Food Writers Name the Top Montreal Restaurant Standbys of 2019

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 nine 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 2019. Responses are unedited, except for grammar and translations, which are italicized.

Q: What were your top restaurant standbys of 2019?

Jean-Philippe Tastet, Le Devoir dining critic:

Le Petit Mousso, Pastel, Restaurant de l’ITHQ (as per my December 28th piece in Le Devoir, Zebestov 2019).

Joanna Fox, Montreal Gazette dining critic:

Elena, Larrys and Olive et Gourmando.

Mallory Frayn, Eater Montreal contributor:

Le Mousso, Candide, and L’Express are all up there, whether it be for a night out with guests or just an excuse to find something to celebrate.

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

• Le Cadet : idéal pour les avant ou après spectacles au centre-ville, service très efficace, assiettes toujours très réussies.
• Le Furco / Café Parvis : des classiques qui ne se démodent pas pour le lunch ou une bouchée en soirée et prendre un verre
• Rouge Gorge : mon bar à vin préféré à Montréal, et la nourriture y est plus que décente.
• Magnolia : un chouette resto qui a ouvert dans mon quartier, vraiment bon et abordable.
• Mon Petit Poulet : ma « go-to-place » près de chez moi quand je n’ai pas envie de cuisiner. Leur poulet rôti est délicieux.
• Vinvinvin : un autre bar à vin qui a ouvert dans mon quartier et qui est vraiment chouette et animé.
• Le Marcus : c’est vraiment la nouvelle place pour voir et être vu à Montréal, et l’endroit est tout simplement magnifique.
• La Fabrique : pour leurs brunchs qui sont selon moi les meilleurs à Montréal.
• Tendresse : un bistro végane qui a vraiment du panache et où on mange très bien, qu’on soit végane, ou pas.
• Monarque : Cet endroit est déjà une institution. Service impeccable et nourriture réussie.

• Cadet: ideal for before or after shows downtown, efficient service, and always excellent dishes.
• Le Furco and Café Parvis: classics that never go out of style for lunch or an evening bite with a drink.
• Rouge Gorge: my favourite wine bar in Montreal, and the food is more than solid.
• Magnolia: a great resto that opened in my neighbourhood, really good and approachable.
• Mon Petit Poulet: my go-to near home when I don’t feel like cooking. Their rotisserie chicken is delicious.
• Vinvinvin: another wine bar that opened in my area, and that’s really great and lively.
• Marcus: it’s really the new place to see and be seen in Montreal, and the space is simply magnificent.
• La Fabrique: for their brunches, which I consider the best in Montreal.
• Tendresse: a vegan bistro with panache, and wit hgreat meals, whether you’re vegan or not.
• Monarque: it’s already become an institution. Impeccable service and great food.

Amie Watson, Montreal Gazette food columnist:

Poincaré, Pullman (half-price bottles of wine on Sunday nights), Le Blossom (half-price bottles of sake on Sunday nights).

Isa Tousignant, Montreal Gazette food columnist:

Tropical Paradise, still the best goat roti in town; nothing beats the grilled chicken at Nostos; Tong Por, if you’re looking for a Peking duck spot for during the holidays. I feel like I’m just randomly naming places I’d want to eat right now.

JP Karwacki, Time Out Montreal editor:

L’Express, Hélicoptère, Montréal Plaza, Vin Mon Lapin, McKiernan Luncheonette, and Otto Bistro.

Élise Tastet, Tastet blog:

L’Express, Hà, Yoni Falafel, Henrietta, Buvette Chez Simone, Elena, Mon Lapin, Vin Papillon, Boxermans, Réservoir, Dépanneur le Pick-Up, Clarke Café, Caféden, Cadet, Pumpui, Darling, Petit Alep.

Mayssam Samaha, Will Travel For Food blog:

Same as last year with a few new additions: Vin Papillon, Pumpui, Gus, Comptoir Sainte Cécile, Candide, Le Petit Alep, Denise, Lawrence, Olive & Gourmando.

Daniel Bromberg, Eater Montreal contributor:

Club Social P.S. for the no-reservations, pizza and wine option. Sen Vang for pho and Larrys for cocktails and small plates.

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

San Gennaro: my Little Italy headquarters.

Le Central and Time Out Market. Since opening, I’ve been [to each] several times and love it.

• All Year in Eater coverage [EMTL]