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The 12 Hottest Restaurants in Montreal, April 2014

by Ian Harrison
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by Ian Harrison

What is the most difficult reservation in town? Where is the buzz? Welcome to the ever in flux Eater Heatmap - where we take the pulse of Montreal's restaurant scene.

The April 2014 installment welcomes newcomers in the Quartier des Spectacles, Downtown and the Village. All in all, a hodgepodge of hot spots that best represents what the culinary landscape of the city is all about.

Enjoy, and remember, this list is in no particular order.

12/05/13: Added: La Bête à Pain, Maïs, Lili Co., Hof Kelsten, Orange Rouge, Racines, Le Richmond
01/02/14: Added: Brasserie Bernard, Moteur, État-Major, Cardinal Tea Room, La Récréation
02/06/14: Added: Sel Gras, Le Shinji, Bethlehem XXX, Anabel, Le Serpent, Café Parvis, Au Pied de Cochon, Barcola
03/06/14: Added: Bishop & Bagg, Mercuri, Patrice Pâtissier, Saka-Ba!
04/03/14: Added: Les Coudes sur la Table, Galt, Taverne F, Biirū

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Anabel Bar et Vin

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Wine bar Anabel has ex-Globe chef Jean-François Baril in the kitchen and partners from the likes of Brama, Le Merchant Royal and Santos. The menu is very of the moment, with small plates to share and a proper, bona fide cheese cart.
361 rue Bernard Ouest, Montreal, Quebec, H2V 1T6, Canada
(514) 276-0249
(514) 276-0249

Bishop & Bagg

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The capable braintrust behind the wildly successful Burgundy Lion has given Mile Enders a pub of their own. With an ex-Joe Beef and Blackstrap BBQ cook in the kitchen, no less.
52 St-Viateur, Montreal, QC, Canada

Sel Gras

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Partners Farsim Fahandezh, David Martin and Matthieu Arteau have done well to re-open Sel Gras months after a terrible fire. Now the focus is on chef Marco Santos' high-low Mediterranean comfort food.
5245 St-Laurent, Montreal, QC, Canada
(514) 564-1090
(514) 564-1090

Saka-Ba!

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Junichi Ikematsu (of Juni on Laurier) has gone downscale and is sans chef whites at his new izakaya. Saka-Ba! feels at home in a part of town that needs amnesty from greasy spoons and bistros. The liquor permit is in now, so you can enjoy a tallboy Asahi (or Red Stripe) with that soba.
1279 Avenue du Mont Royal Est, Montreal, QC, Canada

Taverne F

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Carlos Ferreira's re-imagined F Bar recently took a turn towards Portuguese tapas and has generated some buzz in the Quartier des Spectacles as a result.
1485 rue Jeanne-Mance, Montreal, Quebec, H2X 2J4, Canada

Les Coudes sur la Table

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The corny, staged photos from this bistro's launch party in September felt like a bad omen but, happily, none of that nonsense translates to the food. When you snag the best review of 2014 from Lesley Chesterman (so far), as Les Coudes did last week, you deserve a place on this map.
2275 rue Ste-Catherine Est, Montreal, Quebec, H2K 2J3, Canada

Café Parvis

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This new project from Furco and Buvette Chez Simone principals has salads and Romano-style pizza on the menu, a full booze permit and good buzz from critics like Sarah Musgrave and Jean-Philippe Tastet.
433 Mayor, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1N9, Canada

Biirū

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It's been a mixed bag from critics so far but the okonomiyaki and yakitori-loving public has welcomed the addition of this izakaya close to McGill and Place des Arts with open arms.
1433, rue City Councillors, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 2E4, Canada
(514) 903-1555
(514) 903-1555

Mercuri

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The big critics in town have yet to write up Joe Mercuri's comeback but we have a sense that may change very soon. Few first reviews will matter more this year. The Cité Multimédia space is impressive and expectations and ambitions both high, but will the ex-Brontë chef score with his $65 tasting menu?
645 Wellington, Montreal, QC H3C1T2, Canada
(514) 394-3444
(514) 394-3444

Le Serpent

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White-hot Le Serpent seems to have it all: cool digs (the industrial chic contemporary art space that is La Fonderie Darling), proven ownership (Hubert Marsolais and Claude Pelletier of Le Club Chasse et Pêche and Le Filet) and a name chef in Michele Mercuri.
257 Prince, Montreal, Quebec, H3C 2N4, Canada
(514) 316-4666
(514) 316-4666

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Galt

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Rosalie's sister 5 à 7 bar slash cabaret just cut the ribbon a week ago, officially. The emphasis has been on DJs and drinks but the bar menu sports such items as rabbit with foie gras, venison tartare and pizza al taglio. [Photo]
1232 rue de la Montaigne, Montreal, Quebec, H3G 1Z5, Canada

Patrice Pâtissier

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Patrice Demers and partner Marie-Josée Beaudoin finally unveiled the soigné and savoury wine bar side of Patrice Pâtissier last week. Menu items range from sunchoke pancakes with mushrooms and chèvre to trout with carrots, dill and crème fraîche. There's also a dessert dégustation, naturally, at $22 per.
2360 Notre Dame Ouest, Montreal, QC H3J 1N4, Canada
(514) 439-5434
(514) 439-5434

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Anabel Bar et Vin

361 rue Bernard Ouest, Montreal, Quebec, H2V 1T6, Canada
Wine bar Anabel has ex-Globe chef Jean-François Baril in the kitchen and partners from the likes of Brama, Le Merchant Royal and Santos. The menu is very of the moment, with small plates to share and a proper, bona fide cheese cart.
361 rue Bernard Ouest, Montreal, Quebec, H2V 1T6, Canada
(514) 276-0249
(514) 276-0249

Bishop & Bagg

52 St-Viateur, Montreal, QC, Canada
The capable braintrust behind the wildly successful Burgundy Lion has given Mile Enders a pub of their own. With an ex-Joe Beef and Blackstrap BBQ cook in the kitchen, no less.
52 St-Viateur, Montreal, QC, Canada

Sel Gras

5245 St-Laurent, Montreal, QC, Canada
Partners Farsim Fahandezh, David Martin and Matthieu Arteau have done well to re-open Sel Gras months after a terrible fire. Now the focus is on chef Marco Santos' high-low Mediterranean comfort food.
5245 St-Laurent, Montreal, QC, Canada
(514) 564-1090
(514) 564-1090

Saka-Ba!

1279 Avenue du Mont Royal Est, Montreal, QC, Canada
Junichi Ikematsu (of Juni on Laurier) has gone downscale and is sans chef whites at his new izakaya. Saka-Ba! feels at home in a part of town that needs amnesty from greasy spoons and bistros. The liquor permit is in now, so you can enjoy a tallboy Asahi (or Red Stripe) with that soba.
1279 Avenue du Mont Royal Est, Montreal, QC, Canada

Taverne F

1485 rue Jeanne-Mance, Montreal, Quebec, H2X 2J4, Canada
Carlos Ferreira's re-imagined F Bar recently took a turn towards Portuguese tapas and has generated some buzz in the Quartier des Spectacles as a result.
1485 rue Jeanne-Mance, Montreal, Quebec, H2X 2J4, Canada

Les Coudes sur la Table

2275 rue Ste-Catherine Est, Montreal, Quebec, H2K 2J3, Canada
The corny, staged photos from this bistro's launch party in September felt like a bad omen but, happily, none of that nonsense translates to the food. When you snag the best review of 2014 from Lesley Chesterman (so far), as Les Coudes did last week, you deserve a place on this map.
2275 rue Ste-Catherine Est, Montreal, Quebec, H2K 2J3, Canada

Café Parvis

433 Mayor, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1N9, Canada
This new project from Furco and Buvette Chez Simone principals has salads and Romano-style pizza on the menu, a full booze permit and good buzz from critics like Sarah Musgrave and Jean-Philippe Tastet.
433 Mayor, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1N9, Canada

Biirū

1433, rue City Councillors, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 2E4, Canada
It's been a mixed bag from critics so far but the okonomiyaki and yakitori-loving public has welcomed the addition of this izakaya close to McGill and Place des Arts with open arms.
1433, rue City Councillors, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 2E4, Canada
(514) 903-1555
(514) 903-1555

Mercuri

645 Wellington, Montreal, QC H3C1T2, Canada
The big critics in town have yet to write up Joe Mercuri's comeback but we have a sense that may change very soon. Few first reviews will matter more this year. The Cité Multimédia space is impressive and expectations and ambitions both high, but will the ex-Brontë chef score with his $65 tasting menu?
645 Wellington, Montreal, QC H3C1T2, Canada
(514) 394-3444
(514) 394-3444

Le Serpent

257 Prince, Montreal, Quebec, H3C 2N4, Canada
White-hot Le Serpent seems to have it all: cool digs (the industrial chic contemporary art space that is La Fonderie Darling), proven ownership (Hubert Marsolais and Claude Pelletier of Le Club Chasse et Pêche and Le Filet) and a name chef in Michele Mercuri.
257 Prince, Montreal, Quebec, H3C 2N4, Canada
(514) 316-4666
(514) 316-4666

Galt

1232 rue de la Montaigne, Montreal, Quebec, H3G 1Z5, Canada
Rosalie's sister 5 à 7 bar slash cabaret just cut the ribbon a week ago, officially. The emphasis has been on DJs and drinks but the bar menu sports such items as rabbit with foie gras, venison tartare and pizza al taglio. [Photo]
1232 rue de la Montaigne, Montreal, Quebec, H3G 1Z5, Canada

Patrice Pâtissier

2360 Notre Dame Ouest, Montreal, QC H3J 1N4, Canada
Patrice Demers and partner Marie-Josée Beaudoin finally unveiled the soigné and savoury wine bar side of Patrice Pâtissier last week. Menu items range from sunchoke pancakes with mushrooms and chèvre to trout with carrots, dill and crème fraîche. There's also a dessert dégustation, naturally, at $22 per.
2360 Notre Dame Ouest, Montreal, QC H3J 1N4, Canada
(514) 439-5434
(514) 439-5434