Are you lacking inspiration for your next restaurant visit? Here you will find some suggestions from our journalists.
Posted at 4:00 p.m.
Ferreira
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
Our experience
The fact that this institution was full on a Wednesday evening in November prompted journalist Ève Dumas to make several observations. First, the Ferreiras are hard workers who have never compromised on their rigor. Secondly, safe values are popular. Third, wealthy customers do not experience the financial crisis. She would also do well to spend her money at the many small restaurants run by inspired chefs who are going through hard times.
Should we still eat octopus? For Ferreira the answer is: yes, three times instead of once. This time our journalist couldn’t resist the call of the crispy tentacle and opted for the delicious starter consisting of Portuguese bean puree, marinated pearl onions, salsa verde and smoked paprika oil. It is soft and structured at the same time.
Price
Between Oscietra caviar, tomahawk and bottles from the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, luxury knows no bounds here. And we only needed two aperitif cocktails and a 100 bottle of wine to run up a bill for two of $500 (with tax and tip).
Good to know
Ferreira is open for lunch Monday to Friday and every evening except Sunday.
1446 Peel Street, Montreal
Satu Lagi
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
Photos for the restaurant review Satu Lagi
Our experience
There’s no shortage of exotic options, and if you don’t necessarily want to end a meal on a sweet note, I recommend ordering one or two more dishes. The desserts are far from bad – although the first version of crème brûlée with pandan (a vanilla-flavored plant) that I ate wasn’t sufficiently hearty – but the cuisine is primarily characterized by savory dishes.
Price
You can leave this restaurant with a reasonable bill if you avoid expensive dishes like whole fish and Hokkaido scallops. Both cost around $40, while the other most expensive dishes cost $26 and most “tapas” cost between $8 and $18, depending on the size or value of the base ingredient. But it is also entirely possible to do something good for yourself when you are particularly thirsty and hungry.
Good to know
Satu Lagi is open Tuesday to Sunday from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
1361, Avenue du Mont-Royal Est, Montreal
The dining cellar
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
A small glass of Quebec red wine with your butter ham?
Our experience
The place is fascinating with its pretty wooden terrace with canary yellow parasols and the stairs leading to the bakery cave. Once inside, a small room opens up. A shelf full of beautiful bottles divides the room. At the back we stand in front of the pastry counter: croissant (plain, almond, ham and cheese), chocolate, “Cinna Grizzle” (flaky cinnamon brioche with Madagascar vanilla glaze). These delicacies are made in an artisanal way. The croissants, without food additives, are made with flour from Moulins De Soulanges and butter from New Zealand, the best there is, according to the baker, who states that it takes three days to make!
Price
Pastries start at $3.25 (for the croissant) and go up to $9.75 for the famous roll. For bread, the baguette is $5 and the country bread is $9. A slice of pizza is $6.75, butter ham is $12.50, bruschetta and banh mi – always in limited quantities – are $15. Wines by the glass start at $5.
Good to know
The Cellar à Manger is open daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. You order takeout at the counter or sit on the patio; There is no table service. The place and its stairs are not accessible to people with limited mobility, but the terrace is.
386, rue Saint-Paul Est, Montreal
A la carte
P2
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
The P2 is intended as a cocktail bar.
P2 wants to differentiate itself from its other festive destination, Bar Palco. We come here for a late night aperitif in a cozy atmosphere, to the sounds of hip-hop, R’n’B or 1990s music. The team is even pleasantly surprised to find former Palco customers who are now looking for a place where they can chat over a (good) drink. “We want to bring people from Verdun and beyond to discover the world of cocktails in a cozy atmosphere,” says co-owner Charles-Étienne Bégin. Mission accomplished ! Open Tuesday to Saturday from 5:00 p.m. until late at night.
4847 Wellington Street, Montreal
Kaifan
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
Sous vide cooked pork belly pieces, guacamole, radishes and escabeche
Chef Eduardo Acosta, passionate about history and anthropology, is a taste journey into the different regions of the country and into the heart of the history of Mexican gastronomy, which has evolved greatly over time, colonial contacts and cultural exchanges. What’s rare in the city is that the kitchen stays open until midnight on certain weekday evenings. With its long bar, private room in the basement, DJ area, wine list and selection of 26 cocktails and non-alcoholic cocktails created by mixologists Jérémy Escolano and Johnny Martinez, the place is ideal for partying.
4542, rue Saint-Denis, Montreal
June Buvette
PHOTO HUGO-SÉBASTIEN AUBERT, THE PRESS
The beef tartare topped with cheese is already becoming a must-try.
Bienvenue is the formula for dishes ranging from $14 to $28 that can be shared or eaten alone. Although the menu changes regularly, there are two signature dishes that you order for the first time and know it won’t be the last. : Scallop pogos and beef tartare with cheddar cheese on a hash brown. The privately imported wines are carefully selected by sommelier Olivier Deschamps – between solid values and small producers.
1900 Center Street, Montreal