Le Café Big Trouble revives a vibe in Montreal's Quartier Latin

Serving homemade menus with some '90s family-style nostalgia, Big Trouble is the final piece in an eat-sleep-jam 'European' model for the local music venue Turbo Haus.

J.P. Karwacki

J.P. Karwacki

May 16, 2023- Read time: 5 min
Le Café Big Trouble revives a vibe in Montreal's Quartier LatinCredit: Rose Cormier (@velours.souterrain)

Some say the Quartier Latin hasn't had an easy time lately.

Following the closure of the iconic student bar Saint-Sulpice after 43 years in business, owner Maurice Bourassa cited high rents and dwindling crowds as big factors for the departure.

We'll go out on a limb and say he was half-wrong: True, the Quartier Latin's mostly become a strip where rents are jacked up to the point that younger generations wanting to do cool and new things can’t afford to join the party.

On the other hand, people still want to go out.

That's why the new restaurant Le Café Big Trouble's opening in the neighbourhood bodes well. Last month marked the first steps for the new 25ish-seat restaurant from Alexander Levi, Madeleine Stuyt, and Melissa Mastrocola, and it's gaining momentum as a place looking to re-inject some honest fun into the area.

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

Related articles

Numéro's brutalist bar wants to serve your next post-shift martini
J.P. Karwacki

Numéro's brutalist bar wants to serve your next post-shift martini

Walk-ins and reservations share a warm welcome in this highly customized space, and it's got the menu to match.

At long last, David McMillan and Derek Dammann open their West Island restaurant Grille-Nature
J.P. Karwacki

At long last, David McMillan and Derek Dammann open their West Island restaurant Grille-Nature

The former Joe Beef co-owner and ex-Maison Publique chef debut their farm-and-chef-driven restaurant out in Dollard-Des Ormeaux.

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

The Best New Restaurants in Montreal [December 2025]

A Montreal take on a Scottish tavern, famed chefs jump back into action with a new project, a fresh Italian hangout in Westmount, and more.

Miracle's maximalist Christmas bar is back in Old Montreal after three years
J.P. Karwacki

Miracle's maximalist Christmas bar is back in Old Montreal after three years

The tinsel-drenched holiday pop-up returns with floor-to-ceiling decor, seasonal cocktails, Christmas Karaoke, and collectible glassware.

Old Montreal gets an intimate speakeasy for Peruvian dining with the arrival of Mezcla
The Main

Old Montreal gets an intimate speakeasy for Peruvian dining with the arrival of Mezcla

Chef Marcel Larrea resurrects the restaurant that put him on the map seven years ago, this time hidden inside Capisco with a blind tasting menu and full creative control.

You can always rely on this Moroccan-French café
J.P. Karwacki

You can always rely on this Moroccan-French café

Nili's the opposite of fine dining: a tiny Mile End spot with Moroccan home cooking, twice-a-week prices, and the feeling of a café you can reliably drop into.