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The Village gets a new Portuguese chicken spot today, as fast-casual option Carlos opens on Sainte-Catherine East, near Beaudry metro station.
It comes from PJ Goupil — known for working closely with major restaurant and bar group A5 Hospitality on projects like Kampai Garden — but the new restaurant is a smaller operation, as he’s partnered with friend Amine Ouadahi (Mayfair) to open it, and no big groups.
Goupil tells Eater that as a more independent project without as much money involved, Carlos will keep it simple (note that Carlos isn’t to be confused with Dom Carlos, a Portuguese restaurant further east on Ste-Catherine). He dubs it a fast-casual place and saying that he hopes it can function similarly to some youthful, popular chains that have gained big followings in the U.S. with quality burgers or salads.
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Goupil cites the grilled chicken and fries from Plateau favourites Romados and Ma Poule Mouillée as obvious inspirations here — and he has ample experience with those places.
“Every Monday after one of our bar meetings [at Mayfair], Amine and I would go to Poule Mouillée or Romados, buy a full chicken and a salad and go eat it.”
But the menu at Carlos isn’t quite the same — sandwiches will be a centrepiece, with chicken, pork, and chorizo options. The small menu also features classic spicy grilled chicken, a poutine loaded up with that bird and chorizo too, a few combo platters, fries, salad, and natas (Portuguese custard tarts). And the price is right — a sandwich with fries and drink comes in under $10, before tax.
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The space itself is clean and whitewashed, with Portuguese tiling, greenery, and a splash of red in its banquettes. It comes from designer Amlyne Phillips, who also worked on Kampai Garden.
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STATUS — Carlos is open at 1278 Sainte-Catherine E from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday to Sunday.
- Carlos [Official]
- Restaurant Wunderkind PJ Goupil on Kampai Garden and Taking Risks [EMTL]