Let me begin by saying what a huge fan I have been of P.F.Chang’s going back well before the iconic global chain first landed in Montreal. From Miami to Chicago and closer by in Albany, if there was a P.F. Chang’s in a city I visited they could count on me as a customer.
Posts published in “Mike Cohen”
The Vieux-Port Steakhouse on St. Paul Street West in Old Montreal has been a year-round favorite of mine for many years. That is particularly the case during the summer.
Karina Awadalla and Bruno Dodaro are a very nice young couple who recently decided to go into business together, opening Forketta Épicerie Gourmet at 3589 Beaubien Street East in Rosemount.
Mike Yuval and Jack Sofer are the visionaries behind the Tidan Hospitality and Real Estate Group (www.tidan.com), a company they launched and built from the ground up some 50 years ago. They have much to be proud of, but when I met with them recently it was Le Mount Stephen they wanted to present to me.
There is a new player on the Old Montreal restaurant scene. Joiea Sociale (645 Wellington Street) opened for business in June 2018 - an authentic urban Italian eatery with a young and vibrant sense of local community spirit.
I recently experienced the Laval Centropolis location of Souvlaki Bar (http://souvlakibar.ca) upon the suggestion of friends who joined us for dinner on a beautiful Saturday evening. There were six of us. The place, which debuted in September 2014, can accommodate 150 people over two floors (plus a terrace). It was filled to capacity. Manager Matthew Perez had us seated and assigned wonderful server Maro to our table, an artist who specializes in sculptures.
Elounda was established in 2003 by Gary Makris and Haralambos (Bobby) Michailidis. As Bobby told me, he and Gary`s first order of business was to lure their good friend Tasso Konidis over as a partner and head chef. Tasso was rather busy, having head the kitchen at Milos on Park Avenue for the previous 20 years. This included launching the Milos brand in New York City. “It took a year, but we did it,” said Bobby.
Growing up, The Bar-B Barn was always a favorite restaurant for my family. As such, we would frequently dine or take out from the downtown Guy or West Island Sources Boulevard locations.
For years I have driven by the three Montreal locations of Brit & Chips (www.britandchips.com), curious about the experience but never venturing inside. When I had to drop a family member off for a doctor’s appointment recently on Côte des Neiges Road, I did a google search for restaurants nearby. Brit & Chips was a mere two blocks away.