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
  • Leaderboard
  • Editor's Picks
  • New Places

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

    Your cart

    Your cart is empty.

    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
    • Leaderboard
    • Editor's Picks
    • New Places

    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

      Your cart

      Your cart is empty.

      --°C|Wednesday, May 20, 2026|
      Subscribe today to get 3 free articles per month.Get 50% off your first 5 rides with Lyft
      InstagramTwitterTiktokLinkedin
      |
      Advertise
      |
      EN/FR
      The Main Logo
      Magazine
      Sections
      • Arts & Culture
      • Beyond Montreal
      • Design
      • Food & Drink
      • History Lessons
      • The Bulletin
      Explore
      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
      ShopWeather
      Subscribe
      Subscribe
      --°C|Wednesday, May 20, 2026|
      Subscribe today to get 3 free articles per month.Get 50% off your first 5 rides with Lyft
      InstagramTwitterTiktokLinkedin
      |
      Advertise
      |
      EN/FR
      The Main Logo
      Magazine
      Sections
      • Arts & Culture
      • Beyond Montreal
      • Design
      • Food & Drink
      • History Lessons
      • The Bulletin
      Explore
      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
      ShopWeather
      Subscribe
      Subscribe

      More Food & Drink

      30 Years Later, Ferreira Is Building a Portuguese Hospitality Dynasty
      Food & Drink
      Ivy Lerner-Frank

      30 Years Later, Ferreira Is Building a Portuguese Hospitality Dynasty

      Carlos Ferreira built his Peel Street restaurant to represent a larger vision of Portugal. Three decades later, his daughters are helping carry that ambition into its next era.

      Café BRUT Wants to Be Griffintown’s Living Room
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Café BRUT Wants to Be Griffintown’s Living Room

      Inside a raw concrete space on Murray Street, banana-infused espresso and matcha drinks anchor a broader ambition to become part of the neighbourhood’s daily rhythm.

      Plume Was Built the Old-Fashioned Way
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Plume Was Built the Old-Fashioned Way

      Set inside a former Mile End bakery, two Bouillon Bilk alumni are pairing French-influenced cooking with private import wines and a handcrafted dining room.

      Michelin Expands Its Quebec Guide With New Stars Across Montreal and Beyond
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Michelin Expands Its Quebec Guide With New Stars Across Montreal and Beyond

      Michelin’s second Québec selection adds four new One Stars while continuing to push the guide beyond Montreal’s usual fine dining conversation.

      Inside the 2026 Lauriers Gala, Quebec’s Culinary Red Carpet
      Food & Drink
      Ariane Gonzalez

      Inside the 2026 Lauriers Gala, Quebec’s Culinary Red Carpet

      From producers and artisans to chefs and sommeliers, the industry gathered in Montreal to celebrate its own ecosystem and signal where the province's gastronomy is heading next.

      Montreal Wanted the Michelin Guide. Now It Has to Live With It.
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Montreal Wanted the Michelin Guide. Now It Has to Live With It.

      As Quebec’s second Michelin Guide approaches, longtime critic Lesley Chesterman questions whether the city’s restaurants are built for what the guide rewards—and what chasing stars really costs.

      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.

      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.

      La Tratt Is the West Island’s Defining Deli
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      La Tratt Is the West Island’s Defining Deli

      Built from scratch in a Kirkland strip mall, La Tratt has spent 20 years playing the long game to earn loyalty, and it shows.

      An Afghan Kitchen That Rewards the Detour to a Longueuil Strip Mall
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      An Afghan Kitchen That Rewards the Detour to a Longueuil Strip Mall

      After decades in Quebec, Abdul and his family built a restaurant where traditional Afghan cooking has earned a following that extends well beyond the South Shore.

      Minnibar Is Serving Pizza Omakase and Caviar Add-Ons Downtown
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Minnibar Is Serving Pizza Omakase and Caviar Add-Ons Downtown

      A nightlife operator known for late-night destinations pivots to an all-day café, bringing a flexible menu and a few unexpected draws to a quiet stretch near the Bell Centre.

      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.

      More Food & Drink

      30 Years Later, Ferreira Is Building a Portuguese Hospitality Dynasty
      Food & Drink
      Ivy Lerner-Frank

      30 Years Later, Ferreira Is Building a Portuguese Hospitality Dynasty

      Carlos Ferreira built his Peel Street restaurant to represent a larger vision of Portugal. Three decades later, his daughters are helping carry that ambition into its next era.

      Café BRUT Wants to Be Griffintown’s Living Room
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Café BRUT Wants to Be Griffintown’s Living Room

      Inside a raw concrete space on Murray Street, banana-infused espresso and matcha drinks anchor a broader ambition to become part of the neighbourhood’s daily rhythm.

      Plume Was Built the Old-Fashioned Way
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Plume Was Built the Old-Fashioned Way

      Set inside a former Mile End bakery, two Bouillon Bilk alumni are pairing French-influenced cooking with private import wines and a handcrafted dining room.

      Michelin Expands Its Quebec Guide With New Stars Across Montreal and Beyond
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Michelin Expands Its Quebec Guide With New Stars Across Montreal and Beyond

      Michelin’s second Québec selection adds four new One Stars while continuing to push the guide beyond Montreal’s usual fine dining conversation.

      Inside the 2026 Lauriers Gala, Quebec’s Culinary Red Carpet
      Food & Drink
      Ariane Gonzalez

      Inside the 2026 Lauriers Gala, Quebec’s Culinary Red Carpet

      From producers and artisans to chefs and sommeliers, the industry gathered in Montreal to celebrate its own ecosystem and signal where the province's gastronomy is heading next.

      Montreal Wanted the Michelin Guide. Now It Has to Live With It.
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Montreal Wanted the Michelin Guide. Now It Has to Live With It.

      As Quebec’s second Michelin Guide approaches, longtime critic Lesley Chesterman questions whether the city’s restaurants are built for what the guide rewards—and what chasing stars really costs.

      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.

      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.

      La Tratt Is the West Island’s Defining Deli
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      La Tratt Is the West Island’s Defining Deli

      Built from scratch in a Kirkland strip mall, La Tratt has spent 20 years playing the long game to earn loyalty, and it shows.

      An Afghan Kitchen That Rewards the Detour to a Longueuil Strip Mall
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      An Afghan Kitchen That Rewards the Detour to a Longueuil Strip Mall

      After decades in Quebec, Abdul and his family built a restaurant where traditional Afghan cooking has earned a following that extends well beyond the South Shore.

      Minnibar Is Serving Pizza Omakase and Caviar Add-Ons Downtown
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Minnibar Is Serving Pizza Omakase and Caviar Add-Ons Downtown

      A nightlife operator known for late-night destinations pivots to an all-day café, bringing a flexible menu and a few unexpected draws to a quiet stretch near the Bell Centre.

      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.

      Related Classics

      From our archive.

      Related Classics

      From our archive.

      Food & Drink

      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.

      ByJ.P. Karwacki

      May 16, 2023 · 5 min read

      Le Café Big Trouble revives a vibe in Montreal's Quartier Latin
      Credit: Rose Cormier (@velours.souterrain)

      The Main is reader-supported. Subscriptions are what keep us independent. Five dollars a month — the restaurants, the guides, the weekly bulletin, and what to do each weekend. Support us today.

      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.

      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

      Comments

      1
      1 comment loaded

      Welcome to The Main's comments section!

      Share your thoughts and join the conversation. Please be respectful and constructive.

      All Comments

      A
      Anonymous
      Feb 5, 2026

      i was served 3 burnt pancakes and was asked to leave when i brought it to their attention instead. terrible customer service!

      Loading replies...
      Follow on Google
      Food & Drink

      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.

      ByJ.P. Karwacki

      May 16, 2023 · 5 min read

      Le Café Big Trouble revives a vibe in Montreal's Quartier Latin
      Credit: Rose Cormier (@velours.souterrain)

      The Main is reader-supported. Subscriptions are what keep us independent. Five dollars a month — the restaurants, the guides, the weekly bulletin, and what to do each weekend. Support us today.

      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.

      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

      Comments

      1
      1 comment loaded

      Welcome to The Main's comments section!

      Share your thoughts and join the conversation. Please be respectful and constructive.

      All Comments

      A
      Anonymous
      Feb 5, 2026

      i was served 3 burnt pancakes and was asked to leave when i brought it to their attention instead. terrible customer service!

      Loading replies...
      Follow on Google
      The Main

      Latest from The Main

      Arts & CultureHere's Why Some Strippers Are Refusing to Strike During Grand Prix WeekendArts & CultureThe SAT Turns 30 With a Full-Building Celebration of Music and Digital CultureArts & CultureA Local's Guide to Little ItalyNewsletterThe Bulletin: Porchside Music Crawls, Springtime Dancing, and Soju at the Bookstore [Issue #181]OpinionTim Hortons Lost Canada Long Before Dunkin’ Arrived
      Gong Gong Gong Touches Down in Montreal

      Previous

      Gong Gong Gong Touches Down in Montreal

      Next

      The Bulletin: Montreal Tops the Charts in Restaurant List While Another Institution Shutters [Issue #25]

      The Bulletin: Montreal tops the charts in restaurant list while another institution shutters [Issue #25]
      The Main

      Latest from The Main

      Arts & CultureHere's Why Some Strippers Are Refusing to Strike During Grand Prix WeekendArts & CultureThe SAT Turns 30 With a Full-Building Celebration of Music and Digital CultureArts & CultureA Local's Guide to Little ItalyNewsletterThe Bulletin: Porchside Music Crawls, Springtime Dancing, and Soju at the Bookstore [Issue #181]OpinionTim Hortons Lost Canada Long Before Dunkin’ Arrived
      Gong Gong Gong Touches Down in Montreal

      Previous

      Gong Gong Gong Touches Down in Montreal

      Next

      The Bulletin: Montreal Tops the Charts in Restaurant List While Another Institution Shutters [Issue #25]

      The Bulletin: Montreal tops the charts in restaurant list while another institution shutters [Issue #25]