Restaurants Montreal

Timetable

There are no more variable schedules than those in the restaurant world. Not only do they vary according to the season, but also several times during the same season. That said, Montreal being a very large city, many restaurants are open every day, or generally from Monday/Tuesday to Saturday. And like everywhere, weekends and holidays are synonymous with great crowds, especially for the famous brunch served until 2 or 3 p.m. Montrealers also eat earlier than Europeans. As a result, kitchen opening hours are not very late, except for pub-type restaurants or those in the trendiest neighbourhoods.

Budget & Tips

You can easily eat on the go for less than $10-15 CDN. The minimum charge is $20.00 CDN for lunch and $30.00 CDN for dinner. The daily lunch menu and the table d'hôte in the evening allow you to save some money and include the starter, main course, dessert and coffee. More upscale restaurants also often offer a multi-course tasting menu. The cost can range from $60 to $150 CDN or more, and a pairing with selected wines is offered in addition

All methods of payment are accepted, but smaller restaurants may limit themselves to cash and/or debit card.

In Quebec, you can also take home the rest of your meal or bring your own bottle of wine to the restaurant. The "Bring your own wine" concept is indeed quite widespread, especially since there is no corkage fee to pay.

What costs extra

As a general rule, the prices displayed on the menus are always exclusive of tax. Not only must taxes (14.975%) be added, but also service charges of 15%. To find out what you have to pay, you have to increase the prices by almost 30%!

The local way

Eat a poutine at 3:00 a.m., when leaving bars or after a night out with friends at home. There is almost always a snack bar open 24 hours a day to satisfy your cravings, anywhere in the region.

Serving sizes are often gigantic, North American-style, especially in pubs and sports pubs.

At the restaurant, the staff in the dining room will make sure your glass of water is full at all times and will clear your plate as soon as you take your last bite, even if not everyone has finished at your table, so as not to leave you with an empty plate.

To be avoided

Just because we're in America doesn't mean we have to be like the Americans! So please avoid the big fast food banners and opt for local tables to savour Quebec.

Kids

Your brats are welcome in most restaurants, except for those sections where a bar license applies. Extra chairs are often available and several restaurants offer a menu specially concocted for the little ones.

Smokers

Smoking is not permitted in the restaurants and on their terraces. Smoking is also prohibited 9 metres from the door of the establishment, although some do not respect this distance.

Tourist traps

In areas popular with visitors such as Old Montreal, take the time to compare restaurants and menus, as many tend to boost their prices to take advantage of the tourist boom.