Best late night eats

1. Picasso Serre
(6810 St-Jacques W., 484-2832) Open 24hrs

2. Euro Deli
(3619 St-Laurent, 843-7853) Open until 3am

3. Angela
(1662 de Maisonneuve W., 933-2000) Open until 5am

4. Club Sandwich
(1570 Ste-Catherine E., 288-1736) Open 24hrs

5. Chenoy's
(355 Curé-Labelle, Chomedey, 682-0606; 6200 Taschereau, Brossard, 926-3354; 3616 St-Johns, D.D.O., 620-2584) Open 24hrs

1. Eggspectations
(198 Laurier W., 278-6411; 2305 Rockland, 344-3651; 1313 de Maisonneuve W., 842-3447)

2. Chez Cora Déjeuners
(various locations)

3. Cosmos
(5843 Sherbrooke W., 486-3814)

4. Beauty's
(93 Mont Royal W., 849-8883)

5. Picasso Serre
(6810 St-Jacques, 484-2832)

1. Tie: Pizzédélic
(various locations);

Pizza Hut
(various locations, 595-7474 for delivery)

2. Euro Deli
(3619 St-Laurent, 843-7853)

3. Tie: Pizza Pino
(1471 Crescent, 289-1930); Pizza Donini
(various locations, 383-6000 for delivery)

4. Tie: Domino's Pizza
(various locations); Pizza Madona
(various locations)

5. Angela
(1662 de Maisonneuve W., 933-2000)

1. Arahova Souvlaki
(3925 St-Martin W., Laval, 688-3535 and various other locations; and of course 256 St-Viateur W., 274-7828, which is not affiliated with the above)

2. Souvlaki Georges
(6995 Monkland, 482-0040)

3. Tie: Kojax
(various locations); Villa du Souvlaki (5347 Sherbrooke W., 489-2039)

4. Marathon
(3938 Notre Dame, Chomedey, 681-7385 dining and delivery;
784 Labelle, 681-9449, pick-up and delivery)

5. Amir
(various locations)

1. Amir
(various locations)

2. Mr. Falafel
(3750 St-Laurent, 843-7482; 415 Mont-Royal E., 499-0010)

3. Fattouch
(3673 St-Laurent, 499-9093)

4. Basha
(various locations)

5. Tie: Aida's Restaurant
(1500 McGill College, 1st floor, 843-4266); Sara (4495 St-Laurent, 843-9014)

1. La Belle Province (various locations)

2. Lafleur (various locations)

3. McDonalds (various locations)

4. Green Spot (3041 Notre-Dame W., 932-2340), Burger King (various locations), Valentine (various locations) (tie)

5. Tie: Mondo Fritz (3899 St-Laurent, 281-6521); Shed Café (3515 St-Laurent, 842-0220)

Honourable mentions: Rapido, Chez Claudette, New System, Décarie Hot Dog, Patati Patata. >> Let's face facts: potatoes are potatoes and cheddar is cheddar, but the real kingmaker for any poutine is that nondescript culinary delight, the sauce brune. It brings out the blue-collar gastronome in all of us. The ideal gravy, when served hot, should have both the consistency and color of motor oil after two weeks in a six-cylinder engine. (When kept in the refrigerator overnight to preserve freshness, it should take on certain gelatinous attributes that would render it easily mistaken for a bowl of chocolate Jell-O pudding.) Too thick, and the gravy curds start competing with the cheese curds; too thin, and you've got a really bland potato-cheese soup on your hands, and that's not what you paid $3.50 for. When it strikes your tastebuds, it should conjure up images in the mind of smoked, puréed, liquefied mystery meat. And the saltier the better. Mmmmmmm...

1. Frites Alors
(5235-A du Parc 948-2219; 1562 Laurier E., 524-6336; 433 Rachel E., 843-2490)

2. McDonald's
(various locations)

3. Lafleurs
(various locations)

4. Tie: Belle Province
(various locations); Mondo Fritz
(3899 St-Laurent, 281-6521)

5. Tie: Harvey's
(various locations)

Grano (3647 St-Laurent, 840-9000)

1. Harvey's
(various locations)

2. La Paryse
(302 Ontario E., 842-2040)

3. Burger King
(various locations)

4. Shed Café
(3515 St-Laurent, 842-0220)

5. Mister Steer
(1198 Ste-Catherine W., 866-3233)

1. Vichy
(6406 Sherbrooke E., 253-5650 and various other locations)

2. La Stanza
(6878 Jean Talon E., 256-9674)

3. Buffet Mandarin
(1240 Stanley, 871-8099)

4. Tie: Mother Tucker's
(1175 Place du Frère-André, 866-5525; 6971 Côte-de-Liesse, 737-0092); Le Commensal (various locations); Bill Wong Restaurants (7965 Décarie, 731-8202; 5666 Sherbrooke E., 256-1694; 1595 Laurentides, 668-8221)

5. Bombay Palace
(2051 Ste-Catherine W., 932-7141)

1. Les Halles
(1450 Crescent, 844-2328)

2. L'Express
(3927 St-Denis, 845-5333)

3. Tie: Chez Georges
(1155 Sherbrooke W., 288-6181); Laloux (250 des Pins E., 287-9127)

1. Da Emma
(777 de la Commune W., 392-1568)

2. Tie: Il Cortile
(1442 Sherbrooke W., 843-8230); Pasta Mia (303 du Golf, Ile des Soeurs, 765-9626)

3. Buona Notte (3518 St-Laurent, 848-0644)

4. Tie: Wienstein and Gavino's
(1434 Crescent, 288-2231); Le Latini (1130 Jeanne-Mance, 861-3166)

5. Tie: Digestivo
(5626 Monkland, 484-9402); Il Sole (3627 St-Laurent, 282-4996)

1. Bombay Palace
(2051 Ste-Catherine W., 932-7141)

2. Tie: Buffet Maharaja
(1481 René-Lévesque W., 934-0655); Golden Curry House; (5210 St-Laurent, 270-2561); Pushap (11991 Gouin W., 683-0556)

1. Curry House
(1433 Bishop, 845-0326)

2. Rainbow
(5345 de Maisonneuve W., 486-9496)

3. Bayou-Brasil
(4552 St-Denis, 847-0088)

1. Soto
(3527 St-Laurent, 842-1150)

2. Koji Kaizen Sushi Bar
(4120 Ste-Catherine W., 932-5654)

3. Mikado
(1731 St-Denis, 844-5705; 368 Laurier W., 279-4809)

4. Katsura
(2170 de la Montagne, 849-1172)

5. Tie: Sakura
(2114 de la Montagne, 288-9122); Ginger (16 des Pins E., 844-2121)

1. Thai Grill
(5101 St-Laurent, 270-5566)

2. Chao Phraya
(50 Laurier W., 272-5339)

3. Chu Chai
(4088 St-Denis, 843-4194)

4. Copacabana
(3910 St-Laurent, 982-0880)

5. Thai Express
(3677 St-Laurent, 844-4440)

1. Mexicali Rosa's
(1425 Bishop, 284-0344)

2. Carlos and Pepe
(1420 Peel, 288-3090)

3. Casa de Mateo
(440 St-François Xavier, 844-7448)

4. El Zaziummm
(1276 Laurier E., 598-0344; 4525 du Parc, 499-3675; 51 Roy, 844-0893)

5. Taqueria Mexicaine
(4306 St-Laurent, 982-9462)

1. Commensal
(various locations)

2. Santropol
(3990 St-Urbain, 842-3110)

3. Chu Chai
(4088 St-Denis, 843-4194)

4. Wrapp's
(5124-A Sherbrooke W., 482-8542)

5. Tie: Chez Soi
(421 Marie-Anne E., 847-7598); Pushap (11991 Gouin W., 683-0556)

Nice to know that those of us who avoid gnawing on flesh don't have to suffer the indignity of endless bland tofu stirfries. The old guard of the category, Commensal and Santropol, have come out on top again. Of note, though, is Thai-breaker Chu Chai. Their scientifically formulated fake meats can fool most at a quick glance/chew. Delicious, nutritious and completely guilt-free.

1. St. Viateur
(263 St-Viateur W., 276-8044)

2. Fairmount
(74 Fairmount W., 272 0667)

3. REAL Bagel
(4940 Queen Mary, 737-8841; 6160 Côte St-Luc, 484-3323)

4. Dad's Bagels
(5732 Sherbrooke W., 487-2454)

5. Yagel Bagel
(Décarie Square, 738-4231; 2075 St-Louis, 748-9016; 6579 Somerled, 489-5250)

1. Pain Doré
(various locations)

2. Pâtisserie Belge
(3485 du Parc, 845-1245)

3. Gascogne
(6095 Gouin W., 331-0550)

4. Tie: Premiere Moisson
(7075 Casgrain, 270-3701)

San Marco
(1581 Jean-Talon E., 727-5401)

Duc de Lorraine
(5002 Côte-des-Nieges, 731-4128)

1. Schwartz's
(3895 St-Laurent, 842-4813)

2. Dunn's
(892 Ste-Catherine W., 866-4377)

3. Ben's
(990 de Maisonneuve W., 844-1000)

4. Nickels (various locations)

5. Main
(3864 St-Laurent, 843-8126)

1. Boréal Rousse

2. Griffon

3. St. Ambroise

4. Molson

5. Cheval Blanc

Honourable mentions: Brutopia Nut Brown Ale, Maudite, Blanche de Chambly, Unibroue, Belle Gueule, Blanche de l'Ile

Beer, the champagne of the working class and retired pro athletes. The final result of a mixture of malt, hops, yeast and water. We here in Montreal are particularly blessed with several fine micro-breweries, from the malt-heavy sweetness of a Boréal Rousse or Blonde to the dry crispness of McAuslan's various Burton-style ales and seasonal brews. Of course, the traditionalists among us stay true to the fermented rice water brought to you by Molson, or they appreciate Cheval Blanc's iconoclastic selection of groundbreaking products. Finally, Brutopia's Nut Brown Ale also garnered several well-deserved votes. Samples of the above are also welcome at our offices.

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Best terrasse

1. Thursday's
(1449 Crescent, 288-5656)

2. Tie: Santropol
(3990 St-Urbain, 842-3110); St. Sulpice (1680 St-Denis, 844-9458)

3. Winnie's
(1455 Crescent, 288-0623)

4. Tie: Wienstein & Gavino's
(1434 Crescent, 288-2231); Le Cirque (1468 Crescent, 499-9500)

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Best coffee

1. 2nd Cup
(various locations)

2. Le Cirque
(1468 Crescent, 499-9500)

3. A.L. Van Houtte
(various locations)

4. Open da Night
(124 St-Viateur W., 495-0746)

5. Via Crescent
(1418 Crescent, 843-3896)

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Most decadent indulgence

Some of our favourites:

"Post-coital Dunn's cheesecake at 3am"

"Nutella, in interesting ways"

"Big-assed slab of mystery meat"

"Chocolate-covered strawberries with whipped cream"

"Häagen-Dazs Caramel Explosion with maple syrup"

and of course "weed and sleep"

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Best BBQ chicken

1. Côte St. Luc
(4006 St-Catherine W., 935-5000; 5403 Côte-St-Luc, 488-4011; 4175 Jean-Talon W., 731-5000)

2. St. Hubert
(various locations, 385-5555)

3. Chalet BBQ
(5456 Sherbrooke W. 489-7235; 6825 Décarie, 739-3226)

4. Coco Rico
(3907 St-Laurent, 849-5554)

White meat or dark? Anyone who did any growing up in Montreal understands the weighty import of this question: it was our initiation to the big, scary world of consumer choice, the first purchasing decision our parents ever allowed us to make. Outings to the barbecued-chicken restaurant were always big family affairs, the place you went when your cousins came in from out of town. Everyone would pile into two cars, and when the big yellow cone with the Foghorn Leghorn lookalike would come into sight, the kids would go ape. There was never enough of that yummy gravy, and mom would hand over her coveted bowl to whomever was best behaved. Meanwhile, Grampa would sit at the head of the table, never saying a word, gumming away at his fries. Jesus, what rich memories. I love you dad...