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Triplexes in the Plateau
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10 Hidden Gems in the Plateau

A Schwartz-free zone

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Triplexes in the Plateau
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Le Plateau Mont Royal is a magical neighbourhood for people who love to eat. It’s dense with restaurants, cafes, and specialty grocery stores, and it’s tough to walk a block without finding somewhere new you’d like to try. Many different immigrant populations have left their mark here, and the diversity of the restaurants reflects the neighborhood’s history.

The Plateau’s classic eateries, both in the fine dining and cheap eats brackets — Au Pied de Cochon, Schwartz’s, Patati Patata, L’Express, La Prunelle, Romados, among various others — have been recommended to death. However, the Plateau contains many more opportunities for a great meal if you look a little deeper.

These blink-and-you’ll-miss-them places may not look like much from the outside, or may be tucked away on side streets but they’re guaranteed to deliver unbelievable food and homey service. Some are also staples for Plateau dwellers who — let’s be honest — don’t really go to Au Pied de Cochon or Schwartz all that often.

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La Sala Rosa

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Located one floor above street level and with minimal signage, this place is the definition of hidden gem. The restaurant side did recently cut back its offerings to focus more on small bites in the form of classic Spanish tapas (and less paella), but still with plenty of flavour. There’s also outstanding sangria.

La Matraca

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This taqueria is straight out of Mexico City: walk in and the first thing you’ll see is the al pastor pork turning on its trompo, and it tastes as good as it looks. Order a queso fundido to start and then order some tacos or a torta.

La Belle Thailandaise

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Family-owned and operated for nearly 20 years, this restaurant serves big portions of Thai and Vietnamese dishes that are super-flavourful and perfect for sharing. It’s also BYOB.

Le P'tit Plateau

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This cozy restaurant sits on the corner of Marie Anne and Drolet, serving dishes from the southwest of France. It’s a great bet for a special occasion, and it’s BYOB. Reservations are required, so plan ahead — it may be tucked away on a residential street, but it’s somewhat of a Plateau fixture.

Le Vieux Saint-Laurent

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Widely known as VSL, this is a perfect diner and brunch spot. The eggs benedict are a common favourite, the bacon is always crisp but not burnt, and the coffee flows endlessly. You can order a massive pancake on the side if you need a little bit of sweet to go with your salty breakfast.

Yokato Yokabai

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Tucked away on the corner of Rachel St. and Drolet, this gorgeous ramen place stands out among the dozens that have cropped up in Montreal in the past few years. The tonkotsu broth is savoury and fatty, and each table has a few fresh garnishes for you to use. Get the japanese fried chicken (kara age) to start. For something more formal, or for alcohol, there’s also Ichigo Ichie on the other side of the building, operated by the same people.

Charcuterie Hongroise

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Sometimes known as “Boucherie Hongroiese”, this tiny Hungarian butcher shop and grocery store sells some of the best sandwiches in the city. The schnitzel sandwiches are wonderful, but your debut should be the spicy salami. The meat is thinly-sliced to order, piled onto a roll, and drizzled with mayo and the mustard of your choice.

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L’Española

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It may look like a bookstore or a Spanish gift shop (and it is, partly), but inside, there’s a deli counter where you can get a traditional Spanish bocata. It’s a baguette sandwich where the bread is drizzled with olive oil, rubbed with garlic, and finished with tomato and the paper-thin sausage or ham of your choosing.

La Maison des Pâtes Fraîches

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This Italian grocery store has a small seating area where you can enjoy an incredible bowl of fresh pasta. You pick your pasta shape (including a choice of various fillings for ravioli and agnolotti) and then select one of six different sauces, and it’s ready to eat a few minutes later. They also make truly perfect pizzas.

Les Co'Pains d'Abord

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This tiny bakery serves every French baked good you can imagine, from lemon tarts and croissants to sandwiches, quiches, and loaves of perfect bread. They have two locations in the Plateau (the other is on Rachel, near St-Denis), and one in Rosemont, on Masson.

La Sala Rosa

Located one floor above street level and with minimal signage, this place is the definition of hidden gem. The restaurant side did recently cut back its offerings to focus more on small bites in the form of classic Spanish tapas (and less paella), but still with plenty of flavour. There’s also outstanding sangria.

La Matraca

This taqueria is straight out of Mexico City: walk in and the first thing you’ll see is the al pastor pork turning on its trompo, and it tastes as good as it looks. Order a queso fundido to start and then order some tacos or a torta.

La Belle Thailandaise

Family-owned and operated for nearly 20 years, this restaurant serves big portions of Thai and Vietnamese dishes that are super-flavourful and perfect for sharing. It’s also BYOB.

Le P'tit Plateau

This cozy restaurant sits on the corner of Marie Anne and Drolet, serving dishes from the southwest of France. It’s a great bet for a special occasion, and it’s BYOB. Reservations are required, so plan ahead — it may be tucked away on a residential street, but it’s somewhat of a Plateau fixture.

Le Vieux Saint-Laurent

Widely known as VSL, this is a perfect diner and brunch spot. The eggs benedict are a common favourite, the bacon is always crisp but not burnt, and the coffee flows endlessly. You can order a massive pancake on the side if you need a little bit of sweet to go with your salty breakfast.

Yokato Yokabai

Tucked away on the corner of Rachel St. and Drolet, this gorgeous ramen place stands out among the dozens that have cropped up in Montreal in the past few years. The tonkotsu broth is savoury and fatty, and each table has a few fresh garnishes for you to use. Get the japanese fried chicken (kara age) to start. For something more formal, or for alcohol, there’s also Ichigo Ichie on the other side of the building, operated by the same people.

Charcuterie Hongroise

Sometimes known as “Boucherie Hongroiese”, this tiny Hungarian butcher shop and grocery store sells some of the best sandwiches in the city. The schnitzel sandwiches are wonderful, but your debut should be the spicy salami. The meat is thinly-sliced to order, piled onto a roll, and drizzled with mayo and the mustard of your choice.

Google Maps

L’Española

It may look like a bookstore or a Spanish gift shop (and it is, partly), but inside, there’s a deli counter where you can get a traditional Spanish bocata. It’s a baguette sandwich where the bread is drizzled with olive oil, rubbed with garlic, and finished with tomato and the paper-thin sausage or ham of your choosing.

La Maison des Pâtes Fraîches

This Italian grocery store has a small seating area where you can enjoy an incredible bowl of fresh pasta. You pick your pasta shape (including a choice of various fillings for ravioli and agnolotti) and then select one of six different sauces, and it’s ready to eat a few minutes later. They also make truly perfect pizzas.

Les Co'Pains d'Abord

This tiny bakery serves every French baked good you can imagine, from lemon tarts and croissants to sandwiches, quiches, and loaves of perfect bread. They have two locations in the Plateau (the other is on Rachel, near St-Denis), and one in Rosemont, on Masson.