On a beautiful summer evening i got to cap off a long work week with a lovely night out on the water with the Urban Dinner Cruise in Montreal by AML Cruises. Upon arriving at the designated pier I was greeted by three performers who were dressed in adorable nautical outfits to set the stage. Upon presenting my ticket to the staff I was ushered to my table in the main dining room. Since I was early, I decided to make my way to the top deck of the boat where tables and chairs are available to sit and grab a drink or just take in the fresh air. After snapping a few photos, I headed back down to start the meal and the boat was off for the evening.
The Food
The cruise serves a five course meal so come prepared with a loose dress to make room for the sumptuous food. The menu is fixed with the exception of the main meal which you decide from a variety of dishes featuring local produce. To start off the meal I was served a tasty salmon tartare alongside a miniature Ceaser drink complete with a rim of Montreal spice.
Afterwards the waiter brought a lovely orzo salad with chorizo sausage, goat cheese and a little sweetness with dried cranberries. For the main course, I debated between the salmon or the braised beef and finally settled on the latter. The beef cheek was super tender and served with a cognac reduction, creamy mashed potatoes, carrots and asparagus. If you want to enhance your meal for a small charge they also had the option of filet mignon or adding a lobster tail to your dish.
Finally, the dessert put the perfect ending to a delicious meal. The raspberry chocolate cake was a hit and I really liked the how the sourness of the fruit balanced the sweetness of the chocolate mousse and cake. Of course no meal is ever complete with a cup of coffee, even in the summer!
The Views
The glass dining room allows you to enjoy the sunset and various views while eating dinner. After the main meal was served, I did head back to the top of the boat to get a better vantage point to take in the city. I loved seeing La Ronde, the Jacque Cartier Bridge all lit up, the Boucherville Islands, and other unique architectural highlights.
The Entertainment
The Urban Dinner Cruise offers entertainment from dancers and acrobats dressed in sailor costumes throughout the meal. After supper the front of the boat gets transformed into an outdoor club with colourful lights and a DJ. Everyone, both young and old, came down to dance under the stars and admire the views of the St-Lawrence. By the time we had docked back in Montreal, I felt I had worked off most of my meal, so that’s a good thing!
More Information about the Urban Dinner Cruise
If arriving by public transit you can take the metro to Place D’Armes stop and walk down to the pier. If driving over there are many parking lots along the piers where you can park for the evening or try your luck at the limited street parking. I opted to park at the Science Centre and it was a short 5 minute walk to boat.
For additional details about the Urban Dinner Cruise, other boat excursions or to reserve tickets, check out AML Cruises website here.
