A (mostly) spoken history of Mano Cornuto, Griffintown's unexpected Italian institution

Four strangers, Italian-Canadian roots, a once-risky Griffintown corner, and building a busy corner through a pandemic, as told by Tyler Maher

The Main

October 8, 2025- Read time: 10 min

Tyler Maher, James Baran, and Vito Ciocca of Mano Cornuto. | Photograph: Scott Usheroff / @cravingcurator

Tyler Maher isn't so sure when I posit that Mano Cornuto, in its own way, changed the game in Montreal's dining scene.

"I don't know who you're talking to, bro," he laughs, "but I'll take the smoke."

Fair enough. But it's hard to argue with: In August 2019, four guys who'd barely worked together—Tyler from Foxy, Vito Ciocca and James Baran from the Garde Manger crew, and Alex Ragoussis from Crew Collective & Cafe—opened an Italian café on a then-dead corner in Griffintown. The budget was tight enough that they were doing their own buildout, counting foot traffic at 6 a.m. like amateur anthropologists, trying to convince themselves this weird little space could work. They had maybe eight staff total when they embarked.

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.