Crudessence Restaurant Major Eater our guest reviewer and videographer at livemtl.com says:

Crudessence, the newest vegan and raw food destination to hit Montreal opened May 4, 2008. The company which has been a vegan caterer has now opened a cafe on Rachel street, located close to the Sunday Tam Tam’s.

Lisa Shalom, a friendly staffer, was nice enough to tell me about what goes on at Crudessence. She explained that the motivation behind opening the cafe is to promote healthy lifestyles while proving that eating fast does not have to mean eating badly. The snacks and drinks served at Crudessence look and taste hearty and healthy. Here’s to feeling good. Cheers.

Crudessence Cafe Information:

105 Rachel West, Plateau Mont-Royal, Montreal
Metro: Mont Royal
Phone: 514-271-0333
Website: Crudessence.com
Hours: Monday 8 am - 6 pm, Tues - Sun: 8 am -9pm
Payment: Cash & Debit
Price: $5.00 - $15.00

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Aux Vivres Restaurant Review

On Montreal Restaurant Cosmos Chef Deck Says (with a raspy voice, Greek ascent, while smocking a cigarette, and yelling at his children):

Cosmos Snack Bar and I, have been down since day one. I still go there with hopes of collecting enough evidence for my lawsuit against them for contributing to my future sextuple bypass. G-d forbid on the bypass and sorry guys for the whole fattening innuendo but my cousins cholesterol did go back down to normal after he stopped eating two creations and a mish mash (lots of eggs, bacon, sausage, ham, salami, tomato, onion, cheese and toast.) a week. You are so forbiddingly delicious and I can’t help but crave your two eggs over with butterflied sausage burnt, patates burnt, and a bagel on the grill. There are also days that I sweat thinking about biting into a creation (BLT with a fried egg and salami $4.75), greasy bacon cheeseburger, or feeding myself for two days with a mishmash. The thing that I appreciate most about Cosmos though is the secret ash in my food, the family feuds, and of course good old Tony. For all of you who are confused by my banter Cosmos is a Breakfast restaurant counter, they have some of the the best potatoes in the city, it is tinny and you only can sit at the bar (11 stools) except for in the summer when you can sit outside, and there is a documentary that you can catch on the owner (Tony Koulakis) called “Man of Grease”.

Food: sticks to your bones/10
Service: screw you for asking/10
Size: Tokyo hotel room/10

Chef Deck signing out!

Cosmos Restaurant Information

5843 Sherbrooke West, Notre Dame de Grace (NDG), Montreal
Metro: Vendome
Phone: 514-486-3814
Hours: Tues - Sun breakfast 6 am - 5 pm
Pay: Cash only
Price: Cheap

On Montreal Restaurant M:brgr Chef Deck says:

Today my perfect teeth (no i swear…27 and no cavity’s, no teeth pulled even the wisdoms, and never even a needle in my mouth…i love you Dr. Felger) bit into a perfect burger. I have to be honest in the fact that over the past few months, i’ve been hating on Montreal restaurant M:brgr, for the pure and simple fact, that i did not believe a burger joint could be worth such high prices. Wow do i feel like a dildo now because M:brgr was fantastic. Of course i had to order the Kobe beef burger with truffle aioli ($20). Bitting into it felt like sinking my teeth into a virgin baby seal raised on the coast of Monaco. Oh yes, it was magical. I decided not to get any toppings for I wanted to see how perfect the meat was and recommend the same practice for any M:brgr goer (perfectly seasoned and juicy like a Gushers). The fries were also amazing, perfectly double fried crisp with that sweetness you only get from a AAA casse-croûte. I still think that M:brgr is too expensive however that Kobe beef burger is probably the best in town (i plan on going to Le Paris tomorrow to confirm this statement). Looking to go to M:brgr on the cheap, try the lunch box special (11 am - 5 pm), it includes the AAA angus burger, fries and a coke for ($12.75). Lastly I got to mention my disappointment in the fact that I could not order it rare but don’t worry i got to the bottom of it. They buy ground kobe meat so the risk factor in cooking it rare would be against code. I suggest that they add a $60 burger of Kobe steak that they grind on the spot to the menu, so we carnivores can eat our meat bloody and waste even more money!

Ambiance: Bar chic yet a little cheesy /10
Food: 8.99324934/10
Price: Way too expensive so damn you for being so good/10

Chef Deck signing out!

Restaurant M:brgr Information:

2025 Drummond, corner de Maisonneuve Blvd. W., Downtown, Montreal
Phone: 514-90m.brgr (906-2747)
Hours: Mon - Wed 11:30 am - 11:00 pm, Thurs - Sat 11:30 am - Midnight
Pay: Cash, Visa, MC, AMEX
Website: mbrgr.com

On Joe Beef Restaurant, Montreal Chef Deck says:

Joe Beef reminds me of a fat man by the name Frank Portly whose eating addiction made his bed his toilet, his toilet his bed, and he only believed in wet naps not showers. Ya I know you’re all thinking that this does not sound very appetizing, but au contraire mon frere, what could be more appetizing then food that’s so good, it fully negates your brain functions related to being full. Oh yes this is our great Joe Beef! The original restaurant opened by Allison Cunningham, Frédéric Morin and David McMillan that spawned a Montreal, Notre Dame street empire (Restaurant Liverpool House, Restaurant McKiernan Luncheonette and Wine Bar). This particular time we started with about 30 oysters (some wankers ordered to many so we got the spoils of their over zealous eyes), then had the most amazing Fois Gras parfait served with fried toast and cinnamon sugar apples, and for the last app a charcutarie plate with a variety of yummy animals (pâté de Campagne, sausage, roast pork, jambon de bayon). For the main we all shared a mixed grill with duck breast, seared fois gras, two types of sausage, and hanger steak all accompanied by decent fries and the fattest asparagus you’ve ever seen. For dessert we had a peach polenta ice cream covered thing, that was the perfect end to an almost perfect meal. So you all know that game about what would you do for a million dollars? Well I’m switching it to what would you do for a meal at Joe Beef?…and I would do Frank Portly!

Food: 9.62133612361212/10
Service: Sexy/10
Décor: flee market chick/10

Chef Deck signing out!

2491 Notre Dame Street W, Montreal
Phone: 514-935-6504
www.joebeef.ca/
Hours: Tues - Sun, 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Pay: VISA, MC

On Montreal Restaurant Le Petit Italien Chef Deck Says:

Chef Boyardee aint got nothin on Le Petit Italien restaurant. Oh yes Mr. Boyardee….dems be fightin words (meet me at at the clock tower at 4:00pm eastern standard time on April 28th, 2011 and I’ll show you what’s up). restaurant Le Petit Italien has been one of my favourite Montreal Italian restaurants for many years now and the following expresses why. We started with the Antipasto Misto ($10-$14) that had marinated eggplant, farfalle pesto, salami, parmigiano reggiano, olive tapinade, prosciutto, and bruschetta that was tasty as tasty can be. For the mains we had salmone balsamico (grilled salmon with balsamic) and a duck confit pasta both of which were excellent. For the record I will never order risotto at a restaurant but Le Petit Italien is my one exception. You tickle my fancy my little Italien!

Tastiness: 8.792341732481/10
Ambiance: perfect first date spot/10
Owner: Beutifull/10

Chef Deck signing out!

Restaurant Le Petit Italien Info

:
1265, Bernard corner Champagneur, Outremont Montréal, QC
Phone: 514-278-0888
Website: lepetititalien.com
Hours: Everyday 11:30 - Midnight
Cuisine: Italian
Payment: Visa. MC, AMEX

On Montreal Restaurant Mckiernan Chef Deck says:

Here Ye! Here Ye!
Lock your doors, board up your windows, and don’t let your kids out of sight. The chefs/owners of Joe Beef and Liverpool House restaurants (Allison Cunningham, Frédéric Morin and David McMillan) are stormin up Notre Dame street with guns a blazzin, after opening up yet another Restaurant, and well on there way to a full hostile takeover of the street. Mckiernan is a new lunch joint/wine bar that follows the Joe Beef recipe for gluttonal success, but now on lunch a budget. The menu offers an array of different sandwiches, soups, salads, and cheese plats all of which are traditional with a twist. We had a Wollenski type sandwich with two types of melted cheddar, a roast pork sandwich with caramelized onions and melted cheese, and a grilled cheese with bacon that were all gut busting and delicious. The restaurant also morphs into a wine bar featuring a beautiful selection with surprising low markups. So boys and girls when should we expect the breakfast place to open up, and complete the wind water fire earth thing so Captain Planet will rejoin us.

Food: fatty yet delicious/10
Decor: chalk board comfy/10
Population weight growth expected to rise by 38% this year thanks to too the trio/10

Chef Deck signing out!

Restaurant McKiernan, Luncheonette Bar a vins

2485 Notre-Dame Ouest, Atwater Market, Montreal
Métro Lionel-Groulx
Phone: 514-759-6677
Seats: 14 + bar

On Saint Agathe Restaurant Crêperie La Quimperlaise Chef Deck Says:

Esti, Tabernac, crêperie La Tournsol was closed again so I had to go to Quimperlaise. Not that I don’t like this French damsel or anything, but she’s just one of those filles that is good from far but far from good. I know that this seems like some harsh criticism but it’s just because i was really dying for the Tournsol experience. All and all, Crêperie La Quimperlaise is consistently good as long as you stick to the basics. Their onion soup aux gratin is fantastic (most cheese in the north), they have a good Cesar salad, traditional crepes, fondue, a good steak with mustard sauce, and a bad ass steak sandwich. The best thing about Quimperlaise though is the picture of the old French Canadian woman on the wall smokin her peace pipe.

Food: 7.12121121111/10
Ambiance: country 1984/10
Service: waitstaff are kept in line be the big owner sippin on his mug of je ne c’est quoi at the forbidden corner table/10

Chef Deck signing out!

Restaurant Crêperie Quimperlaise Info

11 Ch Du Tour-Du-Lac
Sainte Agathe Des Monts, QC, J8C 1A6
Phone: 819-326-1776

Monika Terlecki and Travis Champion two of the people behind Old-Montreal hot spot Garde-Manger, have opened a new restaurant, L’Orignal right around the corner. They have already created a buzz, hosting a party before the official opening for media, and friends, with champagne, oysters, apps, and fun. L’Orignal’s menu will feature traditional Quebecoise cuisine (fish, game meats and top local products) with a modern twist. The decor features features plenty of wood and original stone walls and is located in a heritage building. If you are looking for a new place to try in the increasingly popular western Old Montreal area check it out. Look for rue Saint-Alexis the small street (almost an alley) one block east of Saint-Pierre, L’Orignal restaurant is on the right with a little moose on the door.

click the read more link below for the full menu at restaurant L’Original.

479 Saint-Alexis, Old Montreal
Phone: 514 303 0479
Payment: Visa, American Express, Mastercard
Hours:
Mon - Tues: 12:00 pm - 12:00 am
Wed: 12:00 pm - 3:00 am
Thurs: 12:00 pm - 12:00 am
Fri: 12:00 pm - 3:00 am
Sat: 6:00 pm - 3:00 am
Sun: 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Chef: Francis Cote
General Manager: Shannon McGarr

[Read more →]

On Ginger Restaurant in Montreal Chef Deck says:

If you’re trying to figure out where to go for a good shabbes hipster sushi dinner look no farther then good ol Ginger restaurant. For those of you of the semitic faith you understand that if you want to catch up with all the forgotten ones from your life, all you need to do is to go to Ginger on a Friday or Saturday. Now to the food….Ginger has and will remain one of my top 3 picks in the city for the freshest and most innovative sushi in Montreal. I recommend telling the waiter your budget and letting him bring out the chef’s selections (maybe you’ll even get a jona roll if you ask nicely). The lobster salad, the apps, and even the noodle dishes are all solid choices. If you are looking for good service or a decent wine / sake list head elsewhere. It isn’t nobu, but if your a hipster in a tight cardigan and a fedora this is the perfect place for you. If you swing by be sure to say hi to my friend Lance Faded at the bar.

Sushi bar: only one in the city that is behind a wall so as not to divulge their secrets/10

Bar staff: love to shove those Saki bombs down your throat/10

Chef Deck signing out!

Ginger Restaurant Info

16, avenue des Pins E, cross street: St-Laurent, Montreal, QC
Phone: 514-844-2121
Payment: Interac, Major Credit Cards
Hours: Thurs-Sat: 5:30 p.m.-midnight. Sun-Wed: 5:30 p.m.-11 p.m.
Cuisine Type: Asian, Japanese Sushi

Hurray for a new year, and new innovative Montreal Restaurants for me to relish and poop on!. Below is a list of some of the new restaurants that have Montreal foodies tongues wagging.

M:brgr Restaurant

UPDATE: Read the M:brgr review

M:brgr, the new fancy burger joint brought to you by the owner of Moishe’s Steakhouse opened Tuesday, January 15th in the space Eden, (the kosher French restaurant) formerly occupied. Jeff Dichter and Lenny Lighter, co-owner of Moishes are the brainchilds of this new Montreal hot spot. They also have committed to donating a portion (5%) of all sales at M:brgr to Montreal Children’s Charities. The menu offers a variety of burger choices from beef (AAA cut $8.75, Kobe $19.75), organic ($12), tuna ($17.75) and veggie ($9.95). There is a also a wide assortment of topping some of the gourmet ones include Grilled green asparagus ($3), apple-wood bacon ($2), grilled oyster mushrooms ($4) and black truffle carpaccio ($10). You also get to choose from seven different types of cheese. If burgers aren’t your thing there is a mac & cheese dish with a truffle potato chip crust ($13), sandwiches, angus hot dogs and for the healthier eaters they also offer meal salads ($8.75 - $13.75) as well. To see them rest of their menu visit their website.

According to the gazette M:brgr restaurant has been averaging 300 customers a day and the burger is the result of the hard work and frequent tasting trips of the owners, including New York, where they tried out all the best hamburger restaurants, like BLT Burger, Rare, and Stan’s. Lighter has been serving hamburgers at lunch at Moishes for years, so he knew with their history and experience that no matter what was out there, they could do it better. Dichter and Lighter say this is only the beginning. Plans are already afoot for more m:brgr outlets in Montreal and beyond, which would also donate a percentage of sales to charity.

Restaurant M:brgr
2025 Drummond, Downtown Montreal
Hours: Mon - Wed 11:30 am - 11:00 pm, Thurs - Sat 11:30 am - Midnight
Website: www.mbrgr.com

DNA Restaurant

DNA restaurant in Old Montreal, headed by executive Chef Derek Dammann opened officially today with a big buzz in the space formerly occupied by California Dream. The interior was designed by Bruno Braën (Braun-Braën)is the designer of DNA his previous work includes Le Club Chasse et Pêche, La Porte, Bily Kun and Pullman. Chef Dammann has worked in top restaurants in Canada (Cassis and Zambri’s) as well as in Europe (Fifteen, The Fat Duck and Le Notre). DNA is open for lunch and dinner and claim to serve a Mediterranean, Italian type cuisine. The menu includes such dishes as agneau grillé ($28), aile de raie ($23), bouillabaisse ($25) and joue de porc au cidre ($19).
Restaurant DNA
355 Marguerite D’Youville, Montreal
Phone: 514-287-3362
Website: www.dnarestaurant.com
Hours: Lunch: 12:00 pm - 2:30 pm, Dinner: 5:30pm - 10:30pm

L’inconnu Restaurant

L’inconnu opened and has taken over the space formerly occupied by Brunoise. They serve market driven contemporary cuisine by Chef Jeffrey Stirrup. According to there website the average price for a meal for two is $80.00 which does not include taxes, wine or gratuity. The chef’s specialties include for Apps: braised pork belly, poached lobster with white asparagus, and foie gras au torchon. For mains: roasted filet of beef with braised oxtail, roasted veal filet with lobster and sweetbread sausage and black cod. You can read the review from Voir (French only) here.

Restaurant L’inconnu
3807 St.André, Plateau Montreal
PhoneL: 514-527-0880
Website: www.linconnu.ca
Hours: Mon - Thurs 5:30 pm - 11:00 pm, Fri - Sat 5:30 pm - 11:30pm, CLOSED ON SUN

Le Pois Penché Restaurant

Le Pois Penché restaurant on de Maisonneuve has been open since December 2007 and is the latest venture for Montreal restaurant maven Peter Morentzos’ of Queue De Cheval, Trinity and MBCo fame. He is also associated with 40 West Steakhouse and is the founder of Eggspectations, Moe’s Deli & Bar, Bentley’s among others. It is located in the long abandoned Tudor House on De Maisonneuve at Drummond and covers two floors. Le Pois Penché is open 7 days a week and aims to be the downtown Montreals first decent restaurant to be open 24/7 (although not until summertime, winter till 3 am) and takes its Frenchness very seriously. At this French bistro you will not find ketchup, meat cooked past medium or anything other than French wine and a strictly French menu. The seasonal menu offers an early brunch served early in the day, a lunch menu and a full dinner menu. The menu is extensive and features everything from a seafood platter ($68.00 or $128.00), steak, and tartars (beef, lamb and tuna ($22-$26).

Restaurant Le Pois Penché
1230 boul. de Maissoneuve Ouest, Downtown Montreal
Phone: 514-667-5050
Hours: 7 am - 2:30 am
Cuisine: French, Bistro, Brunch
Website: www.lepoispenche.com

Bofinger West Island

Bofinger Restaurant, the popular NDG southern barbecue haven recently opened a second location at. 3339-G Sources Boulevard (Centennial Plaza)514-685-3444 in Dollard-Des-Ormeaux (West Island, Montreal). Word has it is already pretty busy. They are also looking for wait staff /cashiers available days, evenings, and weekends.

On Montreal Restaurant Le Vin Levain Chef Deck says:

Luckily Le Vin Levain Restaurant wasn’t open when the nuns owned Nun’s Island, because it would have definitely tested their vow of celibacy with their deliciously sexy food. This Montreal gem is in my opinion the best place to eat on the Island. Le Vin Levain restaurant changes their market fair menu daily and I have yet to have a meal that disappoints. On this occasion I had the Mahi Mahi accompanied by steamed rice and sautéed zucchini which was cooked to perfection and my confrère had a delicious Thai chicken curry. This little gem also has a great wine selection and beautiful pastries baked fresh daily.

Food: 9.12312312/10

Service: a little slow but very French/10

Aromas: like walking into Madame Gervais’s kitchen/10

Chef Deck signing out!

Le Vin Levain Restaurant Information

7, Place du Commerce corner l’Île-des-Soeurs
Nun’s Island (Verdun), Montreal, Québec
Tel: 514-767-0966
Website: Levinlevain.com

On Montreal Restaurant Aux Vivres Chef Deck Says:

To be a Vegan or not to be a Vegan? That is the question. Well though Aux Vivres is quite delicious, I’ll have to pass on the full time veganism (if that’s a word). Now that I’ve officially made my decision I must express my surprise and joy on how amazing this place was. We started with chipata bread and veggie butter accompanied by an olive tapanade which was great. Next was the Thai bowl with lots of veggies (lots of bok choi), grilled tofu, and a peanut sauce which was hippie-rific. The highlight though was the BLT wrap, packed to the brim with grilled tofu, coconut bacon chips, lettuce, tomato, and mayo. Well Aux Vivres restaurant, you’ve given me a new found appreciation for rollin in the dirt and making out with trees.

Food: 8.1232234/10
Chefs: Daisy elbows/10
Apple Juice: Wow best fresh squeezed ever/10

Chef Deck signing out!

Restaurant Aux Vivres

4631 St Laurent, Cross street Mont-Royal, Montreal, QC
Phone Number: 514-842-3479
Metro: Mont-Royal
Payment: Cash Only
Hours: Tues - Sun 11 am - 11 pm, Weekend Brunch: Saturday and Sunday 11 am - 4 pm
Cuisine: Vegan

On Montreal Restaurant Halal 786 Chef Deck says:

Interesting that Pakistani Restaurant Halal 786 is situated at the address 766 Jean Talon West isn’t it. Could the owners be dyslexic? Could the landlord have convinced the owners that they rented 786, but little did they know, he also owned 766 and put them in it? Could it be an honest mistake? Well it turns out it’s none of those things, though I felt I had you a little on the landlord story thing. So for all of you to know, 786 is supposedly the numerical value for “Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim,” openin phrase of Qur’an, and another way of saying Allah (786 is also the numerical aggregate of “Lord Hare Krishna”). Yes food…The food here was great. The Lahori fry fish was amazingly spiced flaky perfection. The chicken, veggie, Basmati rice, Naan, and whole wheaty naan type bread that has slipped my mind were also very good. I must say that it makes me so happy that there’s yet another Park-X Find!

Food: 7.8898289/10
Ambiance: If you call ahead maybe you could sit in the family section/10
Price: Only 40 bucks for three/10

Chef Deck signing out!

Restaurant Halal 786

786, 768 Jean-Talon W. Park Extension, Montreal
Phone Number: 270-0786
Hours: 12:00 pm - 11:30 pm
Cuisine: Pakistani

On Montreal Restaurant Jano Chef Deck says:

Did you know that the Portuguese saying “A mulher e a sardinha querem-se da mais pequenina” means “Women and sardines, you want them to be small”. Just a little food for thought. When your lookin for quick, reasonable, Portuguese grill on the Main, Janos (big brother to restaurant Le Barcelos Grillades nearby on Prince Arthur) won’t disappoint. I recommend getting the grilled mixed combo plate where you can choose a combo of four different dishes (chicken, lamb chops, octopus, sausage, rabbit, quail, and I forget what else). This particular night we opted for grilled trout and calamari which were both grilled to perfection (with great home cut fries). The only thing that is consistently poor at Janos is the starter salad (at least there’s bread and olives though). So old friend Mr. Jano I’ll always like you but I can’t say I love you.

Food:7.69343/10
Service: Very attentive with the ketchup, mayo, hot sauce situation/10
Price: $10-$15-$25 a person/10

Chef Deck signing out!

Jano Restaurant

3883 St Laurent, corner des Pins, Montreal
Phone: 514-849-0646
Hours: Mon - Wen 4:00 pm to 11:30 pm; Thur - Sun 12:00 pm to 11:30 pm
Pay: VISA, MC, Interac

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