6 restaurants and fast-food chains Montrealers say they miss the most
Memories... 🌮 😥
Bar B Barn restaurant in Montreal. Right: Two rotisserie chicken meals from a popular Canadian restaurant chain.
For those of you who've lived in Montreal long enough, there's bound to be at least one shuttered eatery you wish still existed — if only to stop you from salivating every time you pass by its old location.
We recently asked Montrealers to get nostalgic and share the beloved restaurants and fast-food chains they miss the most, and let's just say they had big feelings about it... almost as big as Taco Bell's 'Big Cheez-It Crunchwrap Supreme' (yes, that's a hint).
From family-friendly dinner spots to iconic take-out joints, it's clear that certain Montreal restaurants may be gone, but they're definitely not forgotten, and the memories — as well as the cravings — are still very real.
So, grab a snack and settle in 'cause you're about to get hungry. Here's what Montrealers had to say about the dining establishments they're still not over saying goodbye to.
Swiss Chalet
With so many legendary rotisserie chicken joints still thriving in Montreal, it's surprising to see that locals remain hung up on Swiss Chalet, which closed all of its Quebec and U.S.-based locations in the early 2000s.
In fact, Swiss Chalet was one of the most mentioned spots in our Facebook thread. And yet, no one really pointed out why they miss it.
Could it be the specials, like the Thanksgiving Feast complete with stuffing, cranberry sauce, and Lindor chocolates? Or perhaps it was the convenience of having a Swiss Chalet — with its crowd-pleasing menu and familiar aesthetic — available all around town, offering you the option to dine-in, pick food up from their takeout counter, go through the drive-thru or get delivery. But then, what sets it apart from St-Hubert?
Either way, this style of Swiss rotisserie chicken is a Quebec comfort food staple no matter where you get it.
If you don't want to road trip to one of Swiss Chalet's 195+ locations throughout Canada, a few Facebook users pointed out that Montreal's Chalet Bar-B-Q, established in 1944, is actually the "forerunner" of Swiss Chalet — the byproduct of the founder's son's desire to franchise. The two restaurants are thought to share similar sauce and spices, and the original Chalet Bar-B-Q remains independently operated for your gastronomic pleasure on rue Sherbrooke Ouest.
Taco Bell
Taco Bell was another popular pick — apparently the ultimate guilty pleasure on the cheap, from crunchy tacos to cheesy nachos, until it quietly announced the closure of all its Quebec locations in January 2022, after 15 years in the province.
While your intestines may be breathing a sigh of relief, there appear to be some Taco Bell lovers out there who miss the greasy comfort of a Taco Supreme.
The good news? There are close Canadian locations in Hawkesbury, Ontario, and Cornwall, Ontario. The Hawkesbury Taco Bell is only a one-hour drive from Montreal.
Mövenpick (Richtree Market)
One user's vote for Mövenpick, also known as Richtree Market, sparked 30 "like" and "love" reactions (one of the highest in the comments). With at least one location in Montreal's Place Ville Marie, it felt like stepping into a European market, with its open-concept food stations and freshly made dishes.
Whether you were craving a crisp salad, a grilled steak, or mouthwatering crepes and desserts, Mövenpick had something for everyone — and the experience of choosing your meal as you wandered through the stations felt revolutionary, especially before today's trendy food halls became a thing.
Unfortunately, Mövenpick/Richtree has completely left Canada, but you can find a similar experience at places like Time Out Market, Le Central, or Le Cathcart.
Bar B Barn
"Bar B Barn [...] the best ribs," said one of MTL Blog's community members.
"There will probably never be another like it," lamented another.
In the replies, people reminisced about the peanut shells on the floor and the business cards stuck to the walls and ceilings of the downtown location.
Located on Boulevard Sources in Montreal's Dollard-des-Ormeaux borough, Bar B Barn was unmissable for anyone driving along Highway 40, with its iconic yellow and brown colours visible from a mile away.
The Montreal institution closed its West Island location earlier than planned, on March 11 of this year, and people are already mourning the loss. The original Bar B Barn downtown had already shut its doors in 2020 following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Red Lobster
Red Lobster closed all of its Quebec locations in 1997 due to financial losses, but Montrealers haven't forgotten it. Several people mentioned the U.S. chain, known for its family-friendly seafood feasts that don't break the bank.
"Red Lobster $9.99 shrimp," one Facebook user commented, remembering the deals that made it so appealing.
While Red Lobster still has plenty of locations left across Canada, it recently announced it was seeking bankruptcy, so take a road trip and enjoy it while you can.
Dunkin' Donuts
Once a Montreal staple, Dunkin' Donuts served up its iconic coffee and donuts until 2018, when it closed its last locations in Verdun and Place Versailles. Despite global success, it couldn't compete with Tim Hortons, marking the end of an era for fans like these:
"I miss Dunkin' Donuts. The smell when you walked in was heaven."
"I agree. Their donuts were so fresh. And the jelly ones, OMG. Can't get any fresh ones anywhere."
You can still visit in the U.S. — just be aware that it has dropped the 'Donuts' and now goes, simply, by Dunkin'.
