Best of Montreal 2000

>> Chow Time

Consumer Madness


Best cheap eats

1. 49-99 cent pizza (various locations)

2. La Belle Province (various locations)

3. McDonald's (various locations)

4. Just Noodles (various locations)

Honourable mentions: Alto's * Amir * Angie's * Bagels * Café Yi * Cosmos * Danny * Deli-Pat * Hospitals * Kilo * Kojax * La Cabane * Moe's * Rex's * Vichy's * VIP



Best pricey eats

1. Kaizen (4120 Ste-Catherine W., 932-5654)

2. Globe (3455 St-Laurent, 284-3823)

3. Queue de Cheval (1221 René-Lévesque W.,

390-0090)

4. Moishe's (3961 St-Laurent, 845-3509)

Honourable mentions: Berlin * Cafeteria * Chu Chai * Cities of Asia * Gibby's * Laloux * Le Paris * Mikado * Milos * Mojo * Nantha's Cuisine * Rustik * Sexy escorts * Troika



Best late-night eats

1. Picasso Serre (6810 St-Jacques W.,

484-2832, 24 hrs)

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

open until 3am; 1206 Peel, 878-3354,

open until 12am)

3. La Belle Province (various locations)

4. Chenoy's (various locations)

Honourable mentions: Amir * Angela's * Ben's * Falafel * Gigi's * Harvey's * Hermis * Kojax * Le Queen * Main * Pine Pizza * Pizza Dany * Reuben's * Schwartz * VIP



Best breakfast

1. Chez Cora Déjeuners (various locations)

2. Eggspectations (various locations)

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

4. Picasso Serre (6810 St-Jacques W.,

484-2832)

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

Honourable mentions: Benedicts * Chenoys * Cosmos * Da Pasquale * Dusty's * Hurley's * La Binerie * L'Avenue * L'Express * Moe's * Nickels * Oxford * The Circle * Tutti Frutti



Best pizza

1. Pizza Hut (various locations, 595-7474)

2. Pizzédélic (various locations)

3. Mike's (various locations)

4. Madona (various locations)/Double Pizza

(various locations)

Honourable mentions: 49 cent pizza * Amelio's * Angela's * Bonora * Corrine's * Danny * Donini * Duo Pizza * Euro-Deli * Gigi's * Giovan * Il Focolaio * Ilios * Jonas * Marco's * Motta Pizza * Opera Pizza * Pinoli's * Pizza Giovan * Pizzafiolle * Prado * Rex's * Zorba



Best souvlaki

1. Arahova Souvlaki (256 St-Viateur W.,

274-7828 and other locations)

2. Kojax (various locations)

3. Villa du Souvlaki (5347 Sherbrooke W., 489-2039)

4. Souvlaki Georges (6995 Monkland,

482-0040)

Honourable mentions: Altos * Amazona * Amir * Bonora * Caverne Grecque * Fattouch * Greek Village * Le Coin Grecque * Marathon Souvlaki * Tasso's Place



Best falafel

1. Amir (various locations)

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

3. Mr. Falafel (3750 St-Laurent, 843-7482;

415 Mont-Royal E., 499-0010)

4. Basha (various locations)

Honourable mentions: Ada's * Boustan * Cedre * Daou * Délices du Liban * House of Falafel * Jerusalem * Morocco * My own * Nilufar * Sara



Best poutine

1. La Belle Province (various locations)

2. Lafleur (various locations)

3. Tie: McDonald's (various locations),

Valentine's (various locations)

4. Mamma's Pizzeria (75 des Pins W., 288-1128)

Honourable mentions: Astral Deli * Champlain College cafeteria * Club Burger * Kent * KFC * La Roulotte * New Moon * Nickel's * Patati Patata



Best fries

1. McDonald's (various locations)

2. Frites Alors! (various locarions)

3. Lafleur's (various locations)/Mondo Fritz

(3899 St-Laurent, 281-6521)

4. La Belle Province (various locations)

Honourable mentions: B&M * Canada Drive-In * Club Burger * Cosmos * Frites Dorées * L'Anecdote * Mondo Fritz * Patati Patata * Rex's * Schwartz's



Best burger

1. Harvey's (various locations)

2. Mr. Steer (1198 Ste-Catherine W.,

866-3233)

3. Burger King (various locations)/ La Paryse (302 Ontario E., 842-2040)

4. McDonald's (various locations)

Honourable mentions: A&W * Astra Deli * Bonora's * Buffalo Bill's * Clairmont * Cosmos * Dilalos * Frites Alors! * Kojax* La Cabane * Lafleur's * Mama's * Reuben's * Rex's



Best sandwich

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

2. Dagwoods (various locations)

3. Subway (various locations)

4. Grano (3647 St-Laurent, 840-9000)

Honourable mentions: A.L. Van Houtte * Au Pain Doré * Boustan * Buffalo Bill's * Cantor's * Club Sandwich * Coppoli * Freedom * Fruits Folies * Kilo * Moe's * Olio's * Reuben's * Titanic



Best smoked meat

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

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

3. Nickel's (various locations)

4. Reuben's (888 Ste-Catherine W., 861-1255 and 1116 Ste-Catherine W., 866-1029)

Honourable mentions: Arby's * Chenoy's * Deli 12 * Deli Laurier * Dunn's * La Belle Province * Moe's * Picasso's * Smokey Pete's * Snowdon Deli * The Main * Zappys



Best BBQ chicken

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

2. Chalet BBQ (5456 Sherbrooke W.,

489-7235, 6825 Décarie, 739-3226)

3. Cote-St-Luc BBQ (5403 Cote-St-Luc,

488-4011 and other locations)

4. Laurier Barbecue (381 Laurier W.,

273-3671)

Honourable mentions: Au Coq * Bar B Barn * Chez Doval * Chicken Chalet * Coco Rico * Costenito * Dad's balcony * Dickson * Flaming Cock * Jano's * Maxi Takeout * Moevenpick * My own * Portugalia * Scores * Swiss Chalet



Best noodles

1. Just Noodles (various locations)

2. Soup & Noodles (various locations)

3. Zyng (1748 St-Denis, 284-2016)

4. Nantha's Cuisine (9 Duluth E., 845-4717)

5. Wakamono (1251 Mont-Royal E., 527-2747)

Honourable mentions: Catelli * Kam Shing * Lipton's cupasoup* Mr. Noodles * Nouilles Express * Pho Bang * Pho Hoas * Sesame * Deer Garden * Tam Po Po * VIP * Won Ton



Best buffet

1. Vichy's (3500 Cote-Vertu, 336-2322

and other locations)

2. Maharajah (1481 René-Lévesque W.,

934-0655)

3. La Stanza (various locations)

4. Le Commensal (various locations)

5. Bill Wong (5666 Sherbrooke E., 256-1694)

Honourable mentions: Bombay Palace * Chinatown * Eden Chinois * Fu-Lam * Jardin Tiki * Kirin * Maison India * Mandarin * Nan King * Raja * Ritz Carlton * Ruby Foo's



Best French

1. Beaver Club (Queen Elizabeth Hotel,

900 René-Lévesque W., 861-3511)

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

3. Laloux (250 Pins E., 287-9127)

4. Les Caprices de Nicolas (2072 Drummond, 282-9790)

Honourable mentions: Anders Boroff * Chez Frenchie * Chez Gauthier * Hélène de Champlain * Jongleux Café * Le 917 * Le Paris * Les Halles * L'Express * Nuances



Best Italian

1. Eduardo's (404 Duluth E. 843-3330,

1014 Laurier W., 948-1826)

2. Antico Martini (6450 Somerled,

489-6804)/East Side Mario's (various

locations)

3. Amelio's (201 Milton, 845-8396)

4. Cucina (4134 St-Laurent, 495-1131)/

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

Honourable mentions: Bice * Buona Notte * Café Epoca * Claudio Paluzzi * Da Vinci * Di Gestivo * Gavino's * Giorgio * Globe * Il Fortini * Pacini * Pizza Belanger * Pizzedelic * Place Tevere * To To's



Best Japanese/Sushi

1. Koji's Kaizen (4120 Ste-Catherine W.,

932-5654)

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

3. Mikado (1731 St-Denis, 844-5705; 368

Laurier W., 279-4809)

4. Soto (3527 St-Laurent, 842-1150;

500 McGill, 864-5115)

Honourable mentions: Azuka * Ginger * Ginza Sushi * Japonais * Katara * Kobe * Miki Nagata * Sakata * Sakura * Shodan * Sukiyaki * Tam Po Po * Tokiwa * Toyo *



Best Vietnamese

1. 14 Prince Arthur W. (ditto)

2. Pho Bang (6135 Cote-des-Neiges,

344-9776)

3. Crystal de Saigon (1068 St-Laurent,

875-4275)

4. Merveilles du Vietnam (4526 St-Denis, 844-9884)

5. Chez Tung (3593 Appleton, 735-1888

and 288 Laurier W., 278-6753)

Honourable mentions: An Thais * Chez Lien * Le Coin d'Asie * Milani's * Nouveau Saigon * Perle de l'Orient * Pho Bac * Pho Dan * Pho Trang Anh



Best Thai

1. Nantha's Cuisine (9 Duluth E., 845-4717)

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

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

Honourable mentions: Bangkok Blue * Bato Thai * Chao Phraya * Chez Taiwan * Chez Tung * Crystal de Saigon * Le Thailandaise * Pao Phra * Red Thai * Souvenirs de Bangkok * Soy * Taste of Bangkok * Thai Express * Thai House



Best Greek

1. Arahova Souvlaki (256 St-Viateur W.,

274-7828 and other locations)

2. Casa Grecque (various locations)

3. Philinos (4806 du Parc, 271-9099)

4. Amazona (5525 Cote-St-Luc, 484-2612 or 6151 Monkland, 484-2611; the two are

not affiliated)

Honourable mentions: Chez Tasso * Costa's * Hermes * Ilana Lemish's boyfriend * Ilios * Kojax * Kraft * Lafayette * Marvin's * Mezze * Milos * Porte Grecque * Spilos * Terasse Lafayette * Zorba



Best Indian

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

2. Étoile des Indes(1806 Ste-Catherine W., 932-8330)

3. Asha (3490 Parc, 844-3178)/Royal Cari (5213 St-Laurent, 278-8211)

4. Taj Mahal (5026 Sherbrooke W., 482-0076)

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

Honourable mentions: Darjeeling * Du Riz * Ganges * Ilias * Indiana * Indria * La Porte D'Inde * Le Taj * Mogul * Mysore * Pushab * Raga * Royal Cari *



Best Caribbean

1. Ma's (5889 Sherbrooke W., 487-7488)

2. Jardin de Cari (12 St-Viateur W., 495-0565)

3. Pick's (5155 de Maisonneuve W., 486-1857)

4. Maison de Cari (1433 Bishop, 845-0326)

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

Honourable mentions: Folklore * Jerk's * La Caretta * LaSalle Caribbean * Lele de Cuca * Li'l Ochie



Best Mexican

1. Carlos & Pepes (1420 Peel, 288-3090)

2. Mexicali Rosas (1425 Bishop, 284-0344 and other locations)

3. 3 Amigos (1237 Guy, 939-5990)

4. Lele de Cuca (70 Marie-Anne E., 849-6649)

Honourable mentions: Casa de Mateo * El Coyote * El Zaziummm * IZA * La Estacion * La Fiesta * Lilia's * Los Afuerrinos * Manana's * Tacqueria Mexicana



Best veggie

1. Le Commensal (various locations)

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

3. Faim du Monde (3655 St-Laurent,

281-9825)

4. Wrapps (5124-A Sherbrooke W., 482-8542)

Honourable mentions: Basha's veggie platter * Botanical Gardens * Elixir * Fontaine Santé * Grano * Les Vivres * Lola Rosa's * McDonald's * People's Potato * Subway



Best bagel

1. St-Viateur (263 St-Viateur W., 276-8044; 158 St-Viateur W., 27-2972; 340 Marcel- Laurin, 747-1649)

2. Fairmount (74 Fairmount W., 272-0067)

3. REAL Bagel (various locations)

4. DAD's Bagel 5732 Sherbrooke W., 487-2454)

5. Faubourg's The Bagel Place (1616

Ste-Catherine W., 931-2827)



Best bakery

1. Pain Doré (various locations)

2. Patisserie Belge (3485 Parc, 845-1245)

3. Navarino (5563 Parc, 279-7725)

4. St-Laurent Bakery (3830 St-Laurent,

845-4536)

5. Swiss Vienna (various locations)



Best locally brewed beer

1. Boréale

2. St-Ambroise

3. Cheval Blanc

4. Blanche de Chambly

Honourable mentions: Apple Cider * Brutopia's Raspberry Beer * Coup de Grisou * Dieu du Ciel home brew * Fin du Monde * Griffon * John Gauthier's Basement Brooskie * Loch Ness * Maudite * McAuslan



Best terrasse

1. St-Sulpice (1680 St-Denis, 844-9458)

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

3. Annie's (76 Ste-Anne, 457-0599)/

Le Sugar (3616 St-Laurent, 287-6555)

4. Club 737 (1 Place Ville-Marie, 397-0737)

Honourable mentions: Bar St-Louis * Café Nelson * Hotel de la Montagne * Le Figaro * Marlow's * Mine * Nelson Square * Second Cup * Topaze * Unity * Vol de Nuit



Best coffee

1. Second Cup (various locations)

2. A.L. Van Houtte (various locations)/

Open da Night (124 St-Viateur W.,

495-0746)

3. Starbucks (various locations)

4. Brulerie St-Denis (various locations)

Honourable mentions: Aux Deux Maries * Bocci * Café Epoca * Café Italia * Café Union * Ciné-Express * Coffee Gourmet Centre * Euro-Deli * Java U. * Kilo * Lino * News Room* Vieille Europe



Best pie and cake

1. Rockaberry's (4275 St-Denis, 844-9479; 5390 Queen Mary, 481-0092)

2. Kilo (5206 St-Laurent, 277-5039;

1495 Ste-Catherine E., 596-3933)

3. Calories (4114 Ste-Catherine W., 933-8186)

4. Franny's (5528 Monkland, 486-2033)



Best ice cream

1. Ben & Jerry's (1316 de Maisonneuve W., 286-6073; 5582 Monkland, 488-6524;

433 Place Jacques-Cartier, 876-4121)

2. Le Bilboquet (1311 Bernard W., 276-0414)

3. Laura Secord (various locations)

4. Dairy Queen (various locations)

Honourable mentions: Alcoholic place on Duluth E. * Baskin-Robbins * Boboule * La Crémière * Hilly's and Jilly's * La Cremière * Meu Meu * Ripples



New food trend

1. Noodle bars

2. Take-out sushi

3. The end of fusion cuisine

Honourable mentions: Bulimia * Cheap soups * Eating off a naked chick * Edible bacon slippers * Free vegan food at Concordia * Fried maggots * American-style portions * Nerds & Colt 45 = fun * Vietnamese submarine *



Chowing down in Chinatown

Walking into Chinatown, you'll immediately notice signs offering Banh Mi and Soupe Tonkinoise. These two staples of Vietnamese cuisine are hearty and cheap.

Banh Mi are Vietnamese sandwiches, a sub-like equivalent to a hot dog or Shish Taouk. Inside a crusty French baguette, a holdover from Vietnam's former French regime, you'll find paté, Vietnamese bologna and ham, BBQ pork, pickled carrots and daikon and lemon grass. Pick up three for $5 at Thanh Cong (9C de la Gauchetière, just east of St-Laurent) and enjoy lunch with two friends for a fiver.

Soupe Tonkinoise is another matter: a steaming bowl of beef broth, rice vermicelli, flank steak, tripe, tendon and a variety of other optional specialty meats. Some of the best can be found at Pho Bac (1016 St-Laurent) where it comes in three sizes, huge, enormous, and absurd. Good luck.

For other Vietnamese staples like grilled pork and Imperial rolls (the lighter, less greasy cousin of the spring roll), try Kim Lien (1001 St-Laurent).

Asian snack food appeals to anime geeks, candy ravers and adventurous eaters alike. For dried mangos, Japanese yogurt candy, shrimp chips, and brightly-coloured cartoon gum, check out Uni (1029 St-Laurent). You'll also find Red Bull and a Taiwanese iced coffee called Mr. Brown. This is Chinatown's 1-2 punch. Don't plan to sleep after downing a pair of these. There's also the ever-popular squid jerky, which somehow combines sweet and fishy and pulls it off nicely. Beware of squid breath.

When it comes to late-night eats, Maison VIP (1077 Clark) is one of Montreal's worst-kept secrets. Boasting a menu of encyclopedic proportions and extremely liberal opening hours (is 5 a.m. late enough for you club kids?), VIP has a full house at 4 a.m. every Saturday. The food is excellent, service is friendly and prices are low. You'll need reservations for evenings. Right across the street, try Ming-Do for the best seafood in Chinatown. A bit pricier than other restaurants in the area, an excessive dinner for two still goes for under $30. Best tip: try the duck and taro hotpot. It'll make you consider moving closer to Chinatown.

If moving fast is your thing, stop in at Peche Délice (71 de la Gauchetière) for fast food, Hong Kong style. Alongside a vast menu of luncheonette-style dishes, Peche Délice also has a variety of homemade Chinese buns, as well as cakes and Dim Sum specialties. Hong Kong movies play on ceiling-mounted TVs while you eat, so your Andy Lau fix is only a BBQ pork bun away.

Two doors down, there's the legendary Jade Garden (67 de la Gauchetière). A huge Chinese buffet, Jade Garden is virtually unique in that category in that it's actually very good. Dishes range from typical fried buffet fare to Dim Sum dumplings, a large vegetarian table, good desserts, freshly roasted pork, duck and chicken, and even rice congee, a gelatenous soupy rice dish that isn't at all nasty once you get used to it. The best deal is between 2 and 4 p.m., when the buffet is only $5.75.

For the real Dim Sum experience, you have to yum cha (drink tea) at La Maison Kam Fung (1008 Clark). Sunday morning Dim Sum at Kam Fung is a Montreal institution; expect to spend about $10 a person and be stuffed. *
-- Michael Citrome