The Main

Montreal's Cultural Directory

Help us improve! Share your thoughts on how we can make your experience better.

Leave feedback

For partnerships and collaborations:

partnerships@themain.com

Content

  • Articles
  • Food & Drink
  • Arts & Culture
  • History Lesson
  • Bulletin
  • Events

Guides

  • All Guides
  • Best Restaurants
  • Best Cafés
  • Best Bars
  • Best Brunch
  • Best Bakeries

Explore Montreal

  • Browse Directory
  • Restaurants
  • Bars
  • Cafés
  • Bookstores

About

  • About us
  • Subscribe
  • Shop
  • Advertise
  • Pitch us
  • RSS Feed

Legal

  • Terms of service
  • Membership Terms
  • Privacy Policy
Follow us
InstagramTwitterTiktokLinkedin

The Main Media Inc. 2026

✦ Built By Field Office
    The Main

    Montreal's Cultural Directory

    Help us improve! Share your thoughts on how we can make your experience better.

    Leave feedback

    For partnerships and collaborations:

    partnerships@themain.com

    Content

    • Articles
    • Food & Drink
    • Arts & Culture
    • History Lesson
    • Bulletin
    • Events

    Guides

    • All Guides
    • Best Restaurants
    • Best Cafés
    • Best Bars
    • Best Brunch
    • Best Bakeries

    Explore Montreal

    • Browse Directory
    • Restaurants
    • Bars
    • Cafés
    • Bookstores

    About

    • About us
    • Subscribe
    • Shop
    • Advertise
    • Pitch us
    • RSS Feed

    Legal

    • Terms of service
    • Membership Terms
    • Privacy Policy
    Follow us
    InstagramTwitterTiktokLinkedin

    The Main Media Inc. 2026

    ✦ Built By Field Office
      --°C|Saturday, March 28, 2026|
      Subscribe today to get 3 free articles per month.ROYALMOUNT Wants to Be Your Dining Destination for a Whole MonthGet 50% off your first 5 rides with Lyft
      InstagramTwitterTiktokLinkedin
      |
      Advertise
      The Main Logo
      Magazine
      Categories
      • Arts & Culture

        Creativity, heritage, and expression.

      • Beyond Montreal

        Travel, adventure, and global perspectives.

      • Design

        The best of Montreal design.

      • Food & Drink

        La bonne bouffe.

      • History

        Stories, lessons, and context.

      • Newsletter

        Our weekly newsletter.

      • See all original stories
      Explore Montreal
      Popular Guides
      • The Best Restaurants in Montreal
      • Best new Restaurants
      • Best Cafés
      • Unique Boutiques
      • Romantic Restaurants
      • Best Bookstores
      • See all Guides
      Neighbourhood
      • Downtown
      • Le Plateau-Mont-Royal
      • Mile End
      • Mile-Ex
      • Saint-Henri
      • See All
      Business Type
      • Restaurant
      • Café
      • Boutique / Store
      • Bar
      • Bakery
      • See All
      Near the Metro
      • Peel
      • Mont-Royal
      • Place-Saint-Henri
      • Place-d'Armes
      • Jarry
      • View all
      Shop
      Subscribe
      Subscribe
      --°C|Saturday, March 28, 2026|
      Subscribe today to get 3 free articles per month.ROYALMOUNT Wants to Be Your Dining Destination for a Whole MonthGet 50% off your first 5 rides with Lyft
      InstagramTwitterTiktokLinkedin
      |
      Advertise
      The Main Logo
      Magazine
      Categories
      • Arts & Culture

        Creativity, heritage, and expression.

      • Beyond Montreal

        Travel, adventure, and global perspectives.

      • Design

        The best of Montreal design.

      • Food & Drink

        La bonne bouffe.

      • History

        Stories, lessons, and context.

      • Newsletter

        Our weekly newsletter.

      • See all original stories
      Explore Montreal
      Popular Guides
      • The Best Restaurants in Montreal
      • Best new Restaurants
      • Best Cafés
      • Unique Boutiques
      • Romantic Restaurants
      • Best Bookstores
      • See all Guides
      Neighbourhood
      • Downtown
      • Le Plateau-Mont-Royal
      • Mile End
      • Mile-Ex
      • Saint-Henri
      • See All
      Business Type
      • Restaurant
      • Café
      • Boutique / Store
      • Bar
      • Bakery
      • See All
      Near the Metro
      • Peel
      • Mont-Royal
      • Place-Saint-Henri
      • Place-d'Armes
      • Jarry
      • View all
      Shop
      Subscribe
      Subscribe

      More Food & Drink

      A Day in the Life of a Montreal Wine Importer
      Food & Drink
      Rachel Cheng

      A Day in the Life of a Montreal Wine Importer

      Keaton Ritchie of Flor Vin was on the banks of the Loire last week. Today he's hauling bottles through the slush.

      Chouchou Is the Modern Chinese Bistro Our City's Been Missing
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Chouchou Is the Modern Chinese Bistro Our City's Been Missing

      Chef Chouchou Jia spent years cooking in French and Italian kitchens before opening their first restaurant, and the result is unlike anything else in town.

      Arthurs Nosh Bar Is Coming to NDG, and This Time, They're Bringing Dinner
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Arthurs Nosh Bar Is Coming to NDG, and This Time, They're Bringing Dinner

      Alex Cohen and Raegan Steinberg are combining dinners with breakfast classics to the 48-seat Arthus Dinette in Monkland Village.

      Peel Pub Is Coming Back
      Food & Drink
      The Main

      Peel Pub Is Coming Back

      Eight months after closing, the downtown institution has new owners, a renovation, and a reopening before St. Patrick's Day.

      How Boom J's Went From a Home Kitchen to a Jamaican Institution
      Food & Drink
      Anick Jasmin

      How Boom J's Went From a Home Kitchen to a Jamaican Institution

      Owner Jermaine learned to cook from his grandmother in Jamaica at six years old. Everything at Boom J's still carries those teachings.

      Bistrot Boisselet Skipped the Hype and Went Straight to Work
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Bistrot Boisselet Skipped the Hype and Went Straight to Work

      A quietly confident Little Italy bistrot from Montreal restaurant alum puts chef Darcy Gervais-Wood front and centre.

      My restaurant got busy before it was ready. Now I can finally take a step back.
      Food & Drink
      Scott Usheroff

      My Restaurant Got Busy Before it Was Ready. Now I Can Finally Take a Step Back.

      It's the unspoken problem of early popularity in restaurants: Nineteen months in, La Spada's owner reflects on the chaos, clarity, and learning to step away.

      Numéro's brutalist bar wants to serve your next post-shift martini
      Food & Drink
      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.

      Figata is Saint-Henri's New Italian-American Red Sauce Temple
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Figata is Saint-Henri's New Italian-American Red Sauce Temple

      Meatballs from a family recipe, martinis refreshed before you ask, and a room dressed in heirlooms: eat with your hands and make a mess.

      You can always rely on this Moroccan-French café
      Food & Drink
      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.

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

      Chinatown is now home to a classic casse-croûte
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Chinatown is Now Home to a Classic Casse-croûte

      The chefs behind Dobe & Andy and Buboy decided all the neighbourhood needs is a solid source of steamies and poutine.

      Food & Drink

      Is the South Shore of Montreal the New Poutine Capital of Quebec?

      A multi-generational investigation into the depths of 450.

      ByJean Bourbeau @ URBANIA

      November 1, 2024 · 7 min read

      Is the South Shore of Montreal the new poutine capital of Quebec?

      This story originally appeared in URBANIA, an online magazine based in Quebec focused on pop culture and society.

      I firmly believe that the best poutine in Quebec is a myth; no single place can claim to be the ultimate champion over all others. In my view, the true beauty of this dish lies in its diversity. Each poutine is unique and irreplaceable, offering its own delightful surprise with every first bite. That’s what makes the quest to find the best poutine so enticing.

      “Maybe this unassuming roadside casse-croûte is the one that will change everything?” we might think, filled with hope while lost somewhere in Beauce or along Route 117.

      Recently, however, it’s hard to ignore that the biggest names in poutine are increasingly gravitating toward the South Shore of Montreal—Chez Monique, La Récré, Alfa, Diabo's, Chez Grégoire—just a few of the many establishments that continue to emerge and evolve.

      Free account required

      For readers who care about Montreal

      Create a free account to read this story and access 3 articles per month, plus our weekly Bulletin.

      Independent. Local. Reader-supported.

      or

      Already a member? Sign in

      More Food & Drink

      A Day in the Life of a Montreal Wine Importer
      Food & Drink
      Rachel Cheng

      A Day in the Life of a Montreal Wine Importer

      Keaton Ritchie of Flor Vin was on the banks of the Loire last week. Today he's hauling bottles through the slush.

      Chouchou Is the Modern Chinese Bistro Our City's Been Missing
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Chouchou Is the Modern Chinese Bistro Our City's Been Missing

      Chef Chouchou Jia spent years cooking in French and Italian kitchens before opening their first restaurant, and the result is unlike anything else in town.

      Arthurs Nosh Bar Is Coming to NDG, and This Time, They're Bringing Dinner
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Arthurs Nosh Bar Is Coming to NDG, and This Time, They're Bringing Dinner

      Alex Cohen and Raegan Steinberg are combining dinners with breakfast classics to the 48-seat Arthus Dinette in Monkland Village.

      Peel Pub Is Coming Back
      Food & Drink
      The Main

      Peel Pub Is Coming Back

      Eight months after closing, the downtown institution has new owners, a renovation, and a reopening before St. Patrick's Day.

      How Boom J's Went From a Home Kitchen to a Jamaican Institution
      Food & Drink
      Anick Jasmin

      How Boom J's Went From a Home Kitchen to a Jamaican Institution

      Owner Jermaine learned to cook from his grandmother in Jamaica at six years old. Everything at Boom J's still carries those teachings.

      Bistrot Boisselet Skipped the Hype and Went Straight to Work
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Bistrot Boisselet Skipped the Hype and Went Straight to Work

      A quietly confident Little Italy bistrot from Montreal restaurant alum puts chef Darcy Gervais-Wood front and centre.

      My restaurant got busy before it was ready. Now I can finally take a step back.
      Food & Drink
      Scott Usheroff

      My Restaurant Got Busy Before it Was Ready. Now I Can Finally Take a Step Back.

      It's the unspoken problem of early popularity in restaurants: Nineteen months in, La Spada's owner reflects on the chaos, clarity, and learning to step away.

      Numéro's brutalist bar wants to serve your next post-shift martini
      Food & Drink
      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.

      Figata is Saint-Henri's New Italian-American Red Sauce Temple
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Figata is Saint-Henri's New Italian-American Red Sauce Temple

      Meatballs from a family recipe, martinis refreshed before you ask, and a room dressed in heirlooms: eat with your hands and make a mess.

      You can always rely on this Moroccan-French café
      Food & Drink
      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.

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

      Chinatown is now home to a classic casse-croûte
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Chinatown is Now Home to a Classic Casse-croûte

      The chefs behind Dobe & Andy and Buboy decided all the neighbourhood needs is a solid source of steamies and poutine.

      Food & Drink

      Is the South Shore of Montreal the New Poutine Capital of Quebec?

      A multi-generational investigation into the depths of 450.

      ByJean Bourbeau @ URBANIA

      November 1, 2024 · 7 min read

      Is the South Shore of Montreal the new poutine capital of Quebec?

      This story originally appeared in URBANIA, an online magazine based in Quebec focused on pop culture and society.

      I firmly believe that the best poutine in Quebec is a myth; no single place can claim to be the ultimate champion over all others. In my view, the true beauty of this dish lies in its diversity. Each poutine is unique and irreplaceable, offering its own delightful surprise with every first bite. That’s what makes the quest to find the best poutine so enticing.

      “Maybe this unassuming roadside casse-croûte is the one that will change everything?” we might think, filled with hope while lost somewhere in Beauce or along Route 117.

      Recently, however, it’s hard to ignore that the biggest names in poutine are increasingly gravitating toward the South Shore of Montreal—Chez Monique, La Récré, Alfa, Diabo's, Chez Grégoire—just a few of the many establishments that continue to emerge and evolve.

      Free account required

      For readers who care about Montreal

      Create a free account to read this story and access 3 articles per month, plus our weekly Bulletin.

      Independent. Local. Reader-supported.

      or

      Already a member? Sign in

      The Main

      Advertisement

      Follow on Google

      Related Classics

      From our archive.

      The Main

      Advertisement

      Follow on Google

      Related Classics

      From our archive.

      The Bulletin: Halloween Part 2, a high-speed train, and killing daylight savings time 🔪⏰ [Issue #101]

      Previous

      The Bulletin: Halloween Part 2, a High-speed Train, and Killing Daylight Savings Time 🔪⏰ [Issue #101]

      Next

      Montreal Tops Air Canada & EnRoute's Best New Restaurants for 2024

      Montreal tops Air Canada & enRoute's Best New Restaurants for 2024
      The Bulletin: Halloween Part 2, a high-speed train, and killing daylight savings time 🔪⏰ [Issue #101]

      Previous

      The Bulletin: Halloween Part 2, a High-speed Train, and Killing Daylight Savings Time 🔪⏰ [Issue #101]

      Next

      Montreal Tops Air Canada & EnRoute's Best New Restaurants for 2024

      Montreal tops Air Canada & enRoute's Best New Restaurants for 2024

      Latest from The Main

      DesignStop Building Sad CitiesNewsletterThe Bulletin: Downtown Gets a Jazz Room, Blasting Pink Floyd in a Church, and Girl Dinners [Issue #174]Beyond MontrealMontreal's New Second Airport Is Nearly 100 Years OldArts & CultureWhat to do this weekend (03.26–03.29)Arts & CultureMeet the Old Roots and New Blood of Mile End’s Greektown

      Latest from The Main

      DesignStop Building Sad CitiesNewsletterThe Bulletin: Downtown Gets a Jazz Room, Blasting Pink Floyd in a Church, and Girl Dinners [Issue #174]Beyond MontrealMontreal's New Second Airport Is Nearly 100 Years OldArts & CultureWhat to do this weekend (03.26–03.29)Arts & CultureMeet the Old Roots and New Blood of Mile End’s Greektown