The Best Restaurant in The Plateau Mont-Royal and Mile End, Montreal

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Dotted with bistros and cafés, the Plateau has a bohemian edge that can't be found anywhere else in the city. Chef-owned eateries favor market cuisine served in a decor of brick walls and hardwood floors. Noisy French-style bistros, like L'Express, are local institutions, as are cafés populated by poets and academics with laptops. There’s vegetarian cooking, and Thai, along with sushi and stubborn little bakeries that refuse to mechanize.

L'Express

$$$ Fodor's Choice

This iconic Montréal bistro hasn’t changed much since its opening in 1980, and it’s just as well—regulars would throw a fit if it did. Quintessential French fare is fairly priced and appetizing, outstanding even, with dishes like steak tartare with fries, salmon with sorrel, and calf's liver with tarragon. Tiny tables sometimes struggle to accommodate the ever-present crowds (including local chefs, who congregate here for dinner after hours), but the lively atmosphere is part of the charm. Kids are warmly welcomed.