert with a consistency reminiscent of crème caramel provided a light, airy and perfect ending to a savory dinner filled with bold flavors.
tagged: ORIGINAL DRINKS
The Service
The first thing you notice upon walking in is how busy this place is. From the hungry diners waiting to be seated and busy bartenders mixing drinks to the scurrying waiters and quick customer turnaround, the entire house is in a constant state of motion. Some patrons want a quick bite, others are here for the long haul; our table alone saw four changes of faces. Either way, your order arrives fairly quickly but you do not feel rushed one bit.
tagged: HUSTLE & BUSTLE IN & OUT
The Verdict
We've been scratching our heads trying to come up with something we would have different at this little gem of a restaurant (we're picky like that); but we couldn't. Everything from the fun, casual mood to the excellent, affordable food and efficient, friendly service is just flawless. With their latest expansion, the Satay Brothers can pride themselves with THE hottest joint in Saint-Henri and our absolute favorite Asian eatery in town.
tagged: FAVORITE
Price per person: $16.48
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514eats
Montreal restaurant and bar reviews brought to you by two regular guys who like to eat and drink. We will go anywhere and we will say it like it is.
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