BEST CARIBBEAN #1: Duian and Kamle at Jardin du Cari
Best New Restaurant
1. Lawrence (5201 St-Laurent, (514) 503-1070)
2.
Kazu (1862 Ste-Catherine W., (514) 937-2333)
3. Voro (275 Fairmount W., (514) 509-1341)
4. Nouveau Palais (281 Bernard W., (514) 273-1180)
5. Jane (1744 Notre-Dame W., (514) 759-6498)
A slew of great, new affordable restaurants opened this year, making it a tight race for top spot. In the end, the crew at Lawrence (who started out in the kitchen at Sparrow), with their head-to-tail menu ethic and sumptuous weekend brunches, won out, with Japanese
Izakaya Kazu a close second. Nouveau Palais makes it on this list thanks to new management, a menu makeover and popular late-night dishes like fish tacos. Overall the feel of this list is more about casual dining than high-class fare. Honourable mentions go to down-to-earth eateries Truck Stop (4666 Notre-Dame W.), Ice House (51 Roy E.) and Brit & Chips (433 McGill).
Best Pub Grub
1. McKibbin’s Irish Pub (1426 Bishop, (514) 288-1580)
2. Ye Olde Orchard (various locations)
3. Burgundy Lion (2496 Notre-Dame W., (514) 934-0888)
4. Irish Embassy (various locations)
5. Hurley’s (1225 Crescent, (514) 861-4111)
Best Cheap Eats
1. Patati Patata (4177 St-Laurent, (514) 844-0216)
2. La Belle Province (various locations)
3. Boustan (2020A Crescent, (514) 843-3576)
4. Al-Taib (various locations)
5. Buns (various locations)
Best Pricey Eats
1. Au Pied de Cochon (536 Duluth E., (514) 281-1114)
2. Gibbys (298 Place d’Youville, (514) 282-1837)
3. Le Club Chasse et Pêche (423 St-Claude, (514) 861-1112)
4. Toqué (900 Place Jean-Paul-Riopelle, (514) 499-2084)
5. The Keg (various locations)
With a list like this, can The Keg really be considered “pricey”?
Best Late Night Eats
1. La Banquise (994 Rachel E., (514) 525-2415)
2. Boustan (2020A Crescent, (514) 843-3576)
3. The Main (3864 St-Laurent, (514) 843-8126)
4. La Belle Province (various locations)
5. Nouveau Palais (281 Bernard W., (514) 273-1180)
Best Breakfast
1. Chez Cora (various locations)
2. Cosmos (5843 Sherbrooke W., (514) 486-3814)
3. Bagel Etc . (4320 St-Laurent, (514) 845-9462)
4. L’Avenue (922 Mont-Royal E., (514) 523-8780)
5. Beauty’s (93 Mont-Royal W., (514) 849-8883)
Not much changes here, though this year sees Eggspectations bumped out of the top five and replaced with the beloved Bagel Etc. Honourable mentions go to B&M (various locations) and Vieux Vélo (59 Beaubien), two delicious breakfast choices.
Best Buffet
1. Buffet Maharaja (1481 René-Lévesque W., (514) 934-0655)
2. Le Commensal (various locations)
3. Casa Corfu (various locations)
4. Buffet Vichy (various locations)
5. Buffet Fu Lam (various locations)
Best Delivery
1. Dominos (various locations)
2. À La Carte Express (alce.ca, (514) 933-7000)
3. St-Hubert (various locations)
4. Boustan (2020A Crescent, (514) 843-3576)
5. Double Pizza (various locations)
Best African
1. Le Nil Bleu (3706 St-Denis, (514) 285-4628)
2. La Khaïma (142 Fairmount W., (514) 948-9993)
3. Abiata (3435 St-Denis, (514) 281-0111)
4. Magdala (1222 Bishop, (514) 866-7667)
5. Le Piton de la Fournaise (835 Duluth E., (514) 526-3936)
Best Caribbean
1. Jardin du Cari (5554 St-Laurent, (514) 495-0565)
2. Ma’s Place (5889 Sherbrooke W., (514) 487-7488)
3. Caribbean Curry House (6892 Victoria, (514) 733-0828)
4. Mango Bay (1202 Bishop, (514) 875-7082)
5. Caraïbe Delite (4816 Parc, (514) 274-4509)
Best Chinese
1. Beijing (92 de la Gauchetière W., (514) 861-2003)
2. Le Maison VIP (1077 Clark, (514) 861-1943)
3. Wok Café (1845 Ste-Catherine W., (514) 938-1882)
4. Kam Fung (1111 Saint-Urbain, (514) 878-2888)
5. Kam Shing (6730 Côte-des-Neiges, (514) 731-1401)
Best Eastern European/Russian
1. Euro Deli Batory (115 St-Viateur W., (514) 948-2161)
2. Mazurka (64 Prince-Arthur E., (514) 844-3539)
3. Stash Café (200 St-Paul W., (514) 845-6611)
4. La Caverne (5184 Côte-des-Neiges, (514) 738-6555)
5. Troika (2171 Crescent, (514) 849-9333)
Best French
1. L’Express (3927 St-Denis, (514) 845-5333)
2. Leméac (1045 Laurier W., (514) 270-0999)
3. L’Académie (4051 St-Denis, (514) 849-2249)
4. Au Cinquième Péché (330 Mont-Royal E., (514) 286-0123)
5. Laloux (250 des Pins E., (514) 287-9127)
Best Greek
1. Arahova (various locations)
2. Marathon (various locations)
3. Milos (5357 Parc, (514) 272-3522)
4. Souvlaki George (6995 Monkland, (514) 482-0040)
5. Mythos Ouzeri Estiatorio (5318 Parc, (514) 270-0235)
Best Indian
1. Bombay Mahal (1001 Jean-Talon W., (514) 273-3331)
2. Pushap (various locations)
3. Thali (1409 St-Marc, (514) 989-9048)
4. Star of India (various locations)
5. Maison Indian Curry (996 Jean-Talon W., (514) 273-0004)
BEST ITALIAN #1, BEST PIZZA #1: Pizzeria Napoletana
Photo by MICHEAL BEAULIEU
Best Italian
1. Pizzeria Napoletana (189 Dante, (514) 276-8226)
2. Bottega (65 St-Zotique E., (514) 277-8104)
3. Eduardo (404 Duluth E., (514) 843-3330)
4. Da Emma (777 de la Commune W., (514) 392-1568)
5. Casa Napoli (6728 St-Laurent, (514) 274-4351)
Best Japanese
1.
Kazu (1862 Ste-Catherine W., (514) 937-2333)
2. Kaizen (4075 Ste-Catherine W., (514) 707-8744)
3. Mikado (various locations)
4. Tri Express (1650 Laurier E., (514) 528-5641)
5. Kanda (various locations)
Kazu sweeps into first place; it’s nice to see sushi take second spot to a place with dishes like “48 hour pork” and “crispy chicken wings.”
Best Korean
1. Hwang Kum (5908 Sherbrooke W., (514) 487-1712)
2. Chez Bong (1021 St-Laurent, (514) 396-7779)
3. Maison Bulgogi (2127 Ste-Catherine W., (514) 935-9820)
4. Man-Na (1421 Bishop, (514) 288-1703)
5. Miga (432 Rachel E., (514) 842-4901)
Best Latin American
1. La Chilenita (various locations)
2. La Carretta (350 St-Zotique E., (514) 273-8884)
3. Le Milsa (1445 Bishop, (514) 844-4550)
4. Bocadillo (3677 St-Laurent, (514) 227-4041)
5. Sabor Latino (4387 St-Laurent, (514) 848-1078)
Best Mexican
1. 3 Amigos (various locations)
2. Carlos & Pepes (1420 Peel, (514) 288-3090)
3. Mesa 14 (1425 Bishop, (514) 284-0344)
4. Taqueria Mexicaine (4306 St-Laurent, (514) 982-9462)
5. Limón (2472 Notre-Dame W., (514) 509-1237)
Best Middle-Eastern
1. Boustan (2020A Crescent, (514) 843-3576)
2. Amir (various locations)
3. Rumi (various locations)
4. Daou (519 Faillon E., (514) 276-8310)
5. Khyber Pass (various locations)
Best Portuguese
1. Romados (115 Rachel E., (514) 849-1803)
2. Chez Doval (150 Marie-Anne E., (514) 843-3390)
3. Jano (3883 St-Laurent, (514) 849-0646)
4. Coco Rico (3907 St-Laurent, (514) 849-5554)
5. Portus Calle (4281 St-Laurent, (514) 849-2070)
Best Spanish
1. La Sala Rosa (4848 St-Laurent, (514) 844-4227)
2. Pintxo (256 Roy E., (514) 844-0222)
3. Casa Tapas (266 Rachel E., (514) 848-1063)
4. Tapeo (511 Villeray, (514) 495-1999)
5. Club Espagnol (4388 St-Laurent, (514) 842-6301)
Best Thai
1. Thai Express (various locations)
2. Bangkok Faubourg (1616 Ste-Catherine W., (514) 395-2178)
3. ChuChai (4088 St-Denis, (514) 843-4194)
4. Restaurant Thailande (88 Bernard W., (514) 271-6733)
5. Chao Phraya (50 Laurier W., (514) 272-5339)
Best Vietnamese
1. Pho Lien (5703-B Côte-des-Neiges, (514) 735-6949)
2. Pho Bang New York (1001 St-Laurent, (514) 954-2032)
3. Pho Bac (various locations)
4. Pho Tay Ho (6414 St-Denis, (514) 273-5627)
5. Pho Thanh Long (103 Ste-Catherine E., (514) 848-0521)
Best Bagel
1. St-Viateur (263 St-Viateur W., (514) 276-8044)
2. Fairmount Bagel (74 Fairmount W., (514) 272-0667)
3. Dad’s Bagels (5732 Sherbrooke W., (514) 487-2454)
4. R.E.A.L. Bagel (various locations)
5. Bagel Beaubien (828 Beaubien E., (514) 271-2472)
Mile End heavyweights St-Viateur and Fairmount continue their reign over bagel shops in the city. What will it take to tackle them?
Best Barbecued Chicken
1. Romados (115 Rachel E., (514) 849-1803)
2. Chalet-BBQ (various locations)
3. Coco Rico (3907 St-Laurent, (514) 849-5554)
4. St-Hubert (various locations)
5. Côte-St-Luc BBQ (various locations)
Best Burger
1. Buns (various locations)
2. M:Brgr (2025 Drummond, (514) 906-2747)
3. Burger de Ville (various locations)
4. La Paryse (302 Ontario E., (514) 842-2040)
5. Le Gourmet Burger (1433B Bishop, (514) 435-3535)
Buns holds on to the top spot after its first appearance on last year’s list, while Burger de Ville nabs third after opening a second location in Mile End (5282 St-Laurent).
Best Falafel
1. Boustan (2020A Crescent, (514) 843-3576)
2. Amir (various locations)
3. Panthère Verte (66 St-Viateur W., (514) 903-7770)
4. Basha (various locations)
5. Nilufar (1923 Ste-Catherine W., (514) 846-1947)
BEST FISH AND CHIPS #1: Brit & Chips
Photo by MICHEAL BEAULIEU
Best Fish and Chips
1. Brit & Chips (433 McGill, (514) 840-1001)
2. Comptoir 21 (21 St-Viateur W., (514) 507-3474)
3. McKibbin’s Irish Pub (1426 Bishop, (514) 288-1580)
4. Burgundy Lion (2496 Notre-Dame W., (514) 934-0888)
5. Mommy’s Fish and Chips (3135 Notre-Dame, Lachine, (514) 637-3941)
A brand new category this year, with the latest fish and chip proprietors battling it out for first. It also gives restaurants like Mommy’s, which has been around since 1972, a chance at the glory.
Best Fries
1. Frites Alors (various locations)
2. Patati Patata (4177 St-Laurent, (514) 844-0216)
3. La Belle Province (various locations)
4. McDonald’s (various locations)
5. Lafleur (various locations)
Best Hot Dog
1. La Belle Province (various locations)
2. Lafleur (various locations)
3. Decarie Hot Dog (953 Decarie, (514) 748-7213)
4. Montreal Pool Room (1217 St-Laurent, (514) 396-0460)
5. Orange Julep (7700 Decarie, (514) 738-7486)
Best Noodles
1. Soupe et Nouilles (1871 Ste-Catherine W., (514) 933-0531)
2. Just Noodles! (various locations)
3. Thai Express (various locations)
4. Noodle Factory (1018 St-Urbain, (514) 868-9738)
5. Chez Mein ($2 Chow Mein) (3754 St-Laurent, (514) 507-5957)
Best Pizza
1. Pizzeria Napoletana (189 Dante, (514) 276-8226)
2. Amelio’s (various locations)
3. Bottega (65 St-Zotique E., (514) 277-8104)
4. Dominos (various locations)
5. Pizzeria Magpie (16 Maguire, (514) 507-2900)
Local pizza joints dominate this category, with Dominos the only chain sneaking into the top five. A proud day for pizza lovers everywhere!
Best Poutine
1. La Banquise (994 Rachel E., (514) 525-2415)
2. La Belle Province (various locations)
3. Patati Patata (4177 St-Laurent, (514) 844-0216)
4. Lafleur (various locations)
5. Chez Claudette (351 Laurier E., (514) 279-5173)
La Banquise is still the poutine captial of the city, but honourable mention goes to Au Pied de Cochon, who ranked high on the list with their fancy-schmancy Foie Gras Poutine.
Best Ribs
1. Bâton Rouge (various locations)
2. Bar-B-Barn (1201 Guy, (514) 931-3811)
3. Bofinger (various locations)
4. Madison (various locations)
5. Le Boucan (1886 Notre-Dame W., (514) 439-4555)
Best Sandwich
1. Santropol (3990 St-Urbain, (514) 842-3110)
2. Aux Vivres (4631 St-Laurent, (514) 842-3479)
3. Dépanneur Le Pick-Up (7032 Waverly, (514) 271-8011)
4. Schwartz’s (3895 St-Laurent, (514) 842-4813)
5. Olive & Gourmando (351 St-Paul W., (514) 350-1083)
Le Pick-Up moves from fifth to third place this year, making room for the gourmet sarnies at Old Montreal go-to Olive & Gourmando.
Best Seafood
1. Milos (5357 Parc, (514) 272-3522)
2. La Sirène de la Mer (various locations)
3. Oyster Shack (1242 Bishop, (514) 395-1888)
4. Garde Manger (408 St-François-Xavier, (514) 678-5044)
5. La Mer (1065 Papineau, (514) 522-2889)
Best Smoked Meat
1. Schwartz’s (3895 St-Laurent, (514) 842-4813)
2. The Main (3864 St-Laurent, (514) 843-8126)
3. Dunn’s (various locations)
4. Smoked Meat Pete (283 1st Ave, L’Ile-Perrot, (514) 425-6068)
5. Rueben’s (1116 Ste-Catherine W., (514) 866-1029)
Best Soup
1. SoupeSoup (various locations)
2. Santropol (3990 St-Urbain, (514) 842-3110)
3. Pho Lien (5703-B Côte-des-Neiges, (514) 735-6949)
4. Thai Express (various locations)
5. Pho Bac (various locations)
Best Souvlaki
1. Arahova (various locations)
2. Marathon (various locations)
3. Souvlaki George (6995 Monkland, (514) 482-0040)
4. Villa de Souvlaki (5347 Sherbrooke W., (514) 489-2039)
5. Kojax (various locations)
Best Steak
1. The Keg (various locations)
2. Moishes (3961 St-Laurent, (514) 845-3509)
3. Gibbys (298 Place d’Youville, (514) 282-1837)
4. Steak Frites (various locations)
5. La Queue de Cheval (1221 René-Lévesque W., (514) 390-0090)
Best Tapas
1. La Sala Rosa (4848 St-Laurent, (514) 844-4227)
2. Tapeo (511 Villeray, (514) 495-1999)
3. Pintxo (256 Roy E., (514) 844-0222)
4. Casa Tapas (266 Rachel E., (514) 848-1063)
5. Pica Pica (1310 de Maisonneuve E., (514) 658-2884)
Best Vegetarian
1. Aux Vivres (4631 St-Laurent, (514) 842-3479)
2. Chu Chai (4088 St-Denis, (514) 843-4194)
3. Le Commensal (various locations)
4. Panthère Verte (66 St-Viateur W., (514) 903-7770)
5. Crudessence (various locations)
Best Locally Brewed Beer
1. Dieu du Ciel (29 Laurier W., (514) 490-9555)
2. McAuslan/St-Ambroise (5080 St-Ambroise, (514) 939-3060 ext. 231)
3. Brutopia (1215 Crescent, (514) 393-9277)
4. Les 3 Brasseurs (various locations)
5. Cheval Blanc (809 Ontario E., (514) 522-0211)
Best Bakery
1. Première Moisson (various locations)
2. Cheskie’s (359 Bernard W., (514) 271-2253)
3. Co’pains d’Abord (various locations)
4. Cocoa Locale (4807 Parc, (514) 271-7162)
5. Mamie Clafoutis (various locations)
Best Coffee
1. Tim Horton’s (various locations)
2. Starbucks (various locations)
3. Café Olimipco (124 St-Viateur W., (514) 495-0746)
4. Café Myriade (1432 Mackay, (514) 939-1717)
5. Second Cup (various locations)
Best Non-Chain Coffee
1. Café Myriade (1432 Mackay, (514) 939-1717)
2. Café Olimpico (124 St-Viateur W., (514) 495-0746)
3. Santropol (3990 St-Urbain, (514) 842-3110)
4. Café Névé (151 Rachel E., (514) 903-9294)
5. Club Social (180 St-Viateur W., (514) 495-0114)
Myriade displaces Olimpico as champion—a real coup for the café. Could this mean the start of a coffee renaissance in the city’s downtown core?
BEST TEAHOUSE #1: David’s Tea
Best Teahouse
1. David’s Tea (various locations)
2. Camelia Sinensis (various locations)
3. Cha Noir (4646 Wellington, (514) 769-1242)
4. Salon du Thé Gryphon D’Or (5968 Monkland, (514) 485-7377)
5. Cagibi (5490 St-Laurent, (514) 509-1199)
Best Fromagerie
1. Fromagerie Hamel (various locations)
2. Vieille Europe (3855 St-Laurent, (514) 842-5773)
3. Atwater Fromagerie (various locations)
4. La Foumagerie (4906 Sherbrooke W., (514) 482-4100)
5. Qui Lait Cru (7070 Henri-Julien, (514) 272-0300)
Best Ice Cream
1. Bilboquet (various locations)
2. Ben & Jerry’s (various locations)
3. Dairy Queen (various locations)
4. Meu Meu (4458 St-Denis, (514) 288-5889)
5. Ripples (3880 St-Laurent, (514) 842-1697)
Best Chocolate/Sweets
1. Juliette et Chocolat (various locations)
2. Suite 88 (various locations)
3. Les Chocolats de Chloé (546 Duluth E., (514) 849-5550)
4. Geneviève Grandbois (various locations)
5. Laura Secord (various locations)
Best Butcher
1. Chez Vito (5180 St-Urbain, (514) 277-1981)
2. La Maison du Rôti (1969 Mont-Royal E., (514) 521-2448)
3. Maître Boucher (5719 Monkland, (514) 487-1437)
4. Market (134 Atwater, (514) 932-4653)
5. Slovenia (6424 Clark, (514) 279-8845)
Best Vegetable/Fruit stand
1. Jean-Talon Market (7070 Henri-Julien, (514) 277-1588)
2. Atwater Market (138 Atwater, (514) 937-7754)
3. Fruiterie Mile End (5686 Parc, (514) 278-5576)
4. Sami Fruits (various locations)
5. Rocky Montana (various locations)
Best Fishmonger
1. Falero (5726A Parc, (514) 274-1440)
2. Shamrock (7015 Casgrain, (514) 272-5612)
3. New Waldman (3806 St-Laurent, (514) 285-8747)
4. Atwater Market (138 Atwater, (514) 937-7754)
5. La Mer (1840 Réne-Lévesque, (514) 522-3003)
