Montreal Restaurants

These are the restaurants in Montreal that we profiled. Everything on this list is recommended (although, in some cases, with reservations: read detailed reviews for more information).

• Aix Cuisine du Terroir — 711 Côte de la Place d'Armes, (514) 904-1201
  Aix offers French-inspired "country" cuisine.


• Aszú — 212 rue Notre Dame Ouest, (514) 845-5436
  Aszú pays particular attention to creating dishes that pair well with its extensive wine list.


• Au Pied de Cochon — 536 rue Duluth Est, (514) 281-1114
  


• Bonaparte — 443 rue St-François-Xavier, (514) 884-4368
  A romantic Classic French restaurant. Three meticulously appointed dining rooms. The service is good, although somewhat formal. Although many patrons are tourists (the restaurant is located downstairs from a small hotel), Le Bonaparte is definitely not a tourist trap - it is well-known and respected in the city.


• Brontë — 1800 rue Sherbrooke Ouest, (514) 934-1801
  Modern food in a thoroughly modern setting. The menu is in constant flux and is based on fresh market ingredients.


• Bu — 5245 Boulevard St-Laurent, (514) 276-0249
  Bu was "inspired by the great wine bars of Europe". The wine options include the weekly selection of some 25 wines offered by the glass, as well as a 500-entry complete wine list. The kitchen serves Italian cuisine.


• Café Cherrier — 3635 rue St-Denis, (514) 843-4308
  Café Cherrier has been serving bistro-style French cuisine since 1931.


• Café des Beaux Arts — 1380 rue Sherbrooke Ouest, (514) 843-3233
  Café des Beaux Arts is not your typical museum restaurant - with a bona fide chef (Richard Bastien), quality food and attractive decor it qualifies as a dining destination onto its own. 70 seats in the main room and a 55-seat private dining room.


• Café du Nouveau Monde — 84 rue St-Catherine Ouest, (514) 866-8669
  The most Parisian thing in Montreal after L'Express, and actually, in many ways similar to the revered St-Denis restaurant, Le Café du Nouveau Monde offers quality upscale brasserie food in the rapidly developing Quartier des Spectacles.


• Café Méliès — 3536 boulevard St-Laurent, (514) 847-9218
  Quality bistro fare served amid 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 Olimpico — 124 rue St-Viateur Ouest, (514) 495-0746
  A bona fide institution in Montreal's coffee scene, Café Olimpico (also known locally as "Open Da Night" or "Open D") has been serving what's considered by many to be the best coffee in town for more than 30 years.


• Café Trattoria Ferreira — 1446 rue Peel, (514) 848-0988
  An upscale Portuguese restaurant with a focus on seafood. The clientele seems to consist primarily of business folks who appreciate fine Portuguese cuisine. Single diners can enjoy the food at the bar.


• Chez la Mère Michel — 1209 rue Guy, (514) 934-0473
  Classic French restaurant established in 1965. Elegant, old-fashioned, with award-winning menu.


• Chez L'Épicier — 311 rue Saint-Paul Est, (514) 878-2232
  International cuisine menu, with unique dishes.


• Chez Queux — 158 rue St-Paul Est
  Traditional French cuisine.


• Gibby's — 298 place d'Youville, (514) 282-1837
  A well-known steak and seafood restaurant. Cabs waiting in line outside will give you an indication of its popularity.


• Green Café - Downtown — 443 Ave Viger Ouest, (514) 868-0498
  A stylish breakfast and lunch spot.


• Holt Renfrew Café — 1300 rue Sherbrooke Ouest, (514) 282-3749
  Minimalist decor, high prices and hungry shoppers enjoying the famous sandwiches.


• Joe Beef — 2491 rue Notre-Dame Ouest
  Don't let the somewhat simplistic decor and setup fool you: this is a high-end (and fairly expensive) establishment. Joe Beef has a menu highlighting fresh ingredients with a focus on fish and seafood, although first-class meat dishes (as the name would suggest) are offered as well. The wine lists starts at around $60/bottle. Small summer terrace (7 tables) is available.


• La Chronique — 99 ave Laurier Ouest, (514) 271-3095
  Eclectic "market cuisine" restaurant; winner of many gastronomical awards.


• La Gargote — 351 Place d'Youville, (514) 844-1428
  Although the word “Gargote” means “cheap restaurant” or “diner” in French slang, this bistro actually offers fairly upscale versions of classic French dishes (with some North African influences). The restaurant’s dining room, decorated in a classic yet stylish way and the quaint surroundings of the Old Port make for a romantic atmosphere. In the warm months (April through September), an outdoor terrace is open.


• Laloux — 250, avenue des Pins Est, (514) 287-9127
  Nouvelle Cuisine "with a twist". Romantic atmosphere, despite somewhat barren location.


• L'Appartement — 600, rue William, (514) 866-6606
  Contemporary "market cuisine" restaurant and bar.


• Le Cartet — 106 rue McGill, (514) 871-8887
  Boutique alimentaire + café.


• Le Convivial — 4785 rue Sherbrooke Ouest, (514) 933-1000
  Contemporary international cuisine based on French cuisine.


• Le Reservoir — 9 Duluth East, (514) 849-7779
  A micro-brewery which has gradually evolved into a bona fide bistro/brasserie restaurant. Good beer selection. The crowd is fairly typical of Le Plateau (mostly 20- and 30-somethings). Also open for weekend brunch.


• Le Roi du Plateau — 51 Rachel Ouest, (514) 844-8393
  Simple family-run restaurant serving authentic Portuguese dishes.


• L'Entrecôte St-Jean — 2022 rue Peel, (514) 281-6492
  L'Entrecôte St-Jean's menu may be short (essentially containing just one main dish - its signature steak) but the execution is flawless and the restaurant's success is a proof that the strategy worked. "Aucune surprise" indeed.


• L'Express — 3927 rue St-Denis, (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).


• Milos — 5357 Avenue du Parc, (514) 272-3522
  Milos is considered one of the best Greek restaurants in the city. The accent here is on seafood.


• Narcisse — 95 rue de la Commune Est, (514) 392-1649
  The wine bar boasts more than 40 wines by the glass.


• Nocochi — 2156 rue Mackay, (514) 989-7514
  Nocochi specializes in light breakfast/lunch fare and offers something unique in addition to its relatively typical menu of omelettes, sandwiches and salads: the cookies. These tiny multi-coloured Persian treats can be bought "to go" (by the box) or consumed on the spot. The cookies, the food, the coffee (Illy), as well as Nocochi's clean and airy light-toned interior design attract an appropriately mixed crowd: museum goers, old ladies chatting after shopping, visiting Europeans and Concordia students.


• Olive + Gourmando — 351 rue St-Paul Ouest, (514) 350-1083
  A cafe/bakery very popular for lunch (sometimes it's difficult to get a seat as there are only about a dozen tables). Open until 6pm, closed Sun and Mon.


• Pintxo — 256 rue Roy Est, (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).


• Pullman — 3424 Avenue du Parc, (514) 288-7779
  


• Titanic — 445 rue St-Pierre, (514) 849-0894
  A semi-basement café serving breakfast and lunch (weekdays only).


• Toqué! — 900 place Jean-Paul Riopelle, (514) 499-2084
  One of the quintessential Montreal restaurants, popular with moneyed out-of-town foodies eager to get a taste of Québec cooking. Not everyone was happy when the restaurant moved to its current location, but apparently the move didn't diminish the restaurant's qualities - Toqué! is still considered one of the best restaurants in Montreal.


• Vago — 1336 Avenue Greene, (514) 846-1414
  


• Vasco de Gama — 1472 Peel Street, (514) 286-2688
  


• Veritas — 480 Boulevard St-Laurent, (514) 510-7775
  A modern café serving healthy food and first-class coffee.

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