123 Best Restaurants in Montreal, Quebec

Locals line up outside the window of this shoebox-sized take out joint, sandwiched between ice-cream shop Kem CoBa and Fairmount Bagel, to get their fix of Nonna Caterina Gattuso's gnocchi topped with her famous Calabrian tomato sauce. It's served in a little cardboard take-out container and costs only C$5. If you ask for parmesan it's C$6. With extra spice C$6.50. Diehards can purchase 750-milliliter jars of Salsa della Nonna for C$10 or a one-liter jar of Gnocchi della Nonna, also for C$10. Olive oil and a few other sauces are also available for sale.

A light croissant or rich pastry from the city's oldest pâtisserie makes for a nice break after visiting the Parc Mont-Royal or Oratoire St-Joseph. For lunch, try the avocado toast with goat cheese, cherry tomatoes, and olive oil; the onion soup; or the mushroom or lobster risotto, followed by a tartelette aux abricots (apricot tart). If you're taking pastries home, try to snag an almond-paste (as opposed to almond-cream) croissant (or roulé) before the shop runs out.

Escondite's young, ambitious, and talented owners know a good idea when it comes to them. So much so that they now have seven branches across the city since the avenue Union location opened in 2015. Each of their Mexican restaurants (they're also behind a handful of funky Japanese izakaya and Hawaiian poke eateries) crackles with energy and eclectic style, a mishmash of neon signs, portraits of Frida Kahlo, bright murals of saints, Día de los Muertos skulls, turquoise banquettes and barstools, and mismatched press-back chairs. On the menu is inventive Mexican-inspired cuisine—think Mexican General Tao cauliflower with tamarind, agave, and coriander; Monterey Jack and jalapeño gyoza nachos with pomegranate pico de gallo, serrano chili and black pepper cream; and Korean steak with Oaxaca cheese, grilled cactus, pickled jalapeño, and orange crush sauce—and delicious tequila-based cocktails.  There is a second Downtown location on rue Drummond.

Blink and you'll miss it. While the address is written on the building's façade, the restaurant's nondescript exterior and lack of a sign mean you may be searching for a while. Popular options at this atmospheric see-and-be-seen locale, steered by local celebrity chef Chuck Hughes, include bountiful platters of seafood, mains featuring fish, duck or beef, and usually a pasta dish with meat. With few plant-based sides on the menu, vegetarians and vegans will be left wanting. The bar, where flirting is in high gear, is a fun option for dining and hanging out. The kitchen closes at 10, after which the party rages until 3 am. Minors are not permitted on the premises.

Eclectic may be the best way to describe the food at this scarlet-colored restaurant, as the dishes combine a French bistro feel with a little bit of the American Southwest. The seasonings are down to a science here, and the proof is in the homemade ketchups, hot sauces, and salsas that are generously offered at each table. As with many restaurants, the menu changes with the seasons, but the Caesar salad made à la minute and the copious Baileys fudge chocolate cake are popular constants. The meat and seafood are carefully sourced; any of the nightly available options are always a great choice.

A boisterous Japanese pub (known in Japan as an izakaya), Imadake serves small plates meant to be shared with a beer or cocktail in hand, and you won't find any sushi on the menu. The name Imadake means "only for now" and is a reference to the restaurant's ever-changing menu and "live in the moment" philosophy. You can pick from a variety of dishes, including ramen and noodle bowls as well as house specialties like korokke (mashed potato croquettes); konoko (oyster mushrooms served with yuzu sauce); or shiitake karaage (deep fried shiitake mushrooms) marinated with seafood dashi (stock) and spicy mayo.

Long held in disdain by Montréal food critics, the restaurant at the Institut de Tourisme et d’Hôtellerie du Québec (ITHQ) has upped its epicurean game. These days the restaurant’s top-notch cuisine pays homage to Québec’s terroir with enticingly presented dishes served in a contemporary yet elegant setting (think white tablecloths, cloche plate covers, and impeccable service). There is an à la carte menu, in addition to a table d’hôte (starting at C$62) and a five-course tasting menu (C$89). The optional wine pairing is an additional C$57.

This popular Québec restaurant/chocolate bar chain is the brainchild of Juliette Brun, a self-confessed chocoholic since she was a child. First opened in 2003 when Juliette was only 22, there are now nearly 30 locations across the province. From the molten chocolate lava cake served with a scoop of ice cream and melted chocolate sauce to the dark chocolate raspberry dome, the speculoos cookie butter fondant, and the banana split milkshake, chocolate and sweets lovers are sure to fall in love with Juliette’s. Brunches and savory meals are also served.

You could almost walk right by this small, unpretentious establishment on this seedier stretch of rue Ste-Catherine, but the line of people waiting to get in is a telltale sign. Locals and visitors alike love Kazu not for its décor but for its delicious Japanese comfort food. The tiger shrimp burger, the tofu vegetable hot pot, and the salmon and tuna bowl are all great options. Arrive 15 minutes before opening time or well before 8 pm to beat the queue.

The cocktail menu originally put this hip bistro on the map, drawing crowds for creative martinis (think cucumber and basil), and now the food holds its own. The house specialty is tartares—the menu lists four variations of marinated raw fish—and heaps of grilled meat, fish, or tempeh served on wooden chopping blocks. Young partiers are attracted to the cafeteria-style tables, where they mingle over ginger-beer cocktails, soups, salads, and tapas.

Although La Chronique is indeed an elegant place with white walls and high ceilings flooded with light, people don't come here for the setting; they come for the excellent food. Without fuss or fanfare, La Chronique has remained one of the best French restaurants in town since it opened in 1995. The cuisine seamlessly blends lightened French fare with seasonal and local ingredients. If you are a foie gras fan, the seared version served with seasonal fruit is easily the best in town. This is an excellent place to splurge on the prix-fixe five-course tasting menu at dinner for C$145, or C$250 with wine pairings.

This lovely little bakery, which magically transports its patrons (or at least their taste buds) to Italy, specializes in the cornetto, the Italian version of the croissant. Freshly baked every morning, these delightful pastries are available plain or filled with Nutella, ricotta cream, or almond paste. The traditional cannoli, filled with a light and sweet ricotta cream, are also delicious. Meat eaters who prefer savory bites should, however, try the speck-and-stracchino (a mild, fresh Italian cheese) sandwich on homemade focaccia.

The kitschy décor at this cute little Mexican joint includes a display of religious icons as well as vibrantly colorful furniture, while the menu is haute Mexican street cuisine at its best. The food here is simple, but everything is fresh and delicious. Start by ordering the housemade tortilla chips with chunky and perfectly seasoned guacamole, local and flavorful tomatoes, and pungent onions. Follow with the Baja tacos with shrimp and coleslaw, or the classic tacos al pastor with pork, onions, and chunks of pineapple. On weekends, La Tamalera serves a Mexican-inspired brunch that includes huevos rancheros and molete, an open-faced sandwich with black beans and queso fresco (fresh cheese).

As a gourmet grocery shop, take-out counter, and French bistro rolled into one, this splendid space was quickly adopted by local foodies. Instead of being dejected by the brunch queues on Saturday and Sunday, visitors should take advantage of that time to browse the restaurant’s inviting boutique for gourmet souvenirs to take home.

A study in contrasts, Le Filet has a discreet blink-and-you'll-miss-it façade with a glitzy black-and-gold interior and a hot-spot buzz. Though it's been around a while, there is no mixed messaging when it comes to the exacting presentation and superb food and wine. The menu is divided into three courses, or "sets." While the first set consists of shareable cold dishes (such as garnished oysters with toppings like maple crisp, jalapeño, or miso gratin), the main course is dedicated to hot seafood and meat dishes (for instance, squid ink linguine with seafood and fried shallots or gemelli with braised veal cheek, mushrooms, and foie gras). For dessert, expect items like cheesecake with poached pears and cassis sorbet; a maple syrup square with fresh cream and chocolate-coated pecans; or an exotic fruit carpaccio with coconut sorbet, vanilla cream, and kumquat. Wine lovers also appreciate the impressive wine list.

Regularly lauded on Canadian best-of dining lists, Le Mousso is helmed by chef Antonin Mousseau-Rivard, who dreams up exquisitely plated, northern European–inspired dishes that are as much works of art as they are imaginative combinations of flavor and texture for the taste buds. Using mostly local and seasonal ingredients, the seven-course tasting menu might feature dishes such as borscht décomposé (beet soup), grilled scallops lightly smoked with fir and served on coals with wild plum butter, or tataki Wagyu beef accompanied by cream, New Brunswick caviar, and nasturtium leaves. Dessert might be a fanciful whirl of chocolate with cucumber or squash with honey and rapeseed oil.  The restaurant will attempt to accommodate food allergies and vegetarian diets but reserves the right to refuse a reservation in cases where it would be too difficult to do so. Mousso does not offer vegetarian variations, but a dining "experience" without meat or fish is possible. All dietary restrictions must be mentioned at the time of reservation.

This casual Syrian spot is comfortable and homey but still has style, with music, ivy, exposed-stone walls, and a lovely terrace come summer. The menu is perfect for grazing, and excellent sharing options include the mouhamara (pomegranate-and-walnut spread), sabanegh (spinach, coriander, and onion pie), fattouche (a salad with pita chips and mint), and yalandji (vine leaves stuffed with rice, chickpeas, walnuts, and tomatoes). There are Armenian dishes, too, like the salad with cumin and flefle (hot peppers). Delicious kebabs dominate the main courses, with the moderately spiced terbialy a favorite. Le Petit Alep also has an older sibling, Restaurant Alep, at 199 rue Jean-Talon Ouest.

"The crazier, the merrier"—that's the motto that greets patrons on the neon sign behind the canary yellow counter of this cheerful Vietnamese pub. Serving up authentic yet creative reinventions of Vietnamese street food, the three third-generation Vietnamese Canadian owners of Le Red Tiger have been wooing Montrealers in this quirky, convivial setting since opening in 2015.

This low-key destination is the perfect spot for an intimate yet elevated meal, where diners can safely anticipate irreproachable dishes (including the $125, five-course tasting menu with wine pairing) and a finely curated wine list. The decor is grandiose and includes a very large mural taking up one long wall, a vintage tin ceiling, and floor-to-ceiling doors and windows. The creative market-based menu changes frequently and focuses on the use of local products. Staples include suckling pig, arctic char, and chanterelle mushrooms with kale and bleu d’Élizabeth cheese.

With its airy, all-white-and-green, plant-filled décor, dining at LOV (Local, Organic, Vegan) is like eating in a beautiful greenhouse. This fashionable restaurant is the kind of plant-based establishment that even die-hard carnivores will line up to enter. Starters here include LOV calamari (tempura heart-of-palm rings with lemon-truffle aioli) and mushroom and vegetable dumplings with almond butter kimchi sauce. Highlights among the mains are coconut butternut squash curry and mushroom risotto with cashew cream. 

Local celebrity chef Derek Dammann teamed up with famed British chef Jamie Oliver to open this pub-style restaurant that perfectly blends Canadian and British traditions. The interior is dark and cozy; the handwritten menu changes frequently based on what's in season. Expect dishes like black pudding, Welsh rarebit, oven-baked oysters, foie gras parfait, or cold roast with dandelion.

If you're in the mood for a big, nourishing, market-fresh salad served in a colorful ceramic bowl in a pastel setting, Mandy's is the place to go. Choose from among a dozen signature varieties or make your own. If you don't believe that a meal can be a meal without meat, there are options that do include meat or another protein source.   There's a second Downtown location in Phillips Square, as well as others in Westmount, the Old Port, and Mile End.

For fine dining in Old Montréal, head to this elegant contemporary restaurant and brasserie serving expertly presented Canadian fare, from oysters to Prince Edward Island côte de boeuf. A chic, illuminated bar showcases the wine collection, with 400 selections including some Quebecois bottles.

You won’t see anything too familiar on the menu at this fresh, light-filled restaurant with its high ceilings, clean white walls and tablecloths, and modern mix of wood, glass, and sliding industrial windows that open to outdoor seating in summer. You will find whimsical yet unpretentious dishes that surprise and delight. Menu items might include brochettes of duck hearts, baloney cannelloni, and "Chinatown" razor clam. Dessert is a must, so pace yourself to allow for favorites like buckthorn berry meringue tart or white chocolate mousse with rhubarb puree.

The dining room is small and not much to look at, but no matter—the food here is the main attraction, and locals come in droves for the homemade noodles and dumplings. If you time your visit right, you might see the staff through the huge kitchen window working on the dough. Noodles with spicy vegetables and pork are popular—either for one, or to share. Traditionalists take note: the General Tao chicken is one of the best in the city (you can also order it with tofu instead).

A little off the beaten path, this intimate Italian eatery can be easy to miss. The restaurant's head chef Dmetro Sinclair emphasizes simple, seasonal dishes using techniques and ingredients outside the classic Italian canon yet feel more attuned with the true essence of Italian cooking than what you find in most other Italian restaurants.