North America's 50 Best Restaurants proves Montreal is a world-class dining capital

North America finally has its own "50 Best" list, and Montreal has come out swinging in the ring. The inaugural ranking, unveiled last night on September 25 8 p.m. PDT in Las Vegas, crowned New York’s Atomix as No. 1—but the bigger story here is Canada, and especially Quebec.

Mon Lapin in Little Italy landed at No. 2, making it the highest-ranked Canadian restaurant and officially the “Best Restaurant in East Canada.” To top that off, wine director Vanya Filipovic also took home North America’s Best Sommelier award, cementing Mon Lapin’s rep as a destination where the glass matters just as much as the plate.

Quebec City’s Tanière3 cracked the top five and was singled out with the Art of Hospitality Award, while Toronto’s Pearl Morissette held down No. 3, and Vancouver’s Published on Main appeared at No. 28. Montreal itself had a banner showing, with Montréal Plaza (No. 22), Le Violon (No. 29), Alma (No. 43), and Beba (No. 50) all making the cut. That’s five spots for a single city—a haul that rivals dining capitals like New York and San Francisco.

The ceremony also tipped its hat to the old guard. Normand Laprise, the chef behind Toqué!, received the Icon Award, recognizing his decades of championing local ingredients and shaping Quebec’s culinary identity. It was a symbolic moment: one of the province’s most storied chefs honoured alongside a new generation carrying the torch.

In total, 11 Canadian restaurants made the list, compared to 37 from the United States and two from the Caribbean.

Following news of the Michelin Guide's arrival in Montreal, the message is clear. The future of dining in North America belongs just as much in the U.S. as it does in Canada.