Montreal’s 2019 Restaurant World, As Described In One Word

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: Sum up the 2019 restaurant world in one word.

Jean-Philippe Tastet, Le Devoir dining critic:

Creativity.

Joanna Fox, Montreal Gazette dining critic:

Foodcourts.

Mallory Frayn, Eater Montreal contributor:

Collaboration.

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

Hyperactif.

Hyperactive.

Amie Watson, Montreal Gazette food columnist:

Delicious. It’s the only word I can think of to summarize. Other options like natural wine, small plates without too many chef-y touches, foams or excess would be too long.

Isa Tousignant, Montreal Gazette food columnist:

Hyperactive (as always). Montreal diners want everything at once, but they’re fickle — ergo constant restaurant openings, closures and the birth of trends like the food market thing, à la Time Out, Cathcart, Central. The world in one place.

JP Karwacki, Time Out Montreal editor:

Healthy-ish.

Élise Tastet, Tastet blog:

Great.

Mayssam Samaha, Will Travel For Food blog:

Diverse.

Daniel Bromberg, Eater Montreal contributor:

Diversity.

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

Raisonnée, consciencieuse, intelligente.

Reasoned, conscientious, intelligent.

• All Year in Eater coverage [EMTL]