Gordon Ramsay opens restaurant in Canada and plans Caesar's Palace link-up

Laurier Gordon Ramsay, opened its doors in Outremont, a suburb of Montreal, yesterday on the site of the 75-year-old restaurant Rotisserie Laurier BBQ.

Gordon Ramsay Holdings (GRH) will operate as a consultancy to the 124-cover restaurant and has made only minor changes to the venue and its menu. Many of the restaurant's staff, some who have worked there for 20 years, will remain working there.

Refreshed menu​

Outremont native Guillermo Russo, formerly of Toronto's Lucien Restaurant, has been recruited as head chef and will oversee a 'refreshed' menu which includes classic favourites and 'comfort-food staples' such as grain-fed rotisserie chicken, burgers and smokey ribs, a shrimp & crab roll and desserts such as sugar pie and the restaurant's 'legendary' moka cake.

The restaurant has been re-designed and enhanced to reflect its history rather than being given a complete overhaul. The main dining area will have three distinct elements: banquettes for family and small group dining; a theatre-style kitchen area for larger groups, and a brand-new bar area with a wine cellar. A private dining room will be located on the second floor.

Montreal ​

A spokesperson for GRH said it was no secret that Ramsay had Canada on the radar for a new venture, but until now had been undecided on location.

"There was talk about opening somewhere in Toronto, but Gordon visited Montreal last year and loved it and the site for the restaurant. Montreal is a very foodie area so it was the right place," she said.

Laurier Gordon Ramsay was re-launched by two veterans of the Montreal hospitality industry, Marie-Christine Couture and Danielle Lord.

Caesars Palace​

It has also been confirmed that GRH is in talks with Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas about Ramsay consulting on dining operations at the luxury US resort.

According to the New York Post, the chef will brand three restaurants which will be managed by Caesar's

A GRH spokesperson said: "We’re excited about the prospect of working with Caesars Palace and are currently in discussions with them. When more details become available, we will release them."

Earlier this week, BigHospitality revealed that GRH had trademarked the name Fat Cow​, which is linked to 'services to provide food and drink, restaurants, bar and catering services', leading to speculation that he could be looking to launch a chain of barbecue restaurants in the UK.