Thinking about making a trip over to Montreal to play some cash games during the festival. Have a general question about the overall experience for a non-french speaking player. I have been to Montreal several times and I know for the most part, it is more than fine but curious about in a casino specifically.

Any comments or advice would be appreciated.

Playground Poker is fully bilingual and you will find that a good proportion of players are English-speaking as a first language and almost everyone is very capable in English as a second (or third in some cases) language. Actions may be announced and discussion at any table can occur at any time in English or French. Dealers will generally announce all action in both languages.

You'll have 0 problems.

I don't speak French and have zero issues playing at the casino in Montreal or at Playground. Generally more English is spoken at the table in Playground than the casino. The major difference is the cards. Casino has French face cards, Playground "normal" English cards.

Okay great. Thanks for the responses.

new in town, anyone going this friday from downtown to share ride/cab?

Does playground have a safe deposit boxes like lock boxes at the poker room or at casino if you are not a guest? I currently moved to Montreal to play online.


Is there a casino for table games or video poker?


There's no hotel for the casino?

No, Playground does not offer customer safe deposit boxes. Security guards will happily escort you to and from your car, however.

Playground Poker Club is a poker room, there are no table games, slot machines, or any other kind of non-poker gaming.

There is no hotel.

Going to head to casino de montreal tomorrow but will go to playground poker in a few days after that and i have few questions.



1. How long does it generally take to get a seat? I read casino de montreal many ppl say it takes over 1 hour to get a seat even for 1/2 b/c they have max 3 tables only. I checked bravo for playground and it seem like whenver there is lot of ppl on wait list, they open a new table pretty easily?


2. I know the rake here is high for 1/2 and 2/5. But i read food and drinks are free. I checked online and looked at the menu and there is a lot of good stuff there. Can you really order anything on the menu? Or can you only order what you have on your players card? If thats how it works, how much comp dollars do you get per hour? Then again, i dont see any prices for the food on the menu though so i doubt this is the way playground does it?


I see there is breakfast menu, small plate, big plate, sandwiches, pizza, desert and after hours. I see there is steak and salmon the menu. I read someone mention that the menu is different for those who play 1/2nl and those that play higher? So those that play 1/2nl only can only order certain things on the menu and those that play 2/5nl and higher get a different menu? I assume 2/5nl and 5/5nl is the same? Do those that play 5/10nl and up can order anything on the menu?


3. How long does it take for the food to come? I assume if you order a salad it comes in 15 minutes or so but if you order a steak or burger sandwich, that would take 45 minutes? I assume you have to order the food at your poker seat? I assume you can only order one thing at a time? Do you have to eat at the table with those moving carts they use to have the food sent to you? Feels strange eating at the table though i know in vegas, lot of ppl do that though i just find it weird as i never done it. Obviously if i do, im using a fork and not using my hands. But can you order the food then go somewhere else to eat where there is more space such as for seating where its like a cafeteria? Because i wouldnt want to eat while playing and obviously dont want to eat at the table while not playing a hand because im busy eating and taking up a seat.


4. What is the standard tip when you order food? Im guessing 3-5 dollars or so? Thats how much i see ppl pay in vegas when they order from the menu and have the food brought to them.


5. What drinks do they offer? I always order a red bull or hot coffee or water when i play in vegas. I usually tip 1-2 dollars a drink. Is this standard in montreal or is it more? Also what beer do they offer and are there any specialty drinks like watermelon juice, coconut drink or ice coffee?



Thanks!

Normally we open tables as soon as we have enough players. There is very rarely a wait of more than a few minutes, either to join an existing table or the manager opens a new table. I should also note that during special events like this weekend the lists can get very long, but that's not an everyday thing.

There is a very good menu for 1-2 players and an excellent menu for 2-5 and above players. Anything you order off the correct menu is free. You don't have to earn a certain number of points or grind for a certain number of hours or anything. Daily specials are always great - there's always a special pizza, a special meat, fish, and pasta.

OK so maybe this isn't obvious until you get there, but a major part of the overall Playground Poker Club experience and services is The Rail Coal Fire Bistro - a full-service restaurant and bar - a high-quality restaurant and bar. There's one kitchen and then some people serve in the restaurant and some waitresses serve in the poker room. It's all the same meals and drinks as in any fine restaurant.

When you order your food the server puts it in to the kitchen like any restaurant and your meal is served when it's ready like in any good restaurant. There's nothing resembling a cafeteria anywhere near Playground.

The comped meals are only available while you're playing. It's OK to sit out a few hands and stay at your seat, but generally 100% of players eat at the table. We provide small poker meal tables that sit beside your chair so you just turn around and eat and then turn back to the table to play your hand.

Most of the table-served food you can get in Vegas is pretty bad - sandwiches in plastic and stuff. At Playground you're getting real high-quality restaurant food served on china with real cutlery and linen napkins. And on a tiny little private table just for you.

What you tip is totally up to you. Personally, I tip $4 - $5 for a full meal and a buck for a drink.


Red Bull, for sure. There are something like 10-15 beers on tap plus a wide range of bottled beer. Any kind of mixed drink you want. It's a full bar - whatever you can find in a full bar you can find at Playground.

Thanks for this information. So i can only look at the 1/2 menu and the 2/5 plus menu when im at playground? I see the menu online but its the big plate, small plate etc.


You mention about the Rail Coal Fuel Bistro thats a full service restaurant and bar. Im a bit confused but since playground poker only has poker and no table games or slot machines or anything like that, then is this the only restaurant at playground? Im also a bit confused b/c i would find it strange if there were more restaurants at playground since its only poker and thus ppl won't dont play poker wont come to playground right?


Also, something that im a bit confused about but are there people that come to playground just to eat at the rail coal fuel bistro? Also it feels a bit strange but assuming you are playing 2/5+ and could get anything off the menu for free b/c u are playing poker, then isn't there no point of paying for it like other people that would go and eat at the restaurant? Then again it would feel strange that people would come to playground just to eat there and not play poker or am i wrong on this statement?

Yes people come just for the restaurant. Its connected to the building but its completely separate. Its hard to explain. Some people go just for food and don't play poker. For example if you went with your wife and kids you wouldn't be playing poker you would just sit in the restaurant and order food like a normal family going to a restaurant I don't think you can even see the poker tables. It's pretty segregated. As for the 1/2 menu it includes all drinks. Anything you can think of basically. For food youll get all the pizzas burgers and hot sandwiches which are really good, and a couple of other stuff and Some apps and the daily specials. On 2/5+ you can get steak and other "meat dishes" like shrips and salmon.

Anyway don't worry about that stuff. While you're playing just ask a waitress for a menu. Give your players card and order whatever you want. The extra rake covers it so indulge. The food comes pretty quickly. I usually just tip 5$ and 1$ for drinks. If you saw my post in the casino thread you'll understand why the drinks are garbage there. You get real orange juice at playground and nothing is watered down. Like mike said it comes from a real restaurant and bar. The casino only serves frozen food that tastes bad, isnt comped and is over priced.

Thanks joseph for that information. One last question. Can i order more than 1 thing at a time? Such as if im playing 2/5 plus, i can order a steak and also a salmon and some desert? The same for 1/2, you can order 2 sandwich at a time and desert as well?

I'm pretty sure they stopped the ordering two items at once. Don't quote me because I don't recall every trying. If I'm really hungry I order and eat and order again. Same with desert I usually like to eat and once they come to pick up the plate I'll order a desert. I've seen people sit and eat all day one plate after another. So it is allowed. I feel guilty if I waste food so I never go crazy.

It's not a comp system that you'd be used to. They pretty much just give you whatever you want. I don't think there is a limit. If there is I've never seen anyone reach it. so don't be shy.

Iet us know of you have any questions. I look forward to your trip report!

Also pleae take id with you as the first time you go you will have to become a club member to play. (It takes less than 5 minutes. Maybe a little longer because its a crazy weekend with the fulltilt festival.)

Planning to check out Playground for the first time in a couple months. Do tournament players get free food too?

Tournament players can order what they want but they are charged reasonable prices for food. Drinks are complimentary.

A significant proportion of players come early and play on a cash game for a while while they eat and then register for their tournament. Late reg is open for 4-5 levels for most tourneys and you get a full stack when you late reg (for daily tournaments).

LeafsFan are you coming for the Spring Classic?

Thanks for the info. Actually I'll be coming for the Canada Cup in May. A friend of mine won a satelite to the main event on Stars so I'll be joining him on the trip and playing a bunch of the $100-$300 events and the $110r satelite to the main as well.

Cool - that's going to be a great event. And you're sure to see a ton of folks from Toronto if you play at all there - there are a lot of players from Toronto and elsewhere in Southern Ontario that make regular visits.

Feel free to ask other questions here or there's a thread in the MTTc-Live Forum specifically about the PokerStars Canada Cup so you could get more information there as well.

The bbj just hit 400k+

a) Anybody have any recommendations/advice of where to stay for 9-12 nights during the May series? Right now leaning towards travellodge (the one near the airport) and it looks like it'll come out to about $100-$110/night after taxes/fees for a room with 2 beds. That's fairly reasonable but just curious if there are any lesser known places you guys could recommend that would be cheaper but not a total crap-hole.

b) Not really sure how to word this but, how are the driving conditions WRT getting to Playground? I know it's on some Indian reservation outside of the city - Is it straight-forward in terms of signs, routes, etc (easy to get to?) How bout traffic? Any other comments related to this?

Thanks

From the aiport to Playground? It's a PITA. With traffic, over the bridge (if its even open, it was closed this weekend for tourney), it could easily be a 45-60 min hike. No traffic and bridge open maybe 20-25 min. Signs all in French but fairly straightforward.

How important is Montreal scene to you? If not that important I would stay south the city closer to Playground. No specific recommendations but anywhere around Chateauguay you would be a lot closer and have no worries about Montreal traffic.

I've stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Centre Ville on Blvd Rene Levesque for around that price several times. There is also a Candlewood Suites operating in the same building that sometimes has better rates and the street is basically a whole strip of budget options. You might enjoy being downtown vs. by the airport so that could add value too if they are priced similar. I'd recommend that general location for seamless access to the bridge via 720. Super easy drive even the 1st time in my opinion. Only 20mins no traffic. Of course if the bridge is closed it will always be a debacle unless you stay in Chateauguay

We're not terribly concerned with being downtown or even in the city for that matter. I'll be doing all/most of the driving so convenient/non-stressful commuting is more important than the "Montreal-scene" and non-poker activities. By any chance do you guys have a link(s) to any of the places you've mentioned? I've done a bunch of research so far but admittedly I'm not the best at it and had a hard time finding suitable options in the Chateauguay/Kahnawake area (south of the bridge). Any more advice on this matter is welcomed, thanks in advance.

I've stayed at the Sheraton at the airport (here now actually) on my last two trips, nice hotel, easy to get to the bridge.

If you're staying for 10+ nights you can more than likely get an extended stay rate, look online to find an email for a manager. I've received a rate of $99 a night on my last two trips

Maybe try Hotel Brossard.

You don't need to go over bridge to get to poker places (but do to get downtown).

It is a like a 15 minute drive (and will never be bad because of traffic) to get to poker. Once you do it once it is really easy.

Plus there is a ton of places to shop/eat by car around it.

And a local library (5 min drive away)which might be nice to study at.

st. Lambert Library .

http://www.hotelbrossard.com/