Arëm's Reign as the Most Expensive Restaurant in Montreal is Over

Call it a complete reversal for Arëm, the infamous pusher of royal Ottoman Empire cuisine that was, at one time, more expensive than the likes of Toqué! and Maison Boulud.

ICYMI, here's Arëm's adventures in extreme elBulli-ish food styling.

As of this week the Griffintown restaurant has a new focus: tapas bar.

Almost a year after chef/owner Reza Azarpoor threw the mother of all PR wing-dings, only to shutter months later amid a cloud of suspicion, Arëm is back with a small plates menu that makes the restaurant more accessible.

A revamped main dish lineup–between $29 for a chicken roulade and $48 for a 'Sultan plate'–is far from cheap but the emphasis now, clearly, is on cocktails and hot and cold tapas.

The new Arëm is open Thursday, Friday, Saturday from 6:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. and Sunday for brunch from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Have a look the menu.