Montreal Restaurants
Francois Souchay
Here you go. This is a heavily edited transcript from the Montreal Gazette
of April 27,1991. I haven't eaten at all the places listed, but the reviews
of the places I know are reasonably accurate. Sorry, no prices.
Format: The restaurant name is followed by the dishes getting special
mention in the review. Other dishes on the menu may be just as good.
We conclude with the address and phone number.
Many of the establishments here are quite close to a Metro station.
The Montreal subway runs until around 12:30 weeknights, around 1:30 weekends.
You would be well advised to use the subway or cabs when visiting a downtown
restaurant, as parking may be interesting, particularly on weekends.
Asian Restaurants:
Chinese:
Le Chrysantheme.
Recommended Dishes: Hunan dumplings, Tientsing bean paste strips,
rainbow scallops, Mongolian style beef, crispy-skinned duck with
five-flavored salt.
1208 Crescent Street 397-1408.
L'Orchidee de chine
Recommended dishes: Bean paste strips, five flavored boned crispy pork
spareribs, sauteed beef with hot garlic sauce and crispy vermicelli,
sauteed squid Mandarin style, sliced chicken with Szechuan pepper and
deep fried crispy spinach.
2017 Peel Street 287-1878
Le Piment Rouge
Menu changes according to the chef's whims
1170 Peel Street 866-7816
Japanese:
Katsura
Sushi, sashimi, yakimono (teriyaki), nabemono (sukiyaki, shabu shabu,
sankai nabe), bento box lunches.
2170 Mountain Street 849-1172
Tokyo Sukiyaki
Beautiful decor, excellent sukiyaki, teriyaki, yakitori, tempura.
7355 Mountain Sights Avenue 737-7245
Nishiyama
Limited but good sushi, sashimi. Outstanding Teriyaki Atlantic salmon steak.
Fried eggplant with minced chicken sauce, soya scallops, smoked eel appetizers.
4022 St Catherine Street West 932-1968
Thai
Chao Praya
Anise scented boneless duck in coconut milk and lemon grass sauce.
Pla rad plik (deep-fried whole fish). Thai red coconut curry. Peanut sauce.
50 Laurier Avenue West 272-5339
Palais de Bangkok
Outstanding soups: tom yum koung (hot&sour shrimp & straw mushrooms)
tom kha kay (chicken, straw mushrooms, coconut milk, chili)
stir fried beef (neu kathiem phet Thai), deep fried butter fish with hot&sour
1242 Mackay Street 939-2817
Vientiane
Uncompromising Thai. Doesn't serve coffee as it doesn't go with Thai food.
Emphasis on fish. Really good soups, salads. HOT.
6330 Victoria Avenue 733-1334
Vietnamese
Escale A Saigon
Tonkinese soup, veloute of asparagus and crab. Imperial rolls, spring rolls.
Lime flavored tartar steak, souffleed scampi on sugar cane.
Crispy duck, casserole of seafood braised with coconut milk, spareribs
marinated with lemongrass.
107 Laurier Street West 272-3456
L'Amandine
Imperial rolls, spring rolls. Stir fried frogs legs. Banana fritter dessert.
500 Duluth Avenue East 849-5382
Indian
Woodlands
Masala dosa ( lentil-rice crepe ), idli ( rice-lentil cake ).
Luncheon buffet. Tandoori, vegetable pakoora, meat curry, ginger chicken kebab
1241 Guy Street 933-1553
Le Taj
Fish tikka ( marinated in yogurt with garlic, ginger, saffron, garam masala,
turmeric before the tandoor ), butter chicken, makhani prawns.
Niawabi korma ( lamb curry with yogurt ), saag gosht ( lamb and spinach with
coriander, fenugreek, cardamon )
2077 Stanley Street 845-9015
Pushap
Excellent vegetable, cheese dishes, flat breads. The West Island branch also
specializes in Indian snacks, really should be tried.
West Island: 11999 Gouin Boulevard West 683-0556
Montreal: 5195 Pare Street 737-4527
Rajput
Proper biryani. Darool kebab ( marinated lamb rib meat cooked in tandoor ),
Jhinga poori (spicy shrimp on fried bread). Chicken Rezala (marinated in
yogurt, cooked with ginger, hot green chilies, saffron, etc.)
839 Decarie Boulevard (St. Laurent, close suburb) 747-1544
You might also want to try the Star of India on St Catherine Street, near
St Mathieu.
Italian
Da Marcello
Menus change with the market. Usually kid roasted with olive oil, sage,
and fennel. Boned leg of lamb stuffed with fennel. Saddle of pork with
rosemary and garlic. Fagioli all'uccelletto ( canneloni beans)
825 Laurier Avenue East 276-1580
La Sila
Pasta paradise: montanara all'arrabbiata, alle vongole, house fettucine with
cream, garlic, and baby clam sauce.
Veal: al limone, marsala, Vittoria, Sorentia, La Sila.
2040 St Denis Street 844-5083
L'oleandro
Only open for dinner. Broiled veals kidneys in sherry vinegar sauce,
scaloppine Oleandro (cognac, cream, black olive, artichoke sauce, toppedwith
melted goat cheese). Spaghetti alla puttanesca, fusilli alla norcina,
crespelle (crepe) with pureed sweetbreads in cognac/cream/mushroom sauce.
1637 van Horne Avenue 270-5057
Le Latini
Expensive. Spaghetti puttanesca among the pastas, shrimp and clam risotto,
first rate veal, fritto misto of jumbo shrimp, scallops, scampi, squid, etc.
good desserts.
1130 Jeanne Mance Street 861-3166
Bocca d'Oro
Fresh porcini sauteed in olive oil and garlic, fresh fish regularly,
fresh pasta daily. various veal dishes, well balanced sauces.
1448 St Matieu Street 933-8414
Il Boccalini
Salsiccia all ghiottona ( spicy sausage with oyster mushrooms/red peppers )
Pasta: Medaillons Genovese, tortellini Caterina, manicotti Fiorentina,
fettucine Boccalini. Veal: campagnola (mushrooms,cream,brandy), Orsini
(wine,cream,brandy,olives,artichokes). Truffle specialties.
1480 de l'Eglise (St Laurent) 747-7809
La Vigna
Linguini pescatore, manicotti. Fried zucchini, suppli al telephono.
Scaloppine della Vigna (brandy,mushrooms,shallots,green peppercorns)
2045 Crescent Street 288-2532
Villa Orlando
Green and white linguine Gigi (prosciutto,mushrooms,tomato,basil,cream)
Manicotti, seafood linguine, gnocchi. Veal: zio Pasquale, Villa Orlando
scallopine. Shrimps Fra Diavolo (tomato, garlic, chili peppers, brandy)
3060 St Joseph Street, Lachine (slightly distant suburb) 634-9219
Le Piemontais
Crowded, noisy, popular. Oriental flavour chicken wings. Ravioli with rose
sauce, fettucine all'amatraciana. Veal Lyonnaise, sachetti di vitello torinese.
1145A de Bullion Street 861-8122
Da Vinci
Trinagole Gorgonzola (pasta triangle stuffed with ricotta, with gorgonzola
sauce). Pennine all'arrabiata, tortellini Romanoff, picatta con limette,
shrimps Colombo (cream,brandy,capers,tomato)
1858 St Catherine Street West 932-2995
Little French Restaurants (relatively inexpensive)
Henri II
Best bets: table d'hote of market specialties, daily specials.
Provencal fish soup, asparagus with sabayon sauce, fresh fish with green
peppercorn sauce, calf's liver with garlic-parsley butter. Desserts.
1175A Crescent Street 395-8730
Vent Vert
Table d'hote. Also Veloute of mussels with Prenod, snails with blue cheese
sauce. Entrecote with port wine, veal stock and marrow sauce. Filet of lamb
with Meaux mustard, lamb stock and white wine sauce. Dessert: gratin of
fresh fruits, two-flavor bavarois.
2015 Mountain Street 842-2482
L'armoricain
Table d'hote. Smoked breast of duck, Quenelles de brochet, ravioli of snails
with ginger butter, fricassee of sweetbreads with capers and celery root.
Calf's liver with raspberry vinegar, fillets of fish with oyster mushrooms.
Reservations recommended.
1550 Fullum Street 523-2551
Le Romarin
Lobster Gazpacho, Duck and cepes mushroom soup under pastry, goat cheese
ravioli with salmon carpaccio, three cheese linguine, sweetbreads with
prosciutto and oyster mushrooms.
4287 St Denis 844-4643
La Chamade
Calf's liver with light lemon, cream, and caramelized sugar sauce.
Snails chartreusienne (butter,garlic,chopped hazelnuts,cream,chartreuse)
Baby shark with beurre noisette. Desserts.
1453 Belanger Street 727-7040
Citronlime
Nouvelle cuisine with a southeast asian influence. Cream of sweet peppers
and bean sprout soup, steak tartar with ginger, sesame seeds/oil, garlic,
poached salmon trout with seaweed, ginger, and seasme oil.
4669 St Denis Street 284-3130
Le Paris
Calf's liver, dore meuniere, pepper steak, sweetbreads, Atlantic salmon,
brandade de morue, veal kidneys.
1812 St Catherine Street West 937-4898
Les Mauvais Garcons
Shrimp bisque, shrimps Barbara with smoked salmon & caviar, or saffron & orange,
amaretto shrimp, curry, pastis, three-pepper and Provencal shrimp.
Millefeuille of salmon
4466 Marquette Street 524-7989
Witloof
Casseroles of mussels served with french fries and mayonnaise.
Ham and endive gratin, waterzooi a la gantoise (Belgian stew of poached
chicken breast and vegetable in lemony cream sauce with chervil)
Lively, noisy, informal.
3619 St Denis Street 281-1000
L'Etang des Moulins
Gastronomic Menu : Truffles, caviar, foie gras.
Table d'hote: sliced sirloin with five-pepper sauce, poached salmon with
Nantua sauce, preceded by goose liver made with port, or leeks vinaigrette.
888 St Louis Street Terrebonne 471-4018
Le Mas des Oliviers
Fish soup Provencal, lamb Provencal, farmer's stew (boned guinea hen, duck,
pheasant, chicken made with Armagnac and green peppercorns). Southern French.
1216 Bishop Street 861-6733
Francois.
Francois Souchay
More Montreal Restaurants, taken from the same source.
General
Russian
Troika
Beluga, Ossetra, Sevruga caviars.
Traditional Russian: piroshki, pelmeni, vareniki, smoked sturgeon, chicken
Kiev, beef Stroganoff. Newer lighter Russian: veal medallions with lemon-vodka-
ginger sauce, salmon with oyster mushrooms, pepper vodka, crushed peppercorns.
2171 Crescent Street 849-9333
Spanish
Fiesta Tapas
Excellent tapas, dozens of them. Also paella. Guitar & singing weekend nights.
479 St Alexis Street 287-7482
Mexican
Casa de Mateo II
Guacamole made at the table. Ceviches, nachos, marinated jalapeno peppers,
refried beans, cactus hearts gratinado. Pescado Veracruzana, Fragita (sp?)
(marinated sliced steak)
440 St Francois Xavier Street 844-7448
Steaks
Gibbys
Top beef, whether broiled or with peppery cream sauce. Large servings,
beautiful surroundings.
298 Place Youville 282-1837
Moishes
Known for broiled rib steaks. Large portions. Sides are mostly Jewish faves:
schmaltz herring, chopped liver, potato pancakes, etc.
3961 St Laurent Boulevard 845-1696
Fish
La Maree
Lobster Brumetiere. Poached fillets of sole with Beaume de Venise, cream,
stewed lobster and leeks. Braised fish and shellfish in white port wine,
cream, and morels. Market oriented daily specials: lobster bisque, lobster
with cepes in American sauce, steamed grouper with citrus and and ginger.
404 Place Jacques Cartier 861-9794
Le Pavillon de l'Atlantique
Lobster thermidor, lobster Newburg, scampi stuffed with crab, stuffed sole.
Daily fresh fish may be broiled, grilled, fried, poached, or blackened Cajun.
1188 Sherbrooke Street West 285-1636
LES GRANDS RESTAURANTS
Warning: These range from expensive to really expensive. No bargains here.
Les Halles
Regular menu is a starting base. Daily market oriented specials.
Menu du patron, a five course dinner.
Entrees: Sweetbreads with endives and blue cheese in a Pineau and cream sauce.
Half lobster served on the shell with spinach in a sauce of shallots, ginger,
fish stock, sauterne, lime juice, and butter with shredded coconut and melon.
Main dishes: Venison noisettes a la royale (creme de cassis flavored sauce).
Steamed bass fillets with girolles, shiitake, pied de mouton, mousserons, cepes
in cognac, port, fish fumet sauce with fines herbes.
Sweets: Feuillantines aux fraises, dark chocolate, strawberry mousse.
1450 Crescent Street 844-2328
Les Mignardises
Grilled scallops in lime butter sauce. Trois mignardises: marinated salmon,
guinea hen, duck with pear, lobster, fresh raspberries. Partridge with wld
mushrooms and foie gras. Fillet of rabbit with rhubarb compote. Venison en
persillade. Roast lamb on puff pastry. Sweets recommended.
2037 St Denis Street 842-1151
Claude Postel
Fresh Atlantic salmon laminated to smoked salmon in sherry sauce.
Warm scallop salad. Prune studded terrine of ham. Marinated venison in
raspberry sauce. Sweetbreads braised with morels and ham. Pastries.
443 St Vincent Street, Old Montreal 875-5067
Citrus
French-california cuisine. Fresh, no freezer on site.
Ravioli like sliced salmon with chopped snails and spinach with asparagus,
ginger, cream sauce. Lasagna of smoked salmon, leaf spinach, goat cheese.
Medallions of Barbary duck with clover honey and cloves. Nuggets of leg of
lamb with coulis of fresh basil. deep-fried beet chips a threat to french fries.
5282 St Laurent Boulevard 276-2353
Milos
Best fish, best Greek. Fish prepared Greek style : charcoal broiled. Lightly
touched with olive oil, lemon, oregano before serving. Fresh fish arrives
daily from the world over.
5357 Park Avenue 272-3522
Les Chenets
Classic French cuisine with an extensive (2500 kinds) wine cellar.
Delice du Chambord (fillets of salmon and halibut with beurre blanc and
hollandaise sauces). Pheasant forestiere with morel sauce. Ambrosial soups.
Special sweets.
2075 Bishop Street 844-1842
Le St Amable
Pannequet Ostendaise (crab meat crepe with mussels and lobster sauce)
Turbot a la Parisienne (wine-cream sauce with truffles and mushrooms)
Breast of pheasant Alcantra (goose liver and truffle sauce)
Quails Clamart with cognac, artichoke, peas.
Market specialties may include Fresh green and white asparagus with sabayon
sauce, scallops a la Florentine, gratin of lobster with mustard cream sauce,
streamed fillets of Dover sole and shrimp with cream and basil sauce, morels.
188 St Amable Street 866-3471
Le Fadeau
Eight course Discovery menu:
Pyramide de Bresse aux morilles, supreme de volaille souffle aux morilles,
sweetbreads with caramelized pears, cold-smoked salmon.
Regular carte:
Transparent raviolis filled with lobster. French oxtail soup. Cold cream of
curry with apple and cucumber. Roast rack of lamb with eggplant ragout.
Medallions of veal with wild mushrooms. Wonderful desserts.
423 St Claude Street 878-3959
Chez la Mere Michel
Lobster souffle Nantua. Weekend menu of degustation: confit of pheasant and
mushrooms au gratin, a variety of fish mousses, chausson of grenadin of veal
with mousse of sweetbreads. Exceptional sweets.
1209 Guy Street 934-0473
Zen
Supreme of shark's fin. Szechuan duck with crepes, live lobster with
tangerine peel and crushed garlic, sea-spiced dragon prawns with scallops,
Deep-fried angel's hair of seaweed with pine nuts, curried minced beef
croquettes, Deep-fried minced shrimp balls. Peking duck available without
24 hour notice.
1050 Sherbrooke Street West (Four Seasons Hotel) 499-0801
-------------
Montreal has several restaurant streets. Park Avenue has a Greek section, as
does Jean-Talon. Here you may find quite authentic dishes like taramosalata,
vine leaves, squid, moussaka, tzatziki et al.
St Denis Street north of Sherbrooke features some interesting spots. L'Express
is a nice little place open from 8 or 9 am till 11 pm. Supper looks ok, and
the continental breakfast includes *real* French coffee. La Creperie Bretonne
is as its name does, and how could you visit a French city without eating at
least one crepe? There are also a couple of good couscous places.
St Laurent Street north of Sherbrooke shows off ethnic groceries, and you can
eat quite well on the run: European fast food. The Main and Schwartz's both
offer Montreal style smoked meat served on thick slices of rye bread.
Across the street La Cabane makes a fine sangria, cools you down on a hot day.
Futenbulle imports beers from all over the world.
The local chains are at least a notch or two above acceptable into good.
Better specializes in European sausages in authentic dishes. Van Houtte is
the standard coffee shop in town.
Home grown beers ( microbreweries ) are almost worth the trip by themselves.
Some beers to try are: Boreale on tap and in bottles, St Ambroise in bottles,
Massawippi on tap (rare), Belle Gueule on tap. I prefer Boreale, but your
mileage may vary.
Please note: impaired driving laws are quite strict, and the restaurants listed
in the above two posts will accomodate a good time. You will want to be careful.
Montreal is a fine foodie city, enjoy.
Francois.