Food Writers Name Montreal's Biggest Dining Surprises of 2015

As is tradition at Eater, we close the year with a survey of food critics, writers, and bloggers. This year we posed eight questions, from meal of the year, to top restaurant newcomers. All will be answered by the time we turn off the lights at the end of 2015. Responses have been cut, pasted, and unedited, for the most part. Readers, please do add your survey answers in the comments.

Q: What were the biggest surprises of 2015?

Lesley Chesterman, Montreal Gazette:
I liked seeing these little-known chefs like Fuad Alnirabie, Antonin Mousseau-Rivard, and Jason Morris giving the city’s better-known chefs a run for their money.

Marie-Claude Lortie, La Presse:
That Olive + Gourmando's owners Dyan Solomon and Eric Girard would finally open a new restaurant, Foxy, after years, if not decades, of saying "no it won't happen."

Jean-Philippe Tastet, Le Devoir:
Candide, Soubois, et Le Mousso.

Iris Paradis-Gagnon, La Presse:
For me, it was Provisions. I really like their fresh take on the dinner experience, where the menu is created each day, a real "cuisine du marché." I have to say I really love the concept of having no decisions to make and leaving everything in the hands of the chefs. Un vrai menu dégustation à l’aveugle!

Joanna Fox, Ricardo magazine, Eater Montreal contributor:
The Chak Wow pop-up at Sparrow.

Élise Tastet, Tastet blog:
The closing of les trois petits bouchons. Really liked that place.

Mélanie Boudreau, La Pique-Assiette blog:
Les brunchs du resto La Récolte espace local. Ouvert depuis 2 ans, leur philosophie prône une cuisine 100% locale et de saison (à l’exception du sucre et du café), et leurs déjeuners sont incroyablement savoureux, frais et créatifs.