La Cage Brasserie sportive’s takeout service has become a true discovery for diners

Restaurant Rap

La Cage Brasserie

Last February, just a few weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, I was so excited to attend the grand opening of the new La Cage: Brasserie Sportive (www.cage.ca) at the former P.F. Chang’s location at Rue des Jockeys near Decarie Blvd.

A salmon poke bowl at La Cage Brasserie Sportive

Formerly known as La Cage Aux sports, the two level, 317 seat restaurant barely had a chance to attract a following and showcase its $1.5 million makeover before shutting its doors. Featuring a completely modern look, designed to offer an immersive experience in this legendary sporting atmosphere, there are several giant screen walls, not to mention three new private rooms, perfect for business meetings or groups. The open kitchen concept adds a nice touch.

Groupe Sportscene President and CEO Jean Bédard slowly began to open the 37 La Cage properties in Quebec in June.  The company also owns breakfast restaurant L ’Avenue on the South Shore, P.F. Chang’s at Carrefour Laval and Moishes Steakhouse. The latter just had its iconic property on St. Laurent Blvd sold. It will resurface sometime after the pandemic is over at a new venue. Besides its restaurant operations, Sportscene is active in the sale of La Cage and Moishes branded products in grocery stores and of ready-to-eat meals.

Lobster tacos

I was a regular at P.F. Chang’s on Decarie until it was transformed into a La Cage and I had developed a nice relationship with managing director Emile Haykal. So I was delighted when he was charged with overseeing the new La Cage in the same location. A finer restaurateur you could not find.

La Cage has transitioned marvelously to the present situation by launching “La Cage – Chez vous,” an enhanced offering of delivery, take-out and ready-to-cook meals.  

I have been enjoying the food and ambiance of La Cage restaurants for decades. That was not the case for my wife, daughter, and mother in law or father in law. None of them had ever tried the food. La Cage rebranded and changed their menu five years ago and it has brought in a new crowd; families just like mine.

For my mother in law and father in law, bag number one was dropped off containing a Blitz (100 percent Canadian beef patty) with lettuce, tomato, red onion, and mustard only and a fresh Atlantic salmon, served with croutons.  They were pleasantly surprised, so much so that they will order the exact same things next time out. In my household, we ordered an appetizer of three lobster tacos, a green salad, two salmon poke bowls and a salmon tartare meal, coming with fries and a salad.

We miss a lot of things about Moishes, so it was a treat to order the famous Moishes millefeuille for dessert.

The famous Moishes Millefeuille

The tacos were fantastic, so it was a pleasant surprise to be treated with some ready-to-cook kits created by executive chef Louis-François Marcotte.

Meanwhile, Haykal added some P.F. Chang’s favorites to the Decarie menu for a short time. It was enough of a reminder that many clients now head to Laval to pick up wonton soup, dumplings, vegetarian spring rolls, dynamite shrimp and wonderful sushi.

La Cage Brasserie Sportive Decarie is located at 5485 Rue des Jockeys, Montréal, QC H4P 2T7. Hours of operation are Monday to Friday (11 am to 11 pm) and Saturday & Sunday (4 pm to 11 pm). You can order via  lacagechezvous.com, ubereats.com or doordash.com or call 514-731-2020.