Montreal Food-Restaurants

Montreal Food-Restaurants information

French

Tocque *** 900, Place Jean-Paul-Riopelle. Tel: +1 (1)514-499-2084 Feted by international food critics, since 1993 chef Normand Laprise has been using the freshest, locally grown ingredients to flavour his innovative creations. Try a tasting menu comprised of unusual fusion dishes such as princess scallops and green apple mousse. Or trust the chef by selecting a mystery menu. Whatever the dish, an evening at this restaurant will be unforgettable. Closed Sun and Mon. Book in advance for weekends. L'Express * 3927 Rue St Denis. Metro: Sherbrooke Tel: +1 (1)514-845-5333 A Montreal classic. This Parisian style bistro consists of one narrow, long room with mirrored walls and marble tables. The waiters look like they've stepped out of a Left Bank café. The food is unpretentious yet of a supremely high quality. Try the bistro classic of steak-frites or the duck, veal or salmon (with beurre blanc) favourites. Just remember to leave enough room for that créme brulée. A Pied de Cochon ** 536 Ave Duluth Est. Metro: Mont-Royal Tel: +1 (1)514-281-1114 One of the finest restaurants on Avenue Duluth. As the name suggests this is a carnivore's paradise. With items on the menu such as pork rings, deer tongue and smoked fish you would be forgiven for thinking the cuisine would be hearty but simple. Not at all. French country classics such as andouillette (sausage) and confit de canard are given a modern makeover, the taste combinations are subtle and original and the overall impression is that of fine dining rather than rustic cooking. Bonaparte ** 443 Rue Saint-Francois-Xavier. Metro: Place d'Armes Tel: +1 (1)514-844-1448 As befitting the name, this is a decidedly French style restaurant in the heart of old Montreal. The cuisine is not startlingly original but is typically based on recipes from provincial France and there are seasonal menus available. There are three dining rooms, decorated in classical rural French style reminiscent of a country auberge. Bonaparte is popular with visitors to the city. A good choice for a meal in a romantic old town location.

Steakhouses

Moishe's * 3961 Boulevard St Laurent. Metro: Sherbrooke Tel: +1 (1)514-845-3509 The original and best of Montreal's many steakhouses. Run by a Jewish family since 1938, Moishe's serves steaks, chops, and grilled fish with traditional hospitality. Also has a fine wine selection. Italian Buonanotte * 3518 Boulevard St Laurent. Metro: St Laurent Tel: +1 (1)514-848-0644 This distinctive modern Italian restaurant and bar is highly visible on the Main thanks to its thatched, illuminated canopy of branches over the entrance. Inside, the clean, neat interior provides an ideal ambience to sample their adventurous interpretation of modern Italian cuisine. The wine list is Italian, extensive and renowned. The atmosphere really gets going later in the evening when the bar fills up, the DJ starts to play and trendy Montrealers party away until three in the morning. Il Mulino ** 236 Rue St-Zotique Est, Little Italy Tel: +1 (1)514-273-5776 As you might expect, Little Italy is the place to head for Italian food in the city. Although there isn't much to choose between several good restaurants here, if you have to choose one Il Mulino is a favourite with people in the know. It's neither the busiest restaurant in the area, nor the easiest to find, which might explain it's popularity with people seeking a quiet meal, difficult to find in an area dominated by exuberant Italians.

Vegetarian/Thai

Chu Chai * 4088 rue Saint-Denis. Metro Sherbrooke/Mont Royal Tel: +1 (1)514-843-4194 Wonderful, creative Thai vegetarian cuisine. All the Thai classics faithfully replicated, including excellent Tom Yum soups, stir fries and curries and at first glance all the menus seem to offer meat dishes. However, all the meat dishes are tofu replicas, tasting and looking unbelievably realistic. The result? Chu Chai is patronised by carnivores and veggies alike. It's been so successful that the restaurant's now opened a café next door called 'Chuc' - offering a similar menu but more informal ambience, including allowing patrons to bring their own wine.

Mexican

Three Amigos * 1657 rue St Catherine Ouest. Metro: Guy-Concordia Tel: +1 (1)514-939-3329 Typical, manic Mexican themed bar and restaurant. The food tends to be more Tex-Mex than genuine Mexican, although it is good value and the portions are hearty. Feast on enchiladas, burritos and tacos while quenching your thirst with some of the best margaritas and daiquiris from the bar. Live music played on weekends, good bar atmosphere, especially during happy hours.

Chinese

Aux delices de Szechuan ** 1735 Rue St Denis. Metro: Berri-Uqam Tel: +1 (1)514-844-5542 Popular, dimly lit Chinese restaurant in the Latin Quarter. Well known for its seafood dishes which are excellent with tangy satay sauce. Specialist in Szechuan cuisine, therefore many of the dishes are robustly spicy, especially the soups. Friendly, distinguished service provides a refined dining environment.

Portuguese

Chez Doval * 150 Rue Marie-Anne Est. Metro: Mont-Royal Tel: +1 (1)514-843-3390 Located near to Boulevard St Laurent on a very quiet street in the heart of the city's Portuguese community. The interior décor is classically Portuguese, comprising two small rooms decorated with ceramic tiling and a cosy local bar area. The cuisine features classics such as grilled fish, mussels and stuffed olives. There are good tapas like starters on offer. Wash your meal down with a glass or two of Vinho Verde. Recently voted the best Portuguese restaurant in the city by Montreal Mirror readers.

Japanese

Mikado ** 1731 Rue St Denis. Metro: Berri-Uqam Tel: +1 (1)514-844-5705 A great value sushi restaurant and bar, Mikado is one of a chain of restaurants in Montreal. This example in its Latin Quarter location produces the freshest and most inventive sushi rolls. Look out for the kamikaze Maki rolls. Platters of sushi and sashimi can be had inexpensively and are best washed down with the sake. Miso soups are also excellent here.

Breakfast

Chez Cora Dejeuners ** Various locations, including: 1017 Rue Ste Catherine Est Tel: +1 (1)514-285-2672 Breakfast throughout North America is an institution, and visitors should definitely head out to a classic diner for their morning fare at least once during a stay in Montreal. The Chez Cora chain of dedicated breakfast restaurants was founded by Madame Cora in Quebec 15 years ago. All the breakfast classics served, pancakes with maple syrup, bacon and eggs and mounds of fresh fruit, in a wide-awake atmosphere. An excellent pick-you-up ollowing a long Montreal night out.

Bars

You could attribute it to the French joie de vivre or the long winter months but one thing is certain, Montrealers know how to party. When they hit the town they are blessed with an enormous range of drinking establishments that stay open until 03h00. Bars, pubs, martini lounges, jazz bars, and live venues abound. The best way to sample the atmosphere is to head out to one of the below areas and take your pick. The Rue St Denis / Avenue de Mont-Royal axis on the Plateau has many small bars and cocktail lounges. The distinction between café, restaurant and bar here is often not great with many establishments combining elements of all three. Boulevard St Laurent has some of the liveliest bars and clubs around the Prince Arthur intersection. The lower end of Rue St Denis around Berri-Uqam metro is known as the Latin Quarter and has a good mix of students and Quebecois theatre-goers. Rue Ste Catherine is as lively at night time as during the day, the Eastern end past Berri Metro is known as the 'Village' and is home to many gay bars and clubs, while from Berri Westwards to Atwater are good pubs and sports bars. Old Montreal provides a sedate, relaxed drinking environment with local restaurants and cafés. Rue Crescent (Metro Guy-Concordia) is the English speaking district with lively pubs and clubs appealing to professionals. Below are some recommendations of bars that are typical of their genre. Peel Pub 1107 Rue Ste Catherine Ouest. Metro: Peel Tel: +1 (1)514-844-6769 A cavernous basement sports bar that is one of Montreal's classic meeting places. Packed after work with students and office workers taking advantage of huge pitchers of beer on offer for CAD5.99 from 15h00-19h00 daily. Loud, raucous atmosphere, especially during sporting events. Exceptionally cheap bar food with daily specials. Live music on weekends. McKibbens 1426 Rue Bishop. Metro: Guy-Concordia Tel: +1 (1)514-288-1580 A good Irish pub located in the basement of this three-floor pub/club complex. The pub has a good selection of ales, stouts and local beers. The menu is excellent with a peculiar but successful combination of Irish and Cajun cooking. Live music played at weekends. The 2nd floor is the cheesy Toucan club. Les Trois Brasseurs 1658 Rue St Denis. Metro: Berri-Uqam Tel: +1 (1)514-845-1660 A brew-pub that is part of a French chain. The locally brewed beers are excellent with the wheat beer and the pilsner particular highlights. The brick interior and brass piping lend it a relaxed brewery ambiance. The food menu highlights flammenkuche, Alsatian style pizza as well as mussels and fries. Just inside the entrance is a barrel of unshelled peanuts for patrons to snack on. Drop the shells on the floor! Sir Winston Churchill Pub Complex 1459 Rue Crescent. Metro: Guy-Concordia Tel: +1 (1)514-288-3814 Downstairs in the basement, Sir Winston's Pub is a frenetic meeting place for English-speaking Montrealers. The huge bar leads back towards a dance floor where many Montreal couples met for the first time. Upstairs, Winnies restaurant and bar serves reasonable food. The terrace area is popular in summer and provides a perfect people watching opportunity over the poseurs of Crescent Street. Club Lounge Altitude 737 1 Place Ville Marie Niveau PH2. Metro: McGill Tel: +1 (1)514-397-0737 Located 737 feet above ground level at the top of Montreal's original skyscraper, 737 is a bar, a lounge, a massive disco/club and a refined restaurant. Could there be a better location to sip a martini at night, overlooking the city of Montreal and the majestic St Lawrence River? The laser beams emitted from this club can be seen all over the city. In summer revellers dance all night in the open air on the roof. The restaurant serves a high quality fusion of Japanese and French Cuisine. Jello 151 Rue Ontario Est. Metro: St Laurent Tel: +1 (1)514-285-2621 With the largest selection of martinis in Montreal, Jello was the pioneer of the lounge bar scene. Chill out on the couches and listen to the live music held every night. R&B, funk, groove,