Restaurants
Montréal is one of the North America gastronomic capitals, a city that is passionate about its food, and that draws on French and other ethnic culinary influences to offer a wonderful rich assortment of restaurants, cafes and cuisines. In the Vieux-Montreal as well as in the downtown area you are spoiled for choices. Here a few choices classified by cuisine type.
Contemporary
Chez l’Épicier
311 rue Saint-Paul (Metro Champs de Mars)
Tel : (514) 878-2232
www.chezlepicier.com
The food is the fresh market cuisine served in the surroundings of an old grocery store which offers unusual variations of French dishes. Try the sweet breads braised in apple juice and fresh thyme, or salmon stew with salsify.
Le local
740 rue William (Metro Place d’Armes)
Tel: (514) 397-7737
www.resto-lelocal.com
In the large dining room or on the terrace during the summer, Montreal’s young and hip feast on decadent dishes including salmon tartar with truffle oil and lime, or roasted scallops with green-pea purée
Toque!
900 Place Jean-Paul Ripoelle, near Rue Saint Fraçois Xavier (Metro Place d’Armes)
Tel : (514) 499-2084
www.restaurant-toque.com
Toque ! has been one of the Montreal gastronomic temples for years, and its contemporary French and Asian fusion food has lost nothing over the time. First choice for a treat
French
Ariel
2072 rue Drummond (Metro Peel)
Tel: (514) 282-9790
arielrestaurant.com
The atrium garden of this prettily decorated, three-room restaurant is the perfect place for truffle-scented warm quail and spinach salad.
Bonaparte
443 rue Saint-François Xavier
Tel: (514) 844-4368
www.bonaparte.ca
Sit in the fireplace room overlooking rue Saint-Sacrement and you will swear you are in Paris.
Club chasse et Pêche
423 rue St-Claude (Metro Champs de Mars)
Tel: (514) 861-112
www.leclubchasseetpeche.com
With just a coat of arms announcing its presence to the outside world, is well worth seeking out f or the deliciously imaginative food.
Mediterranean
Graziella
116 rue McGill (Metro Square-Victoria)
Tel: (514) 876-0116
www.restaurantgraziella.ca
Sublimely simple northen-italian dishes without artifice, but with a flair for presentation and taste. A first course of feather-light ricotta gnocchi sets the stage without dulling your appetite for hearty mains. Fixed-price lunch menu.
Café Ferreira
1446 rue Peel (Metro Peel)
Tel: (514) 848-0988
www.ferreiracafe.com
Haute cuisine Portuguese style. Nibble on salted cod and olives while you consider the grilled octopus or the sausages marinated in red wine.
Milos
5357 avenue du Parc (between St-Viateur and Fairmount)
Tel: (514) 272-3522
www.milos.ca
With the goal to present Mediterranean cuisine at its best, Milos spared no effort over the last twenty years in searching for products and ingredients. Whether it is the olive oil and the precious fish and seafood, or extraordinary fruits and vegetables, to small items such as the fava and capers or the thyme honey from Cerigo, you will find it at Milos.
Pan-Asian Cuisine
Orchidée de Chine
2017 rue peel (Metro Peel)
Tel: (514) 287-1887
Best of the Tuxedo Chinese restaurants: flash-fried spinach and dumpling with peanut sauce served in an elegantly simple setting.
Steak
Gibbys
298 Place d’Youville, Vieux-Montréal
Tel : (514) 282-1837
www.gibbys.com
Housed in a magnificent 200-year old building in Old Montreal, this charming restaurant offers the finest seafood and Gibby’s expertly aged and exquisitely broiled steaks, making it renowned world class restaurant.
Joe Beef
2491 rue Notre-Dame (Metro Lionel Groux)
Tel : (514) 935-6504
www.joebeef.com
Joe Beef is named for a tavern-keeper who was the hero of this formerly blue-collar neighborhood. The atmosphere is old-time and the beef is big-time.
Moishe’s
3961 boulevard Saint-Laurent at rue Duluth (Metro Saint-Laurent)
Tel: (514) 845-3509
www.moishes.ca
Eat marbled steak aged the same way since 1938. A premier steak house, run by the same family since it is opened. (It is usually crowded)
Other Specialities
Schwartz’s
3895 boulevard Saint-Laurent at rue Napoleon (Metro Mont-Royal)
Tel: (514) 842-4813
www.schwartzsdeli.com
Schwartz’s smoked meats are world famous. The best thing on the menu is smoked meat but the steaks are pretty good too. The restaurant is always packed: expect brusque service and lines.
Fairmount Bagel Bakery
74 rue Fairmount
Tel: (514) 272-0667
www.fairmountbagel.com
Montreal is famous for its bagel and this is one of the two most famous producers. It is the oldest, established in 1919, and it makes more than 20 varieties, all hand-rolled and cooked in a wood-fires oven.
Great for a late night snack, it never closes!