best places to eat in montreal
best places to eat in montreal
Montreal has some fantastic restaurants that cater to vegans, vegetarians and carnivores alike. However, there are not a lot of sources to find the best vegan restaurants in Montreal. Montreal is a city that gets a lot of praise, and justifiably so. This bustling metropolis has one of the highest quality of life ratings in North America. It is also the second largest French-speaking city in the world (after Paris), giving its population a unique flair. It’s no wonder that more and more people are moving to this peaceful city every day.
Montreal is a city that has been growing in popularity over the past few years, which means that it’s harder than ever to find a place to eat that’s affordable and delicious. The following restaurants are some of the best places to eat in Montreal:
- Poutineville: This restaurant serves up poutine in a variety of different styles and flavors. They have a variety of vegan options, as well as meat-based options if you’re looking for a more traditional experience.
- Le Petit Alep: If you’re looking for something on the fancier side, this is the place for you. They serve Lebanese cuisine that will leave your taste buds begging for more.
- Boustan: This Lebanese restaurant offers up traditional dishes like hummus and falafel with a twist! Their menu includes everything from chicken wings to lamb burgers—you won’t want to miss out on this place!
When you’re traveling to Montreal, sometimes the best way to experience a new culture is by trying as many different kinds of food as possible. But where do you start?
We’ve done the legwork for you and compiled a list of our favorite places to eat in Montreal. Whether you want traditional French cuisine or the best of Quebecois fusion, this list has it all.
top eats in montreal
Chez Ma Tante
When Chez Ma Tante got its start, owners served steamed hot dogs (“steamés” in local parlance) out of a horse-drawn carriage. After upgrading to a camper van, the operation eventually moved into a standalone space on Fleury Street. Old-school in the best way, Chez Ma Tante remains one of the top casse-croûtes and poutine purveyors in Montreal. There’s no indoor dining, but if the sun is out, diners can settle into one of the picnic tables in its parking lot.
Casse-Croûte Sissi & Paul
Montreal is brimming with casual Haitian spots dishing out succulent cubes of marinated-braised-then-fried pork, known as griot — and everyone has their personal favourite. Great for takeout or a low-key lunch or dinner, Sissi & Paul may be a frill-free haunt out by D’Iberville metro station, but its grub occupies the top tier.
Hélicoptère
With a culinary approach that feels like fine dining, but is more casual in setting and price, Hélicoptère has been checking boxes left and right since opening in 2018. Expect a menu of colourful, creative plates with plenty of seasonal fare and international flavours from chefs David Ollu and Marianne Lafleur, and don’t overlook adjoining sibling coffee shop Hélico — another necessary spot on any Hochelaga pilgrimage.
Hoogan et Beaufort
Hoogan & Beaufort brings a distinctly local offering to the ever-developing Technopole Angus. Under chef and owner Marc-Andre Jetté’s watch, mushrooms, beets, turnips, and more make appearances, often accompanying catches from the province’s land and lakes. The space, a former factory where trains and tanks were once built, has tall ceilings and concrete floors but is warmed up with natural lighting, wooden furniture, and a fire pit at the centre of its open-concept kitchen.
Le Super Qualité
La Petite-Patrie’s happening, neon-lit Indian street food restaurant consistently nails its tiffins (available in vegetarian or meaty options), but pros know not to overlook its snacking fare either. There’s the dahi batata puri, bite-sized shells filled with yogurt, tamarind chutney, and crispy sev; chickpea-battered okra; or the wada pav, a chutney-smothered potato patty stuffed into a small, cloud-like bun.
unique restaurants in montreal
Restaurant Moccione
Newly nestled onto a quiet stretch of St-Denis Street, Moccione has mercifully reopened after a months-long hiatus. The Eater Restaurant of the Year for 2019 seamlessly picks up where it left off with a series of simple, yet revelatory appetizers, such as asparagus wrapped in a thin sheet of lard or melt-in-your-mouth beef carpaccio, and some devastatingly delicious pasta dishes. Its new, larger digs make nabbing a table slightly easier than it previously was, though — be warned — reservations still fill up fairly quickly.
Darna Bistroquet
No guide to Montreal’s multifaceted food scene would be complete without at least one North African destination. La Petite-Patrie’s Darna Bistroquet is just three years old, but its exceptionally warm service, homey feel, and tasty Moroccan fare have proven to be a winning combination. Diners who come with a couple of friends in tow will have no problem making their way through Darna’s inviting line-up of grilled halloumi and watermelon, kefta-spiced lamb tartare, and ras el hanout Cornish hen.
Chez Tousignant
It may not have been in business for decades, but Chez Tousignant is as good as a Quebec casse-croûte gets. Opt for the poutine with thick-cut fries, squeaky cheese curds, and rich gravy along with a house-made hot dog or a cheeseburger drenched in a secret sauce that brings it all up a notch.
Montreal Plaza
Many of the city’s fine dining, French-leaning, market-driven restaurants could earn a spot among Montreal’s top culinary destinations, but this raucous Plaza St-Hubert restaurant from Charles-Antoine Crête and Cheryl Johnson stands out for its whimsy. Dishes like almond macarons with foie gras and cranberry compote, or one that combines marrow, pork, and popcorn shrimp with lobster caramel and strawberries in smoked duck fat, manage to be elegant and complex, without being self-serious. Cap off what is sure to be a memorable evening with Montreal Plaza’s trademark “crispy fruit,” a light dessert of strawberries, chocolate mousse, sorbet, and slivers of dacquoise.
