What are your best foodie spots in Montreal?

Check out: cuisinomane.com.

I'm heading there right now.

Best regards,

Hi there, I’ve been following this thread with interest because I’m very likely heading to Quebec in a few days last-minute (with no plans at all). It seems like nobody actually answered the original question (about popular traditional local cuisine). All I’m seeing are Spanish dishes, Central European food, Chinese, French bars, British fish and chips—aside from poutine (and even that’s debatable), there’s nothing truly local. Honestly, it’s tough to get real info, and on top of that, my request to join that Facebook group mentioned earlier was denied (guess what—no, I’m not Canadian) 🤪

Hi again! If you're looking for traditional cuisine, you should head to a sugar shack. There are quite a few around Montreal. But don’t kid yourself—Quebec’s food scene is still pretty Americanized...

If you're seriously planning to come to Quebec soon, let me know and I'll point out some great places like Au Pied de Cochon...

PS: I know Rochefort-du-Gard well

hi again if you want traditional cuisine you’ve gotta go to a sugar shack. There are quite a few around Montreal. But don’t kid yourself—Québec’s food is still pretty Americanized...

Thanks so much! I kinda figured that about the capital, like all capitals in the world that aren’t really representative of a country since they’re so internationalized (I struggled in Amsterdam where only 2 traditional spots were left, and one closed). So I just went for it, and despite the 100-meter line, they took me in without a reservation and I got to try their Dutch food (meh).

If you're seriously planning to come to Quebec soon, let me know and I'll point out some great places like Au Pied de Cochon.....

PS: I know Rochefort-du-Gard well

Honestly, a big thank you—I’ll take note and get back to you with pleasure! 😊 Rochefort-du-Gard isn’t really my area (I’m in the Cévennes mountains).

Hi, The traditional local cuisine in Montreal... some will say poutine, but is it really cuisine (in the French sense of the term)? Others might suggest shepherd’s pie (same remark). Quebecois Cuisine: Tourtière from Lac St. Jean (but that’s far from Montreal), lobster rolls from Gaspésie (still far from Montreal), ... The thing that’s in all the tourist guides: smoked meat from Schwartz’s (well, in this case, we’re in Montreal, except... it’s originally from Eastern Europe...)

Have a great stay in Montreal! 😛

PS: If you want to try poutine, check out La Banquise (it’s also in all the tourist guides!)

Traditional cuisine isn't really found in restaurants—you have to get invited to people's homes. Or wait for cold weather, since traditional dishes are pretty heavy on the stomach.

Pig's feet stew might be at La Binerie on Saint Denis. Maybe a meat pie too? Don’t forget to ask for some "beans."

Around Sorel, there’s gibelotte (a kind of soup) and perch, a small fish lightly breaded. A trip to Sorel’s "Quebec bayou" is also interesting to understand this meal.

Which brings us to fish and chips. Contrary to what you might think, it’s a dish that’s been part of my life forever. I really consider it traditional, like blood sausage. In fact, the place I mentioned in an earlier post here serves excellent blood sausage. Quebec cuisine is heavily influenced by English cooking—no surprise, given the conquest.

I’m not sure where you can find a meat pie (don’t confuse it with the Lac Saint-Jean tourtière, which was originally stuffed with game bird). You might find it in some small breakfast cafés, but it’s mostly a winter dish. Plus, every family has their own recipe (to give you an idea, I’ve already started buying meat to make my pies for the holidays).

Then there’s "poisson des cheneaux." To eat it, you’ll have to go to the Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade area. We used to eat it at home—it’s very similar to fish and chips. Small, breaded, and quite fatty fish. Too bad for you, since it’s caught in winter on the ice. Maybe a local restaurant serves it? But it’s far from Montreal.

Finally, for your info, it’s apple season in Quebec right now. If you can visit an orchard, there are lots of great products like apple butter. Beets, pickled onions, and other homemade treats to enjoy. There are often little shops and restaurants where you can taste typical Quebec products. I recommend the Saint-Joseph-du-Lac area, just north of Montreal.

If you go a bit further, you can reach Oka. Famous for the Trappist Oka cheese. There are also delicious chocolate-covered blueberries—a real treat for the taste buds. It’s the perfect time for them, but you won’t necessarily find them in Montreal restaurants, unfortunately. Unless there’s an exception I don’t know about.

If you want a truly Montreal and Quebec experience with a meal, I recommend going to a microbrewery or brewery on a professional hockey game night (the Montreal Canadiens). You’ll see what we eat (the Cage aux Sports at the Bell Centre is a good spot, but get there early on game nights).

If I think of more ideas, I’ll let you know,

Cheers

Hi, The traditional local cuisine in Montreal.....some will say poutine, but is it really cuisine (in the French sense of the term)? Others might suggest shepherd’s pie (same remark). Québécois cuisine: Tourtière from Lac St-Jean (but that’s far from Montreal), lobster rolls from Gaspésie (still far from Montreal), .... The thing that’s in all the tourist guides: smoked meat from Schwartz’s (well, in this case, we’re in Montreal, except....it’s originally from Eastern Europe...)

Have a great time in Montreal! 😛

PS: If you want to try poutine, check out La Banquise (it’s also in every tourist guide!)

Thanks so much, this info is super helpful to me! 😊 I don’t know anything about this country, and my goal is Quebec, but if I have to land in Montreal, I might as well stay for 4-5 days

Traditional cuisine is rarely found in restaurants. You have to get invited to people's homes. Or wait for cold weather, since traditional food is heavy on the stomach.

Pig's feet stew—maybe at La Binerie on Saint Denis. Maybe a meat pie too? Don’t forget to ask for some "beans."

In the Sorel area, there’s gibelotte (a type of soup) and perch, a small fish lightly breaded. A trip to Sorel’s "Quebec bayou" is also interesting to understand this meal.

Which brings us to fish and chips. Contrary to what you might think, it’s a dish that’s been part of my life forever. I really consider it traditional, like blood sausage. In fact, the place I mentioned in an earlier post here serves excellent blood sausage. Quebec cuisine is heavily influenced by English cooking—no surprise, given the conquest.

I’m not sure where you can find a meat pie (don’t confuse it with the Lac Saint-Jean tourtière, which was originally stuffed with game bird). You might find it in some small breakfast cafés, but it’s mostly a winter dish. Plus, every family has their own recipe (to give you an idea, I’ve already started buying meat to make my pies for the holidays).

Then there’s chub fish. To eat it, you’ll have to go to the Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade area. We used to eat it at home—it’s very similar to fish and chips. Small, breaded, and very fatty fish. Too bad for you, since it’s caught in winter on the ice. Maybe a local restaurant serves it? But it’s far from Montreal.

Finally, for your info, it’s apple season in Quebec right now. If you can visit an orchard, there are lots of apple products—like excellent apple butter. Beets, pickled onions, and other homemade treats to savor. There are often small shops and restaurants where you can taste typical Quebec products on-site. I recommend the Saint-Joseph-du-Lac area, just north of Montreal.

If you go a little further, you can reach Oka, famous for the Trappist Oka cheese. There are also delicious blueberries coated in chocolate—a real treat for the palate. It’s the perfect time for them, but you won’t necessarily find them in Montreal restaurants, unfortunately. Unless there’s an exception I don’t know about.

If you want to experience something truly Montreal and Quebecois, I recommend going to a microbrewery or brewery on a night when the Canadiens (Montreal’s pro hockey team) are playing. You’ll see what we eat (the Cage at the Bell Centre is a good spot, but get there early on game nights).

I’ll let you know if I think of anything else.

Cheers

Hi, I think the best option for me would be Airbnbs or guest rooms with locals who offer meals. But I don’t want to stay with French people. My only concern is that I don’t speak English at all, and this trip is a bit of a spur-of-the-moment decision. So, people here like you and others are actually what’s pushing me to go. I hope early November won’t be winter yet—I’d like mild temperatures, not too hot or too cold. I’ve had too many trips ruined by weather changes. Anyway, thanks to everyone, and I’m happy to see that this country allows entry without a return ticket—freedom is essential for me. Same goes for being able to pay everything in cash 😊

Hi, No problem if you don’t speak English—even though Quebec isn’t officially francophone, French is still the majority language there. November isn’t the best time because the trees have lost their leaves, and the days are getting shorter by the minute!! If you can move your trip up to late October, you’ll still catch some of the "colors." Don’t forget to do the eTA (on the official Government of Canada website). I didn’t know you could enter without a return ticket—you might have to convince the immigration officer. Either way, I hope you have a great trip!

Hi, No problem if you don’t speak English—even though Quebec isn’t officially francophone, French is still the majority language there. November isn’t the best time since the trees have lost their leaves and the days are getting shorter by the minute!! If you can move your trip up to late October, you’ll still catch some of the "colors." Don’t forget to do the eTA (on the official Government of Canada website). I didn’t know you could enter without a return ticket—you might have to convince the immigration officer, though. Either way, have a great trip!

Thanks for all this! Yep, I checked the flights, and I can confirm you don’t *have* to have a return ticket (that’s awesome). We’ve got something in common with the south of France too—breakfast is when you get up, lunch is *dîner*, and dinner is *souper* 😂

Hi Jean Yves, Just a small but important correction—the province of Quebec is officially francophone. Here’s the proof:

"French became the official language of Quebec in 1974 with the adoption of the Official Language Act (Law 22). However, the Charter of the French Language (Law 101), adopted in 1977, strengthened this status by making French the sole official language of the province. Key dates: 1974: The Quebec government adopted the Official Language Act (Law 22), which declared French as the official language, though some provisions still allowed the use of English in certain contexts. 1977: The adoption of the Charter of the French Language (Law 101) by the National Assembly of Quebec, under René Lévesque’s government, reinforced French as the only official language and established measures to promote it in all aspects of society. 2022: The Act respecting French, the official and common language of Quebec (Law 96) amended the Charter of the French Language, further consolidating French as the official and common language of Quebec."

It’s true that most English speakers don’t want to acknowledge this, but that’s the reality. As far as I know, New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province. Manitoba used to be, but since Louis Riel… Ontario, for its part, refuses to make French an official language despite a strong francophone presence—which, by the way, has been shrinking decade after decade… The other provinces and territories are officially English-speaking. Canada is an officially bilingual country, but only on paper…

Best, 😊😊👋

I’d love to get some recommendations for great things to eat, restaurants, bakeries, and all sorts of food.

If you’re planning to grab a coffee, there’s Tim Hortons with its Timbits or donut holes—ha ha ha! Otherwise, when it comes to bilingualism in Manitoba, the current Premier of the province, Wab Kinew, wants to develop it.

hey, I have no idea where I was when I wrote that Quebec wasn’t officially French-speaking—probably on the moon!! Thanks for the correction

Hi Mathews,

It’s a must-visit that I’ve obviously added to my list. I never miss going there when I’m in Montreal! 😊

It’s all good—if we were finally a country, there’d be no more ambiguity 😅😂👍