The First Date Series takes a look at restaurants in Montreal where you might want to go -- or might not want to go -- on a first date. Upon a recommendation some time ago (thanks Greg!), I finally dragged a date to BU, and decided it's a top first date destination.

There's nothing worse than being stranded on an excruciating first date with no escape plan on the horizon. Mile End wine bar BU solves this problem -- You can take a date to BU and order a glass of wine, share one Italian tapas-style dish, and call it quits right then and there. Or, if you haven't been fully turned off in the first 25 minutes, carry on, and see if they can hold your enthusiasm for the duration of another glass and a few more bites to eat.

If the knowledge that you can bail after a glass of wine isn't relaxing enough for you, the retro '50's style chairs and low formica tables that look out onto St. Laurent are super comfy. This front section of the very low-lit restaurant is the most date-friendly, but sitting at the slick wooden bar is also an option that can lower the intimidation factor on a first date.
My date here started off with a glass of wine from the weekly changing menu, along with two small plates. We went for a smoked curd cheese dish -- Caciocavallo cheese rolls were wrapped in Parma ham, on top of a colourful salad, all drizzled with a balsamic reduction that gave a hint of sweet to the salty ham and cheese. Yes, curd cheese can, on occasion, be awesome without fries and gravy.
The salmon marinated in Lapsang tea was a little disappointing. Cream cheesy julienne apples served on the side were pretty much the highlight of this little plate -- The fish itself wasn't particularly smoky tasting, and the fennel puree was on the bland side.
Sometimes you don't need to share an entire meal to know it's not going anywhere. If after a glass of wine and a few bites your date's not doing it for you, you've put in a good effort. You can bounce right here and breathe a sigh of relief as you speed home. This wasn't my case, so we ordered a trio -- a selection of three two-ounce glasses of wine grouped by a common theme. We went for the tannins italiens, three reds, served from the lightest to the most robust, along with a very detailed description, and anecdote, from the waiter.

We paired this with two meat dishes: The bison, cooked to a perfect medium rare, swimming in its glazed sauce, was mouthwatering. The side of polenta was a little cheesy for my liking, but the porcini mushrooms on top gave a nice contrast in texture to the meat.
The Quebec lamb chop, served with a homemade béarnaise sauce, was tender and flavourful. Tempura artichokes came with the meat, and the crispy outside and soft fleshy inside totally worked. I could've gone for a double serving of this one.

We didn't stop here, and ordered the vitello tonnato -- three slices of braised veal, served cold, in a mayonnaisesque caper and tuna sauce. The meat was delicate, and the silky sauce had only a hint of fish taste -- important, as tuna overkill can ruin this dish in my books.The menu offers an à la carte selection of five or six Italian cheeses. Served on a wooden block with nuts and a tart fruit jelly, we wrapped up our evening at BU with a Baita Friuli cheese. .
I couldn't forgo dessert, a nougat semifreddo in a hot chocolate sauce. If you're planning on bailing after one dish only, order this one first. Or suck it up and endure their company, this dessert may be worth it. Decadent, but light; cold, but warm; if your date's going well, this may just seal the deal.
BU can be a splurge, but it doesn't have to be. Both wines and eats range in price from very reasonable to breaking the bank. If you're steering clear of dates because the thought of sitting through dinner with a dud date makes staying home alone more appealing, BU is a safe option for you. It's evidently also a place for a successful first date -- keep ordering, you can make it last all evening.....And if you're not doing anything else for Valentine's Day, it may also be a decent pick.

BU is located at 5245 St. Lauret, and is open everyday from 7pm until midnight.

Check out some of our other First Date ideas like the Griffintown Cafe or Icehouse.

Do you have suggestions for other fun first date places that Midnight Poutine should take a look at? Leave a comment below!