The Best New Restaurants in Montreal [August 2025]

August brings another strong crop of the best new restaurants in Montreal. Not to knock the best new bars in Montreal or the best new cafés in Montreal, but the openings you see below are formidable, ranging from high-concept debuts and big names to casual joints with serious flavour and street reps. Some are passion projects from familiar names; others are quiet contenders doing all the right things from day one.

This month’s lineup runs the gamut: tasting menus that don’t take themselves too seriously, counter spots with cult potential, and second acts that prove lightning can strike twice. Who knows, some may be considered among the best restaurants in Montreal in no time.

We always keep this list fresh, with no opening more than six months old, so consider this your last chance to check out the following openings dating back to February 2024: Molenne and Sugo.

Take a deeper dive into our picks with our resident restaurant and bar critic Bottomless Pete.

Yans Deli

5345 Ferrier Street

Yans Deli is chef Benji Greenberg’s heartfelt return to the food that raised him—filtered through a fine-dining lens and a family-first philosophy. After seven years at Joe Beef, the Montreal native has opened his own spot near Décarie, merging old-world Jewish deli staples with contemporary technique and personal nostalgia.

Inspired by his Romanian-Jewish roots and a culinary pilgrimage across Europe with his father, the menu includes everything from veal schnitzel with quail eggs to black and white cookies, house-smoked fish, and party sandwiches with bluefin. It’s casual and road-trip-friendly, but with rigour behind the scenes—steak of the day, dry-aged cuts, and cocktails by GM Alyssa Shahin. The space, designed with ISSASTUDIO, leans warm and playful, complete with hidden Lego figures. With operations overseen by Zachary Brown and weekend football on the TVs, Yans isn’t trying to revive the deli—it’s reimagining it for the next generation.

Aylwin Deli

138 Atwater Avenue

Aylwin Deli is the latest chapter from the team behind Aylwin BBQ, and it plants their signature smoke and spice squarely in Atwater Market. Open year-round, the new counter trades in barbecue for deli—but keeps the same no-nonsense approach. Expect thick-cut smoked meat, Reubens, griddled hot dogs, and brunch sandwiches that don’t mess around. Sides like potato salad and slaw round things out, and there’s a solid grab-and-go selection of house-smoked brisket, ribs, and pulled pork if you’re stocking up for later. Built on the same farm-to-smoker ethos that fuelled their early days in Hochelaga, this new spot brings serious pitmaster energy to the city’s deli scene—minus the nostalgia act.

Mare Porto Vecchio

440 Rue Saint-Pierre

Mare Porto Vecchio, or 'Mare' as it's also known, is Novantuno Hospitality’s most polished outing yet—a seafood-forward Italian restaurant in the Old Port that trades on elegance, restraint, and theatrical detail. Helmed by chef and co-owner Jonathan Agnello, whose Sicilian roots run deep, the kitchen leans Mediterranean with daily imports of fish, handmade pastas, and a raw bar anchoring the dining room.

The setting—designed by Sid Lee Architecture with styling by Kayla Pongrac—unfolds in three parts: a moody cocktail bar, a central crudo station, and a white-tablecloth dining room where even the tableware is custom-made. Cocktails are sharp and story-driven, with Italian spirits and bold flavour pairings like sea-salt gin martinis and dark chocolate amaretto sours. Service is old-school in all the best ways—bow ties, white gloves, no corners cut. For a night that feels like a true occasion, Mare doesn’t just promise luxury—it delivers it with precision.

Pizza Balagan

7040 St Andre St

Pizza Balagan is a small Rosemont operation with a big claim: some of the best New York–style pies in Montreal—and the proof is in the crust. Chef-owner Alexis Cohen caps dough production at around 40 per day, keeping quality high and supplies limited. The result is chewy, blistered perfection beneath toppings that range from classic (Balagan O.G.) to maximalist (Ménage à Trois) to truffle-heavy (Chaos Truffé). Quebec-sourced ingredients are the rule, not the exception, and you’ll often find Cohen behind the counter, building each pie by hand with a precision that borders on ritual. There’s no seating, no frills, and no slack in the execution. Come early, or come ready to miss out.

Sato Izakaya

4115B Saint Denis St

An intimate izakaya on the Plateau that channels the energy of a back-alley Tokyo counter bar, Sato Izakaya applies a Montreal twist to the genre. The design is understated—low lighting, warm wood, and a layout built for shoulder-to-shoulder dining—but the food speaks volumes. The menu spans traditional and inventive takes on Japanese comfort food: tonkotsu ramen with deep pork broth, crisp katsu fried in nama panko, aburi-style sushi kissed by flame, and tofu-pocket inari topped with spicy tuna or salmon. French techniques surface subtly in the plating and balance, and a vegan mushroom ramen rounds things out for non-meat eaters.

Dalmata

24 Rue Bernard O

Born from a repurposed soft-serve machine in the back of Le Violon, Dalmata Gelateria has spun that happy accident into a full-on Mile End scoop shop. What started as an off-menu dessert has taken shape as a tiny, 300-square-foot gelato bar on Bernard and Clark, designed by Menard Dworkind with the kind of playful symmetry and pastel tones that wouldn’t look out of place in a Wes Anderson frame.

There’s a courtyard out back, a nod to the space’s former life as “Salon Raphael,” and a menu that keeps things tight but smart: seasonal soft serve twists, gelato-slush hybrids, brioche con gelato, and sundaes, all made from scratch using local ingredients and no artificial flavourings. Chefs Danny Smiles, Mitch Laughren, Laura Faria, and Sara Raspa are behind the base recipes, and it shows.

Porte à Côté

3019 Rue Masson

Porte à Côté is a café-buvette with a bistro mindset, sharing a kitchen—and DNA—with Rose Ross next door. It trades formality for flexibility, offering a relaxed place to catch up over cocktails, split a few plates, or settle in for a proper meal. Chef-driven but unstuffy, the menu runs on market freshness and changes often, favouring seafood, seasonal veg, and smoked or grilled proteins. You might find cod fritters with shiso, tuna carpaccio with yuzu kosho, or confit Cornish hen with chili oil and salsa verde. Oysters are $1.50 on Tuesdays, and the cocktail list leans inventive without losing sight of the classics.

Rufus & Anna

3882 Ontario St E

Rufus & Anna is a modern rotisserie built on memory, migration, and meticulous hospitality. Taking over the old Blind Pig in Hochelaga, longtime collaborators Antoine and Mathieu (Super, Junco, Éléonore) have reimagined the space as a neighbourhood gathering point—warm, wood-toned, and humming with life.

The name nods to two species of hummingbirds, and the menu traces their migratory path through smoked meats, seasonal seafood, and a standout cocktail list. Chef Nicolas Marra (ex-Bungalow) leads the kitchen with ribs that fall apart, smoked flank with chimichurri, and rotisserie chicken served proper with slaw, fries, and a velvety house gravy. Even the club sandwich gets a rethink. Cocktails follow the Rufous hummingbird’s route from boreal forest to Guatemala, with local spirits and regional ingredients layered into drinks that carry a story. It’s a place that wears its past lightly, delivers its present confidently, and knows how to make a weeknight feel like a celebration.

KAVA

1130 Ottawa St

Mediterranean comfort, Montreal attitude—KAVA brings both to Griffintown with brunches, weeknight specials, and sun-drenched flair. Co-founded by Slimane and helmed by chef Keren JL (ex-Grand Véfour, Feuille, and Marcel Ravin), this 120-seat dining room and 60-seat terrace blend elevated cooking with a laid-back vibe. The menu moves from smoky shrimp arancini and Anatolian-style poached eggs to a smoked salmon tartine kissed with goat cheese and honey. Come Tuesday for $1 oysters, midweek for a $48 table d’hôte that balances technique and seasonality, or Sundays for a brunch lineup that leans sweet, savoury, and softly decadent. The decor—sun-washed ceramics, earthy tones, and raw textures—pulls from coastal Greece, southern Italy, and North Africa.

Renzo

5195 St Laurent Blvd

You don’t open across from a high school in Mile End and try to be cool—you try to be essential. That’s the whole deal at Renzo. This sandwich shop from a stacked local crew (designers, chefs, ops folks—all co-owners) isn’t pushing a concept, it’s building an institution. Fourteen sandwiches, each its own spin on Montreal’s multi-ethnic comfort food psyche, run the show: Think fried jalapeño cabbage, corned beef via New Brunswick, mortadella and giardiniera. The vibe? Half Italian dep, half New England diner, with a killer boozy slush program and design cues that quietly nod to Schwartz’s and Wilensky’s without feeling like a museum. What makes Renzo one of the best new openings this year isn’t just the food—it’s that it’s clearly here for the long haul.

Balboa

105 Saint-Paul St W

Old Montreal isn’t known for subtlety, but BALBOA manages to pull off something rare: a scene-y spot that doesn’t feel like it’s trying too hard. Opened in June by the Tomahawk crew, this Italian-forward pizzeria mixes good bones (wood-fired pizza, a chef with serious cred) with a sharp sense of mood. Chef Arnaud Rosboch brings some finesse to a menu that stays comforting but rarely boring, while the bar program leans into Italian staples—think limoncello spritzes and negronis that actually hit. The room is big enough to hold a crowd but somehow still feels like a living room, thanks to designer Amlyne Phillips’ offbeat touches. In a neighbourhood full of over-designed concepts, BALBOA delivers a surprisingly grounded hangout with good pizza, strong drinks, and zero pretense.

Prezze Mollo

5455 Av. de Gaspé Suite 120-2

Open just five lunch shifts a week, the Mile End newcomer PREZZE MOLLO is already making noise with a menu that swings between comfort and craft: handmade pastas, focaccia baked in-house, and a fried chicken that sneaks up as a sleeper hit. Built by couple Catherine Caron and Julien Messier-Cousineau, the place hits a rare balance—fast enough for office dwellers on the go, but dialled-in enough to linger with a glass of wine or a Negroni Alpi. The cocktails are sharp, the wine list keeps things light and natural, and every detail—from the service to the vibe—feels intentional. Call it a power lunch for people who hate the phrase.

Disco Mayo Dînette

6712 Clark St

Sandwich spots are having a moment, but few feel as lived-in—or as loved—as Disco Mayo. Dreamed up by Victoria, a longtime local with restaurant chops and a knack for nostalgic flair, this daytime dînette in Little Italy runs on big portions and good energy. Roast beef stacked with tangy pickled veg? Yes. Breakfast sandwiches on brioche? Essential. Thai soups, falafel bowls, spicy sauce you’ll want to bottle? All there. The space feels like your friend’s kitchen if your friend had an eye for thrifted charm and a mean hand with the Meu Meu sundae toppings. It’s the kind of place you wander into once and start plotting your return before you’ve even finished eating.

Estiatorio Marmo

2330 Rue Wilfrid-Reid

Ville Saint-Laurent just landed a serious contender in the steak-and-seafood game. Estiatorio Marmo opened with quiet confidence and a menu that doesn’t flinch—42oz fiorentinas, hot and cold seafood towers, lemon-champagne pastas, and a poulet parm that’s way better than it needs to be. It’s a Mediterranean steakhouse that sidesteps cliché: elegant but not stuffy, generous but not overwhelming. The vibe leans sleek, with an old-school sense of hospitality and plates that walk the line between showy and sharp. Come for the grilled octopus, stay for the orecchiette with rapini sausage.

Tamisé Sushi

4721 St Catherine St E

Sushi in Hochelaga just got its glow-up. Built by the original Sata crew with designer Tania Morrison at the helm, Tamisé revives the flambéed makis that made the old spot famous and pushes the format forward with vegan takes, house mayo, and detail-obsessed plating. Wines and sakés are tight and intentional, mocktails actually slap, and the room glows—literally—with soft light, big plants, and thrifted charm. But what really sells it is the team: warm, present, and clearly doing this for more than just the hype.

Patio Patio

2 Bd du Curé-Labelle (Sainte-Thérèse, QC)

An honorary inclusion on the list, but we'll allow it: The team behind Le Boating Club just dropped a grown-up sequel—and it might be one of the best reasons to head off-island this year. Patio Patio brings Mediterranean flair to Sainte-Thérèse with a massive, sun-drenched room designed by Zébulon Perron and a menu from ex-L’Express chef Jean-François Vachon that balances bistro polish with big, playful flavours. Think crudo, croquetas, grilled octopus, and kebabs—designed to share, preferably under a spritz or two. With a whole cocktail section called À boire sous le parasol, it’s bright, and it feels like vacation—even when you’re just off Curé-Labelle.

I Primi

3406 Ontario St E

Fresh pasta in a takeout box isn't always a hit—but at I Primi, it absolutely is one. Launched in April by three friends with roots in pizza joints, wine bars, and family kitchens, this Hochelaga newcomer strips it back to basics: three pasta shapes, six seasonal sauces, and a tight list of toppings. You build your plate, grab a cannoli on the way out, and wonder why more places don’t keep it this clean. It’s comforting without being predictable—like the pesto made with dill and sunflower seeds—and the $10 lunch deals are a win.

Limousine

639 Victoria Avenue, Saint-Lambert

Laurent Dagenais made his name first through social media. Not long after releasing his cookbook, he’s officially entered the restaurant game with the opening of Limousine, teaming up with Renaud Lambert, Victor Collette, Peter Mant, and Philippe Allard to build something polished and ambitious.

The team assembled behind the bar and the pass is as sharp as the room itself, with a kitchen led by Vincent Monast (Mano Cornuto), Michel Normand (Hiatus), and Pierre Morneau (Cadet, JJacques). Their approach to French cuisine is unfussy but precise: well-aged beef, caviar service, and elevated bistro classics that leave an impression. Drinks get the same treatment, as Jonathan Homier’s cocktail list reworks classic staples with finesse. The space, designed by IVY Studio, hits that rare note between luxe and laid-back: soft leather seating, sculptural lighting, and a bar that feels built for long conversations.

For Dagenais, it’s a long-time dream realized, finally anchored just blocks from where it all began.

3 Pierres 1 Feu

7070 Henri-Julien Avenue

Chef Paul Toussaint brings Haitian fire-cooking and Texas barbecue to Jean-Talon Market in his most personal project yet.

Teaming up with Austin pitmaster Damien M. Brockway and chef Robertho Daphinis, the open-fire smokehouse serves brisket, jerk chicken, sticky ribs, and griot by the pound—all cooked in full view, butcher-style. Sides like pikliz, plantain fries, and cassava root the menu in Caribbean tradition.

Designed by Toussaint himself, the space is filled with nods to his hometown of Jacmel, from the colours and textures to the bar inspired by Hotel Florita. Named after the three-stone cooking method, 3 Pierres 1 Feu is a joyful blend of smoke, spice, and story—where tradition meets bold flavour, and everyone’s invited.

Nouilles Sauvette

43 Beaubien Street East

After a brief hiatus, J’ai Feng has reemerged in a new, more streamlined form. Nouilles Sauvette is the next chapter for Anita Feng, the chef behind some of Montreal’s most soul-warming bowls of Sichuan noodles. With her sister Amy still at the counter and her family now pitching in behind the scenes, Feng has reimagined the format to fit what’s possible during her ongoing cancer treatment.

The premise is straightforward: three styles of sauced noodles—ginger-scallion, sesame-peanut, and a spicy chili oil version—served in takeout cartons through the window. At $8 for a generous 500g portion, it’s both affordable and deeply personal.

Renoir Restaurant

1155 Sherbrooke Street West

After more than two decades as one of Montreal’s go-to French restaurants, Renoir has reopened with a full-scale redesign that goes well beyond cosmetic. This is its next act—and it plays confidently between tradition and reinvention.

Found inside the Sofitel Golden Mile, the reimagined space now includes a sun-drenched dining room, a chef’s table facing the kitchen, and a moodier main room with mirrored ceilings and luxe detailing by local firm 2pir Design. Executive Chef Olivier Perret—Maître Cuisinier de France and a champion of Quebec’s terroir—continues to lead the kitchen, blending classical French technique with local ingredients and seasonal flair.

The updated menu balances staples like foie gras torchon and gravlax with newer dishes such as veal shoulder gratin and black cod mazemen. Desserts by pastry chef Paul Peyrat follow the same elegant logic. Sunday brunch also returns, staged on the terrasse when weather allows.

Bernard Cabaret Gourmand

936 Sainte-Catherine Street East

Dinner and a show gets a maximalist upgrade at Bernard Cabaret Gourmand, the Village’s new burlesque cabaret where the action is constant and the performances happen in every direction—even overhead.

Open Wednesday to Sunday for dinner and weekend brunch, the venue blends high-impact theatricality with a shareable “chaos-style” menu and a sharp wine list of private imports. Produced by the team behind Maison Billing, the experience mixes pole dance, drag, circus arts, and live music in a darkly glamorous setting. Signature nights like Ambiance Burlesque and Folies d’un Soir bring out some of the city’s best artists in rotating acts that unfold between courses. Whether you’re in for the food, the flirtation, or the spectacle, Bernard doesn’t half-commit.

Momiji

5050 De la Côte-de-Liesse Road

With a raw bar, kushiyaki skewers, and a long list of house creations that swing between luxe and experimental, Momiji is the little sister of Bar Otto along the restaurant row of Royalmount.

The menu runs deep, from foie gras-draped salmon nigiri and duck confit mazemen to wagyu-stuffed chicken wings and scallop carpaccio with strawberry vinaigrette. While sushi purists will find omakase and sashimi platters, it’s the hybrid plates—like bluefin tuna “pizza” with truffle aioli or miso-tamago burrata—that signal this is more remix than replica.

Technically still in soft opening, Momiji is already staking its claim as a heavyweight among the growing cluster of high-design restaurants in the area. Whether it leans izakaya, sushi bar, or something more genre-blurring will likely depend on the crowd that finds it.

Limbo

45 Av. Mozart Ouest

Limbo might be the name, but this place is anything but directionless. Taking over the old Marconi address at the corner of Mozart and Clark—a stretch more known for sirens than serenity—this new venture from chef Harrison Shewchuk and a stacked team that includes Jesse Massumi, Jack Zeppetelli, and Xavier Cloutier-Guerard (of Pichai and Pumpui) brings sharp cooking and serious mood to the neighbourhood. The menu draws from French, Italian, and British influences, but with a clear sense of authorship: house-made pastas, scallops with squid ink, endives hiding under folds of jambon blanc, and vegetables from Parcelles, plated like they matter.

The space still features its pressed-tin ceiling and a new open kitchen where the energy hums, backed by a confident cocktail list and a wine program curated by Henri Murray. It’s elegant without posturing, ambitious without overreaching—a restaurant that knows exactly where it’s headed.

Pasta Pooks

6704 Clark Street

The nomadic pasta's gone brick-and-mortar: After years of pop-ups, collabs, and chaos, Pasta Pooks has landed in Little Italy—occupying the former Dinette Triple Crown space with the same irreverent spirit that made it a cult favourite. What started as a pandemic hustle between roommates Luca Vinci and Victor “Coach Vic” Petrenko has evolved into a full-blown operation, with a daily rotating menu of hand-rolled pastas and overstuffed sandwiches that feel more like an event than a lunch.

Vinci, trained at Impasto and raised in a Sardinian-Quebec household, brings the soul and skill. Petrenko, a nightlife lifer with front-of-house finesse, brings the noise. Together with a crew that includes Martin Pariseau, Kai Fox, and “Big Sexy,” they’ve created a spot that’s loud, cramped, and relentlessly fun. There’s room for five to perch inside, more if they like you, and a back room that’ll eventually host dinners and pasta classes. It’s messy, it’s hyped, and the food’s a knockout—just the way they like it.

Phillips Bar

1170 Pl. du Frere Andre

Tucked inside a former bank in downtown Montreal, Phillips Bar reimagines the izakaya as something more fluid: part sushi counter, part lounge, part neighbourhood haunt. The latest project from the team behind Jatoba, it brings together chefs Antonio Park, Olivier Vigneault, and S’Arto Chartier-Otis, who’ve built a menu around makis, hand rolls, and teishoku-inspired plates—think grilled chicken thighs, baby back ribs, and chips made from salmon skin.

The vibe is casual, but everything’s sharp: the hand roll bar doubles as live theatre, and mains rarely cross the $40 mark. The room leans mid-century, with terracotta tones, soft lighting, and a bar that seats 22. There’s also a mezzanine and private dining rooms downstairs for groups, keeping the space versatile without losing intimacy. Drinks cover saké, house cocktails, and low-intervention imports. It’s not trying to be flashy—just fresh, affordable, and very well executed.

Myers

1049 Ave Van Horne

Myers steps into Outremont with a more casual posture than its predecessor Boxermans but has just as much heart. The room has been reimagined for low-key lunches, lively soccer nights, and private parties that stretch into the evening, while the kitchen keeps things dialled into approachable bistro fare with finesse. Gone is the fine-dining edge of its predecessor—what’s here now leans warm, simple, and social, without sacrificing flavour or style.

The vibe? Friendly but not forced. The kind of place where you can sip a glass at the bar during a match or settle into a booth for something a little slower. It’s a new chapter for the team, but the instinct to bring people together around good food and better vibes hasn’t changed.

Giwa

3780 Wellington Street

Down in Verdun, GIWA offers a version of Korean cuisine that riffs on tradition with precision. Chef Alex Woo brings fine-dining chops to a menu that flips between deeply comforting and sharply inventive. The sot-bap—a rice dish cooked in a stone pot with mushroom-kombu stock and crispy nu-roong-ji at the bottom—comes with seasonal banchan and ferments that feel housemade because they are.

Small plates include yukhwe (beef tartare with pickled pear and seaweed chips) and mulhwe (a spicy cold seafood salad layered with tobiko and Asian pear), both of which show off the kitchen’s ability to balance flavour and texture. Even dessert plays with boundaries, like the Hodumaru, a chocolate mousse-meets-brownie hybrid laced with gochujang and served with maple ice cream.

Pinnacle Wagyu

177 Rue Saint-Paul Est

Pinnacle Wagyu Deli isn’t playing around. Sitting just off the cobblestone in Old Montreal, this counter-style sandwich spot focuses on Wagyu—grilled, pulled, shaved, and smashed into ciabatta and brioche with all the fixings. Think Philly cheesesteak by way of a steakhouse, or a Cubano that’s swapped the pork shoulder for roasted wagyu. There’s a jackfruit option for the meatless crowd as well.

Add-ons like truffle-parmesan fries or animal style sides keep things big, greasy, and proud of it. Drinks lean either classic with Brio and root beer, or house-made with lemonades (mango mint, strawberry basil) that cut through the richness with citrus. Open till 11 p.m. most nights.

Le 30 Fevrier

50 Rue Rachel Est

There’s no such thing as February 30, which tells you everything you need to know about this spot: playful, surreal, and slightly out of step with reality—in a good way. Le 30 Février is the latest project from the team behind Café Tordu, and while the brunch is firmly rooted in eggs, toast, and labneh, the execution is anything but expected. French toast comes laced with Nutella and kunafa, the shakshuka gets garnished with pomegranate salsa, and their Benedict sits on croissant-style bread. Most dishes clock in under $30, but the presentation could fool you into thinking you’ve stumbled into a hotel brunch in Beirut. The purple-pink decor and dreamy lighting lean maximalist without crossing into parody.

Siamo Noi

5060 De la Côte-de-Liesse Rd

This latest project from Novantuno Hospitality—the team behind Fiorellino and Stellina—lands in Royalmount with big ambitions: a high-energy dining experience that blends timeless Italian cooking, tableside theatrics, and a dose of effortless cool.

At its core, Siamo Noi is about heritage and hospitality. Co-owner Massimo Lecas describes it as a love letter to Italian culture—one where cicchetti at the bar, handmade pasta, salt-crusted fish carved tableside, and tiramisu assembled before your eyes all come together for a meal meant to be savored, not rushed.

Designed by Kayla Pongrác, the space is polished but warm, the kind of place where you can drop in for an aperitivo or settle in for a long, elegant dinner.