Chili Cheese Fries and Patty Melts Out East in Tétreaultville, And Other Upcoming Openings

TÉTREAULTVILLE — As of February 5, a new “urban canteen” will operate out of a far eastern stretch of Hochelaga street, past Honoré-Beaugrand metro station. The project comes from Simon Jodoin Bouchard, better known as Simon De L’est (a reference to his being born in Mercier-Est), the creator of the molasses- and whiskey-infused SJB sweet and spicy barbecue sauce, and the co-author of the book Le Barbecue pour les Nuls, a Quebec edition from the For Dummies series. (According to La Presse, Jodin Bouchard first became enamoured with American barbecue after watching a show on the Food Network, which led him to go out and buy himself a smoker.)

His latest venture, Chez Simon Cantine Urbaine, trades in barbecue for a diner-style menu of other all-American classics: smashed burgers on potato rolls, patty melts, chili cheese fries, and hot dogs. The fare stands in opposition to the commonplace poutine-slinging casse-croûtes that dot the city, but strikes a similarly cheesy cord. Chez Simon’s Tétreaultville locale previously belonged to family-run taqueria Nopales, which on December 20 posted news of its closure on Facebook. (Nopales owners Margarita and Walter decided to trade in the restaurant life for an undisclosed travel-related project.)

Chez Simon Cantine Urbaine opens next week at 8517 Hochelaga Street.

SHAUGHNESSY VILLAGE — Pad Thai lovers and Concordia students, rejoice: It appears that 35-year-old Thai eatery Cuisine Bangkok will reopen in Faubourg St-Catherine, after being pushed out of the premises in 2016. Following that closure, Cuisine Bangkok landed itself another location in the Village in 2017. However, with the Google business listing for that address now reading “permanently closed,” fans will be happy to hear that a new venture, by the name of Mama Bangkok, will be taking up residence, once more, in the Faubourg food court, according to the restaurant’s response to a commenter on Facebook. More details to come.

VERDUN, MILE END — Just when we thought the number of fried chicken purveyors in Montreal had reached its tipping point, a new option has come to the fore. According to a job posting on its Facebook account, new fried chicken mini chain Jack Le Coq will specialize in “comforting Quebec cuisine” executed with “high-quality equipment and technology.” Locations plastered with Jack Le Coq signage have been spotted in the Mile End, a block away from St-Viateur bagel, and on Wellington in Verdun. Openings are slated for February.

OLD MONTREAL — The space that once housed old-school, no-frills Mcgill Street diner Plaza McGill has a new occupant, 49th Parallel coffee roasters, according to an Eater tipster who spotted the signage on the vacant storefront. The Vancouver-based company was founded by brothers in 2004 and has since opened three brick-and-mortar locations, all within the city from which it hails. In Montreal, the coffee has amassed a loyal following from being served at the likes of Café Myriade, Melk, and Hoche Café. The opening of its first standalone storefront out of British Columbia is expected to come this spring.

• Un nouveau resto de cuisine du Sud des États-Unis ouvrira ses portes à Montréal dans quelques jours [NightLife]
• Bangkok is Back From The Dead To Serve You Pad Thai, And Other Openings [EMTL]
• Late-night Diner Plaza McGill Closed After 40 Years - and Other Closures [EMTL]