You got the newer wave of Portuguese restaurants with sleek branding and modern menus—and then there’s Chez Doval. Open since 1974, this Plateau mainstay hasn’t changed much, and that’s the point. The wood-panelled dining room, covered in framed photos, trophies, and faint reminders of the old country, is a time capsule of Montreal’s early Portuguese scene. The menu hasn’t veered far either: charcoal-grilled chicken, grilled sardines, and hearty plates of octopus or pork, served without fanfare and priced like it’s still the ’90s. Long-time co-owners Carlos Soares and João Gonçalves keep the place running like a neighbourhood clubhouse, where regulars know the wine list by heart and lunchtime specials come with a coffee and dessert. It’s not reinventing anything—but that’s exactly why it’s beloved.