Mike Cohen, born and raised in Côte Saint-Luc, has long been active in the community as a volunteer, journalist, and consultant. He profiles restaurants in Montreal and beyond. mikecohen.ca
I dropped by the new Wellington Bagel Sandwicherie recently. Chef Derek Curzi and his team offer the best gourmet sandwiches on the block, such as mouthwatering porchetta, Montreal smoked meat, the famous Wellington beef, crispy chicken cutlet, tender juicy chicken parmigiana, their iconic Chicago all-beef hot dog, freshly baked in-house pastries and always hot out of the oven bagels.
“Copper Branch is the largest vegan restaurant brand in the world, and we are happy to welcome it into the Foodtastic Family,” said Peter Mammas, President, and CEO of Foodtastic. “We look forward to working with all our new franchisees and emerging through this pandemic with a revitalized leader in the plant-powered restaurant space. This acquisition is consistent with our strategy of acquiring quality Canadian brands with growth potential.”
Jonathan Dresner, who is behind the concepts of Notre Boeuf de Grace and Pigeon Café, has another winner on his hands in Burger Fiancé.
With news that General Mills will no longer be able to continue making Liberté cream cheese, bagel lovers, in particular, have gone into a bit of… Read More »In the wake of the discontinuation of Liberté cream cheese, Dizz’s Bagel and Deli to the rescue
I do not know how many times in the past year I drove by the sign on Jean Talon, just past Decarie, pointing potential customers into the parking lot and then the entrance of Resto Broskis. From there I went to the website and followed them on Facebook. Then finally, towards the end of June, I made an executive decision to go for lunch.
Zak’s Diner was established in 1986 by John Borsten and some partners, one of whom had a son named Zak, there are four locations for this ’50s-themed eatery.
Montreal is known for some iconic steakhouses, such as Moishes (soon to reopen), Rib ‘N Reef and Gibbys. On my most recent trip to Ottawa, I got to experience the legendary Al’s Steakhouse.
The restaurant offers fine and inventive cuisine. Critically acclaimed celebrity Chefs Olivier Perret and Clément Tilly perform their culinary magic with their innovative menus and ultra-chic settings. It is no wonder that Le Renoir Restaurant has received two “Toques” in Montreal’s first edition of the prestigious French gastronomy guide
Gault & Millau and the best grade out of all hotel restaurants in Montreal.
The first Billy K’s in Quebec opened on Boulevard de Gare in Vaudreuil in March. That has since been followed by a May debut on Lacordaire in St. Leonard. Laval is slated to join the group by the end of the year. A few years back Bountis was in Cornwall to open a new Mr. Puffs when he came across a spot called Billy K’s, specializing in burgers, wraps and other comfort food. It turned out the owner was looking to sell. He and his sister Fotini and partners Melih Batri and John Sanoudakis decided to purchase the brand.
Boustan has been in a steady expansion mode in recent years, with 40 locations and counting. Ottawa and Toronto franchises have come on board. By the time 2022 draws to a close that number will grow to an astonishing 60. That will include Cornwall and New Brunswick.
Shinka Sushi Bar (previously known as New Generation Sushi) is located on Laurier Avenue West near Elgin. It has been around since 2004. When the COVID-19 pandemic, it pivoted exclusively to take-out and delivery. Their clientele responded in strong numbers so they have stuck to this format. A second location will open later this year at a location to be determined.
Red Lobster still operates in four Canadian provinces – Ontario, Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. There are two locations in Ottawa. The one at 1499 St. Laurent Blvd., just as you enter the city, has always been our “go-to” spot. Twenty years ago, I did a few reviews for my newspapers and connected with General Manager Ian Forrester. When I went there for a curbside pickup back in December, Ian was still on the job. It turns out he has been there for an incredible 36 years.
For more years than I can remember I would drive to Pointe Claire just to enjoy a good smoked meat sandwich or some breakfast at Moe’s Bar & Grill. The menu had so many tempting items, I always tempted to return. On my way home from Ottawa recently I decided to make a pit stop and call in a large order that I could enjoy over a couple of days. When I arrived, longtime owner Johnny Cripotos was there to greet me.
As a foodie, I love the Ottawa restaurant scene. High on my list is The Works Craft Burgers & Beer (www.worksburger.com). Open since 2001, this wildly popular and award winning full-service neighbourhood bistro is known for its more than 30 different, hand-prepared gourmet burgers, bottomless fresh hand-cut fries, cool classic shakes and ice-cold beer, which are all 100 percent Canadian. The Works offers guests eight different patty options as well as gluten-free and vegetarian combinations to choose from.
Kettlemans hand-rolled Montreal style bagels, unique spreads, fresh salads, and sandwiches make the perfect breakfast-to-go, boardroom power lunch or late-night indulgence. Founder and Montreal native Craig Buckley opened the first store in August of 1993. When he started the business, he simply wanted to make the best bagels you could find. By rolling, “kettling,” and baking traditional Montreal Bagel in a wood burning-oven using handpicked hardwood, and maintaining an unwavering commitment to the traditional quality of the food, Kettlemans has become a food institution — 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year — for 28 years.
