Montreal Restaurants Guide

Smoked meat sandwiches, bagels, and poutine define indigenous Montreal culinary fare. Tangy smoked meat is served up thick on thin rye bread at Mobil One-Star Ben's Delicatessen (990 de Maisonneuve Blvd, 514-844-1001).

It may not be haute cuisine, but poutine is a guilty pleasure of French fries, grain or farmer's cheese, and a tangy brown barbeque sauce. La Banquise (994 Rachel E, 514-525-2415) in the Plateau neighborhood makes more than a dozen varieties.

Old Montreal means upscale fare. Mobil Four-Star Toque! (900 Place Jean-Paul Riopelle, 514-499-0292) means French cuisine at its finest. You should try the daily fresh cheeses on walnut bread, salmon and Arctic char, or Jerusalem artichoke soup with pomegranites.

Toque!
©2006 Tourisme Montreal/Stephan Poulin
You'll be sorry if you leave Montreal without going out for
French cuisine. For some of the city's best, go to Toque!

In the Plateau there are some two down reasonably priced restaurants for every taste along pedestrian-only Prince Arthur Street. One popular spot is Mazurka (64 Prince Arthur St E, 514-844-3539) for Polish food, especially their pierogies, meat and cheese blintzes, or potato pancakes.

Amonzona (5525 Cote-Saint-Luce, 514-484-2612) is a family-style Greek restaurant with the best tzatziki around. Basha (930 Saint Catherine W, 514-86-4272) is a good place to try shawarma, falafel, and shish taouk.

Cafe Electra Cozy (24 des Pins E, 5141-288-0853) is known for its Italian panini sandwiches made with fresh ingredients and great care.

Milos (5357 Parc Ave, 514-272-3522) is a Greek restaurant with nets and floats hanging from the ceiling. You should try the snapper, fried eggplant, or fried zucchini.

Gibby's (298 Place d'Youville, 514-282-1837) is a cozy traditional restaurant that serves good filet of scampi crusted with spices, a tidbit of sorbet between courses to cleanse the pallet, then delicious desserts like homemade cheesecake.

Bonaparte (447 rue Saint-Francois-Xavier, 514-844-4368) is known for its French cuisine, and you should try the duck confit, filet mignon, or venison dishes. The chocolate mousse is to die for! Don't worry about eating too much and ending up with your hand over your stomach like Bonaparte himself!

As you can see, you won't be at a loss for things to do in Montreal. The trouble may be how to fit it all in. Get some help by checking out our suggested itineraries on the next page.