Montreal’s Newest Microbrewery Is Now Dispensing on the Plateau — and Other Openings

PLATEAU — It’s been a good year for new microbreweries and beer bars setting up in Montreal, and here’s one more: Le Dispensaire de Bière (Beer Dispensary) is now open on the Prince-Arthur pedestrian street. This one is a little different — it’s take-out only, doing mostly growlers brewed and filled on-site. To start with, the brewery has a light, sunny session IPA, a malty English Pale Ale, and an ESB brewed partially for Gatineau, Quebec, restaurant Bistro L’Autre Oeil. More will be brewed in future, courtesy of a brewer brought in from Hull’s Brasseurs du Temps and Mile End’s Helm — for example, a sour beer is in the works right now. Beer goes at $8.69 for a litre, or less for a larger quantity, and kegs are available too, all from a shiny Plateau storefront.

PLACE-DES-ARTS — Japanese hot dogs have arrived downtown, with Hotto Doggu now open right at the centre of the Quartier des Spectacles. While there’s no connection with the purported creator of Japanese-style hot dogs, Vancouver’s Japadog, Hotto Doggu riffs off the same theme, with dogs laden with umami flavours from Kewpie mayo to bonito flakes and karaage chicken.

Hélico/Facebook

HOCHELAGA-MAISONNEUVE — A shiny new addition to the east end caffeine scene, Hélico is now open on Lasalle and Ontario. It’s part one of a two-part project from several Bouillon Bilk alumni — it’s a cute and bright spot doing mostly coffee and pastries, with a short lunch-friendly menu and weekend brunches. Neighbouring Hélicoptère is still on the way for June — read the details over here.

Pâtisserie Lawrence V/Facebook

MILE END — An elaborate new bakery has arrived on Parc Avenue at Villeneuve, with Pâtisserie Lawrence V now open. As previously clarified, it has no connection to nearby restaurant and butcher shop Lawrence. Instead, it’s named for young owner Lawrence Vourtzoumis — and he has some pastry chops, having studied desserts at reputed Old Montreal pastry house Christian Faure.

DOWNTOWN — Brossard Thai restaurant Siam has multiplied, with a downtown Montreal location now open in Hôtel Le Crystal on de la Montagne and Rene-Levesque. Hotels in Montreal have generally been reticent to stray too far from generally European or so-called “continental” food, so it’s a welcome shuffle to that sector of Montreal’s dining scene — and one of very few Thai restaurants of note in that inner core area (the other being PhayaThai).

Mik M./Yelp

PLATEAU — Slightly divey Prince-Arthur Street bar Vol de Nuit recently reopened with quite the makeover, now sporting a sleek, reddish cabaret-style setting. That’s fitting, because according to food site Tastet, the bar’s new owner is Andre Nguyen of nearby Big in Japan, so it fits with the aesthetic of that popular cocktail bar further up St-Laurent.

DOWNTOWN/PLATEAU — It seems there’s a budding Portuguese chicken chain on Montreal’s fast casual eating scene: bird grillers Monteiro have opened up on Bishop and Maisonneuve, alongside Concordia University, following an existing location on Côte-des-Neiges. Another new one is also reportedly open for business St-Laurent near Pins.

Pho Rachel/Facebook

PLATEAU — The Plateau could do with more pho options, so here’s one: Pho Rachel is now open, and doing the Vietnamese beef soup — surprise — on Rachel Street.

PLATEAU — The former Namaste on Milton Street is now Tô Comptoir Asiatique, a tiny nook doing banh mi sandwiches, spring rolls, and a sushi option in the heart of McGill student territory.

• Japanese Hot Dogs Are Making Their Way to Place-Des-Arts [EMTL]
• Café Hélico & Restaurant Hélicoptère: A Double Act Coming This Spring [EMTL]
• Vol de nuit: la deuxième vie du bar mythique de Prince-Arthur [Tastet]