By Mike Cohen and Tony Medeiros
Have you experienced Le Fou Fou yet? The two of us visited this innovative food hall in the new Royalmount development for the first time and we were impressed. This vibrant destination invites Montrealers to embark on a unique Epicurean journey. Whether you’re drawn to the all-day café, distinctive culinary concepts, or lively nighttime bars, Le Fou Fou promises an experience that sparks the imagination and delights the senses.
Can’t decide? No problem—Le Fou Fou’s custom-built multi-basket ordering system lets you sample dishes from different vendors, all delivered to your table on one seamless check.
Le Fou Fou redefines Montreal’s culinary scene with two à la carte restaurants, 10 unique culinary concepts, and three individually themed bars from celebrated chefs and renowned restaurateurs.
Conceptualized as a European-style food hall, Le Fou Fou is Montreal’s first to combine top-tier talent, hi-touch technology, and programming all year round. An over 30,000 sq ft indoor space and 6,000 sq ft of exterior space includes 12 distinct culinary offerings, including catering, plus three bars with outdoor dining that seats over 900 guests. Le Fou Fou is open seven days a week for all-day dining and has an exclusive in-house catering partner, Traiteur Brera, to accommodate corporate & private events. Dedicated to being a cultural hub, curated happenings such as art events and live music will entice guests as they sip and savor the many flavors of Le Fou Fou. Brought to life by MTB Collective founder David Haas in collaboration with CarbonLeo, and built and designed by the renowned LemayMichad team, this exceptional project is located on the second floor of the Royalmount retail complex.
Groundbreaking Technology
We spoke to Managing Director Jay Coldren and Marketing Director Jad Akiki to get the true low down.
Coldren, who was previously co-CEO of the Time Out Market food and cultural market concept, expressed great pride in Le Fou Fou’s groundbreaking technology. The food hall has teamed up with industry leaders Lightspeed and 5Loyalty to create a state-of-the-art Point of Sale system that supports their Multi-Basket Ordering feature. This innovative technology enables customers to place orders from multiple vendors simultaneously, merging their selections into a single ticket and delivery. When you’re craving sushi while your kids want pizza and tacos, you can order everything from Le Fou Fou at once, resulting in a single order with one check and a single delivery charge. It’s the same fun and variety as a food hall, but now available for you at home.
The benefits of Multi-Basket Ordering extend beyond home delivery. Le Fou Fou enhances the in-house dining experience by equipping tables with QR codes, enabling guests to order directly from all vendors on a unified check. This eliminates the need for waiting in multiple lines and allows for a more relaxed and enjoyable dining experience. Whether dining in or ordering out, Le Fou Fou’s guests benefit from a streamlined process that prioritizes convenience and variety.
Business is Ramping Up
We decided to dine the old-fashioned way, going from kiosk to kiosk and using the gift card provided to us for our choices. More on that to come.
“It has been a great start,” says Coldren. “I think we are capturing more of a percentage of the mall traffic than you expected. The Mall is ramping up; new stores are opening and there is now a Cineplex theatre. For certain we are doing better than we expected.”
The place was quite crowded when we arrived at noon. Coldren says that Le Fou Fou already has a trendy 5 @ 7 and the place has become a hotspot during the evening. “It is really fun to come after the mall closes,” he says. “It is a very magical environment. On the weekends we have deejays, live music, fortune tellers and caricatures.”
Akiki says book signings, school reunions and large parties are all coming soon. Le Fou Fou management said that they have the ideal place to accommodate large groups. “We can have a designated seating section reserved, with appetizers and gift cards for everyone to use so they can easily go from kiosk to kiosk,” said Coldren.
Our Dining Experience
Here is what you have to choose from. There were only two of us so we had to make some tough decisions.
PRIME Bar à Boeuf by Lenny Lighter of the original Moishes, offers irresistible burgers and steak frites crafted from top-notch cuts of meat, infused with decades of steakhouse know-how.
From Mike: That was my first stop, taking Lenny’s recommendation and ordering the Prime Smashburger: fresh AAA Angus beef, onions, lettuce, pickles, cheese and some outstanding Prime burger sauce. Going along with this were some fresh-cut fries, with delicious Prime steak spice aioli to dip them in. A smash burger is a type of hamburger that is characterized by its crispy, caramelized exterior and juicy interior. This burger is made by taking a ball of ground beef and smashing it down onto a hot griddle or skillet, which creates a larger surface area that sears quickly. This technique locks in the juices and develops a rich, savory crust. You can eat it with the bun and finish it off with a knife and fork.
Lenny came out of retirement to launch this concept and he has not lost his touch. It is no wonder why so many of his former Moishes clients are flocking here. We even spotted a senior executive from a noted restaurant chain enjoying a burger. They also have a variety of delicious sandwiches, other burgers (including chicken. mushroom and veggie), kosher hotdogs, beef tartare and some desserts.
Just like he was at Moishes Steakhouse Montréal, Lenny is omnipresent at his new spot. You can trust this man to order the freshest meat available and to ensure his staff are at their best. He has hit a home run. “I am seeing a lot of my former customers from Moishes,” he smiles.
From Tony: Classic Neapolitan pizzas and Italian specialties are brought to you with a hint of Asia by the mad geniuses at Lucky Belly. This a-la-carte dining spot called Tiramisu features indoor and outdoor seating, a full bar, and a massive brick oven churning out the finest pizzas in Montreal.
Did you know that tiramisu translates from Italian to “pick me up” or “cheer me up?” That’s exactly the feeling I had after tasting the Calabrese pizza—a true culinary masterpiece that married bold flavors with exquisite textures in perfect bliss.
The base of the pizza was a robust and spicy tomato sauce that packed a punch, layered with slices of rich, savory salami and delicate hints of aromatic fennel, which added a sophisticated herbal complexity. Creamy, luxurious fior di latte balanced the boldness with its milky smoothness, while a drizzle of honey introduced a subtle sweetness, perfectly offsetting the heat of the sauce. Fresh basil leaves crowned the pizza, bringing brightness and a fragrant, fresh finish to each bite.
But the real alchemy happened in the brick-fired oven. The intense heat gave the crust a remarkable duality—crispy and golden on the outside, yet soft, airy, and tender within. The burning brick oven imbued a gentle smokiness that elevated every element of the pizza, creating a depth of flavor impossible to achieve with a conventional oven.
This wasn’t just a pizza—it was an uplifting culinary journey, one that captured the essence of its Italian heritage. It truly embodied the “pick me up” spirit, leaving me feeling both satisfied and inspired.
The menu also includes such choices as Burrata, tartare sushi arancini, parmesan truffle fries, charcuterie platters, seven different kinds of pizza and of course tiramisu for dessert.
À la Table Vins et Fromage, offering uniquely Fou Fou wine flights perfectly paired with premium charcuterie from À la table by Hanna. We sampled their delicious birthday cake and a warm croissant, along with some coffee and tea.
As for the others we have:
Tori Ramen by Hanhak Kim delivers the finest ramen in Montreal.
Bar Sucré, delightfully unexpected post-dinner cocktails and decadent desserts by the slice. (not open yet as of this writing).
Eva’s all-day café by Shah Kash offers a mouth-watering all-day menu from classic brunch staples to Mediterranean-inspired plates and juicy fried chicken.
Exchange Marché du Café offers local roasts, specialty lattes, and a selection of pastries by the renowned Hof Kelsten bakery.
Hogar Taqueria by the Torres brothers serves up authentic chef-crafted Mexican classics such as tacos, enchiladas, and tostadas made with steakhouse-quality ingredients.
Il Miglio by legendary restaurateur Claude Pelletier, offering his signature, made-from-scratch pastas.
James Beard Award Winning Chef Tony Messina comes to Montreal with Kishu sushi bar, presenting the freshest seafood from towers of oysters and caviar to uni hand rolls paired with sake.
Le Lucky Belly, comptoir asiatique serving up poke, boba and regional Asian specialties.
Spirulina health bar, has something for everyone, serving up mouth-watering toasts, salads, and smoothies, by Jessica Power and Olivia Farruggia.
Le Taj is bold and flavorful Indian cuisine serving a variety of classics and specialties by renowned Montreal restaurateur Kabir Kapoor.
Le Fou Fou’s cocktail bar serves hand-crafted cocktails with fresh ingredients and artisanal spirits.
Le Fou Fou succeeds in honoring the city’s reputation as a gastronomic capital with a creative and playful twist. Conveniently located in the heart of Montreal’s midtown district, shoppers, nearby workers, and foodies alike can access Le Fou Fou via the brand-new indoor footbridge directly linking it to the De la Savane metro station or use the ample parking available to visitors. For up-to-date information on Le Fou Fou, visit www.lefoufou.com and follow @lefoufoumtl.