Daniel Vézina Departs Montreal’s Dining Scene This Weekend, Closing Laurie Raphaël

DOWNTOWN — Star Quebec chef Daniel Vézina effectively bows out of the Montreal restaurant world this weekend, as his downtown restaurant Laurie Raphaël serves its final meals. It looks like the final night of service for the restaurant will be this Sunday (September 30). The restaurant has been housed in Hôtel Le Germain on Mansfield Street for over a decade and the closure is in part due to its lease ending. The restaurant scored a number of great reviews in its time for Vézina and his team’s creative takes on modern Québécois cuisine (not to mention his iconic melting dome desserts), and its Quebec City counterpart by the same name will remain open.

When Vézina announced the closure a few months back, he noted that he wants to focus more on his fast-casual healthy food counter, La Serre, looking to expand it beyond its current two locations in Quebec City. He also wants to work more on media commitments, and his airline chef position with Air Transat.

WESTMOUNT — Greene Avenue institution Bistro on the Avenue has closed its doors after 27 years of tableclothed French dining to the chichi crowd of that enclave — no reason for the closure is known yet.

MILE END — It seems Mile End didn’t have a huge appetite for non-bagel 24-hour dining after all: Bernard West snack bar Chez Léo has shuttered after about a year in business. (For the record, it was only a 24-hour eatery for a short period before revising its hours.)

OLD MONTREAL — Microbrewery Brasseur de Montréal announced a month ago that it would close its big Gare Viger location on Berri Street after around three years in business — now, La Presse has some context to add. The location had trouble drawing crowds, reportedly only did well in holiday seasons. Owner Marc-André Gavreau suggested that he’s done with opening bars and restaurants connected to the brewery (although its existing Griffintown location will stay), and will focus more on distribution.

Seen any bankruptcy notices or papered-over windows in your neighbourhood? Tell us about it.

• Chef Daniel Vézina to Close His Montreal Restaurant This Fall [EMTL]
• Mile End Gets a 24 Hour Dining Option That Isn’t Bagels [EMTL]
• Brasseur de Montréal: «c’est fini, l’ouverture de restaurants» [La Presse]
• Brasseur de Montréal Opens Restaurant in Colossal Gare Viger Project [La Presse]