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$$ | Little Italy |
Instagram-famous for its dusty pink chairs and pleasing, contemporary space, this seriously cool brasserie is home to 41 home-brews—sold by the bottle at the boutique upstairs—and a solid menu that includes monkfish burgers, beer-can roast chicken, and a hearty rib eye. In 2021, a new, larger brewhouse was opened. Waiters are masters at their craft; don’t hesitate to ask for beer pairings with your meal.
95 rue Jean-Talon Ouest, Montréal, Québec, H2R 2W8, Canada
Known For
- Beer pairings
- Architectural space
- Beer-can roast chicken
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch Sat.
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$$ | Little Italy |
Dinette Triple Crown is relatively small (a counter with just eight stools), but the real draw here is not indoor dining but taking the comfort food to go. Locals know to ask for a picnic basket (fully equipped with cutlery, dishes, and a tablecloth) that will be enjoyed in Little Italy Park across the street. Have it filled with fried chicken with fluffy mashed potatoes and gravy, braised greens, and biscuits, or pulled pork sandwiches and brisket.
6704 rue Clark, Montréal, Québec, H2S 3E9, Canada
Known For
- Large selection of bourbon
- Weekly menus
- Fried chicken and other Southern fare
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.–Wed., Reservations not accepted
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$$$ | Little Italy |
This unpretentious, industrial-chic Little Italy restaurant has garnered a great reputation, thanks in part to its celebrity-chef owners, Stefano Faita and Michele Forgione. Start by sharing the artisanal salumi platter, move on to a primi of some of the best fresh pasta dishes in town, like the mushroom tortelli with a demi-glace vegetable and hazelnut sauce, the melt-in-your-mouth ricotta gnocchi, or the porchetta del nonno (grandpa's pork roast), a must-order if it's on the menu. End your meal with the excellent gelato, made just a few blocks north of the restaurant.
48 rue Dante, Montréal, Québec, H2S 1J5, Canada
Known For
- Modern Italian fare
- Stylish decor
- Grandpa's pork roast
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch, Reservations essential
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$$$ | Rosemont |
The only Norwegian-inspired eatery in Montréal, Beaufort Bistro has admittedly received a lot of attention. Part-time restaurant, part-time busy café (complete with freelancers and students on a deadline), this white-washed cozy space serves the only authentic open-faced sandwiches—smørrebrød—this side of the pond, as well as a variety of mains, like Rösti (potato galettes), tartares, and, of course, blinis and gravlax (this is a Scandi café, after all).
414 rue St-Zotique Est, Montréal, Québec, H2S 1L9, Canada
Known For
- Authentic smørrebrød—open-faced sandwiches
- Tartares
- Great coffee
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch
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$$ | Little Italy |
Nobody questions the authenticity of the Neapolitan-style pizza here, seeing as there's a nearly four-ton wood-burning pizza oven made from Vesuvian rock in the kitchen which cooks pizza in 90 seconds flat, at 500 degrees Celsius (932 °F). There are just a few toppings available, but all are fabulously flavorsome, like fresh tomatoes, vegetables, and top-quality salumi.
65 rue St-Zotique Est, Montréal, Québec, H2S 1K6, Canada
Known For
- Excellent gelato to-go
- Authentic Neapolitan-style pizza
- Panozzi, calzoni, and tronchetti
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch Sat.–Wed., Reservations essential
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$ | Little Italy |
In the heart of Little Italy, this historic coffee shop filled with regulars chatting away in Italian, is one of the city's best nonhipster places to get some excellent brew, be it an espresso, latte, or cappuccino. There also are a few pastries available. Visit a few times and you won't even have to order; the experienced baristas will prepare your drink when they see you walk in. It opens at 6 am every day of the week. Try the signature smooth Malibu—a lukewarm drink shorter than a cappuccino but longer than a macchiato, made by combining a short shot of espresso with frothed milk.
39 rue Dante, Montréal, Québec, H2S 1J6, Canada
Known For
- Old-school Italian café
- Malibu coffee
- Opens at 6 am
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$$$ | Rosemont |
Eclectic may be the best way to describe the food at this scarlet-colored restaurant, as the dishes combine a French bistro feel with a little bit of the American Southwest. The seasonings are down to a science here, and the proof is in the homemade ketchups, hot sauces, and salsas that are generously offered at each table. As with many restaurants, the menu changes with the seasons, but the Caesar salad made à-la-minute and the copious Baileys fudge chocolate cake are popular constants. The meat and seafood are carefully sourced; any of the nightly available options are always a great choice.
38 rue Beaubien Est, Montréal, Québec, H2S 1P8, Canada
Known For
- Tex Mex spices
- Onion soup with guajillo pepper, red beer, pork hock, cheddar, ancho powder, and avocado
- Baileys fudge chocolate cake
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.–Tues. No lunch, Reservations by phone only
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$$$$ | Little Italy |
With its small ingredient-based menu, this homey bistro is an example of excellence through simplicity. The chefs do everything—the shopping, the chopping, the cooking, the greeting, and the serving, and the focus is on meats, fish, and vegetable dishes all inspired by what local farmers bring to the adjacent Jean-Talon market that morning. The open kitchen turns out classic French bistro market cuisine, including oysters; rib-eye steak for two; gnocchi with lobster, garlic cream confit, mozzarella, and cherry tomatoes; and several foie gras dishes.
60 rue Jean-Talon Est, Montréal, Québec, H2R 1S5, Canada
Known For
- Gnocchi with lobster, garlic cream confit, mozzarella, and cherry tomatoes
- Market cuisine
- Communal seating
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.–Wed. No lunch, Reservations essential
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$ | Little Italy |
This lovely little bakery, which magically transports its patrons (or at least, their tastebuds) to Italy, specializes in the cornetto, the Italian version of the croissant. Freshly baked every morning, these delightful pastries are available plain or filled with Nutella, ricotta cream, or almond paste. The traditional cannolis, filled with a light and sweet ricotta cream, are also delicious. Those who prefer savory bites should, however, try the speck and stracchino (a mild, fresh Italian cheese) sandwich on homemade focaccia.
6528 boul. St-Laurent, Montréal, Québec, H2S 3C6, Canada
Known For
- Nutella cornetto
- Traditional cannoli
- Stracchino sandwiches
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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$$$ | Rosemont |
One could visit La Récolte (literally, "the harvest") every week and never eat the same meal twice, for the blackboard menu is entirely based on locally sourced market finds. In fact, resourceful La Récolte prides itself on serving organic, eco-friendly brunches on Sunday without compromising its creativity. The balance between refined techniques and market-based cuisine seems to be a hit, because the place is quite popular.
764 rue Bélanger, Montréal, Québec, H2S 1G6, Canada
Known For
- Long lines
- Butternut squash mille-feuille
- Leek-and-mushroom Benedictine
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tue., Reservations not accepted
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$$ | Rosemont |
This casual Middle Eastern spot is comfortable and homey but still has style, with music, ivy, exposed-stone walls, and a lovely terrace come summer. The menu is perfect for grazing, and excellent sharing options include the mouhamara (pomegranate-and-walnut spread), sabanegh (spinach, coriander, and onion pies), fattouche (a salad with pita chips and mint), and yalandji (vine leaves stuffed with rice, chickpeas, walnuts, and tomatoes). There are Armenian dishes, too, like the salad with cumin and flefle (hot peppers). Delicious kebabs dominate the main courses, with the moderately spiced terbialy a favorite. Le Petit Alep also has an older sibling, Restaurant Alep, at 199 rue Jean-Talon Ouest.
191 rue Jean-Talon Est, Montréal, Québec, H2R 1S8, Canada
Known For
- Syrian and Armenian cuisine
- Atmospheric decor
- Daily specials
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.–Tues. No lunch Wed. and Sat.
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$$$ | Little Italy |
Bringing a taste of the forest to adoring local foodies, food writers, and adventurous eaters, Manitoba was one of the most percussive restaurant openings of recent years and remains one of the city's top food spots. Serving perhaps the most distinctive fare in the city, with a boreal hunter-gatherer premise, dishes may include rabbit liver pâté and cedar jelly, deer steak, and fried lichen. The inventive approach and novel flavors here are no temporary fad; Manitoba is a testimony to Montréal’s acclaimed and effervescent foodie culture.
271 rue St-Zotique Ouest, Montréal, Québec, H2V 1A4, Canada
Known For
- Boreal cuisine
- Deer steak
- Foraged foods
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No lunch Sat.--Wed., Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Rosemont |
You won’t see anything too familiar on the menu at this fresh, light-filled restaurant with its high ceilings, clean white walls and tablecloths, and modern mix of wood, glass, and sliding industrial windows that open to outdoor seating in summer. You will find whimsical yet unpretentious dishes that surprise and delight—just be sure to order a side of deep-fried Brussels sprouts no matter your main dish. Menu items might include brochettes of duck hearts, baloney cannelloni, and "Chinatown" razor clam. Dessert is a must; so pace yourself to allow for favorites like buckthorn berry meringue tart or white chocolate mousse with rhubarb purée. Note the extensive selection of bottles under $60, a rarity in restaurants in this category.
6230 rue St-Hubert, Montréal, Québec, H2S 2M2, Canada
Known For
- Affordable wines
- Creative menu
- Desserts
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch
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$$$ | Rosemont |
Don't be fooled by the name: Pastaga is not a pasta joint; the name is a slang term for alcoholic drinks composed of anise, specifically pastis. Although famous for its signature dish of crispy pork belly marinated in brown sugar (or maple when in season) and inventive chopped liver à la juive (creamy chopped liver, hard-boiled egg, crunchy bagel chips, and tart-marinated onions), Pastaga is best known for its all-natural wine list, which is certain to yield uncommon finds. If you want to watch the chefs at work, ask for a seat at the chef's table inside the large kitchen.
6389 boul. St-Laurent, Montréal, Québec, H2S 3C3, Canada
Known For
- Local celebrity chef
- Maple crispy pork belly
- Natural wines
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch
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$$ | Villeray |
Bringing tapas uptown, this Spanish-inspired eatery is a chic yet casual place to drink imported wines and share a few small plates. The Tapeo version of the classic patatas bravas served with a spicy tomato sauce and aioli is always a good choice, as are the roasted vine tomatoes and the grilled chorizo. For an unforgettable meal, book the chef's table in the open kitchen, where you can watch the action and get special attention.
511 rue Villeray, Montréal, Québec, H2R 1H5, Canada
Known For
- Patatas bravas
- Chef's table
- House churros
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch Sat. and Sun., Reservations essential
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