The opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.
A good meal is one of life's great joys, and thankfully Montreal is chock full of good meals.
The city has its fair share of already-iconic restaurants and a bustling community of potential future icons. In my opinion, no Montreal foodie can truly be fulfilled without having tried a healthy sampling of both.
So, as a cook-turned-writer and a tourist-turned-resident, here are my must-taste restaurants in Montreal.
Ichigo Ichie Izakaya
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Japanese
Address: 360 Rue Rachel E, Montreal, QC
Why You Need To Go: Full disclosure: I used to work at Ichigo Ichie Izakaya. Fuller disclosure: working at a restaurant is a surefire way to make yourself hate the food there.
That did not happen to me at Ichigo Ichie. It's a lively and popular izakaya (stay-drink-place, in English) in the plateau. That means the atmosphere is energetic, with good music and thoughtfully crafted drinks to go with the Japanese pub food.
The food has a lot of staples that are done well: grilled squid, karaage, and takoyaki. The drinks are inventive and refreshing. One standout is the Akuma, a herby-spicy shiso co*cktail.
Maison Cari Golden/The Golden Curry
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Indian
Address: 5210 St Laurent Blvd, Montreal, Q
Why You Need To Go: I'm allowing myself to share one hidden gem for this article, and it's this spot.
A few months ago, I met up with an old friend to have a meal. We spent a while wandering the city and discussing our options: restaurants we knew, reliable chains, bucket list items. We couldn't agree on anything, so we decided to just walk into the next restaurant we saw. And that restaurant was the quiet and unassuming Maison Cari Golden.
I had the sag lamb, and he had the madras beef, and it was a revelation. Chalk it up to the mounting hangriness (hanger?), but Maison Cari Golden blew our expectations out of the water. I honestly feel like that meal made me a better person.
Joe Beef
Price: 💸 💸💸💸
Cuisine: French
Address: 2491 Notre-Dame St W, Montreal, QC
Why You Need To Go: Fans of Anthony Bourdain's Parts Unknown might recognize this name – Bourdain's culinary guides to the city of Montreal were the then-owners of Joe Beef.
It's a shining example of Montreal Anglo cuisine – rich and hearty with a strong French influence. It's very old-school and very indulgent, which makes it great for a cold day when you've got some money to burn.
Of course, you'll have to plan in advance: Joe Beef is reservation-only. If you don't feel like spending Joe Beef money but still want a somewhat swanky Quebecois dinner, try Liverpool House, Joe Beef's family restaurant.
Barranco
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Peruvian
Address: 4552 Saint Denis St, Montreal, QC
Why You Need To Go: Barranco was another coincidental discovery for me, way back when I had just moved to Montreal.
This Peruvian restaurant has an intimate and upbeat atmosphere, plus a menu that is a beautiful mix of inventive and unpretentious. The mocktails are fantastic, the service is friendly, the ceviche is killer, and the mocktails are fantastic. That repetition was intentional: if you want a night out but you'd rather not drink, I cannot recommend this place enough.
They have alcoholic options, but I haven't even bothered to try them yet. If you're in the mood for a flavourful South American meal and something tasty to wash it down, Barranco is hard to beat.
Lester's Deli
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Deli
Address: 1057 Bernard Ave, Outremont, QC
Why You Need To Go: I'd be remiss if I didn't include some sort of smoked meat sandwich on this list. Everybody has an opinion on the best smoked meat in town. Schwartz's, Reuben's, Dunn's, the list goes on.
I think true enlightenment comes when you can acknowledge that all of those sandwiches are great, but that maybe you're in the mood for roast beef, or chopped liver, or kanartzel. And if you do get into that mood, the roast beef brisket sandwich at Lester's is hard to beat. There's really nothing like a softball-sized serving of juicy roast beef on mustard and rye.
Lester's is, like many other delis, a historic spot with committed regulars. The restaurant was sold about a year ago and the regulars have stuck around, which is a pretty solid endorsem*nt.
Gibeau Orange Julep
Price: 💸
Cuisine: Fast food
Address: 7700 Decarie Blvd, Montreal, QC
Why You Need To Go: Some of the restaurants on this list are included not just for the food but for the experience, and Gibeau Orange Julep is definitely one of those cases.
It's hard to explain the allure of a big orange orb that serves burgers and a mysterious orange and dairy drink. Even Julep's own menu describes their titular drink as "A delicious, unique beverage you cannot find anywhere else!" That's the whole description, and it's accurate. The Orange Julep is unique, and you just have to try it to understand it.
Pizza Toni
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Italian
Address: 104 Rue Saint-Viateur O, Montreal, QC
Why You Need To Go: Sometimes, it feels like New York and Montreal are in a sort of rivalry. We fight over who has the best bagels, the best arts scene, and the best pizza. I like Montreal's odds here, because Pizza Toni is killer.
This sleek yet retro pizza place has quickly become known for having one of the best slices in town, and I understand why. They serve a crispy, thin slice that is not too overloaded with toppings and offers accompanying dips and drizzles.
Pizza Toni's sweet cherry pie (topped with feta, cherry tomatoes, and hot honey) might be my favourite slice of pizza, period. If Mile-End isn't your bag, don't worry too much: Pizza Toni is opening up a second location on Rue Notre-Dame Ouest.
Drogheria Fine
Price: 💸
Cuisine: Italian
Address: 68 Ave, Fairmount O, Montreal, QC
Why You Need To Go: Eating at Drogheria Fine (fine grocer, in English) might be cheaper than cooking at home. It's another cheapo icon of the city: $5 gnocchi, served in a cardboard takeout box and eaten with chopsticks. If you prefer, you can dish out an extra $0.30 for a fork.
There's a constant line-up and limited customizations. You can add cheese and you can add "spicy" (their words, not mine), and that's it. This gnocchi stand is as simple as it gets, and that's for the best: a staple done well, no more and no less.
Les Street Monkeys
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Cambodian
Address: 3625 Rue Wellington, Verdun, QC
Why You Need To Go: Les Street Monkeys is a chic Cambodian place in Verdun. I know a lot of city dwellers avoid Verdun, but it's worth your while for some authentic, modern Cambodian cuisine and stellar customer service.
Nicely located on Wellington (the coolest street in the world, according to Time Out's ranking), this restaurant has a loyal base of customers, and for good reason.
This doesn't even scratch the surface of the excellent, the odd, or the iconic of Montreal's restaurants. Get out there and taste the city. Bon appetit.
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