The iconic Zak’s Diner opens its fifth location in the trendy  Westboro Village area of Ottawa

Tone

Readers of my stories on Ottawa will be very familiar with the fact Zak’s Diner has become a true “go-to” stop in the Nation’s capital. Established in 1986 by John Borsten and some partners, one of whom had a son named Zak, there are now five separate locations for this ’50s-themed eatery: the happening Byward Market, Elgin Street, Carleton Place, Kanata and now the Westboro Village area at the spot that previously housed the once popular Savoy Brasserie.

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Lloyd 5 @ 7 at the Marriott Château Champlain is a top choice for Montréal En Lumière

Mike Cohen

Montréal En Lumière takes place  February 16 to March 5, 2023, under the theme Discover the best of Montreal in winter! While some 40 Montréal restaurants and venues will be welcoming international and local chefs and producers,  I wish to commend the team at the Marriott Château Champlain for giving the media an advance preview of the special menu at the still relatively new and very swank Lloyd Restaurant. 

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The iconic Marathon Souvlaki: popular menu has remained the same for more than four decades

Tone

It all began for the iconic Marathon Souvlaki in 1978 with a small restaurant on Notre Dame Street in Chomedey, Laval, containing five tables and focusing mainly on takeout and delivery.

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Pizza Salvatoré revels in the success of an extraordinary expansion plan

Mike Cohen

Pizza has always been one of my favorite dishes, so when I was driving along Sources Blvd. in Dollard des Ormeaux recently and spotted a storefront at Centennial Plaza with the name “Salvatore,” I was naturally curious. Was this a new take-out place?

Upon some quick research, I was surprised to learn that this is a growing chain in Quebec, with 61 Pizza Salvatoré franchises and counting.  Thus far there are a handful of locations in and near the  Greater Montreal area, including  Dollard, St. Leonard, Laval, Repentigny, Terrebonne and Mascouche, as well as the South Shore. They have expanded to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, with Ontario (London) next on their radar screen.

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Rock’n Deli chain continues to grow and featuring Halal certified smoked meat

Mike Cohen

In 1992 Vicky Arghiriu and Ihab Kolta were a newly married couple working for competing companies, Bell Mobility and Rogers. That did not sit well with their superiors and they were let go. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Family members encouraged them to start their own business. So, when they learned that a small restaurant called Deli Connaisseur at Alexis Nihon Plaza was for sale they took the leap into an entirely new venture.

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Athena Pizzeria restaurant, a great new find on West Island

Tone

Every neighborhood has a cozy dependable pizzeria in Montreal. The West Island has a handful of great pizzerias. I discovered Athena Pizzeria in Pierrefonds-Roxboro close to Boulevard Sources. This fine eatery is no stranger to the loyal patrons of the area. If you bowl at Bowl-O-Drome, you will most likely grab a sub or pizza at Athena Pizzeria.

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