Montreal: the city where French style encounters American liveliness and European elegance. You may know the antique Old Montreal or seen the Notre-Dame Basilica and the Saint Joseph’s Oratory’s postcards, but do you know what the menu of the city holds for its visitors? Here, we propose a guide through Montreal’s most iconic dishes and where to grab them.
A taste of Montreal
Some cities cannot be defined without some of its iconic recipes. Which are the ones that stand out in Montreal? Only a few examples include:
Poutine
This recipe has earned the status of “Canada’s national dish”. Mix French fries with cheese curds and top them with hot brown gravy and you will have a dish that is beloved all around the nation.
If you are planning a food tour Montreal, you can aim at two of the main events around this recipe: La Poutine Week (in Drummondville and Quebec City) and Le Grand Poutine Fest (in Old Port, it usually takes place in July). Street food trucks and the best poutine chefs come together to discover who can cook the best poutine in the city. However, poutine is available all year long in local restaurants such as Chez Tousignant, Poutineville and La Banquise.
Maple Candy
A simple yet efficient taffy, a national icon. In order to make this candy, you take hot, boiled maple syrup and pour it into a cold surface. It thickens and has to be rolled around if you want to get the sticky and chewy result.
Maple-based dishes are the stars of the Cabane Panache, a festival that makes Wellington Street (Verdun) look like a winter lumberjack village. Here, you will be able to find drinks, beer and multiple local recipes. If you miss the event, venues like Around Maple, Carré Confiseries or Les Chocolats de Chloé are open all year round to grab your sweet treat.
Smoked Meat Pizza
Smoked meat is a Montreal classic, one that you can find in the famous smoked meat sandwich or in the smoked meat pizza. The smoked meat (usually brisket) is tender, slowly smoked and topped with a hint of pepper. In the case of the pizza, it is topped with onions, mustard and pickles.
This recipe is not the only evidence of the Italian influence in Montreal, for you can visit ItalfestMTL (you may come across it as “Montreal’s Italian Week”). The lively energy takes over St. Laurent Boulevard in Little Italy during this event, which is usually scheduled in August. Some restaurants that have become a local landmark are Dunn’s Famous and Schwartz’s Deli, to name a few.
Gnocchi
Another bite of the Italian heritage in the city, gnocchi comes in many forms and, here, you will be able to find combinations with grated parmesan, chili flakes and Pecorino Romano dusting. Try them in restaurants like Drogherina Fine, Impasto and Wienstein & Gavino’s, among others.
Pancakes
A glimpse of the French influence in Montreal, crepes can be enjoyed at any time of day with various fillings, like maple syrup or butter, cinnamon or caramelized apples. Some restaurants also have a go at different kinds of flour to prepare it, such as buckwheat flour (which takes the name of the Breton-style galette).
Pancakes are also one of the recipes that you can find during the Pocha MTL festival, alongside barbecue, fried chicken and many other recipes. During this event, you will find the Korean twist to the iconic Montreal dish. If you want to try the classic outtake during your food tour Montreal, make sure to visit the Old Montreal region, which contains a lot of restaurants that specialize in this delicacy, such as the Crêperie Chez Suzette.
Iconic Montreal restaurants
Some venues have become as iconic as the dishes they serve. Some examples include:
Au Pied de Cochon
Martin Picard is the chef of the restaurant that has become known for its abundant portions and its meaty menu (it claims to have a menu “nose-to-tail”, with all the varieties of pork available).
Beauty’s
This luncheonette gained notoriety for its New York diner’s aesthetic and for its pancakes, omelets and smoothies. Hymie Scolnick opened its gates in 1942 and maintains the original essence of the restaurant.
Joe Beef
Wine, food and a friendly atmosphere: having dinner in Joe Beef is a beloved experience for locals as well as for tourists.
A convergence of cultures, a convergence of flavors, a convergence of lively festivals and iconic restaurants: find every taste in your Montreal experience.
