Chowtime
Best Pub Grub
1. McKibbins Irish Pub (1426 Bishop, 288-1580)
2. Peel Pub (1107 Ste-Catherine W., 844-7296)
3. Hurley’s Irish Pub (1225 Crescent, 861-4111)
4. Le Pistol (3723 St-Laurent, 847-2222)
5. Ye Olde Orchard (5563 Monkland, 484-1569)
Best Cheap Eats
1. Al-Taïb (2125 Guy, 931-1999; 2002 Mackay)
2. McDonald's (various locations)
3. La Belle Province (various locations)
4. Patati Patata (4177 St-Laurent, 844-0216)
5. Any 99 cent pizza (various locations)
Best Pricey Eats
1. La Queue de Cheval Steakhouse (1221 René- Lévesque W., 390-0090)
2. Baton Rouge (various locations)
3. Gibby's (298 Place d'Youville, 282-1837)
4. Chu Chai (4088 St-Denis, 843-4194)
5. Globe (3455 St-Laurent, 284-3823)
Best Late-Night Eats
1. Picasso Serre (6810 St-Jaques W., 484-2832)
2. La Banquise (994 Rachel E., 525-2415)
3. Al-Taïb (2125 Guy, 931-1999; 2002 Mackay)
4. The Main (3864 St-Laurent, 843-8126)
5. Moe's (various locations)
Best Breakfast
1. Chez Cora (various locations)
2. Cosmos (5843 Sherbrooke W., 486-3814)
3. Eggspectations (various locations)
4. Tutti Frutti Déjeuner (various locations)
5. Dusty's (4510 Parc, 276-8525)
Best Buffet
1. Buffet Maharaja (1481 René-Lévesque W., 934-0655)
2. Le Commensal (various locations)
3. Buffet Vichy (various locations)
4. Buffet La Stanza (various locations)
5. Casa Corfu (3177 Masson, 727-5250)
Best Delivery
1. À la Carte Express (933-7000, www.alce.ca)
2. Domino's (various locations)
3. St-Hubert (various locations; delivery 385-5555)
4. Double Pizza (various locations)
5. Alto (3462 Parc, 844-9898)
Though strictly speaking it’s a delivery “portal” for a host of local restos, À la Carte nonetheless takes the top spot this year, beating out multinational pizza-purveyor Domino’s.
Best African
1. Le Nil Bleu (3706 St-Denis, 285-4628)
2. Abiata (3435 St-Denis, 281-0111)
3. Au Messob D'Or (5690 Monkland, 488-8620)
4. Afro-Fusion (RIP)
5. Keur Fatou (66 St-Viateur W., 277-2221)
Best Caribbean
1. Ma's Place (5889 Sherbrooke W., 487-7488)
2. Caribbean Curry House (6892 Victoria, 733-0828)
3. L Corridor (3655 St-Laurent, 350-5320)
4. Mango Bay (1202 Bishop, 875-7082)
5. Jardin de Cari (21 St-Viateur W., 495-0565)
Best Chinese
1. La Maison VIP (1077 Clark, 861-1943)
2. Beijing (92 de la Gauchetière W., 861-2003)
3. Soupe et Nouilles (1871 Ste-Catherine W., 933-0531)
4. Hot and Spicy (various locations)
5. Wok Café (1845 Ste-Catherine W., 938-1882)
Best French
1. L'Express (3927 St-Denis, 845-5333)
2. Toque! (3842 St-Denis, 499-2084)
3. L'Académie (4051 St-Denis, 849-2249)
4. Le Paris (1812 Ste-Catherine W., 937-4898)
5. Holder (407 McGill, 849-0333)
Best Greek
1. Arahova (various locations)
2. Marathon Souvlaki (various locations)
3. Marven’s (880 Ball, 277-3625)
4. Milos (5357 Parc, 272-3522)
5. Jardin de Panos (521 Duluth E., 521-4206)
Best Indian
1. Buffet Maharaja (1481 René-Lévesque W., 934-0655)
2. Pushap (various locations)
3. Bombay Palace (2202 Ste-Catherine W., 932-7141)
4. Ganges (6079 Sherbrooke W., 488-8850)
5. Nouveau Delhi (3464 St-Denis, 845-7977)
With the exception of Pushap, with its new Jean-Talon location, there’s not an entry in the top five from the many terrific Indian restos in Parc-Ex, a situation that may change as the forces of gentrification move north.
Best Italian
1. Eduardo's (404 Duluth E., 843-3330)
2. Casa Napoli (6728 St-Laurent, 274-4351)
3. Guido & Angelina (2313 Ste-Catherine W., 228-5225)
4. Pizzeria Napoletana (189 Dante, 276-8226)
5. Le Latini (1130 Jeanne-Mance, 861-3166)
Best Japanese
1. Kaizen Sushi Bar (4075 Ste-Catherine W.,
707-8744)
2. Mikado (various locations)
3. Katsura (2170 de la Montagne, 849-1172)
4. Sho-Dan (various locations)
5. Kanda (2045 Bishop, 845-8868)
Best Korean
1. Hwang Kum (5908 Sherbrooke W., 487-1712)
2. Man-na (1421 Bishop, 288-1703)
3. Bulgogi (2127 Ste-Catherine W., 935-9820)
4. Korea House (4950 Queen-Mary, 733-7823)
5. Seoul (5030 Sherbrooke W., 489-3686)
Best Latino
1. La Chilenita (64 Marie-Anne W., 982-9212)
2. Casa Tapas (266 Rachel, 848-1063)
3. Senzala (various locations)
4. Puca Puca (5400 St-Laurent, 933-6797)
5. El Amigo (51 St-Zotique E., 278-4579)
Empanada empire la Chilenita (which also has a location at Napoleon and de Bullion) takes the top spot, followed by Casa Tapas, which, being Spanish, isn’t strictly Latino.
Best Mexican
1. Carlos & Pepes (1420 Peel, 288-3090)
2. 3 Amigos (1657 Ste-Catherine W., 939-3329)
3. Casa de Matéo (440 St-François- Xavier, 844-7448)
4. Mesa 14 (1425 Bishop, 284-0344)
5. La Iguana (51 Roy E., 844-0893)
Best Middle-Eastern
1. Boustan (2020A Crescent, 843-3576)
2. Amir (various locations)
3. Basha (various locations)
4. Al-Taïb (2125 Guy, 931-1999; 2002 Mackay)
5. Daou (2373 Marcel-Laurin, St-Laurent, 334-1199)
Best Portuguese
1. Jano (3883 St-Laurent, 849-0646)
2. Chez Doval (150 Marie-Anne E., 843-3390
3. Roi du Plateau (51 Rachel W., 844-8393)
4. Coco Rico (3907 St-Laurent, 849-5554)
5. Casa Maison Minhota (3959 St-Laurent, 842-2661)
Best Thai
1. Cuisine Bangkok (Faubourg, 1616 Ste-Catherine W., 935-2178)
2. Chu Chai (4088 St-Denis, 843-4194)
3. Thai Express (various locations)
4. Chao Phraya (50 Laurier W., 272-5339)
5. Thai Grill (5101 St-Laurent, 270-5566)
Readers recognize that Montreal’s consistently best Thai food is made in a little (though growing) restaurant in a mall food court.
Best Vietnamese
1. Pho Bang New York (970 St-Laurent, 954-2032)
2. Chez Lien (various locations)
3. Pho Bac (5473 Victoria, 341-1265; 1016 St-Laurent, 393-8116)
4. Chez Tung (3593 Appleton, 735-1888)
5. La Merveille du Vietnam (4526 St-Denis, 844-9884)
Best Bagel
1. St-Viateur (263 St-Viateur W., 276-8044)
2. Fairmount (74 Fairmount W., 272-0667)
3. R.E.A.L Bagel (various locations)
4. DAD’s Bagels (5732 Sherbrooke W., 487-2454)
5. Faubourg's The Bagel Place (1616 Ste-Catherine W., 931-2827)
Best Barbecued Chicken
1. Coco Rico (3907 St-Laurent, 849-5554)
2. Chalet BBQ (5456 Sherbrooke W., 489-7235; 6825 Décarie, 739-3226)
3. St-Hubert (various locations; delivery 385-5555)
4. Côte-St-Luc BBQ (5403 Côte-St-Luc, 488-4011 and other locations)
5. Romados (115 Rachel E., 849-1803)
Best Burger
1. Harvey's (various locations)
2. La Paryse (302 Ontario E., 842-2040)
3. Patati Patata (4177 St-Laurent, 844-0216)
4. McDonald's (various locations)
5. Mister Steer (1198 Ste-Catherine W., 866-3233)
Best Falafel
1. Amir (various locations)
2. Boustan (2020A Crescent, 843-3576)
3. Basha (various locations)
4. Sara (1 Mont-Royal W., 844-7575)
5. Monsieur Falafel (415 Mont-Royal E., 499-0010)
Best Fries
1. Frites Alors (various locations)
2. McDonald's (various locations)
3. Lafleur (various locations)
4. Mondo Fritz (3899 St-Laurent, 281-6521)
5. La Belle Province (various locations)
Best Hot Dog
1. La Belle Province (various locations)
2. Lafleur (various locations)
3. Decarie Hot Dog (953 Decarie, 748-7213)
4. Montreal Pool Room (1200 St-Laurent, 396-0460)
5. Harvey's (various locations)
Best Noodles
1. Just Noodles (various locations)
2. Soupe et Nouilles (1871 Ste-Catherine W., 933-0531)
3. Zyng (various locations)
4. Pho Bang New York (970 St-Laurent, 954-2032)
5. U & Me (1900 Ste-Catherine W., 931-0081)
Best Pizza
1. Pizza Hut (various locations)
2. Double Pizza (various locations)
3. Al-Taïb (2125 Guy, 931-1999; 2002 Mackay)
4. Domino’s (various locations)
5. Euro Deli (3619 St-Laurent, 843-7853)
Best Poutine
1. La Belle Province (various locations)
2. La Banquise (994 Rachel E., 525-2415)
3. Lafleur (various locations)
4. Mondo Fritz (3899 St-Laurent, 281-6521)
5. Patati Patata (4177 St-Laurent, 844-0216)
Best Ribs
1. Bâton Rouge (various locations)
2. Bar-B-Barn (1201 Guy, 931-3811; 3300 des Sources, Pointe Claire, 683-0225)
3. Scores (various locations)
4. St-Hubert (various locations, delivery: 385-5555)
5. Magnan’s Tavern (2602 St-Patrick, 935-9647)
Best Sandwich
1. Santropol (3990 St-Urbain, 842-3110)
2. Subway (various locations)
3. Dagwoods (various locations)
4. Aux Vivres (4631 St-Laurent, 842-3479)
5. Schwartz’s (3895 St-Laurent, 842-4813)
Best Seafood
1. Milos (5357 Parc, 272-3522)
2. La Sirène de la Mer (1805 Sauvé W., 332-2255; 114 Dresden, TMR, 345-0345)
3. La Mer (1065 Papineau, 522-2889)
4. Maestro SVP (3615 St-Laurent, 842-6447)
5. Peter's Cape Cod (160 Ste-Anne, Ste-Anne de Bellevue, 457-0081)
Best Smoked Meat
1. Schwartz’s (3895 St-Laurent, 842-4813)
2. The Main (3864 St-Laurent, 843-8126)
3. Reuben’s (1116 Ste-Catherine W., 866-1029)
4. Smoked Meat Pete (283 1ere Ave,Ile Perrot 425-6068)
5. Dunns Famous Steakhouse Delicatessen (1249 Metcalfe, 395-1927)
Best Soup
1. SoupeSoup (80 Duluth E., 380-0880, 174 St-Viateur W., 271-2004)
2. La Caverne Grècque (105 Prince-Arthur, 844-5114)
3. Santropol (3990 St-Urbain, 842-3110)
4. Soupe et Nouilles (1871 Ste-Catherine W., 933-0531)
5. Chez José (173 Duluth E., 845-0693)
Charming local eatery SoupeSoup takes the top spot in this new category, with Soupes et Nouilles, surprisingly, being the only Asian entry in the top five.
Best Souvlaki
1. Arahova (various locations)
2. Georges Souvlaki (6995 Monkland, 482-0040)
3. Marathon Souvlaki (various locations)
4. Kojax (various locations)
5. Villa du Souvlaki (5347 Sherbrooke W., 489-2039)
Best Steak
1. Moishe's Steak House (3961 St-Laurent, 845-3509)
2. Le Bifthèque (6705 Côte-de-Liesse, 739-6336)
3. Gibby's (298 Place d'Youville, 282-1837)
4. The Keg (25 St-Paul E., 871-9093)
5. Bâton Rouge (various locations)
Best Vegetarian
1. Le Commensal (various locations)
2. Chu Chai (4088 St-Denis, 843-4194)
3. Aux Vivres (4631 St-Laurent, 842-3479)
4. Spirit Lounge (1205 Ontario E., 522-5353)
5. Santropol (3990 St-Urbain, 842-3110)
Best Bakery
1. Première Moisson (various locations)
2. Au Pain Doré (various locations)
3. Alati-Caserta (277 Dante, 271-3013)
4. De Gascogne (various locations)
5. Cheskie (359 Bernard W., 271-2253)
No great shock that French boulangeries dominate this category, though Hasidic ruggelah masters Cheskie squeeze in at #5.
Best Coffee
1. Tim Horton's (various locations)
2. Starbucks (various locations)
3. Second Cup (various locations)
4. Java U (various locations)
5. Café Olympico (Open da Night) (124 St-Viateur W., 495-0746)
Best Non-Chain Coffee
1. Café Olympico (Open da Night) (124 St-Viateur W., 495-0746)
2. Santropol (3990 St-Urbain, 842-3110)
3. Caffè Italia (6480 St-Laurent, 495-0059)
4. Kafein (1429 Bishop, 904-6969)
5. Toi, moi et café (244 Laurier W., 279-9599)
This new category recognizes that not all java is provided by monolithic chains with names that start with the letter “S,” with nods given to cafés Italian, French and hippyish alike.
Best Teahouse
1. Camellia Sinensis (351 Emery, 286-4002)
2. O-Cha-I (4669 St-Denis, 982-9229)
3. Cha Noir (4646 Wellington, Verdun, 769-1242)
4. Orien-thé (4511 St-Denis,995-6533)
5. Ritz-Carlton Hotel (1228 Sherbrooke W., 842-4212)
Best Locally Brewed Beer
1. Brutopia
2. Boréale
3. St-Ambroise
4. Dieu du Ciel
5. Cheval Blanc
Best Desserts/Sweets
1. Rockaberry (various locations)
2. Kilo Restaurant (various locations)
3. Calories (various locations)
4. Cocoa Locale (4807 Parc, 271-7162)
5. Cheaters (11618 Salaberry, Dollard- des-Ormeaux, 685-8889)
Best Ice Cream
1. Ben & Jerry's (various locations)
2. Bilboquet (1311 Bernard, 276-0414)
3. Dairy Queen (various locations)
4. Ripples (3880 St-Laurent, 842-1697)
5. Baskin Robbins (various locations)
Best Butcher
1. Chez Vito (5180 St-Urbain, 277-1981)
2. La Maison du roti (1969 Mont-Royal E., 521-2448)
3. Alim-Pot (20 Roy E., 982-6838)
4. J & R Kosher Meat and Delicatessen (5800 Cavendish, 369-2727)
5. Slovenia (3653 St-Laurent, 842-3558)
Best Vegetable/Fruit Stand
1. Jean-Talon Market (7075 Casgrain, 277-1588)
2. Atwater Market (134 Atwater, 932-4653)
3. PA (various locations)
4. Mourelatos (various locations)
5. Val-Mont (various locations)
Though it would have been nice for readers to be a little more specific, the vendors of the city’s two big markets take the prize this year—which among them is truly the best is up to you.
Best Fishmonger
1. Waldman (76 Roy E., 285-8747)
2. Poissonnerie NDG (1865 Notre-Dame, Lachine, 639-5565)
3. La Mer (1840 René-Lévesque E., 522-3003)
4. Falero (5726a Parc, 274-5541)
5. Nick at Alden Foods (2710 Halpern, 956-0687)
