O Cantinho is one of those rare spots where you can get a full Portuguese feast without ever setting foot on a plane—or spending more than twenty bucks. Located in Montreal’s Saint-Michel neighbourhood, this family-run grill house is beloved for its no-nonsense charcoal chicken, heaping portions of fries and rice, and warm, unfussy service. The menu is sprawling—grilled sardines, chouriço, escalope de porc, salted cod, poutines with Portuguese twists—but the rotisserie classics are what anchor the place.
If you’re a regular, you’re probably racking up stamps on their loyalty card. If it’s your first time, start with a quarter chicken and fries for under $10 (especially during their weekday “Grillardin” special). It’s BYOB, heavily Portuguese in spirit, and feels like a cross between a lunch counter, a weekend gathering spot, and a pit stop for locals stocking up on grilled quail or seafood platters. A trip to O Cantinho pairs well with a visit to the nearby Saint-Michel flea market—cheap eats and bargain finds all in one stretch.
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