“World’s Worst Coffee” Available Downtown, and Other Openings

It’s been peak opening season, and not every place can get the full-length article treatment, so here’s a round-up of a few recently opened eating and drinking options in Montreal.

DOWNTOWN — Pigeon Espresso Bar is now open on de Maisonneuve and Bishop downtown. Their marketing ploy seems to play on some concept of either reverse psychology or “things one would do on ‘opposites day’”, claiming to serve the “world’s worst coffee”. Given that they’re serving Montreal roasters Kittel and Portland’s Stumptown, the coffee likely can’t be that bad, but you have to appreciate their pretentiousness-free approach to brewing, with their declaration that “we pour hot water onto crushed up beans”. They also have kombucha and cold brew on tap, and are serving baked goods from Guillaume. Pigeon is open seven days at 1392 de Maisonneuve West.

PLATEAU — Between a restaurant fire and the opening of Kampai Garden, Antonio Park has already had a busy month. Now he’s helping out on a charitable soup pop-up running through December 16 on St-Laurent Boulevard, on the lower Plateau. La Cantine par Campbell’s is a charity fundraiser (but for soup instead of funds) with Campbell’s Soup, where Park created recipes with Campbell’s bases and they’re getting served up for free. Each time someone shares some aspect of the event, Campbell’s will donate soup to food bank Moisson. While it’s definitely the sort of scheme that has the dual-purpose of marketing Campbell’s products, you can’t exactly beat up on them too hard on account of the whole charity thing. La Cantine is open seven days from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m at 3547 St-Laurent.

PLATEAU/LONGUEUIL — Chef Jérôme Ferrer’s chain of high-end snack bars keeps on expanding, even if not every location has succeeded (the St-Bruno-de-Montarville outlet notably tanked recently). There are now two more Jerry Ferrer Casse Croûte du Terroir spots, one on the corner of St-Laurent and Sherbrooke, and another on the south shore, in the Greenfield Park sector of Longueuil, serving up the same menu with fancied up plates such as lobster poutine or a surf ‘n’ turf burger. There’s now six Jerry Ferrer locations open with another three slated — one for Laval, and two more on the island.

NDG — The Monkland Village has a new spot for Greek eats: Olive & Citron cracked its doors open earlier this week, promising traditional homestyle recipes. The menu definitely feels homey and Greek, with ample haloumi, grilled seafood, and robust classics such as moussaka and pastitsio. Olive & Citron is open seven days for lunch and dinner at 5508 Monkland, the menu is posted to their Facebook.

• Pigeon Espresso Bar [Official Site]
• Antonio Park Restaurants Forced Shut By Fire [EMTL]
• Your First Look at Kampai Garden’s Wild Industrial-Organic Space [EMTL]
• La Cantine par Campbell’s [Facebook]
• Europea Chef Jérôme Ferrer Peddles Chain of Rockabilly Snack Bars [EMTL]
• Nos Restaurants [Jerry Ferrer]
• Olive & Citron [Facebook]