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pieces of matzo covered in chocolate, barberries, raisins and, nuts.
Matzo covered in chocolate, barberries, raisins and, nuts.
Sumac/Supplied

How to Stock a Passover Seder in Montreal

For all the chicken soup, smoked turkey, gefilte fish, and chocolate-covered matzo required

by Ivy Lerner-Frank
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Matzo covered in chocolate, barberries, raisins and, nuts.
| Sumac/Supplied
by Ivy Lerner-Frank

Montreal’s Jewish community is getting ready for Passover, the holiday when matzo is on the menu — and bread, or anything that might possibly have touched water to rise and ferment, is not.

From the first Seder, starting at sundown on April 15 to the end of the holiday at sunset on April 23, there’s plenty of anticipation to join family and friends in homes. With restaurants and caterers serving the large Ashkenaz (Eastern European) and Sephardic (Middle Eastern) populations in the city, there’s a wide variety of options for Seder meals and everyday Passover dining. Pre-ordering is essential, so by all means plan — and order early.

Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; it may pose a risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial COVID transmission.

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Hof Kelsten

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Chef Dan Geltner prepares a traditional Jewish meal every Friday night; for Passover, he’s getting a menu ready with matzo ball soup, charoset, brisket, and apple matzo cake. Keep watch of the bakery’s Instagram page for further details and additional menu items.

4524 Boul. Saint-Laurent, Montréal, QC H2T 1R4, Canada
(514) 649-7991
(514) 649-7991

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Schwartz's Deli

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Schwartz’s prepares traditional smoked turkeys and ducks with five day’s notice. The turkeys usually come in at around 10 pounds and can feed many, while the ducks average three pounds and are enough for four if there are other dishes. Smoked meat, though less traditional for Passover, is available with no advance notice.

3895 Boul. Saint-Laurent, Montréal, QC H2W 1X9, Canada
(514) 842-4813
(514) 842-4813

Also featured in:

BSTRO

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This kosher restaurant and caterer in TMR proposes two different Sephardic menus for the holiday meal at different price points, with everything from baba ghanoush to lemon chicken on the smaller menu and Moroccan salmon with lamb tajine as the highlights for the more elaborate one. Pre-ordering is essential. 

5663 Av. Royalmount, Mont-Royal, QC H4P 2P9, Canada
(514) 731-1862
(514) 731-1862

Shiller’s

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Former Tuck Shop and Provisions chef Adam Shiller has weathered the pandemic storm and come out with a classic Passover menu, setting the table with a traditional Seder plate kit, charoset — an apple and walnut mix meant to replicate the mortar used to build the Pyramids, but more delicious, obviously — matzo ball soup, chopped liver, and gefilte fish. Mains include single servings of brisket, lamb, or salmon. Shiller’s chocolate and caramel matzo brittle is worth waiting a year for. Order by April 10 via Instagram, for pick-up at Suite 200 of the address listed above.

4175 Rue Sainte-Catherine O, Westmount, QC H3Z, Canada
514-571-5604
514-571-5604

Snowdon Deli

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Kosher-style classic Snowdon Deli has all the Eastern European hits: gefilte fish, chopped liver, tzimmes (sweet potato and carrot stew), chicken — or cabbage — soup, and potato knishes for Seders and beyond. The restaurant is open during Passover, but only for takeout.

5265 Bd Décarie, Montréal, QC H3W 3C2, Canada
(514) 488-9129
(514) 488-9129

Also featured in:

Sumac

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Sumac’s regular menu offers a collection of suitable-for-Passover foods, but more will be added for the occasion, including an eggplant salad and additional vegetable dips. Keep on the lookout for several varieties of chocolate-covered matzo — always a hit.

3618 Rue Notre Dame O, Montréal, QC H4C 1P5, Canada
(514) 935-1444
(514) 935-1444

Also featured in:

J&R Kosher

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J&R Kosher offers à la carte Passover foods for takeout before and during the holiday, including all kinds of chicken dishes: fingers, schnitzel, barbecue, and soup. Other dishes — including Kosher Chinese — are available based on the inspiration of the chef. Those who planned weeks ahead were able to pre-order set Ashkenaz, Sephardic, or Passover Chinese Seder meals. It’s too late for this year’s holiday, but why not pop in a calendar reminder for next?

5800 Boul Cavendish, Côte Saint-Luc, QC H4W 2T5, Canada
(514) 369-2727
(514) 369-2727

Arthurs Nosh Bar

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Arthur’s keeps up with Passover traditions with dishes that are always on the menu: chicken soup with matzo balls, eggplant salad, and coleslaw. Takeout and dine-in available, per usual. 

4621 Rue Notre Dame O, Montréal, QC H4C 1S5, Canada
(514) 757-5190
(514) 757-5190

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La Marguerite Catering

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Glatt Kosher La Marguerite is well-known for its refined pastries, breads, and sushi, as well as what they call “trendy takeout” — dirty fries, kosher pogos, and bao stand out — year-round. For Passover, the specialty here is moufleta, a special pancake made for Mimouna, the celebratory tradition at the end of the holiday when families go from house to house to mark the return to eating fermented and yeasted foods. Pre-ordering from this institution in Côte-Saint-Luc is a must.

6630 Chem. de la Côte-Saint-Luc, Montréal, QC H4V 1G8, Canada
(514) 488-4111
(514) 488-4111

Traiteur Beso Catering

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Sephardic community favourite Beso offers a ready-made Seder plate, eggplant schnitzel and salade cuite, mini sweet and sour meatballs, and every other type of Passover dish imaginable from their premises. Macarons and brownies (all kosher for Passover) provide a sweet ending to the meal. Order before April 10. 

#7018, Côte Saint-Luc, QC H4V 1J3, Canada
(514) 387-0313
(514) 387-0313
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Hof Kelsten

4524 Boul. Saint-Laurent, Montréal, QC H2T 1R4, Canada

Chef Dan Geltner prepares a traditional Jewish meal every Friday night; for Passover, he’s getting a menu ready with matzo ball soup, charoset, brisket, and apple matzo cake. Keep watch of the bakery’s Instagram page for further details and additional menu items.

4524 Boul. Saint-Laurent, Montréal, QC H2T 1R4, Canada
(514) 649-7991
(514) 649-7991

Schwartz's Deli

3895 Boul. Saint-Laurent, Montréal, QC H2W 1X9, Canada

Schwartz’s prepares traditional smoked turkeys and ducks with five day’s notice. The turkeys usually come in at around 10 pounds and can feed many, while the ducks average three pounds and are enough for four if there are other dishes. Smoked meat, though less traditional for Passover, is available with no advance notice.

3895 Boul. Saint-Laurent, Montréal, QC H2W 1X9, Canada
(514) 842-4813
(514) 842-4813

BSTRO

5663 Av. Royalmount, Mont-Royal, QC H4P 2P9, Canada

This kosher restaurant and caterer in TMR proposes two different Sephardic menus for the holiday meal at different price points, with everything from baba ghanoush to lemon chicken on the smaller menu and Moroccan salmon with lamb tajine as the highlights for the more elaborate one. Pre-ordering is essential. 

5663 Av. Royalmount, Mont-Royal, QC H4P 2P9, Canada
(514) 731-1862
(514) 731-1862

Shiller’s

4175 Rue Sainte-Catherine O, Westmount, QC H3Z, Canada

Former Tuck Shop and Provisions chef Adam Shiller has weathered the pandemic storm and come out with a classic Passover menu, setting the table with a traditional Seder plate kit, charoset — an apple and walnut mix meant to replicate the mortar used to build the Pyramids, but more delicious, obviously — matzo ball soup, chopped liver, and gefilte fish. Mains include single servings of brisket, lamb, or salmon. Shiller’s chocolate and caramel matzo brittle is worth waiting a year for. Order by April 10 via Instagram, for pick-up at Suite 200 of the address listed above.

4175 Rue Sainte-Catherine O, Westmount, QC H3Z, Canada
514-571-5604
514-571-5604

Snowdon Deli

5265 Bd Décarie, Montréal, QC H3W 3C2, Canada

Kosher-style classic Snowdon Deli has all the Eastern European hits: gefilte fish, chopped liver, tzimmes (sweet potato and carrot stew), chicken — or cabbage — soup, and potato knishes for Seders and beyond. The restaurant is open during Passover, but only for takeout.

5265 Bd Décarie, Montréal, QC H3W 3C2, Canada
(514) 488-9129
(514) 488-9129

Sumac

3618 Rue Notre Dame O, Montréal, QC H4C 1P5, Canada

Sumac’s regular menu offers a collection of suitable-for-Passover foods, but more will be added for the occasion, including an eggplant salad and additional vegetable dips. Keep on the lookout for several varieties of chocolate-covered matzo — always a hit.

3618 Rue Notre Dame O, Montréal, QC H4C 1P5, Canada
(514) 935-1444
(514) 935-1444

J&R Kosher

5800 Boul Cavendish, Côte Saint-Luc, QC H4W 2T5, Canada

J&R Kosher offers à la carte Passover foods for takeout before and during the holiday, including all kinds of chicken dishes: fingers, schnitzel, barbecue, and soup. Other dishes — including Kosher Chinese — are available based on the inspiration of the chef. Those who planned weeks ahead were able to pre-order set Ashkenaz, Sephardic, or Passover Chinese Seder meals. It’s too late for this year’s holiday, but why not pop in a calendar reminder for next?

5800 Boul Cavendish, Côte Saint-Luc, QC H4W 2T5, Canada
(514) 369-2727
(514) 369-2727

Arthurs Nosh Bar

4621 Rue Notre Dame O, Montréal, QC H4C 1S5, Canada

Arthur’s keeps up with Passover traditions with dishes that are always on the menu: chicken soup with matzo balls, eggplant salad, and coleslaw. Takeout and dine-in available, per usual. 

4621 Rue Notre Dame O, Montréal, QC H4C 1S5, Canada
(514) 757-5190
(514) 757-5190

La Marguerite Catering

6630 Chem. de la Côte-Saint-Luc, Montréal, QC H4V 1G8, Canada

Glatt Kosher La Marguerite is well-known for its refined pastries, breads, and sushi, as well as what they call “trendy takeout” — dirty fries, kosher pogos, and bao stand out — year-round. For Passover, the specialty here is moufleta, a special pancake made for Mimouna, the celebratory tradition at the end of the holiday when families go from house to house to mark the return to eating fermented and yeasted foods. Pre-ordering from this institution in Côte-Saint-Luc is a must.

6630 Chem. de la Côte-Saint-Luc, Montréal, QC H4V 1G8, Canada
(514) 488-4111
(514) 488-4111

Traiteur Beso Catering

#7018, Côte Saint-Luc, QC H4V 1J3, Canada

Sephardic community favourite Beso offers a ready-made Seder plate, eggplant schnitzel and salade cuite, mini sweet and sour meatballs, and every other type of Passover dish imaginable from their premises. Macarons and brownies (all kosher for Passover) provide a sweet ending to the meal. Order before April 10. 

#7018, Côte Saint-Luc, QC H4V 1J3, Canada
(514) 387-0313
(514) 387-0313