This unassuming strip mall spot is the preferred place to grab an Indian curry for many West Islanders. Bombay Choupati’s hearty portion sizes (the dosas are especially hefty) and spot-on flavours complement its homey, local feel.

Ignore the strip mall vibes and enjoy one of Montreal’s few spots for Afghan cuisine: Azim and Safia Afghanzadah do herby and saucy concoctions from the juncture between the Middle East and India. Get dumpling-esque ashak (leek ravioli) and mantoo (steamed ground beef dumplings), and don’t skip dessert.

Becks does stellar homemade Filipino food worth driving for. Try anything that involves deep-fried pork belly, homemade sausage, pickled papaya, or calamansi lime and chili pepper. When Sunday brunch is on, it means heaping plates of fried beef, chicken adobo, garlic-fried rice, and pork dinuguan, a Filipino stew made with pork meat and pig’s blood.

Last fall, the West Island unexpectedly became the city’s go-to place for Cajun-style seafood boil, with the opening of two new spots. At Ooh! Crab, seafood lovers happily don plastic bibs before digging into generous piles of shrimp, mussels, lobster, and more — all enhanced with a signature sauce.

Run by husband-wife team Sarah-Ann Lennox and Tarik Belmoufid out of their old house, Bistro 1843 features technically strong, French-leaning cuisine on a concise table d’hôte menu. That said, expect a few touches from Tarik’s Moroccan background — and elsewhere, too.

The Mexican tunes spill out the door at this young Pierrefonds counter-serve spot — already a West Island favourite. Inside, orange and blue walls lined with gilded frames, a lively atmosphere, and excellent tacos and tortas await. Try their quesabirria, filled with slow-cooked beef and melted cheese and served alongside a flavour-rich consommé.

The Korean fried chicken at this strip mall restaurant (located between a Baskin Robbins and a SpiceBros) is worth every penny — especially its soy-garlic version.

Suburban Montreal might not scream “fresh, quality sushi,” but this local favourite is good (and aesthetically pleasing) enough to compete with more central sushi offerings. It’s not the cheapest spot, but it’s the best sushi you’ll find without trekking into the city.

Even city-dwellers head to this upscale, special occasion steakhouse in Pointe-Claire because it serves one of the best steaks in the greater Montreal area. .  It also offers plenty of seafood like its famed shellfish tower, plus plates of grilled calamari, shrimp, seabass, and cod.

Riccardos’ homemade pasta and sauces make it stand out amid a relatively saturated selection of Italian restaurants in the area, even if the location, in a Dollard strip mall, makes it feel like the kind of place you’d have brought a first date in high school.

Southern food is scant in Montreal, but Nolah certainly doesn’t rely on mere novelty factor. Chef Richard Taitt has an adept hand with meat and seafood, serving bourbon mussels, Charleston-style shrimp and grits, and New Orleans specialties like gumbo and jambalaya.

Rustic decor like brick walls inlaid with mosaic patterns set the mood at this traditional Italian restaurant in Pointe-Claire. Expect a lengthy menu of all the classics including pasta, pizza, and grilled fish and meat plates paired with cocktails and wine.

Upscale seafood-and-more spot Lucille’s is a household name in and around Montreal, where over the years, it has expanded from Monkland Village to Laval, Brossard, and now the West Island. It’s an excellent bet for oysters, lobster rolls, and steak, with its grilled octopus Greek salad being an incredibly delicious entrée or light main.

This chic Old Montreal cafe brings its bright and modern charm to DDO with its Fairview location. Go during the day for a coffee, matcha, or blue milk latte (all of which can be topped with lucky charms) paired with eggs, smoothie bowls, or avocado toast, or pop in in the evening for a concise menu of inventive tapas. 

Though billed as both Greek and Persian, the latter cuisine is the strength at this Kirkland BYOB. Highlights include marinated meats and specialties like ash (Persian noodle soup) and mirza ghassemi (eggplant dip).

Chef Germano Mustone has perhaps the strongest pizza game in the West, courtesy of an eye for flavourful ingredients. There’s no apparent adherence to one pizza style, with elements of both New York and Neapolitan pizza on display, but if the pie is good, does it matter?

Homestyle cooking that warms diners from the inside is the specialty at this charming pub in the Sainte-Anne Village. Expect no-nonsense grub, like steak and pepper sauce or barbecue ribs.