The best restaurants Montreal

Let's face it: we don't go to Chez Chili for the setting, but for the plates, each one as good as the next (and believe us, a good part of the dishes have been tested and approved!). Special mention to the excellent eggplant with garlic, melt-in-the-mouth, to be served with white rice and sautéed tofu for example, all for the right price. The service is always very pleasant and the tea is served at the table, alongside the classic water carafe. A real good address in Chinatown!

Those familiar with the now-defunct Mezcla will recognize the touch of chef Marcel Larrea, who trained at Cordon Bleu and worked at Astrid & Gastón alongside legendary chef Gastón Acurio, both in Lima, Peru. The menu is as diverse as the bar's décor, offering ceviche, scallop and parmesan tiradito, dumplings, duck anticucho and other fusion delights. The cocktails include the Pisco Sour, reputed to be the best in town. A real treat!

The Frangié family's gourmet table, Mom's recipes are omnipresent, offering a true voyage to the heart of the flavours of Syria and Armenia, with a Montreal touch. Among the specialties, you must try the delicious mazzas, the stuffed pitas, the osmally kebab or the Aleppo poutine (fries, braised lamb, Aleppo cheese and nuts). As everything looks delicious and fragrant on the menu, you might as well have several dishes to share for your table. Special mention to the incredible wine list, most of which are natural.

The atmosphere is exactly that of an American diner, but revisited in a rather original way: long wooden counter with stools, lamps of all kinds, mismatched chairs, bottles and preserves from another era, deer head, knick-knacks as varied as they are numerous... As for the à la carte menu, you can order several small dishes to satisfy your stomach: smoked mackerel spread, oysters according to arrival, beef tataki, marinated salmon, 12-inch hot dog (a big star on the menu) or whelks with herb butter and parmesan.

After the huge success of Sushi Momo, Christian Ventura is taking his vegan sushi concept one step further. With Bloom, the setting is a little more upscale, the style is refined in cream tones, between stone, wood and dried flowers. The menu, still in the same spirit, is very interesting. With konjac "salmon", tofu "crab" or sweet potato tempura, the vegetal creativity is limitless. The result is elegant and, above all, well-balanced. A good address for gourmets curious about new flavors.

A chic, friendly neighborhood wine bar and restaurant that's been tastefully imagined. The atmosphere is that of a place of friends, as evidenced by the terrace, which is always cheerful on summer evenings. The wines, natural or otherwise, are accompanied by small snacks such as the unmissable smoked meat roll with sauerkraut and Emmental cheese, or seasonal dishes such as duck and chanterelle ravioli. The quality of the products is a must for the chef, and it shows. On the other hand, portions are rather small and the meal can be a tad expensive.

We love the superb white decor, with a few islands of greenery here and there, but above all its partly glazed roof and greenhouse which, in addition to making the place extremely bright, give the impression of being on a terrace whatever the season. The old garage door also opens onto one of the restaurant's rooms, reinforcing this impression. The place offers several concepts: a weekend brunch spot, an evening restaurant with a menu rich in regional products, and a refreshment bar with cocktails and organic wines. A must-see!

Located in the heart of the Quartier des spectacles, Le Central showcases Montreal's gastronomic scene. More than twenty gourmet counters feature cuisines as varied as the city's cultural melting pot: seafood from the Gaspé Peninsula, Spanish tapas, Portuguese chicken, Indian pav bhaji, Hawaiian poké, Breton galettes... and the list goes on! The West Shefford brasserie also runs a bar here, with a small terrace in summer. A gourmet stop well worth the detour!

Here is a brasserie with crazy charm, with its wood-covered walls, all in relief, where blackboards display the menus, and where modern meets rustic. Les Enfants Terribles is a famous name in the Montreal area. If all its addresses are not the same, the one in Outremont still has a certain charm. You can, for example, enjoy the spectacle of life in Outremont behind the large bay windows, while tasting a knife cut beef tartare with parmesan crumble and basil oil. A well-known address.

In the heart of Little Burgundy, a stone's throw from the Atwater Market, this classic Montreal restaurant owes its name to Charles "Joe-Beef" McKiernan, one of the working class heroes of the 19th century. A refined bistro, Joe Beef is not all working class! An inventive table that mixes flavours around steak and seafood, a bistro-style menu on a blackboard, and attentive and friendly service. The owners have several other establishments: The Liverpool House, McKiernan and Le Vin Papillon.

The Institut du Tourisme et de l'Hôtellerie du Québec uses this table to offer its students a concrete experience of high-flying cuisine. The menu, which focuses on local Quebec products, is constantly evolving and tends to a refinement difficult to imagine elsewhere, especially at this price! The service is impeccable and the dishes are small wonders. Good plan: the resto-school La Relève Gourmande, open during the school year, offers an equally pleasant experience but at a lower price. Interesting, isn't it?

This neighborhood address offers traditional Tibetan food in a simple and authentic atmosphere. The terrace at the back is restful as you wish. The dishes are concocted with meats and finely cut vegetables in the Tibetan style. The typical dish is the momo, a large ravioli stuffed with meat, cheese or vegetables. The Yeti menu includes a rich assortment of the house specialties. Something to feast on before planning, why not, a trek in the Himalayas!

The Byblos is an excellent "brunch spot" for those who like to indulge in mint tea and oriental sweets. The decor is a great success. The menu introduces the gourmet to Iranian gourmet philosophy, then divides into six chapters and an epilogue, giving a good idea of the variety of products to be sampled. The traditional breakfast is a must. Every Sunday from 5pm to 11pm, the restaurant offers Dizzy, a traditional dish (based on lamb, pulses, potato and tomato).

Jones is a great vegan café and resto. Breakfast and brunch are served every day it's open, and with them come colorful salads, healthy toasts , gourmet French toast and extra smoothies. It's beautiful, it's good and it's fresh: everything is homemade, using local, seasonal ingredients whenever possible. The oyster mushroom toast, for example, is made with mushrooms grown on a local farm. On certain evenings of the week, the place transforms into a buvette with dishes to share. All at fairly reasonable prices.

The ideal stop-off for a lunch break around the market. Chef Judith is the sole proprietor of this small take-away counter, which can also accommodate a few people on site. An advocate of local, zero-waste and organic food, she selects only high-quality products. The result: cooked sandwiches (piri-piri chicken, lamb and dried fruit, shredded ham cooked on the bone...), naughty grilled cheeses , all with or without a salad or soup.

Having swapped premises with its little brother Larrys, the restaurant now operates in a smaller room with a cosy ambience. So it's in a decor of dark, coppery tones that the magic happens. The menu, true to form, promises a wealth of new discoveries: tripe with pine nuts, winter radish and chili gorria, double ravioli with liver and poultry heart, or doré with sauerkraut, leeks and sausage with smoked whelks - just a taste of the regularly changing menu. Lawrence continues to outdo itself year after year!

Designed to be a place that values surfing and its community, September Café is an address that delights Montreal, and not only surfers. In a modern and bright decor, we love to stop for a good coffee or to taste one of the classics of the house. Avocado toast on brioche bread with soft-boiled egg, grilled halloumi sandwich, big breakfast salad but most of all: the pancakes with maple syrup. Soft and (really) hearty, these pancakes are undoubtedly among the best in town, you can't refuse..

Restaurant Kazu is (often) at the end of the queue, on the corner of rue Sainte-Catherine and rue Saint-Marc. Frequented by regular customers and students, this Japanese izakaya in the heart of downtown is a delight for the taste buds... and the wallet! The place doesn't look much, the interior is tiny and unpretentious, but you come for the good food: okonomiyaki, onigiris, nabemono... in short, real Japanese cuisine, tasty and surprising. It's THE place to go in the neighborhood.

An eco-responsible neighbourhood bistro, featuring Quebec products, with a clear preference for organic products. A menu inspired by the seasons and new arrivals, with delicately prepared dishes, some of which come straight from the smoker's room. Tasting menu experience with wine pairing recommended (beautiful wine cellar including a selection of private imports). In addition, it is a recommended table "Ocean Wise", the guarantee of responsible fishing. Without a doubt one of the best tables in the Ahuntsic district!

The Hiatus gourmet restaurant has set up shop at the very top of Place Ville Marie. Needless to say, the panoramic view of the city is breathtaking! Opened by the same team that runs Cathcart and Jatoba, Hiatus is divided into three distinct floors: the Rose Orange terrace for aperitifs, a café-bar open all day long, and the restaurant with its blend of design and elegance. On the plate, top-flight Franco-Japanese cuisine incorporating many regional products. Discover it for the food and the view!

Even if the name implies the contrary, it is not a grocery store but a Thai restaurant, at least there is no more confusion possible now. Light wood benches, counter and white tiles on the wall, the place is design. The open kitchen serves traditional dishes like the timeless pad thai or delectable curries. The crispy chicken wings are as good as they are spicy, you've been warned. Next to the Jean-Talon market, it's a good option to have lunch in the neighborhood at a good price.

In a refined and soothing décor, we offer delicious Ethiopian specialities. Stews, at long length, are eaten in conviviality or intimacy, around dishes to be shared. A kitchen that was raised but not too spicy, dépaysante to wish. The terrace allows you to enjoy the outdoors in fine weather. Melkam eurat (good dinner)!

The Triple Crown Dinette is a South American style restaurant with fried chicken as the undisputed star. We recommend the plate that includes two pieces of fried chicken, a buttermilk roll, a side dish (green beans and potatoes, pinto beans or coleslaw, for example), a little chicken sauce and a chocolate cookie. Another star on the menu: the famous fried chicken and cheddar and chive waffle combo with Espelette pepper maple syrup. Beautiful, good and inexpensive, perfect for a meal on the go!

It's one of the favorite addresses in Chinatown. The perfect place to enjoy the famous noodle and beef soup, a classic from Lan Zhou, a city in north-central China. A delicious broth prepared with love and enriched with beef blood, daikon slices, thinly sliced beef cooked in the broth and an egg marinated in curry, that's what you'll find in your bowl. Of course, there are other options on the menu, but it is for this soup that the crowd abounds. De-liieux!

With its 360° panoramic view overlooking downtown Montreal, Portus 360 (a nod to the lighthouses on the coast of Portugal) offers a beautiful setting to enjoy Helena Loureiro's excellent Mediterranean cuisine. Well-known in Montreal's gastronomic landscape, the chef offers a daring menu of typical dishes from her country, combining products from here and elsewhere, even as far away as Lisbon. From Quebec terroir to Portuguese wines, everything blends together in an explosion of flavours!

Located in the Village, the bistro's soft, colorful ambience is immediately appealing... and its menu even more so. For lunch, brunch or dinner, or just a quick coffee, Tendresse has it all: from classic burgers and breakfast sandwiches to the more exotic tacos, dumplings and falafels, not forgetting the tasty desserts. It's all really good and vegan! As if that weren't enough, we've also put together a fine wine list and a variety of other drinks. Try it at any time of day.

Welcome to the realm of the poke bowl, the Hawaiian dish that's been all the rage for the past few years! And here, you compose it to your taste: choose your protein (tuna, salmon, tofu, etc.), then the base (white rice, salad, quinoa) and toppings (4 are included, 50 cents for each additional option). The restaurant also offers chicken karaage, coconut popcorn shrimp and the spam burger, not to mention a selection of smoothies rich in protein, nutrients, fiber and vitamins. To top off the meal, try the taiyaki.

Quebec gastronomy at its best. Normand Laprise, Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux, is at the helm of this establishment, ensuring that its reputation remains impeccable. The menu is incredibly rigorous, showcasing fresh, refined market cuisine. There's no pretense: dishes are crafted like works of art and combined with a breathtaking wine list created by one of the country's top sommeliers. Everything here is over the top! Advance reservations are recommended.

The neighborhood is no stranger to good Asian cuisine, and here's one we really like. Here, we feast on the Vietnamese specialties that have made the reputation of this popular restaurant, which never lets up. A full pot of tea is brought to us the second we set foot under the table, then we warm up with a Tonkinoise soup or a delicious phở. It's fresh and light despite the generous proportions. You can go there with your eyes closed, it's simply good, the service is fast and the prices are pretty low. What more could you ask for?

For those who love meat, only the good kind. A neighborhood butcher shop that is also a sandwich shop and a wine bar. All the meat comes from local farms, the animals were raised in the open air, no doubt it is quality. At noon, dishes (where meat is obviously honored) are proposed, as well as very good sandwiches and burgers. In the evening the place becomes a wine bar, with beautiful dishes that change regularly. And on the menu there is meat of course, grilled or in tartar in particular, but not only!

Hochelaga, new gastronomic district? And why not? When you see the number of good restaurants nowadays installed in this less frequented area of the city, it's a good place to go for a walk. Le Flamant promises a creative experience on the plate and in the glass, in a relaxed atmosphere. The menu features revisited classics that change with each new arrival. In a simple and unpretentious decor, we share several tasty dishes after a good original cocktail, served in an equally original glass.

A little cocoon where oriental decor and subdued lighting create a particularly warm atmosphere. This bar-restaurant offers dishes from various Asian countries; from ramen and baos to egg rolls and poutine revisited, it's a cuisine that dares to mix the specialties of several cultures, for the better. As for cocktails, the flavors of lychee, lemongrass and pineapple radiate from the glasses. Special evenings are regularly organized, such as the Mystix evenings on Friday nights. The real plus: the indoor terrace.

With its modern, fir-green look, it's impossible to mistake it for anything else. Despite its young age, the restaurant, which is also a café and, more generally, a place to live, already has a strong personality. A rather comforting brunch, as we know how to do in Quebec, and a lunch that oscillates between poutine, smash burger and vegan mac and cheese, in short, gourmandise is not to be outdone. And from time to time, events are organized: open mic, DJ set and drawing... Follow us on social networks. Bonus: it's possible to privatize the premises.

Located in the heart of the Village, this restaurant takes you on a journey... under the palm trees! Shrimp acras, Jamaican-style beef, griot platter, Creole-style prawns and other Caribbean specialties, revisited or not, are on the menu of this trendy restaurant, with its sober yet colorful decor. In summer, the bright dining room opens onto the terrace, where you can enjoy the lively atmosphere of Rue Sainte-Catherine while sipping one of the rum-based cocktails on offer. Ideal for an exotic, spice-filled evening.

Its nickname, the "dining barracks", is a nice nod to the building's past as a former fire station. All the cachet has been preserved and enhanced by an industrial and contemporary style decor. On the menu, a brasserie-style cuisine inspired by Franco-Quebec. For those who like it, oysters are available for a dollar on weekdays from 5pm with a glass of wine. The duck poutine is a classic of the house. Nice gourmet table!

A crazy address in Montreal! You only have to see the lamps hanging from the ceiling to understand that everything is possible here, both in terms of decoration and food. The old mannequins and the walls decorated with buttons remind us of the old haberdashery that occupied the place. Bonus: the bay window overlooking the street, the beautiful terrace in season and a "lovers' lounge" for an intimate meal. On the plate, quality is not to be outdone. The subtle sweet and sour combinations and the enhancement of the leg of lamb, duck or game will delight the gourmets.

One of the three addresses of the Ferreira family business, which has imported Portuguese cuisine to Montreal from father to daughter. Café Vasco de Gama offers fast food tailored to the business clientele who frequent the place in the mornings and at lunchtime. The menu features mainly Portuguese-inspired sandwiches (fresh sardines, chicken and chouriço) or more classic sandwiches (smoked salmon bagel or vegetarian and goat's cheese sandwich), served with soup or salad. Breakfast is also served throughout the week. The setting is pleasant and the service friendly.

This bistro will seduce you with its cuisine and its setting. Those who sit at the bar can watch the cooks at work. The decor is original, with numerous bottles hanging from the ceiling. In the evening, the menu includes Korean beef tartare, creamy morels and wild boar chop with anchovies, capers and lemon. But the menu is constantly evolving, so the best way to get an idea is to drop in and be surprised by chef Maksim Morin's creations.

Charles-Antoine Crête, who officiated for over 15 years as chef de cuisine at Toqué! alongside his friend and mentor Normand Laprise, opened Montréal Plaza in 2015 with two long-time acolytes. The place is superb: the design is by Zébulon Perron, with objects from Charles-Antoine's childhood taking pride of place here and there in the restaurant. On the menu, you can feel the neo-brasserie touch - enhanced by Quebec products - with dishes such as foie gras and eel terrine, mackerel a la plancha and poultry with sherry wine.

If you're in the mood for brunch, this is the place to be! Praised by critics and gourmets alike, this eatery prepares a host of dishes with local flavors, thanks to well-established partnerships with numerous Quebec producers and artisans. The two poached eggs with foie gras are a must (brioche bread, duck eggs, pan-fried foie gras, foie gras sauce, onion compote, Prosciutto chips, poppy seeds, arugula shoots, honey-glazed rabioles). Bonus: a really cool cocktail menu.

Above all, the atmosphere and décor. The high wooden tables from an old farmhouse, the aged leather stools resting on beams, the stuffed animal heads, the light that the large bay windows let in, replaced by soft lighting in the evening... Everything is designed to transport you to the heart of an original concept. Each season, the menu is renewed according to market produce, for a simple cuisine with an American flavour (burgers of all kinds, grills, fish & chips, lobster guédille, tartars...).