The Main Logo
Food & Drink

Brocard proves traditional Syrian food can feel brand new

A young team, an open kitchen, and recipes passed down through generations: Meet Talal Sabbagh's new spot on Saint-Laurent.

J.P. Karwacki

J.P. Karwacki

November 5, 2025- Read time: 4 min
Brocard proves traditional Syrian food can feel brand newTalal Sabbagh's Brocard brings traditional Syrian cuisine to Saint-Laurent, where an open kitchen lets diners watch every dish come together from start to finish. | Photography by Nathan Suu / @ntnsuu

Talal Sabbagh's plan, one he'd been nursing since his first shift at Campo four years ago, started to take concrete shape when Sandra Ferreira asked him what he wanted to do with his life. "I'm going to open my own restaurant," he told her. "A Syrian one."

Months into running Brocard on Saint Laurent, that plan is playing out exactly as he imagined: a 40-seat spot with an open kitchen you can see from anywhere in the room, traditional dishes his mother Nahla taught him how to make, and a menu that doesn't apologize for being specific. It doesn't fall under the catch-all term of being "Middle Eastern"—it's Syrian, full stop, in a room of brick walls, concrete accents, stainless steel, and a full wall lined with spices.

Member-only story

Unlock Montreal’s stories. Join The Main community.

Read this story free.

Enter your email to unlock your first article and get The Bulletin — our weekly roundup of food, art, and local culture.

  • 5 free articles per month
  • Save your favourite places & guides
  • Weekly newsletter The Bulletin
  • Stay connected to Montreal culture

Become an Insider.

Join a community that supports independent Montreal stories and celebrates the people shaping its culture.

Subscribe
  • Unlimited access to all stories
  • Exclusive features & local insights
  • Special offers and event invites
  • 10% off in our shop
  • Support local storytelling

Already a member? Sign in

The Best New Restaurants in Montreal [November 2025]

Previous

The Best New Restaurants in Montreal [November 2025]

Related articles

Brocard proves traditional Syrian food can feel brand new
J.P. Karwacki

Brocard proves traditional Syrian food can feel brand new

A young team, an open kitchen, and recipes passed down through generations: Meet Talal Sabbagh's new spot on Saint-Laurent.

How Monkland Tavern shaped Montreal's restaurant scene over 30 years
J.P. Karwacki

How Monkland Tavern shaped Montreal's restaurant scene over 30 years

The NDG institution and best-kept industry secret that helped launch some of Montreal's best chefs.

The Best New Restaurants in Montreal [November 2025]
J.P. Karwacki

The Best New Restaurants in Montreal [November 2025]

Lebanese home cooking meets halal Caribbean fusion, natural wine bistros, pop-up delis with house-cured meats, New York-style pizza perfected, and more.

Boulangerie Marguerita has been baking bread the same way for over a century
Ivy Lerner-Frank

Boulangerie Marguerita has been baking bread the same way for over a century

The Little Italy bakery that could: Still hand-rolling loaves in its original 1910 brick oven, still telling real estate speculators it's not for sale, just for bread.

Taking over Icehouse means inheriting a decade of expectations
J.P. Karwacki

Taking over Icehouse means inheriting a decade of expectations

Preserving the Plateau's Tex-Mex institution means proving yourself every single night.

Bar Minou is the kind of place you want to spend all night in
J.P. Karwacki

Bar Minou is the kind of place you want to spend all night in

No reservations, only walk-ins, a wall of natty wines, taxes and tips included, and a barstool for an anchor.