The Neighbourhoods Dominating Montreal’s Restaurant Scene This Year

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 was the best dining neighborhood of 2019?

Jean-Philippe Tastet, Le Devoir dining critic:

Little Italy.

Joanna Fox, Montreal Gazette dining critic:

Tie: Villeray and Rosemont-La-Petite-Patrie.

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

Depuis plusieurs années, il y a beaucoup d’action dans le sud-ouest de la ville – Griffintown et St-Henri. Mais cette année, on a vu de très bons restos ouvrir dans des quartiers qui ont été plus délaissés à l’est, plus particulièrement dans Villeray comme Moccione (qui a ouvert fin 2018), Vesta, la boulangerie Jarry ou le restaurant Paloma. Le Vieux-Montréal continue d’être un endroit de prédilection pour les restaurateurs également.

There’s been a lot of action in the Sud-Ouest — Griffintown and St-Henri — in recent years. But this year, things shifted back towards the east, particularly in Villeray with restaurants like Moccione (which opened at the end of 2018), Vesta, Boulangerie Jarry, and Paloma. Old Montreal continues to be a favourite among restaurateurs, too.

Amie Watson, Montreal Gazette food columnist:

Outremont for fine dining, downtown for relatively affordable, quality food.

Isa Tousignant, Montreal Gazette food columnist:

I think Parc Ex is starting to burn hot with Beau Mont and Chez Denise. Watch it boom in 2020 (but hopefully not too much please than you).

JP Karwacki, Time Out Montreal editor:

Little Italy is likely the greatest all-rounder in town right now, but the arrival of Les Street Monkeys, Rita, Café Janine and Beba alongside some seriously great places like Fisun Ecran’s Su bodes really well for Verdun.

Élise Tastet, Tastet blog:

I would say Villeray or South West.

Mayssam Samaha, Will Travel For Food blog:

Villeray and Petite-Patrie where a lot of new places have opened this year, much to my delight since I live in the neighbourhood.

Daniel Bromberg, Eater Montreal contributor:

Rosemont-La-Petite-Patrie.

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

Rosemont-La-Petite-Patrie and Villeray: Antonietta, Vesta, Cœur de Loup, Moccione, Vinvinvin, Bar St-Denis, Darna Bistroquet…only to name a few. These neighborhoods are just so exciting!

• All Year in Eater coverage [EMTL]