restaurants

There’s no shortage of restaurant options in this city — at any price range. Here’s a list of some perennial favourites and local legends, more than a few of which have earned a place in our annual Best of MTL readers poll — see the complete Best of MTL results (along with restaurant reviews and food-scene news) at cultmtl.com.

And PLEASE don’t forget to tip, and tip reasonably (15% on the subtotal is considered the bare minimum). Waiters, waitresses and bartenders are taxed on tips, and rely on them for their income. Don’t fuck around.

BRUNCH

Bagels Etc.

4320 St-LaurentLeonard Cohen’s favourite breakfast spot. This Plateau institution has been slinging eggs in a myriad of ways since the 1940’s.

La Bête à Pain

114 Fleury W., 195 Young

These brunch pros sport locations in Ahuntsic and Griffintown, and have another on the way. They serve multiple courses of all the fan favourites, and then some.

Arthurs Nosh Bar

4621 Notre-Dame W.

A contemporary take on the classic Jewish deli. Everything from the tuna scoop to matzah ball soup is delicious, but the pancakes are what pay the bills.

Café Regine

1840 Beaubien E.

One of the most popular and sumptuous spots for brunch in town, served daily.

Larrys

5201 St-Laurent

Breakfast for the Instagram hypebeast. Larrys serves breakfast all day and has been on every best restaurant list from The New York Times to Bon Appétit. Get the breakfast sandwich.

Réservoir 9 Duluth E.

Grab a beer with your brunch full of unconventional dishes at more than reasonable prices at this microbrewery.

Byblos

1499 Laurier E.

A bustling Persian restaurant deep in the Eastern pocket of the Plateau. Strong tea, a wide array of specialty jams, and a feta omlette that keeps the crowds coming back.

DELI + SANDWICHES

Boucherie Hongroise

3843 St-Laurent

Hit up their deli counter for immensely stacked (and cheap!) hot sandwiches of deli cuts.

Boucherie Provisions

1142 Van Horne

The cuts of meat and selections of sandwiches at this butchery extension of Provisions 1264’s finer dining are on the cutting edge. Pun definitely intended.

Café Gentile

9299 Parc, 4126 Ste-Catherine W.

An Italian institution with a Westmount enclave

(and its neighbouring Pizzeria Gentile, at 4134 SteCatherine W.), but the OG spot’s got an array of delicious sandwiches to choose from. Sandwich lovers take note.

Bossa

3136 Masson, 4354 Wellington

Home of the Hoagie. Deli sandwiches jam-packed with your choice of salumi, homemade meatballs, fried cutlets and more.

Bergham

9 Montreal locations

This fast-casual Quebec/Ontario chain has multiple varieties of sandwiches, from their six mega sandwiches (packed with ingredients like burger patties, eggs, chickpeas, marinated chicken, merguez sausages) to burgers to wraps to small-format “Berghies.” Bonus: it’s certified halal.

Hung Phat

7099 St-Denis

Located a stone’s throw from the Jean-Talon market, this beloved sandwicherie is best know for its delicious and incredibly affordable bahn mi sandwiches.

Schwartz’s

3895 St-Laurent

Probably the world’s most famous smoked meat joint and a tourist destination in its own right. Perennial lineups, surly staff and cramped seating are considered part of its charm.

Clarke Café

2483 Centre

The reincarnation of the classic Mile End deli serves some of the city’s best Italian sandwiches out of their Pointe Ste-Charles sandwich counter.

Snowdon Deli

5265 Decarie

An old-school deli on the NDG/Côte-des-Neiges border with all the hot and cold Jewish culinary staples and generous breakfasts.

Wilensky’s Light Lunch

34 Fairmount W.

A Mile End institution that feels like time travel to the ‘50s. Check out their famous special baloney sandwich and order yourself a drink from their old-school soda fountain.

BURGERS

Nouveau Palais

281 Bernard W.

A Mile End stalwart known for its “grandma’s basement” aesthetic and comfort-classic menu. Over the years, their cheeseburger has helped nurse the powerfully hungover back to health.

Chez Tousignant

6956 Drolet

Classic-style neighbourhood diner with delicious burgers, hot dogs and poutines plus a retro-rock soundtrack.

Mr. Steer

1198 Ste-Catherine W.

The “Steerburger” has been one of Montreal’s most celebrated burgers since 1958, and over half a century later it’s still one of the city’s best.

Uniburger

5655 Côte-des-Neiges, 2001 St-Denis, 4412 NotreDame W.

Montreal’s answer to In-N-Out, this cult-classic does upscale fast-food-style burgers and is yet another contender for the best burger in Montreal.

Larrys

5201 St-Laurent

Made famous by its big-sister restaurant Lawrence, the burger at Larrys is an exercise in simplicity. The meat is ground daily at their butchershop down the road and topped with only the essentials.

Harvey’s

8 Montreal locations

Arguably the best of the big five fast food options, Harvey’s flame-broiled burgers boast 100% Canadiansourced beef. They were the first to introduce a veggie burger back in the ’90s, and it’s still the best plantbased fast-food option out there.

POUTINES

La Banquise

994 Rachel E.

The city’s best-known poutine joint, offering loads of variations on Quebec’s national dish. Open 24 hours and a victim of its own popularity — beware of line-ups.

Chez Claudette

351 Laurier E.

All-day breakfast, lively atmosphere and one of the best poutines in town, with myriad variations. Open until 10 p.m., seven days a week.

Paulo & Suzanne

5501 Gouin W.

A neighbourhood hotspot in Ahuntsic known for its oversized poutines and gargantuan burgers. Open 24 hours daily.

Gibeau Orange Julep

7700 Decarie

The giant orange orb visible from the highway isn’t just known for its mysterious creamy namesake beverage — they make a mean poutine, too.

Paul Patates

760 Charlevoix

A Pointe St-Charles diner that makes its own spruce beer and slings some of the better poutines in town. Hours vary, closed on Sundays.

OPEN LATE

Thanks in part to the ongoing labour shortage, it’s becoming harder and harder to find restaurants that keep their kitchens open well into the wee hours. Here’s a collection of standbys that keep the midnight oil burning.

AA

3700 Notre-Dame W.

Not far from Greenspot, this St-Henri institution dates back more than 50 years, and is known as one the best late-night casse-croûtes in town. Open 8 a.m.–4 a.m. Monday through Thursday and until 5 a.m. on the weekend..

Chez la Mère

4028 Masson

An all-encompassing casse-croûte (that delivers) in the East End, open till midnight.

The Main

3864 St-Laurent

Deli and diner food, famous for smoked meat sandwiches and Eastern European fare. Open 10 a.m.– 5 a.m. daily.

Majestique

4105 St-Laurent

A Plateau oyster bar that’s open till 3 a.m. Their 12-inch hot dogs and matane shrimp rolls are more than on point.