Belém Vegan Café and Yoga Studio Strikes a Pose in the Plateau

PLATEAU — Belém, a vegan café and yoga studio, has made over the former Boutique Ana Maria at 4409 Saint-Laurent, between Mont-Royal and Marie-Anne. The California-inspired restaurant component of the space serves up a healthful menu of açai bowls, smoothies, energy balls, chia puddings, salads, sorbets, and avocado toasts. Now open as of 7 a.m. weekdays, 9 a.m. Saturdays, and 10 a.m. Sundays.

PLATEAU — Aux îles à sucre, a Caribbean and creole snack bar, caterer, and grocery store, is now open daily in the former Pâtisserie La Normande at 2222 Mont-Royal Est, between Parthenais and Messier.

PLATEAU — The diminutive Hào recently opened on Rachel, corner Laval. The bright little family-run business from Pinoy sibs Rachelle, Charles, and William Valle offers a succinct menu of dumplings (pork or vegetarian), buns (pulled pork or shiitake), a spiced cucumber salad with coriander and peanuts, and tea. Open Tuesday to Saturday.

A photo posted by HÀO (@epiceriehao) on Jun 4, 2016 at 10:21am PDT

LITTLE ITALY — Montreal's Mexican food scene is en fuego. Mercado, a self-described nueva cocina mexicana, is slated to open soon at 6961 Saint-Laurent, corner Bélanger, for brunch and dinner. The restaurant will offer a few menu hints this weekend as part of Little Italy's Grand Prix street bash.

LITTLE ITALY — Two more minor restaurant shuffles on Saint-Laurent were recently noted on Chowhound. Long in the tooth restaurants Via Roma and BYOW La Fornaria have been replaced by, respectively, La Locanda and Amici.

CÔTE-DES-NEIGES — Also from Chowhound: Méchant Café, a paragon third wave coffee shop in Côte-des-Neiges, has closed.