Set in a brick house across from the Lachine Canal, El Meson has quietly built a reputation as one of the city’s best spots for traditional Mexican cooking—no tequila fountains, no sombrero gimmicks, just serious food. Victor Lopez and Elena Garcia first launched the restaurant years ago in Dorval, but their move to Lachine gave them room to grow into the kind of place where regulars know the owners by name and the carne asada comes out sizzling. Inside, it’s warm and unfussy, with two sun-soaked terrasses (front and back) that make it a summer favourite. On the plate? Family recipes you won’t find on every other menu in town—cactus with beef, grilled Salers ribeye, and deeply comforting mole.