Montreal

[GerryOlds2TheReturnofGerry]

Anyone been recently? Thoughts?

[MitchW]

Yes - I didn't post about it??

We were there at the end of May. Really like Vin Mon Lapin, which Ori had told us about prior to our previous trip. Still great on this most recent visit.

Vin Papillon was very good.  We finally got to L'Express, which was fine, just because it's L'Express, but the food doesn't approach the other two mentioned.

Sabayon is supposedly really great (from others who have eaten there).  Chef is Patrice Demers, who was doing some of the best pastry, at his now closed pastry shop.  Looks as if some hoop jumping is necessary to get in though.

I like Jean-Talon and Atwater Markets, I guess because I like markets, and these are 2 great ones.

Plenty of good coffee. We end up here, Café Myriade, because our airbnb was within walking distance of one of their locations.

Plenty of good cocktails, too.

https://www.instagram.com/patrice_demers/

https://www.instagram.com/sabayon.mtl/

And if you need the fix of smoked meat, I'd say avoid the tourist hell that is Schwartz's, and go here instead:

Snowden Deli

It's classic.

Should I mention that the restaurants are not quite as reasonable as they once were, but the dollar is still going strong (and actually looks even better than it did when we were there in May).  Enjoy - it's one of my favorite cities, although if you're driving (as we were), the roads are possibly the worst roads of any city in North America. 

[GerryOlds2TheReturnofGerry]

Thanks for these recs! It's been a while since I've been, but I'm a big fan of both Schwartz's and Snowdon. 😭 my cousin told us to not even bother trying to get into vin mon lapin, but I'd be fine sitting at the bar tbh. I was on the fence about going to one of the Au Pied de Cochon / Joe Beef / McKiernan places, so I'm glad to see you mention Vin Papillon. Good to know about the roads -- luckily I won't be the one driving!

[MitchW]

I was able to secure a res at Mon Lapin, but it certainly looked as if they were taking walk-ins.  It's not a tiny place by any stretch.

We've eaten at Joe Beef a couple of times and tbh at this point, I'm more a fan of Vin Pap...suits our style of eating a little better.

[Simon]

Any more recent reports?

[MitchW]

16 hours ago, Simon said:

Any more recent reports?

Nothing more recent from me, but you really should try to get to Mon Lapin.

[Orik]

Beba is very good

[MitchW]

2 hours ago, Orik said:

Beba is very good

Yes, I forgot about that place...we had an excellent meal.  Be slightly forewarned though - if you're staying on the plateau or in Mile End, for example, it's a bit far away.

[Simon]

Favorite meals last week were at Parapluie and Beba.  Mon Lapin was good, though not at the same level, IMHO.  Le Violon was hit or miss.  Honorable mention to Yans Deli, a new Jewish deli from an ex-Joe Beef chef -- great pastrami and laberkase.  Would not recommend Monarque.

[Orik]

I would add Molenne - a newcomer with excellent seafood offerings (better to go Thu-Sat for more selection)

We had a smashingly great meal at Mon Lapin and of course Beba remains terrific. The lobster and eggs dish at Parapluie was gorgeous. 

Also of note, Montreal remains a solidly late night city - there are some victims of the global earlification (St Viateur bagels most notably) but really no problem sitting down for a full dinner at l'Express around midnight and plenty of tacos (both Mexican and French), poutine, etc. options all night. 

The change in Montreal wine lists from pre-Joe Beef to now is indescribable, both in selection (natural especially) and pricing.

p.s. we didn't get to APDC but were advised that there is new talent in the kitchen and that it's worth going and ordering the daily specials. Also McMillan is opening a gigantic new place in West Island. 

[GerryOlds2TheReturnofGerry]

I didn't have much of a say over where we ate on my last trip, but we did manage to get to Lester's and Snowdon for smoked meat, both great in their own way. One other place I would add is Bar Luz. It's a more casual counterpart to 50 Best-listed Alma next door (think Atla vs. Pujol). Great cocktails and share plates, and no joke, easily some of the best tortillas I've ever tasted anywhere, Mexico City included. If not for drinks, I would 100% go for weekend lunch when they sell tacos in the back alley behind the restaurant.

Edited October 5, 2025 by GerryOlds2TheReturnofGerry

[GerryOlds2TheReturnofGerry]

I'd also be remiss not to sing the praises of Gibeau Orange Julep. The hot dog was much better than I remembered. As a New Yorker who loves Gray's and Papaya King, this spot holds a similar place in my heart/stomach.

[MitchW]

I know where one stop will be next time we visit Montreal (this coming Thanksgiving, hopefully).

Quote

 

He does just that at Rôtisserie La Lune, the restaurant he and his partners opened in December 2024, months after their other restaurant, Mon Lapin, topped an influential list of Canada’s best restaurants for the second year in a row. It is a measure of Canadians’ growing respect for rotisseries that one of the country’s top chefs would commit to such a homage.

La Lune opened just as it became increasingly common for rotisserie chicken to be mentioned alongside poutine, smoked meat and bagels as a signature dish of Montreal. And chicken-and-gravy joints are only part of the story in Quebec’s largest city. Portuguese rotisseries, known for spicy chicken and pastel de nata, are similarly revered.

 

Looking for Rotisserie Chicken Heaven? It’s in Montreal.

[MitchW]

Also - why can't we do this here in NYC? (Pio Pio notwithstanding).

[Orik]

It is very surprising given how emblematic it is to see the chickens spinning over potatoes in any Jewish town.

[Orik]

Remember Le Coq Rico?

[MitchW]

11 hours ago, Orik said:

Remember Le Coq Rico?

Oh yeah - didn't he use a technique of poaching the chicken first, before roasting it? From 2016:

The apps were good too:

And everyone's favorite pavlova:

There was a place in the "east village" that was fun, super casual. Did a whole roast chicken served with a ton of French fries - all on a big platter, and I think the French fries were bottomless - I can't remember the name, though, but it was enjoyable for the price point.