Montréal Restaurants

  1. Chez l' Épicier

    This place, helmed by chef Laurent Godbout, has a permanent buzz around it. The menu changes regularly, and you'll find beautifully presented dishes like venison and red wine sauce. As for desserts, there probably hasn't been one review in the entire history of this place that hasn't mentioned the chocolate club sandwich with pineapple fries. There's a gourmet delicatessen attached that is excellent for picnic food if you're off to the Old Port.

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  2. l'Express

    L'Express has all the hallmarks of Parisian bistro - black-and-white checkered floor, art deco globe lights, papered tables, brown mirrored walls - but the food matches the presumption. Seafood dishes like grilled salmon with grey salt or almond-crusted pike, and standards such as pot-au-feu (poached chicken, ribs and marrow bone in clear broth with potatoes and cabbage) are consistently delicious. Reservations are essential.

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  3. La Gargote

    An Old Montréal standard, this bistro pumps along seamlessly with quality fare served in a cozy dining room. This eatery works well on all levels whether you're sitting down with a digestive and the table d'hôte after skating at the Old Port or in summer, taking in the street life as you lunch on the terrace in place d'Youville across from the main building and watching the waiters dodge traffic ferrying food to you from the kitchen.

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  4. Nuances

    Just past the roulette tables and slot machines inside the Casino de Montréal, lies one of the town's classiest restaurants. One highlight is the roasted pigeon, succulent with crispy skin, served with gratinéed potatoes and a stew of giblets and chanterelles, all bathed in a delectable sauce of veal and chicken stock. Reservations and business attire are essential for both men and women.

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  5. Vents Du Sud

    The cuisine is rustic terrines, conserves of duck, grilled meats and hearty sauces of garlic, peppers and tomatoes. It's one of the few places on the Montréal scene devoted to this kind of food. Service is warm and welcoming and good at giving menu recommendations if you are not familiar with this type of cuisine. Its garage-sale chairs, salty regulars and moustached host give it the feel of a village eatery. Reserve ahead.

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