Zero8, Montreal's First Hypoallergenic Restaurant, Crowdfunds Relocation

Zero8, the restaurant that hit the scene six years ago with promises of a space safe from fish and seafood, peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, dairy, soy, and eggs, is about to reopen in Rosemont-La-Petite-Patrie. The hypoallergenic pioneer was forced to close its original Quartier Latin restaurant in November 2013. Management made this announcement on Facebook at the time (translated): “Unfortunately, our unsuccessful attempts to negotiate a new lease reflect the new economic reality in Montreal. It is with great sadness that we announce the closure of ZERO8 Quartier Latin on Saint-Denis. Please note that this closure is effective immediately.”

Zero8 subsequently embarked on a long search and crowdfund drive to secure a new space and the necessary funds to start fresh. The restaurant's owners, Dominique Dion, Steve Thomas, and Chris Marcolefas, frequently declared throughout the process that the econonomic environment in the city was a major challenge but swore perseverence. That tenacity is about to pay off, apparently, as Zero8 seems poised to reopen soon. The self-described gluten-free steakhouse has a shiny new kitchen, new chairs, and a new home on Bélanger, corner de la Roche, in the former Lili Margot restaurant.

Status: Zero8, 1141 Bélanger, (438) 795-3312, will open shortly—date tbd.