Montreal’s 2018 Restaurant Scene, As Described In One Word

As is tradition at Eater, we close the year with a survey of food critics, writers, bloggers, and people about town. This year we posed eight questions, from meal of the year, to top restaurant newcomers. All will be revealed by the time we turn off the lights at the end of 2018. Responses are unedited, except for grammar and translations, which are italicized.

Q: Sum up the 2018 restaurant world in one word.

Lesley Chesterman, Montreal Gazette dining critic:

Renewal.

Jean-Philippe Tastet, Le Devoir dining critic:

Curiosity.

Ian Harrison, Ricardo magazine; Eater Montreal founding editor:

Diversified.

JP Karwacki, Eater Montreal and Cult MTL contributor:

Sonorous, because of the big, comforting meals and cuisines that took the stage so often.

Mallory Frayn, Eater Montreal contributor:

2017 was pretty underwhelming so I’d say 2018 was a comeback.

Iris Paradis-Gagnon, La Presse restaurant reporter and critic:

Hyperactif! (Hyperactive!)

Ève Dumas, La Presse restaurant reporter:

Change.

Mayssam Samaha, Will Travel For Food blog:

Casual spots, spicy food.

Élise Tastet, Tastet blog:

Coolest.

Mélanie Boudreau, La Pique-Assiette blog:

Creativity.

Tommy Dion, Nightlife.ca critic and writer, blogger for Le Cuisinomane:

Le retour aux sources. (Back to its roots.)

Allison Van Rassel, food columnist at CBC/Radio-Canada Quebec City (note: answers pertain to Quebec City):

Asian. One does not expect to eat yakitoris typical of Japan in the heart of Quebec City. 2018 made that happen, twice.