Affordable New Portuguese Rotisserie Touches Down in the Village

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.

Evelyne Pellerin/Carlos

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.

Evelyne Pellerin/Carlos

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.

Evelyne Pellerin/Carlos

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]