When you are hungry, really hungry, what is the first restaurant that pops into your mind? Where is the restaurant located? What is like inside? What dish do you want to order? How will it look and taste?Image source: Flickr, Restaurant Greenspot, 2010.
The first one that pops into my mind is OUZERI. It is a Greek restaurant located on 4690, St. Denis st., between rue Gillford and De Bienville.
The inside is very casual, family style type of restaurant and is a place for everyone, including children. Food includes, meat, poultry, seafood,veggies and traditional Greek pastries. They also they have a fair variety of wine, beer and obviously ouzo. My favorite dish is fried calamari with fresh lemon and zatziki.... I just love it!!!
It is always crispy and delicious, and it is usually served in a flameproof clay pot. The only flaw is the acoustic. When the restaurant is full it can become a little too noisy.
If I'm very very hungry (or just experiencing food-lust), I invariably think of Montreal's favourite gourmet fast food joint, la Banquise. Located on rue Rachel near the north-west corner of Parc Lafontaine and open 24 hours a day, la Banquise is a seriously charming venue which serves up a mind-blowingly wide array of poutine variations as well as several other meal options such as pasta dishes and sandwiches (though, seriously, the real reason to go there is for the poutine). With a funky and colourful interior, some booth seating, friendly staff and good music playing in the background, it's a comfortable and cozy spot to hang out and gorge yourself. Plus, somehow, no matter the time of night the clientelle are never the loud, drunken crew one might expect to find at a fast-food place after bars close, but rather just regular folk out for a really, really late dinner (4 am?). Never has a 24 hour food spot been so classy, and certainly never has such a clean, pleasant place been able to serve up a poutine without losing too much of the dishes traditional greasy appeal to elabourate variations -there is one version which is topped with tomatoes, guacamole and sour cream, for example.. but underneath are still the gravy-bathed cheesey fries.
I was going to go for La Banquise as well, since that is THE place to go for a poutine, but too late... I recently discovered Ethiopian resto Le Nil Bleu on 3706 St-Denis. It's a pretty neat place, not the cheapest but not too expensive either (about $20 per person). The interior is very appealing, food is delicious and you eat with your hands, no forks and knives! It's a great place to go when you have visitors, you order the big plate to taste all the different kinds of meats and sauces, you get kind of rolled pancakes that you use to scoop the food. It's a bit messy but fun. The food is slightly spicy, but very light, you won't feel like you ate too much. You should also try their cocktails, they are excellent.
In Montreal, there are two places I really like eating. One is Mesa 14 on Bishop. It has some really good Mexican food and after years of going there, I've tried a lot of different things on the menu and not once has something tasted bad. My favourite thing from there though (and I'm pretty sure it's not Mexican) is deep-fried ice cream.
It's this perfect ball of vanilla ice cream, that's about the size of a fist. It's get covered in this batter (that kinda taste like carmalized corn flakes) and gets deep fried just long enough for it to get crunchy. It comes with one of three sauces, chocolate, caramel or raspberry.
The other place I like eating is the revolving restaurant at the Delta Hotel on University. I'll admit I've only been there once but it was excellent. When I went it was buffet style "gourmet-ish" food. Thankfully everything had names so I knew what I was eating but there was a lot of variety in the food and desserts. Despite, the fact that it's somewhat expensive to eat there (around 60$) it's totally worth it and I'd highly recommend it.
Hmmm. I could think of a lot of different restaurants for this one.
One would be restaurant Pret-a-manger, right at the corner of St-Catherine and St-Mathieu, near ConU. It is a great Asian place with THE BEST food. I always go for the Japanese style tofu dish. It looks like these little fried tofu clouds with perfectly steamed eggplants underneath in this delicious pork sauce (vegetarian? ask them for the pork-less sauce!). Their salty fried squid is also a killer. (They also have snake and shark soups, if you're up for it.) Its not expensive at all. You could eat like a king with less than 20$. Can't say much for the decor, but i don't really go there to check out the paintings.
Another place for the vegan/vegetarian in you, is Burritoville on Bishop, right next door to ConU. The food is just simply delicious. Its vegetarian Mexican, if you want, and there is a huge choice of combos. tacos, burritos, chili, salads, soups, homemade tortillas... its really to die for. Plus the staff there is super nice and the ambiance of the place is amazing. Not too expensive, but not too cheap either. Remember, organic food doesn't come cheap. You pay for what you get!
One more place is O Cantinho restaurant in the east end, corner St-Michel and Jarry. Its a great little Portuguese joint with some of the most delicious chicken ever. You can have it mild or suicide spicy, plus it comes with the side of your choice. A meal of half a chicken, a salad, and fries comes out to less than 10$. There's also fish and chorizo sausage on the menu for around the same prices. Be sure to reserve before going though, because the places packs up fairly quickly, especially on weekends.
Bon Appetit!!
Montreal is one of the cities with the highest ratio of restaurants per citizens. Restaurants are everywhere. Even the Bring-your-own-wine(BYOW)offer a decent selection of foods. A lot of those restaurants are situated on Duluth and Prince-Arthur. There's also a BYOW on St-Denis called Steak Frites, which has one of the best Rillette de canard. They have a very good selection of Steaks and excellent home made fries. The ambience is great(very busy). The old port will offer the trendiest with the a fusion of French cuisine and "terroir"(Quebec's traditional cuisine). There I really like: Le Local, L'appartement and Le Garde-Manger.
Admittedly I have inherited something of a weak spot for greasy spoon restaurants from my father, and I have certainly managed to find a few around Montreal. The one that consistently rises to the forefront of my mind is the Green Spot. The restaurant is located at 3041 Rue Notre-Dame Ouest in the Saint-Henri neighbourhood area. The restaurant has been in service for over 70 years and you definitely feel like you have gone through a time warp when you enter the place; it doesn’t look like it has changed in 50 years. Dark fake leather upholstery that’s cracking and a juke box at every table (which appear to have been in operation until the 1990’s judging by the song selection. My standard meal at the Green spot is the cheeseburger and poutine. All in all, the Green Spot is an excellent place to eat, with extremely reasonable prices.
Collin, you beat me to the Green Spot. Great fries. Great reakfast.
My favourite place to eat in Montreal is definitely Maison V.I.P. located at 1077, rue Clark corner René-Lévesque. This place has food you wouldn't believe. I've tried a variety of sketchy-looking restaurants in the China Town area, but I keep coming back to this place, best Chinese/Cantonese food you'll find. My grandparents introduced us to this place when I was small and it's been a family favourite ever since.
The restaurant itself is rather small. It's best to make reservations on weekends because you may have to wait; it gets rather full. The layout is basic inside; one medium sized dining room with table sizes ranging from 2-10 people. It's a simple looking place, not overwrought with asian decorations, but with a flavour of its own nonetheless.
Whenever I go, I like to start with a soup. I believe my favourite is called Cantonese Won Ton... something along those lines. Other favourite dishes include Cantonese Chow Mein, Pekin Porc, and Beef and Black Bean Sauce.
I don’t eat out much, so I’m no expert in the field, but I have found a couple of good places worth checking out.
For a quick and pleasant lunch, for instance, you can go to the Le Commensal at 1204 McGill College Ave. They have a buffet with a wide range of tasty healthy dishes, salads and desserts, and you can mix and match whatever you like on your plate. You pay by weight, but there’s also a maximum price per plate, so you won’t get a shock if you decide to get a bit greedy :).
Sushi fans will find sushi paradise at Kanda, located at 2045 Bishop St. It’s an “all you can eat” type of place, but unlike other restaurants of this kind, it’s very clean and the food is really excellent.
For Thai food you can go to Zyng, at 1748 Saint-Denis St. The food is great and you can either choose something from the menu or create your own dish (you have direct access to the vegetable counter, so you can pick anything you want, put it on your plate and then hand everything to the cook).
If you want to delight your taste buds with Italian food, try Pino, at 1471 Crescent St. I once went in just out of curiosity and I fell in love with their pasta dishes. Their pizzas also taste delicious.
And last but not least, the place I like best is the Dieu du Ciel brew pub, located at 29 Laurier Av. W. Excellent home-made beer (probably the best in Montréal), excellent atmosphere, excellent Lebanese chips! A must!
The restaurant that always comes to mind when i am famished is Mbgr. Located at the corner of Drummond and De Maisonneuve, this restaurant is a create your own hamburger place. I will admit that it is kind of pricey, the standard hamburger (just the AAA Meat) is approximately $9, and then you have to pay for each topping, the toppings vary from caramelized onions to standard cheeses and are between $2-5. The fries are also extra, and you have an option of getting sweet potato fries, regular fries or fried onions,if you can't make a decision as to which you want more you can get all 3 in the fry basket. This reataurant is great, but you have to go in there knowing you might leave with a $30 bill for just a hamburger and fries. Mbgr also has a delicious dessert that I have never passed up, it's basically a giant chocolate chip cookie baked in a pan with 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream!
I have heard there is a similar concept that is a lot cheaper on Westminister in NDG called Burger De Ville, I have yet to try it but i've heard great things!
I WAS GOING TO SAY: THE SMOCKED MEAT SANDWICH AT GREENSPORT ON NOTRE DAME AND ATWATER.
BUT THEN,
ha! Tehran, on DeMaisonneuve. Near Vendome metro.
Combo platter: fillet mignon and beef with the eggplant pure for an entrée. Both come with rice {some safran} and pita bread. they always give parsley and an entire white onion { i never touch it} but one dish is good for two people. it costs about 30 $ in total. It is not "bring your own wine". decor is well, you guessed it. Iranian. , clean, stiff, seems empty because its a huge floor but rest assured you will not be alone.
Ho Ya. Going there now....
I really like Burritoville on Bishop across from Concordia's Hall building. They serve organic healthy meals and the ambiance is really nice. Sometimes they have bands, or performances upstairs.
My favourite meal there is the sweet potato burrito with a side of quinoa salad. So healthy and convenient - it gives me the energy I need to get through the day.
A big plus: they compost their waste with R4 in the Concordia greenhouse! :)
Montreal is full of restaurants. I have two or three places where I go when I did not feel like cooking and I want to eat well. The first one is the Kitchen Gallery. It's on the rue Jean-Talon, stuck on the market of the same name. You will be served by the Chefs themselves, they do everything. They own the restaurant, they welcome you, take your order and prepare your plate. Do not go there without ordering the "foie gras au lave-vaisselle." Yes, you heard me right, the foie gars is cooked in the dishwasher, and it is just absolutely D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S! Otherwise, just about everything on the menu will delight your taste buds ... and the wine list is impeccable, as well as being good for your wallet.
I also like the kitchen of Chez Roger, which offers a brasserie-style table. The crabcakes are simply delicious, the salmon tartare is amazing (they'll prepare it as you like, very spicy or not at all), and the fish and chips are amazing! Meet them at 2316 Beaubien.
Finally, an address that falls within the institution rather than restoration. At 10910 Boul. Pie-IX, Montreal North, the restaurant welcomes you to Dick Ann's since 1956. Order at least two hamburgers, thin and very flat, covered with their unique and spicy sauce... they are famous! The fries are delicious, fresh and crispy ... great for hangovers, for late night cravings, and for lunch with family on Sunday afternoon. You'll feel like a you're in a Chevy Chase movie!
I don't eat out very often, but there are a few places that come to mind.
The first one is close to the Cremazie metro station and is called La patate Rouge. It's a fast food restaurant, so they have hot-dogs and the like, but they also have some healthier foods, suc has salads. The owner is a very nice guy and he really cares about the quality of the food there. It's a bit more expansive than eating at the Belle province, but it tastes a lot better. I just love their chicken pita!
Speaking of pita I also like the Amir on Maisonneuve, close to the University. They make excellent food and even when there are a lot of people, you don't wait too long because they have good service.
The last place that comes to my mind is le Petit Alep. It's a middle-eastern restaurant that is situated in on Jean-Talon East. Although it's better to reserve before going there (it's that popular), it's still a great place to try out. The food and the service are excellent and it's not as expansive a place as you could think.
I also love Mesa 14 on Bishop! It's fast, filling and relatively inexpensive for delicious authentic Mexican food. The last time I was there I had the best spicy nachos I've ever had. There were so many toppings -all fresh- and was topped with a ton of gooey cheese. Besides the food, the place has a very clean, modern decor. The service was great too! Our waitress knew a ton about Mexican food, drink, etc. It was great!
I have two favourite restaurants in Montreal, one of them offers Thai food (The Soup Bowl) and the other one is basically a fast food. Whenever I feel like eating a hamburger I go to Mr. Steer on St. Catherine, it’s one of the greatest fast food restaurants in Montreal. The place opened in the fifties and the restaurant still owns a bit of the style from that time. The restaurant is famous for its ¼ pound burger and its Suzy-Q fries. The burgers are humongous and always made with fresh high quality meat and fresh ingredients. Every year I participate in the CIBC run for the cure event, held for the profit of the breast cancer foundation and after walking all these kilometres we always end up having lunch at Mr. Steer. Even if he is not very young, the owner seems to be living in his restaurant because every time I went there he was at the bar looking over everything. It adds some familiarity to the burger place, and it’s something I really like. Everyone should try it at least once!
The first restaurant I think about is Ad-Deyafa at 5572 Jean-Talon E. If you want to eat moroccan food, that is the best place ever. The tagines are amazing and affordable. You can get a nice tagine with moroccan tea and bread for 10$ tx incl. If you want a place with good quality food and price, go to Ad-Deyafa!!
When I'm really hungry, i like to go to a Chinese place. I know there are a few good ones around the city, but my favorite is located in decarie square. This restaurant have many things. They have a Canadian kitchen, a Chinese kitchen, and sushi. my favorite dish schezzuan beef. It's spicy, and really good. it comes with rice or fries, and steamed veggies.
Aux Vivres is usually the first place to pop up when I want to go out. I haven't really explored that many restaurants around the aisland since I prefer to cook for myself, but Aux Vivres has a nice variety of dishes and some of the best soups I have ever had. It's pretty cool and hip during the summer too. Their jus bar, bowls, and deserts make it pretty nice to spend time in.
Also nice (and cheap? haha) are the many Chinatown restaurants in or near St. Laurent.
A place I like to go to is a portuguese rotisserie called Coco Rico on Saint-Laurent street, right on the corner of Napoleon. Their chicken is so delicious and tasty! I often take it to go because it is quite a small place and there are no tables, just a long counter with stools. Their potatoes are also divine, so I always take some, with chicken, of course! I highly recommend their dessert : a pasteis de nata, which is a tasty, sweet portuguese pastry that you will find near the cash register. And do not worry about money, a meal will cost you less than 10$.
Being the lover of food that I am, there would certainly be more than one place that pop into my head when it comes to restaurants! But les 3 brasseurs, being near my work place would definitely have its place on my list! I enjoy their hot chicken wings, it is definitely their signature. It is spicy and it looks....good! delicious! I also love their cocktails! and lobster from le baton rouge is also one of a kind!
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