Favorite Montréal Restaurants

[Alice Levitt]

Based on the Bite Club poll last week, it looks like the vast majority of you dine in Montréal at least sometimes. This will probably break into other threads eventually, but for now, broadly, what are your favorite places to dine in the city?

I tend not to waste my time on anything that I can get in Vermont, so I spend most of my time in Chinatowns 1 and 2 and trying cuisines from Russian to Iraqi. Or going to topless diners.

[Morganna]

We spent five days in Montreal last year and ate at a lot of different places.  Au Pied du Cochon was one.  I rather liked it, but my husband can be particular.   I found I don't care for blood sausage.   We also ate at a place that had some wonderful I think Lebanese food.  Ooh man, what was it called... I'll have to look up my reviews on chowhound. When we travel, we try to focus on things we can't get here, as well.

[siliconghost]

Based on the Bite Club poll last week, it looks like the vast majority of you dine in Montréal at least sometimes. This will probably break into other threads eventually, but for now, broadly, what are your favorite places to dine in the city?

I tend not to waste my time on anything that I can get in Vermont, so I spend most of my time in Chinatowns 1 and 2 and trying cuisines from Russian to Iraqi. Or going to topless diners.

This is an easy one!

Nuances on the top floor of the casino, best wine list in the city, IMHO.

Primadonna on St. Laurent, awesome sushi/italian fusion.

Also, Manana (mexican) has an incredible cilantro cod ceviche served in a stone goblet. Loved it.

Best meal was the clay-fired lamb, chicken consomme' appetizer, bottle of Montepulciano and the garlic celeriac was incredible. (Nuances).

Had to drop over 300$ for the meal, but the service, ambiance and food was second-to-none.

Anyone else ever been to Nuances before?

[Morganna]

Ok, I found my reports on our Montreal trip.  My previous comment about Au Pied du Cochon still applies.  These are some other places we ate that I liked a lot:
Shahi Palace (this was WONDERFUL Indian food. Fantastic prices, worth the drive)
Maison Kam Fung (We'd never had dim sum before, so this was an experience.  I do recommend it, though)
Reuben's Deli (this was decent for a sit down fancy deli, on the pricey side, but the food was good and the portions huge)
Tapeo was really great, too. I liked what we had there a lot (reservations a must)
I can't find the name of that Lebanese place we had for lunch the first day in town. Meh!

ETA: MUHAHAHAHA! I found it! Abu Elias!  We had shishtouak there and it was lovely!
Also, we ate at a Greek place called Philino's that I really liked a LOT

[siliconghost]

Ok, I found my reports on our Montreal trip.  My previous comment about Au Pied du Cochon still applies.  These are some other places we ate that I liked a lot:
Shahi Palace (this was WONDERFUL Indian food. Fantastic prices, worth the drive)
Maison Kam Fung (We'd never had dim sum before, so this was an experience.  I do recommend it, though)
Reuben's Deli (this was decent for a sit down fancy deli, on the pricey side, but the food was good and the portions huge)
Tapeo was really great, too. I liked what we had there a lot (reservations a must)
I can't find the name of that Lebanese place we had for lunch the first day in town. Meh!

ETA: MUHAHAHAHA! I found it! Abu Elias!  We had shishtouak there and it was lovely!
Also, we ate at a Greek place called Philino's that I really liked a LOT

Kam Fung has the best dim sum! The shrimp/rice rolls, and the beef tripe are incredible. Awesome chicken feet, too.

[Wayne Turiansky]

Rumi, a middle eastern place on Hutchison in Mile End, is fabulous.

Le Nil Bleu, Ethiopian, on St. Denis just above Cherrier deserves a look.

This one's a long drive, but well worth it. Bombay Choupati is, from several accounts, the best Indian place on the island. It's in Pierrefonds, about 30 minutes from downtown above the 40 on Boulevard des Sources.

And for gelato, Roberto's on Belanger in Rosemont can't be beat. Their Italian resto upstairs is also quite good.

[Alice Levitt]

For those who haven't tried my Chinatown II faves, Qing Hua Dumpling or Maison du Nord, you must. Maison du Nord has a killer pulled pork sandwich called a rou jia mo, on a rice roll. Montrealers go deservedly mad for it, but the hand-pulled noodles are even better. After I sent him there, no less than A Single Pebble's Steve Bogart told me he was blown away by the chewy, complex beef noodles.

Once a dirty hole in the wall like Maison du Nord, Qing Hua recently moved into a far more gentrified location, full of Jewish codgers who remind me of grandparents I never had. Though it doesn't feel like a cool secret like it once did, the dumplings are still easily worth a two hour drive. They're soup dumplings from the Dalian province and they come in tons of awesome flavors. My classic favorites have been the pork and anise and lamb and coriander, which simultaneously bursts with the unctuousness of the meat and the bright, freshness of the herb. Last time, though, I tried the curry chicken and I am converted. Imagine a creamy chicken curry dish – inside a dumpling. One of the greatest things ever. Finish it off with a rich, almost chocolatey hot red bean and rice soup, the perfect antidote to a cold day.

La Maison du Nord
2130 St-Mathieu
514.670.3188

Qing Hua Dumpling
1676 Avenue Lincoln
438.288.5366

[Wayne Turiansky]

Had lunch today at Maison du Nord. The hand pulled spicy noodles and the sauce they were in were fabulous, but the beef was better than 75% fat.

Methinks I'll try Qing Hua Dumpling next time. Either that or head back around the corner to my own Chinatown II favorite, Le Roi du Wonton. They're on the same block as Maison du Nord, just above de Maissoneuve, but on St. Marc.

[lagourmande]

best resto's in MTL are of course the French ones!!  have found a few that make me think I'm in heaven... I mean Paris....

Bistro L'Express on St. Denis - bottomless jar of cornichons - if there was such a thing as higher than heaven!

Restaurant Holder in Old MTL

Wine bar/Tapas: Bar Pullman on Parc near Sherbrooke

[Rahet7]

Eduardo's on Duluth. Fabulous Italian food and Bring Your own Wine!!!! -get there early though. I've waited for hours before (and went through many bottles of wine)

Also,

La Pistou on rue de la Roché -- Absolutely the best breakfast restaurant in the world. I was totally Chez Cora until I went here. La Pistou blows Cora out of the water.