|
|
The Plateau is the nerve center of Montreal's dining scene.
Two of the borough's busiest streets ( Blvd St-Laurent and Rue St-Denis) are lined up with eateries of every stripe. There are
more restaurants here than in any other neighborhood in Montreal.
Those on a tight 24/48-hour-visit schedule should not miss the classic elegance
of L'Express, a French bistro/brasserie on Rue St-Denis.
Our editors' favorites also include Pintxo, a creative Spanish/Basque restaurant and
Bistro L'Entrepont, a small French/Québecois bistro tucked away on a quiet street.
But your choices are almost unlimited - just stroll up (or down) almost any street and you're almost guaranteed to find a decent restaurant. Some of the major dining arteries are Ave du Mont-Royal Est, Rue St-Denis, Boulevard St-Laurent, Rue Rachel Est. Some smaller, quieter
streets that also feature many restaurants are: Avenue Duluth Est
and Rue Marie-Anne Est.
The following are the restaurants in Plateau Mont Royal that we profiled:
- Au Pied de Cochon
536 rue Duluth Est (Plateau Mont Royal), (514) 281-1114
Chef-owner Martin Picard has basically built his restaurant around
the concept of over-indulgence. Foie gras is all over the menu, not
only in the section devoted to it.
- Aux Vivres
4631 boulevard St-Laurent (Plateau Mont Royal), (514) 842-3479
Aux Vivres serves such a convincing version of vegan cuisine that you will not feel
like you're giving up anything (except stereotypes, possibly).
- Bagel Etc
4320 Boulevard St-Laurent (Plateau Mont Royal), (514) 845-9462
A lively breakfast, lunch and snack venue. Much of the menu is
centered on or can be served with.. you've guessed it, a bagel!
Bagale Etc serves brunch that's particularly popular with Le
Pleateau denizens.
- Bistro L'Entrepont
4622 Hotel de Ville (Plateau Mont Royal), (514) 845-1369
Small restaurant serving delicious French bistro cuisine dishes.
- Café Cherrier
3635 rue St-Denis (Plateau Mont Royal), (514) 843-4308
Café Cherrier has been serving bistro-style French cuisine
since 1931.
- Café Méliès
3536 boulevard St-Laurent (Plateau Mont Royal), (514) 847-9218
Bistro fare served in an ultra-modern décor (matching the interior of Ex:centris movie
theater with which the restaurant is sharing the building as well
as the owner).
- Café Rico
969 rue Rachel Est (Plateau Mont Royal), (514) 529-1321
A neighborhood café selling fair trade coffee.
- Ginza
4593, rue Saint-Denis (Plateau Mont Royal), (514) 904-0079
Ginza managed to excel in a potentially risky format of
"all you can eat sushi". The fine print (of course, there
is fine print!) is that there are maximums and the stuff you
order but don't eat will cost you extra.
- Laloux
250, avenue des Pins Est (Plateau Mont Royal), (514) 287-9127
Nouvelle Cuisine "with a twist". Romantic atmosphere, despite somewhat
barren location.
- Le Reservoir
9 Duluth East (Plateau Mont Royal), (514) 849-7779
A micro-brewery which has gradually evolved into a bona fide bistro/brasserie
restaurant.
- Le Roi du Plateau
51 Rachel Ouest (Plateau Mont Royal), (514) 844-8393
Simple family-run restaurant serving authentic Portuguese dishes.
- L'Express
3927 rue St-Denis (Plateau Mont Royal), (514) 845-5333
L'Express is simultaneously the coolest bistro in Montreal
and its relatively well-kept secret. There is no sign on
the door and they don't need one - everybody who is anybody
in Montreal knows exactly where it is.
Reservations are
recommended (especially during the "regular" dinner hours),
but the wait is probably going to be
acceptable if you come come after 10:30 pm. The
restaurant is open late (until 2 am).
- Pintxo
256 rue Roy Est (Plateau Mont Royal), (514) 844-0222
Pintxo serves food based on the modernized concept of
miniature Basque tapas (yes, tapas can be made smaller than usual).
You can also order "regular" size dishes which complement the
tapas. The tasting menu includes one main dish and four
pintxos (tapas).
|
