“We don’t offer ketchup or mayonnaise,” says the menu at Diolo, “We make special sauces for each dish. Be curious!” From mafé, a traditional peanut stew with smoked fish, to yassa, a Senegalese stew with onions, lemon, and habanero pepper, restaurant Diolo features West African cuisine for vegetarians and omnivores alike. Check out chef Edmond’s lamb brochette or whole grilled fish, in addition to their chicken dishes; finish up with thiakry, a sweetened millet pudding for dessert. Spend the afternoon skating at nearby Jarry Park and pick up at the restaurant. 

Manitoba’s commitment to local terroir and seasonality translates into sublime, earthy takeout options: in addition to pastas made from local grain, they’re making beetroot bolognese and chaga mushroom tiramisu, both featured in the winter menu. The épicerie showcases new chef Jean-Philippe Matheussen’s commitment to preserving and fermentation, with salt-cured egg yolks, dried duck breast, marinated chanterelle mushrooms, and an herby winter tea with fireweed, juniper, and blueberry. Order early in the week.

One of Little Italy’s newest spots is no newcomer to the neighbourhood: Owner-Chef Erin Mahoney lives a block away. Her dishes take inspiration from the cuisines (and wines) of Persia, Armenia, and Georgia, with an emphasis on freshness from herbs, nuts, pomegranates, and local produce from Jean Talon market and meats from local farms. Don’t miss her special Sudjook Sunday sandwich. Pick-up at the resto, adjacent to the northern Benvenuti arch on St Laurent just south of Jean Talon. 

Co-owners Stefano Faita and Michele Forgione hit the nail on the head with their modern Italian restaurant, Impasto. It’s close enough to Nonna’s cooking to not be sacrilegious, yet inventive enough to turn heads, all while staying true to local, Quebec ingredients. Sister restaurant Gema, across the street, has some of the city’s most popular Neapolitan thin-crust pizzas. Wine curation by Benjamin Lemay Lemieux covers both sides of the street. Check the website for delivery options.

Dinette Triple Crown made its name with their southern-style fried chicken and family dinner platters, but the sides deserve equal attention (especially the biscuits). Their fun, retro-designed website gives the rundown on all their pantry items: preserves made with summer’s bounty, including a collection of hot sauces, pickled asparagus or watermelon rind, a dry pork rub, and peach preserves. Curbside pickup and in-house delivery in the neighbourhood; check their website for more details.

Offering classic pizzas from margherita to marinara since 1948, this anchor of Little Italy offers over 40 varieties of pizza and more than 30 varieties of pasta. If you want to bring their sauces home — or a branded onesie for a newborn— check out Miss Napoletana, their épicerie directly across the street. Pick-up or delivery available with multiple third party services. 

When a chef takes months to perfect a recipe for the perfect potato bun, something should tell you that this isn’t just any old casse-croûte. Little Italy’s favourite snack bar offers homemade hot dogs, griddle-cooked cheeseburgers, squeaky-cheese poutine, and the Big Mike burger, named after co-owner Michele Forgione. Wash it all down with a Tousignant sodas — root beer, black cherry, or orange. Pickup and delivery available with multiple third-party services

There’s a rainbow of curries — from red to green to yellow (to Massaman) — at Pumpui, under Chef Jesse Mulder’s expert guidance. Yes, there’s Pad Thai, but there’s also Yam Samun Phrai, a crunchy cabbage salad with loads of herbs and coconut milk, and Pad Krapao — a holy basil stir-fry with tiny chilis offered in veg and non-veg format — for those who like to keep things (really) spicy. The website has all the details for their fun merch, plus curbside pickup and delivery with CHKPLZ.

Chef Aaron Langille’s Mile-Ex wine spot treats an array of local produce with equal degrees of care and creativity, and the result is a treat. Le Diplomate’s simple, skillfully crafted small plates are on hold for the moment, replaced by a compelling menu of hearty family dishes served with sides and dessert — and a great selection of natural wines. Details on pickup and delivery on Le Diplomate’s website. 

With a focus on the apéro hour and a continued commitment to natural wines curated by co-owner Vanya Filipovic, Mon Lapin 2.0 keeps reinventing its menu with happy results: potted bacalá with olive oil, smoked eel en brioche, and duck confit with juniper and pine are on their winter menu, along with a tiny, perfect carrot cake. Head over to their expanded premises for pickup or order online.

This Salvadoran restaurant is well known for homemade tortillas, tamales, and hearty platters, complemented by great selection of affordable pupusas. Order online with the usual third-party services, or head over for takeout.