With the huge selection of restaurants in Montreal, it’s best to have favorites in each category, rather than having an all-around favorite. If you’ll only be in the area a short time and need a “top hits” list, here are my current choices:
- Brasserie T! - brand-new in 2010, chic, and with so much better food than its more famous sister resto, Toque!
- Chez Schwartz – inexpensive and quick, this smoked meat legend is MANDATORY for anyone visiting Montreal
- Laloux – pleasant and upscale contemporary French bistro
- l’Express – a Frencher than French bistro for those who’d like to imagine that Montreal = Paris
- St. Viateur Bagel – Montreal is famous for its wood stove sesame seed bagels. This is one of the best in town.
- Fairmount Bagel Bakery - takeout only, but the bagels are legendary
- Olives et Gourmando – expensive yet chic luncheon stop in Old Montreal; perfect after strolling through the galleries and cobble-stoned streets.
- La Paryse – the best burger I’ve ever had. Hands down. and inexpensive.
- Pintxo – intimate and delicious tapas experience.
- Niu Kee – my top hole-in-the-wall Chinese resto pick in Montreal thus far; quality is variable.
- l’Epicier – for those dinners when you want an especially sophisticated evening
- Taj – great upscale East Indian cuisine Downtown
Thank you for this wonderful list!