I must confess that it had been a few years since I dined at a Mikes Restaurant. But after going to a few movies at the Cinemas Guzzo Spheretech 14 in St. Laurent in recent months and seeing one of the new locales, I was anxious to give this iconic franchise another try.
MTL Resto Rap
“It’s like having dinner in the basement of a St. Leonard triplex. Not fancy. Nothing trendy. Just good authentic homemade Italian food.” That’s how Guido Grasso Jr. described the restaurant his mother and father founded just seven short years ago.
Momma's kitchen table might seat more guests than you can fit into Bistro Amerigo but that makes this small, comfy Italian restaurant an even more special find. Located a few blocks west of the hustle and bustle on Monkland Avenue near Grand Boulevard, this little place will do any Italian Momma real proud.
It has been almost 20 years since the Theo family opened their first Firegrill Restaurant in the same St. Laurent complex which houses the Cinemas Guzzo Méga- Plex Sphèretech 14. In 2007 a downtown location on Stanley Street followed. After experiencing their cuisine with my family for the very first time, we are all asking ourselves the same question: How in the world did we miss this place?
There are a lot of good restaurants on the West Island of Montreal. But since it first opened in 2002, 40 Westt Steakhouse & Bar has “carved” a solid reputation for fine dining and an ambiance that cannot be beaten.
Conveniently located right off Highway 40 in the Méga Centre Pointe Claire, owners Stefano Hinoropos, John Leonis and their staff aim to please. This very attractive venue features large ceilings, good lighting, nice artwork, interior brick walls and pleasant music playing in the background. You cannot miss the spacious open kitchen. The restaurant can accommodate 110 people in the main room, 90 at the bar, 100 in a private room and 66 in the wine room. For a cocktail cocktail denature, the number swells to over 1,000.
There are many wonderful Greek restaurants in Montreal so finding one as unique as Olive et Citron, on Monkland Avenue in NDG, was more than just a great find. A meal at this family-run restaurant is akin to being invited over for an exquisite feast prepared with old country love and attention by your Greek friend’s mom and dad.
Let me say from the start that I have been a huge fan of the Bâton Rouge Steakhouse & Bar Restaurant chain (batonrouge.ca) since the original Carrefour Laval location opened in 1992. It was at that time a gentleman by the name of Kosta Mavrohalis created the concept. Twenty-six years later the group has grown to 29 venues in Quebec, Ontario and Nova Scotia. The 30th will debut soon in St. Hyacinthe.
It has been 12 years since Poissonnerie & Restaurant Rayan opened its first location in Rosemount. There are now four locations and counting: 4528 rue Belanger in Rosemount, 6080 Côte-des-Neiges, 2020 Lanthier in Ottawa and the first franchise at 8090 Langelier in St. Leonard.
Poissonnerie & Restaurant Rayan offers casual dining with a Middle Eastern feeling. Nothing here is pre-made. The concept is quite unique. Upon your arrival, customers head directly to one of the chefs and choose from the wide selection of fresh fish and shellfish lining the bar. The service is prompt and convivial. It is quite novel to go to the seafood bar to handpick your dinner.
On December 4, 2011 an unfortunate fire forced the permanent closure of the landmark Yangtze Chinese Restaurant on Van Horne Avenue. But owners Marco and Bobo Yau, brother and sister, acted quickly and reopened a new location at 6066 Sherbrooke Street in NDG under the name of Tchang Kiang by Yangtze Restaurant.