West Island restaurants are having a moment right now

Head west, young diners and restaurateurs: The suburbs are hungry, and they're changing to reflect new appetites.

J.P. Karwacki

J.P. Karwacki

November 28, 2024- Read time: 7 min
West Island restaurants are having a moment right nowRendez-Vous in Pointe-Claire part of a new wave. | Photograph: Aidan Matthews / @aidanc.m

Dining out well in Montreal never meant staying out of the West Island. Ask anyone from that side of the island to recommend a spot, and they’ll easily recommend three to five places that are not only worth a meal, but they may very well have been around for decades.

Bistro Nolah, Smoke Meat Pete, Tacos Don Rigo, the Halle Berry-endorsed wings of Cunningham Pub, Vivaldi—from Pierrefonds to Pointe-Claire, L’Île-Perrot to DDO, there’s a lot, and before anyone starts sending us hate mail, we know: What we just named now isn’t even scratching the surface.

And more is coming: Saint-Henri and Little Burgundy formed their famed restaurant row in the last two decades, sure, and Villeray’s become the site of nationally lauded names and more.

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

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's been baking bread the same way for over a century
Ivy Lerner-Frank

Boulangerie Marguerita's 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.

Chez Greenberg: The honest Mile End deli that smoked salmon 'n' knishes built
J.P. Karwacki

Chez Greenberg: The honest Mile End deli that smoked salmon 'n' knishes built

Jake Greenberg turned a pandemic side hustle into a Jewish deli centred on house-smoked fish, knishes, and a neighbourhood his family's been serving for generations.

How Nora Gray spun its spicy pepperoncini and focaccia into a Miss Vickie's chip
Ivy Lerner-Frank

How Nora Gray spun its spicy pepperoncini and focaccia into a Miss Vickie's chip

First, a chip company came calling. Then came a year-long R&D process involving professional tasters and corporate NDAs.