Just because it’s French doesn’t mean it’s pretentious. In fact, the class of patrons of the East Mifflin bar is probably the furthest thing from your mind when you walk into the low-lit wine bar. Although the name and varied wine selection may intimidate the average University of Wisconsin student, have no fear; there is no pretension here. Or if there is, it is of your own making when you survey the prices.

To be truthful, the prices aren’t exactly for the faint of heart. The list of salads and appetizer-style “entrees” range from $5 to $15, and the bottles of exquisite “real high quality” wine are equivalent in price to a college student’s food budget for a month.

But don’t worry about that. Sit down with a glass of white or red — if you don’t know what makes a good wine, don’t worry, the staff can offer you some suggestions — and enjoy whatever happens to be occurring at the time.

And there’s a lot going on. From DJs to singer-songwriters, there’s usually always some conversation piece or distraction from the doldrums of the bar scene. For instance, every other Sunday, the Montmartre offers its own trivia night, one which certainly rivals imitators at City Bar or the cheap imitation at Wando’s. The reason? Physical challenge. If you’ve ever wanted to see drunk twenty-somethings attempt to work Thighmasters in pairs or carefully carry fruit loops by cocktail swords onto the brim of Jack Daniel’s hat, then by all means, come on down on every alternate Sunday for trivia night. (And don’t miss the Nov. 4 edition where trivia will take place in conjunction with the presidential election.)

But please, spend conservatively: This is no casual “Barriques”-style experience. The dimmed chandeliers may seem to fit with the relatively eclectic atmosphere, but it’s far more indicative of the price you’ll have to pay by going on a bender here. If you’d like to save your hard-earned cash, bring friends on Monday nights for half-price bottles of wine. You won’t regret it until the hangover.
3 stars out of 5