Best Montréal, QC Restaurants
Local Expert Restaurant Recommendations
Local Expert Restaurant Recommendations
About Montréal, QC Restaurants
Montréal’s French roots are evident in the restaurant scene. You don’t have to go very far to get a terrific meal.
For cheap eats nothing beats Montréal comfort food. Winters are long here and affordable take-out plays a major role in the local arsenal. La Banquise (French fries topped with cheese curds and gravy) is a good bet for poutine and Schwartz Deli for smoked meat. See if you can resist buying less than a dozen when you step into the Fairmount Bagel Factory.
Eateries like Au Pied de Cochon and Toque! have created a whole new genre of Québécois cuisine that is sophisticated and innovative. Long, leisurely breakfasts stretching into brunch are another city tradition. Visit Beauty’s for its retro menu or Boulangerie Première Moisson for its croissants. Fine dining establishments such as Les 400 Coups and Chez L'Épicier are found in Vieux Montréal.
At most place you can order à la carte but if you’re on a budget consider ordering the special of the day usually referred to as table d'hôte (host’s table) or the prix fixe (fixed priced).Many of the upscale, gourmet restaurants offering a menu dégustation, a five- to seven-course tasting menu. They can be quite pricey at dinner but the scaled down version for lunch is a great way to experience the restaurant
Don’t be shy about asking for an English menu – most are bilingual but some are only in French. Remember that for the Montréalers, dîner (dinner) is lunch, souper (supper) is dinner, entrée is the appetizer, plat principal is a main course. Bon appetit!
About Shelagh McNally
Freelance travel writer and editor, Shelagh McNally has been a world traveler since her teens. After 20 years in Toronto, she left her job as Communications Officer for a major bank and moved to Puerto Morelos, Mexico where she helped establish the Miami Herald’s satellite office in Cancun. She went on to contribute to 12 editions of Fodor’s travel... Read More
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