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Shrimp with tomatoes and greens.
A dish from Restaurant Gus.
Restaurant Gus/Facebook

15 Underrated Restaurants to Try in Montreal

They’re serving delightful dishes from under the radar

by JP Karwacki and Ivy Lerner-Frank Updated
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A dish from Restaurant Gus.
| Restaurant Gus/Facebook
by JP Karwacki and Ivy Lerner-Frank Updated

In a city that obsesses over which bagels, poutine, or barbecue chicken reigns supreme, it’s easy to overlook some great spots that might not receive the attention they deserve. Small restaurants eschewing delivery apps for local pickups, neighbourhood favourites with limited hours, mom and pop shops — Montreal is full of these unsung treasures.

Here, for your consideration, are 15 restaurants we’ve deemed underrated. There is no scientific measurement for what makes an underrated restaurant, and it might vary from person to person — one diner’s beloved neighbourhood haunt may be an unknown entity to many others in the city. Overall, two things unite the restaurants below: they’re good, and they deserve more mainstream love.

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Beroya

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Bringing grilled goods and mezze to the table in Laval, this restaurant from Tamer Manouchakian serves as Montreal’s more familial and moderately priced — but no less delicious — option for Syrian cuisine compared to the lauded Damas. Don’t just take from us, either; ask the large families that fill its seats every week for inexpensive tasting menus at $55 a person. 

3455 Boulevard Saint-Martin O, Laval, QC H7T 1A2, Canada
(450) 681-2020
(450) 681-2020

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Restaurant Ho Guom

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Villeray favourite Ho Guom’s extensive menu showcases a wide range of pho as well as bún (rice vermicelli) in soups and dry dishes, with copious amounts of herbs on the side. Don’t miss the chả cá lã vọng turmeric fish and their tropical fruit juices. There’s even a special meal for kids on the menu.

2605 Rue Jean-Talon E, Montréal, QC H2A 1V1, Canada
(514) 507-8598
(514) 507-8598

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Rose Ross

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Rosemont’s Rose Ross aims to comfort, with seasonal, market-fresh fare. Expect fried cauliflower with a parmesan-caper vinaigrette, duck confit fettuccini, braised pork cheek with cheesy mash potatoes, and rice pudding for dessert — all in a compact dining space.

3017 Rue Masson, Montréal, QC H1Y 1X7, Canada
(514) 379-1900
(514) 379-1900

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Thai Sep

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At this Rosemont BYOB, familiar Thai starters and curries at the front of the laminated picture menu give way to some strong Lao selections at the back: homemade sausages, spicy Lao-style papaya salad, and nême kao, a crispy rice salad with pork. In mango season, check out the sticky rice with mango and coconut cream, a perfect ending to the meal.

1900 Rue Jean-Talon, Montréal, QC H2E 1T6, Canada
(514) 303-7767
(514) 303-7767

Daou

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All the Lebanese favourites are here at this family restaurant, starting with tomato salad with sumac and ending with grilled meats, stuffed vine leaves, and molokhia greens. It’s been around for almost fifty years for a reason.

519 Rue Faillon E, Montréal, QC H2R 1L6, Canada
(514) 276-8310
(514) 276-8310

Restaurant Gus

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Chef David Ferguson’s American-esque restaurant in Petite Patrie charms with its chef’s table atmosphere. Serving what Ferguson calls seasonal French dishes with a Tex-Mex twist, that includes dishes like foie gras nachos, cheesy onion soup, beef flank steaks, surf and turf, for two and other luxurious-yet-comforting options. 

38 Rue Beaubien E, Montréal, QC H2S 1P8, Canada
(514) 722-2175
(514) 722-2175

Maria Bonita

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Mexican cuisine in Montreal can feel like it’s limited to tacos above all else, but that’s not the case at Maria Chavez’s Mile End restaurant. Cazuelitas (small, saucy plates in terracotta dishes) are the specialty — go for spicy, chocolatey mole, pork-stuffed poblano peppers with walnut sauce, or cactus gratin, and a range of margaritas on the side.

5163 Boul St-Laurent, Montréal, QC H2T 1R9, Canada
(514) 807-4377
(514) 807-4377

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Khyber Pass Restaurant

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Named for the mountainous passage between Afghanistan and Pakistan, this Afghan BYOB restaurant from Faruk Ramisch may be smack dab in the heart of the Plateau, but it often goes overlooked by both locals and tourists. Rich in spices, aromatics, dumplings, and noodles with lots of hefty meat dishes topped with sabzi (an paste of spinach and green herbs), it’s all rich and wonderfully filling here.

506 Av. Duluth E, Montréal, QC H2L 1A7, Canada
(514) 844-7131
(514) 844-7131

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La Panzeria Café

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The Plateau’s stretch of Saint-Denis already goes overlooked when it comes to dining out in Montreal, and it’s hard for small hole-in-the-walls like this Italian spotto get noticed. It’s a shame, too, as their fried panzerotti and sandwiches of focaccia and mortadella or fried octopus, arugula. and lime mayo are all well-kept secrets by those who know them.

4084 R. Saint-Denis, Montréal, QC H2W 2M5, Canada
(514) 219-1110
(514) 219-1110

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Miran

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Uyghur cuisine remains largely uncelebrated in Montreal, but among those making it, this restaurant from chef Abdul Samad in a Ville Saint-Laurent strip mall offers some of the best. Grilled, stewed, and braised meats are a big draw here alongside flavorful lamb kebabs, lamb soup, hand-pulled laghman noodles, and their traditional samsa, half-moon shaped meat pastries baked in a tandoor.

1803 Rue Poirier, Saint-Laurent, QC H4L 5K8, Canada
(514) 331-8666
(514) 331-8666

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Le Nil Bleu

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Vegans and carnivores can be very happy with the range of bright salads, grains, beans, meats and warmly spiced sauces on the Nil Bleu menu. Trouble deciding? There are tasting menus alongside table d’hôte options, all featuring a choice of injera, Israeli couscous, or rice.

3706 R. Saint-Denis, Montréal, QC H2X 3L7, Canada
(514) 285-4628
(514) 285-4628

Kanbai

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Chinatown’s Kanbai’s menu showcases dishes from Sichuan and Hunan, home to some of China’s hottest cuisines. If you’re not a Chinese reader, look for translated key words “hot” and “chili,” ideally combined with “garlic” and “sauce” to find options like poached fish filet in hot chili soup or eggplant and minced pork with hot garlic sauce. For the spice-averse, there’s an extensive range of more seasonally focused Cantonese food.

1110 Rue Clark, Montréal, QC H2Z 1K3, Canada
(514) 871-8778
(514) 871-8778

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Avesta

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Handmade manti (tiny beef ravioli served with yogurt) and meaty Anatolian specialties await at Avesta in Shaughnessy Village. Grilled or braised, köfte and kebabs, sandwiches on lavash bread, and homemade desserts featuring pistachios, walnuts, and honey round out the menu.

2077 Rue Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC H3H 1M6, Canada
(514) 937-0156
(514) 937-0156

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Bistro Nolah

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Located out in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, it may be geographically obscure to those focused on what’s around the center of the island, but this restaurant from chefs Richard Taitt and Chris Eamer and pastry chef Isabelle Plourde is the city’s premier place to get a taste of New Orleans. 

Classics like shrimp and grits and blackened catfish, gumbo and crab cakes, beignets — they’re all here.

3669 Boul. Saint-Jean, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, QC H9G 1X2, Canada
(514) 696-9797
(514) 696-9797

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Les Délices de l'Île Maurice

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This Verdun spot is one of Montreal’s very few Mauritian restaurants — expect various Indian and east African touches (Mauritius is, after all, between the two) on a well-spiced menu. The table d’hôte costs around $25 for most options, and features vegetarian, meat or seafood, with a choice of curry, creole, or sweet and sour, honey, or saffron sauce. 

272 Rue Hickson, Verdun, QC H4G 2J6, Canada
(514) 768-6023
(514) 768-6023
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Beroya

3455 Boulevard Saint-Martin O, Laval, QC H7T 1A2, Canada

Bringing grilled goods and mezze to the table in Laval, this restaurant from Tamer Manouchakian serves as Montreal’s more familial and moderately priced — but no less delicious — option for Syrian cuisine compared to the lauded Damas. Don’t just take from us, either; ask the large families that fill its seats every week for inexpensive tasting menus at $55 a person. 

3455 Boulevard Saint-Martin O, Laval, QC H7T 1A2, Canada
(450) 681-2020
(450) 681-2020

Restaurant Ho Guom

2605 Rue Jean-Talon E, Montréal, QC H2A 1V1, Canada

Villeray favourite Ho Guom’s extensive menu showcases a wide range of pho as well as bún (rice vermicelli) in soups and dry dishes, with copious amounts of herbs on the side. Don’t miss the chả cá lã vọng turmeric fish and their tropical fruit juices. There’s even a special meal for kids on the menu.

2605 Rue Jean-Talon E, Montréal, QC H2A 1V1, Canada
(514) 507-8598
(514) 507-8598

Rose Ross

3017 Rue Masson, Montréal, QC H1Y 1X7, Canada

Rosemont’s Rose Ross aims to comfort, with seasonal, market-fresh fare. Expect fried cauliflower with a parmesan-caper vinaigrette, duck confit fettuccini, braised pork cheek with cheesy mash potatoes, and rice pudding for dessert — all in a compact dining space.

3017 Rue Masson, Montréal, QC H1Y 1X7, Canada
(514) 379-1900
(514) 379-1900

Thai Sep

1900 Rue Jean-Talon, Montréal, QC H2E 1T6, Canada

At this Rosemont BYOB, familiar Thai starters and curries at the front of the laminated picture menu give way to some strong Lao selections at the back: homemade sausages, spicy Lao-style papaya salad, and nême kao, a crispy rice salad with pork. In mango season, check out the sticky rice with mango and coconut cream, a perfect ending to the meal.

1900 Rue Jean-Talon, Montréal, QC H2E 1T6, Canada
(514) 303-7767
(514) 303-7767

Daou

519 Rue Faillon E, Montréal, QC H2R 1L6, Canada

All the Lebanese favourites are here at this family restaurant, starting with tomato salad with sumac and ending with grilled meats, stuffed vine leaves, and molokhia greens. It’s been around for almost fifty years for a reason.

519 Rue Faillon E, Montréal, QC H2R 1L6, Canada
(514) 276-8310
(514) 276-8310

Restaurant Gus

38 Rue Beaubien E, Montréal, QC H2S 1P8, Canada

Chef David Ferguson’s American-esque restaurant in Petite Patrie charms with its chef’s table atmosphere. Serving what Ferguson calls seasonal French dishes with a Tex-Mex twist, that includes dishes like foie gras nachos, cheesy onion soup, beef flank steaks, surf and turf, for two and other luxurious-yet-comforting options. 

38 Rue Beaubien E, Montréal, QC H2S 1P8, Canada
(514) 722-2175
(514) 722-2175

Maria Bonita

5163 Boul St-Laurent, Montréal, QC H2T 1R9, Canada

Mexican cuisine in Montreal can feel like it’s limited to tacos above all else, but that’s not the case at Maria Chavez’s Mile End restaurant. Cazuelitas (small, saucy plates in terracotta dishes) are the specialty — go for spicy, chocolatey mole, pork-stuffed poblano peppers with walnut sauce, or cactus gratin, and a range of margaritas on the side.

5163 Boul St-Laurent, Montréal, QC H2T 1R9, Canada
(514) 807-4377
(514) 807-4377

Khyber Pass Restaurant

506 Av. Duluth E, Montréal, QC H2L 1A7, Canada

Named for the mountainous passage between Afghanistan and Pakistan, this Afghan BYOB restaurant from Faruk Ramisch may be smack dab in the heart of the Plateau, but it often goes overlooked by both locals and tourists. Rich in spices, aromatics, dumplings, and noodles with lots of hefty meat dishes topped with sabzi (an paste of spinach and green herbs), it’s all rich and wonderfully filling here.

506 Av. Duluth E, Montréal, QC H2L 1A7, Canada
(514) 844-7131
(514) 844-7131

La Panzeria Café

4084 R. Saint-Denis, Montréal, QC H2W 2M5, Canada

The Plateau’s stretch of Saint-Denis already goes overlooked when it comes to dining out in Montreal, and it’s hard for small hole-in-the-walls like this Italian spotto get noticed. It’s a shame, too, as their fried panzerotti and sandwiches of focaccia and mortadella or fried octopus, arugula. and lime mayo are all well-kept secrets by those who know them.

4084 R. Saint-Denis, Montréal, QC H2W 2M5, Canada
(514) 219-1110
(514) 219-1110

Miran

1803 Rue Poirier, Saint-Laurent, QC H4L 5K8, Canada

Uyghur cuisine remains largely uncelebrated in Montreal, but among those making it, this restaurant from chef Abdul Samad in a Ville Saint-Laurent strip mall offers some of the best. Grilled, stewed, and braised meats are a big draw here alongside flavorful lamb kebabs, lamb soup, hand-pulled laghman noodles, and their traditional samsa, half-moon shaped meat pastries baked in a tandoor.

1803 Rue Poirier, Saint-Laurent, QC H4L 5K8, Canada
(514) 331-8666
(514) 331-8666

Le Nil Bleu

3706 R. Saint-Denis, Montréal, QC H2X 3L7, Canada

Vegans and carnivores can be very happy with the range of bright salads, grains, beans, meats and warmly spiced sauces on the Nil Bleu menu. Trouble deciding? There are tasting menus alongside table d’hôte options, all featuring a choice of injera, Israeli couscous, or rice.

3706 R. Saint-Denis, Montréal, QC H2X 3L7, Canada
(514) 285-4628
(514) 285-4628

Kanbai

1110 Rue Clark, Montréal, QC H2Z 1K3, Canada

Chinatown’s Kanbai’s menu showcases dishes from Sichuan and Hunan, home to some of China’s hottest cuisines. If you’re not a Chinese reader, look for translated key words “hot” and “chili,” ideally combined with “garlic” and “sauce” to find options like poached fish filet in hot chili soup or eggplant and minced pork with hot garlic sauce. For the spice-averse, there’s an extensive range of more seasonally focused Cantonese food.

1110 Rue Clark, Montréal, QC H2Z 1K3, Canada
(514) 871-8778
(514) 871-8778

Avesta

2077 Rue Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC H3H 1M6, Canada

Handmade manti (tiny beef ravioli served with yogurt) and meaty Anatolian specialties await at Avesta in Shaughnessy Village. Grilled or braised, köfte and kebabs, sandwiches on lavash bread, and homemade desserts featuring pistachios, walnuts, and honey round out the menu.

2077 Rue Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC H3H 1M6, Canada
(514) 937-0156
(514) 937-0156

Bistro Nolah

3669 Boul. Saint-Jean, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, QC H9G 1X2, Canada

Located out in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, it may be geographically obscure to those focused on what’s around the center of the island, but this restaurant from chefs Richard Taitt and Chris Eamer and pastry chef Isabelle Plourde is the city’s premier place to get a taste of New Orleans. 

Classics like shrimp and grits and blackened catfish, gumbo and crab cakes, beignets — they’re all here.

3669 Boul. Saint-Jean, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, QC H9G 1X2, Canada
(514) 696-9797
(514) 696-9797

Les Délices de l'Île Maurice

272 Rue Hickson, Verdun, QC H4G 2J6, Canada

This Verdun spot is one of Montreal’s very few Mauritian restaurants — expect various Indian and east African touches (Mauritius is, after all, between the two) on a well-spiced menu. The table d’hôte costs around $25 for most options, and features vegetarian, meat or seafood, with a choice of curry, creole, or sweet and sour, honey, or saffron sauce. 

272 Rue Hickson, Verdun, QC H4G 2J6, Canada
(514) 768-6023
(514) 768-6023