Allergy Restaurant Zéro 8 Looks To Expand, and Other Intel

Eater slowed down a little bit over the holiday season, so here’s a recap of just some of the restaurant news you may have missed.

PETITE-PATRIE — “The allergy restaurant” (perhaps better known as Zéro 8) is hoping to reproduce, opening other allergy-accommodating eateries with the help of crowd-funding. Zero8, which is known for offering a menu entirely free of eight major allergens (including nuts, gluten, and eggs) has had a slightly checkered past. It looked doomed after a lease situation forced its Latin Quarter location to close, only to return to life on Belanger after a long absence — where it drew kind words in its first major review. Crowd sourcing funds worked for that re-opening, but crowd-funding a franchise operation could be a hefty task — that said, Zero8 has a pretty loyal following and support from Epipen, so maybe it’s not that wild of a hope. The first new location is likely to be Quebec City.

MILE END — Hit Sherbrooke microbrewery Siboire is making the move to Montreal, and will be installing itself on the corner of St-Laurent and Laurier. La Tribune reports that it’s going to be a pricy overhaul, in the million dollar range, and will have 40-odd employees. Expect the beer to start flowing in April: we’ll keep you updated on what to expect.

CÔTE-DES-NEIGES — Did you think you’d heard the end of debate about bylaws that would restrict the number of restaurants on commercial streets? Think again — likely inspired by the relatively prominent case of Notre-Dame Street, it’s being floated as something for Côte-des-Neiges Road, too. These are nothing new though: these sorts of bylaws which space out restaurants were in place much earlier in some other parts of the city, including Bernard and St-Viateur in the Mile End, but that’s not going to stop silly Libertarian publications missing the point of the bylaw and writing angry things about it.

DOWNTOWN — Sainte-Catherine falafels-and-more spot Marché Ferdous has drawn a flurry of media attention from here to the BBC for its not-actually-new policy of giving free food to people who can’t afford it. The idea is grounded in the owner’s faith — as a Muslim, he says he’s obliged to help the needy. With all that media attention, will people try to abuse the system? Almost certainly, so let’s hope they get enough paying customers to make up for it: it’s certainly drawing ample love to their as-yet-unclaimed Facebook page.

DOWNTOWN — All-you-can-eat Brazilian meatfest Le Milsa is moving. Top Eater tipster Neil writes that a Le Milsa sign is sitting in the dining room of the Crescent Street location formerly occupied by Newtown.

LITTLE BURGUNDY — In a preview of 2017 food trends, The Globe and Mail declares that plants are “so in” for this year, giving a special shout-out to the plant-based cuisine enthusiasts at Candide.

INSTAGRAM — Does being a material girl extend to a fondness for Jewish consumer goods? Maybe, as Hof Kelsten’s challah appears to have been endorsed by Madonna. Sort of. Profligate bread-squeezer Bread Face (@breadface) ‘grammed herself hanging out with one of Jeffrey Finkelstein’s raisin challah loaves, and Madonna shared it.

• Sociofinancement [Zero8]
• Zero8, Montreal's First Hypoallergenic Restaurant, Crowdfunds Relocation [EMTL]
• Reviewer Says Accords Le Bistro Sucks No More [EMTL]
• Le Siboire de Montréal ouvrira à la fin avril [La Tribune]
• Southwest borough votes to restrict restaurants [CTV]
• Montreal Bans New Restaurants to Protect Incumbents [Reason]
• Montreal restaurant Marche Ferdous warms hearts with free meals policy [BBC]
• Mind your menus: What to expect from the world of food and drink in 2017 [Globe and Mail]