Which, I don't know about you guys, but I find to be pretty freaking amazing. Spring is one of my top two favourite seasons... also, I think we can all agree that the sunshine, lack of snow, and mild temperatures are all serious plusses.
One of the best things about spring, though? All the spring/summer activities that come back into our lives, like biking (without worrying about ice and slush), hiking, and, of course, gorging yourself on as much ice cream as you can possibly fit in your mouth.
And one West Island ice cream merchant seems to agree.
Baskin Robbins on Kirkland (2752 Boulevard Saint-Charles) will be celebrating the gorgeous weather on March 4, 2017, by offering up small ice cream cones for 31 (or 30, since we don't do pennies anymore) cents each.
Although I'm not from the West Island, I do have a lot of family and friends who live there - meaning I've spent a good chunk of my childhood (and adulthood) roaming the streets of Kirkland, DDO and Pointe-Claire, and loafing at Fairview Shopping Centre. Oh, and discovering awesome places to eat, of course.
One thing I've realized through my many days in the West Island? West Islanders are seriously lucky. You guys have got tons - and I mean tons - of awesome restaurants, right in your backyard. But what about those of us who are new to the West Island, or who might not know about some of the best spots? Well, don't worry, friends. I've got your back. Read on for Best Restaurants In Montreal’s West Island 2016.
Seriously, where do I even start with Bistro Nolah? Everything about this spot is amazing. Their menu is hugely varied, and offer things from delicious, creamy, flavourful macaroni and cheese, to Southern-style ceviche. Wrap this all up with their welcoming, fun vibe and super fair prices, and what do you get? You get an awesome time, friends. You get an awesome time.
40 Westt is the type of spot that leaves a really good impression on you. The first time I went was for my 18th birthday with my parents (almost seven years ago now... yikes), and I'll still never forget how awesome that night was - simply put, this place was. on. point. The food was super tasty, fresh, and cooked amazingly well; the drinks were delicious; and it had a friendly, upscale vibe that I just loved. To this day, 40 Westt continues to impress me, standing out because of the quality of its food, its amazing vibe, and pretty much its overall awesome factor. If you're looking for a dining experience, friends, then look no further - you found it.
Okay, this spot is amazing. La Serenata features delicious, classic Italian dishes in a contemporary and friendly setting - the vibe is an awesome combination of intimate and fun, making pretty much the perfect West Island restaurant for a date, a birthday party, or anything in between. Not only is their vibe amazing, though, but their food? OMG. Prepared to be blown away. Their "Tortellini alla Cardinale" in particular are a work of pure art, but honestly, so is everything else on the menu. Get there, friends, and prepare to feel pure, unbridled joy.
I've already shown Sahib some love for their delicious butter chicken, but this West Island Indian restaurant deserves infinite shout-outs. While it's true that their butter chicken is amazing - a perfect combination of sweet, savoury, creamy, and spicy, with tender, juicy chunks of beautifully cooked chicken - the rest of their menu is delicious, as well. Their samosas? OMG. Perfectly crispy and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Their naan bread? So chewy, so moist, so yummy. I could go on and on, but I'll just leave it at this: get there, friends, and treat yourself to some seriously outstanding Indian food.
True talk, there is probably nothing out there that's as amazing as sushi. Except really, really good sushi - and at Avocado, really, really good sushi is their specialty. They offer up fresh, tasty, and super unique sushi rolls (such as their "Doshi" roll, which features spicy salmon, Asian pear, and maple syrup, among others); super fair prices; and an amazingly friendly, inviting vibe. All in all? This place is amazing, and if you're searching for your next sushi spot, stop the search. You've found Avocado.
Seriously, the Portuguese chicken here? Out of this world delicious. It's crisp on the outside while remaining tender and juicy on the inside; and, as an added bonus, the Portuguese chicken at Les 3 Maria is slathered in as much delicious, flavourful, perfectly spiced sauce as possible. West Island friends, don't worry about having to travel to Montreal for authentic and amazing Portuguese chicken. You've got it right in your back yard, and it's wonderful.
I think, at this point, it's safe to say that Jukebox Burgers is one of my personal favourite spots to grab a bite. But, honestly, can you blame me? Featuring a plethora of options, freshly baked buns (holla at me, sweet yeast bun), deliciously juicy patties, and some seriously unique hamburgers, there's really no way on earth you can go wrong with a meal from Jukebox. Oh, and to top it all off? They've got a wide array of delicious desserts, including parfaits, sundaes, and the awesome - and awesomely huge - "Kitchen Sink" dessert. All I can really say is this, though: If you haven't been to Jukebox yet, you need to stop depriving yourself and get there, ASAP.
This super popular spot is a favourite among West Islanders, and for good reason. Their food? Out of this world. There's a lot of hype surrounding their pasta dishes in particular - and, friends, you should absolutely believe the hype this time. One bite of their delicious, fresh pasta dishes (like the "Frutti de Mare", featuring tender squid, juicy shrimp, and delicious scallop), and you'll be hooked. Seriously. Of course, don't get hung up on their amazingly delicious pasta - they've got a whole menu full of yummy, enticing options for you to try. And with high quality, fresh ingredients featured throughout their dishes, you should definitely explore their menu, friends.
Another West Island favourite, Bombay Choupati has been serving up delicious and authentic Indian dishes to Montrealers for a while now. As you might have guessed, this spot specializes in Indian food - but not any Indian food, friends. Oh no. The dishes here are legit, incredibly fresh, and flavoured pretty much perfectly, making for one delicious meal. Their butter chicken is particularly delicious: moist chunks of chicken dunked in a creamy, somewhat sweet, complex sauce? Yeah, I'm totally there for that.
Do you love Mexican food? Great. Because if you do, then you're going to love Guaca & Mole. This West Island Mexican spot features a tequila bar (!!!) and a menu featuring authentic, delicious Mexican cuisine. Their menu is super varied and filled with delicious choices, but if you're going there, try the "Mole Poblano. Fresh, vibrant, tasty, and flavoured perfectly, this dish is all-around amazing - but then again, so is everything else at Guaca & Mole.
Pizza on point, life on point. And the pizza at Vieux Four Manago? So, so on point. Of course, this Italian eatery offers much more than just fresh, tasty, wood-oven pizza: Their menu consists of classic Italian dishes (such as fettuccini carbonara and some seriously delicious lasagne) made of super fresh and high-quality ingredients, meaning that no matter what you pick, you're going to get something mouthwateringly delicious.
Casual, delicious Korean eats? Yes, please. Kimbob Cafe might be a little hard to spot, but don't let that stop you from going inside and noshing on any one of their super flavourful, fresh, and wonderfully cooked Asian dishes. Protip, though? Their fried ice cream is out of this world delicious - trust me when I say you absolutely have got to try it.
This popular, classic West Island restaurant serves up some seriously awesome Greek food. Featuring fresh and tasty ingredients, La Porte Grecque features delicious classic Greek dishes - such as tiropita, moussaka and souvlaki - in a super comfortable, homey setting. Oh, and huge bonus points for their gorgeous summer terrasse. This spot is a BYOB, so in the summer, bring your own wine and enjoy their delicious food and beyond stunning outdoor eating accommodations.
Seriously, guys - there is no way you can go wrong at Table 09. Their menu features contemporary twists on Mediterranean food - such as Kibeh millefeuille, fattouche salad with grilled figs, and grilled halloumi cheese with pomegranate - and also classic Mediterranean dishes, such as hummus, vine leaves, and paella. Mix that in with their trendy atmosphere, beautiful plating, and fun vibe, and you know you've found your new favourite dinner spot, friends.
This upscale Italian restaurant is super impressive. The perfect spot for a date, La Varita boasts a super welcoming and refined vibe - and an out of this world menu. First of all, pretty much everything on their menu is homemade, which means that you're getting super high quality and fresh dishes; add that in with the fact that everything's cooked and flavoured to perfection, and you've got yourself your next favourite restaurant, friends. Oh, and bonus points for having a seriously impressive grappa list. Fellow grappa lovers, rejoice.
Ah, Toasties. Those of us who know about Toasties know about the delicious submarine euphoria that awaits us in this West Island sub shop; those of us who don't know about Toasties? Well, you've been missing out. Sorry. But no worries, friend. Toasties has some of the most amazing sub sandwiches in the city - their fresh bread and delicious fillings make for an overall mind blowing sandwich experience - and if you're in the West Island, you can get yourself a delicious Toasties sub ASAP. If you're not out West, though? Then it might be a bit of a trek. But it's more than worth the travel time, friends, trust.
Alright, seriously, this spot is awesome. First of all, the restaurant itself is absolutely stunning, and with a welcoming yet upscale vibe, it's pretty much the perfect place for a gathering, a celebration, or an intimate date. But what really shines through over here? The food. Ossiano boasts some incredibly awesome seafood - their tuna tartare is particularly fresh, flavourful, and amazing, although truthfully, everything on their menu is a good choice.
At this point, I'm pretty sure we all know about the food euphoria that is the smoked meat at Smoke Meat Pete's. And although Smoke Meat Pete's smoked meat is pretty much a masterpiece (moist, super flavourful chunks of perfectly prepared smoked meat? Yeah, sign me up), and you definitely should try one of their delicious smoked meat sandwiches the first chance you get, don't let that pigeonhole you. The rest of their menu? Full of tasty and fresh dishes - like their mouthwatering chicken, for example - that you absolutely need. To. Try. Right. Now. Get there now, friends, and thank me later.
You like fresh sushi, right? (That was a dumb question. Of course you like fresh sushi.) Well, at MooSoo, that's exactly what you'll be getting. This gem is kind of hidden, so it might be a little easy to overlook this spot - but trust me, don't make that mistake. Inside are some of the freshest and most flavourful sushi rolls you're ever going to try. Just make sure you get there hungry, friends. One bite of their mindblowing sushi, and you'll never want to stop eating it.
Okay, I'm seriously obsessed with this place. Their menu is full of delicions and fresh Italian fare, but trust me when I say that their homemade gnocchi are to die for. They're made with ricotta, so they're lighter than the potato kind; these morsels of happiness are also super fluffy and fresh, with just the right consistency and flavour. All the yums? You know it.
A friendly, vibrant spot for awesome breakfast and pub food, Le Manoir has been a cornerstone in the West Island for quite some time now. This spot offers fresh and tasty food, huge portions, super fair prices, and has pretty much the perfect atmosphere to chill with friends over a meal (or a pint!) Sidenote: Manoir is currently closed for renovations, but is set to return in April.
Okay, at this stage in the game, if you haven't been to Marathon's, what are you doing with your life? (Something productive and not chasing souvlakis like your life depends on it? Ah, cool, okay then). But in all seriousness, if you're a lover of Greek food, then you absolutely have to check out the Marathon's West Island location. Their classic Greek dishes are fresh and tasty - and their souvlakis? Moist chunks of meat surrounded by tangy, tasty tzatziki and fresh, crisp vegetables piled high into the chewiest, fluffiest pita ever. AKA, a pretty amazing time, friends.
Well, friends, October is almost over - which means brace yourselves, November is coming. November gives a lot of people mixed feelings. On the one hand, it's starting to get cold and snowy and icy. On the other, Christmas is coming. But no matter where you stand on the November love/hate spectrum, I think we can all agree on one thing: free things to do are awesome. And November is full of them.
1. Get excited for Christmas by checking out the Santa Claus Parade on November 21.
People are often quick to dismiss the West Island but let's face it, life’s good out there. Really good. One might even say they’ve got it better than the rest of the city... Ok fine, I'm saying it. And although that may sound crazy to some of you, here are 10 reasons why living in Montreal's West Island is the best.
1. It’s Quiet
Sure, living downtown puts you right in the middle of the action, but it puts you in the middle of the action all day and night. Although it might seem great to live only a few blocks from your favorite pub, you may feel otherwise when you’re trying to sleep before a final or have a splitting migraine. Although it can be loud during rush hour on the West Island, it’s not nearly as noisy as living in the city.
2. The Rent Is Cheap
If you enjoy paying $1,000 a month for a two room apartment, then downtown is definitely the place for you. If, on the other hand, you’re looking to pay less than $900 for a 4½, then you should consider finding a place in Dorval or even Pierrefonds. Not only are you close to public transit (making it quick and easy to get downtown), but you’ll be able to save more money each month, and who doesn’t love that?
3. It's Cleaner
We’re not saying downtown is dirty, we’re just saying it’s not as clean as the West Island. Because the population isn’t as dense, and there aren’t as many people working in the West Island as there are in the heart of Montreal, it tends to stay a lot cleaner. Sure, there’s still litter and grimy buildings, but thanks to gentrification there aren’t as many.
If you happen to be an Anglophone living in Quebec, then you might consider the West Island to be Montreal’s Mecca. Most of the residents on the West Island identify themselves as Anglophones, and nearly everyone else considers themselves to be bilingual. It’s the perfect place to live if you don’t speak English, or haven’t mastered French quite yet.
5. It’s Green
Arguably, the West Island has the most greenspace out of all of Montreal. With the Morgan Arboretum, Cap-Saint-Jacques, Terra Cotta Park… there’s so much nature for people to enjoy. Not only do they have parks and huge fields for people to explore, but they’re easily accessible for most residents. There’s really nothing better than a hike with some friends after a long day cooped up inside.
6. Community Oriented
It’s not that individuals living downtown are self-centered, it’s just that there isn’t as great of an emphasis on community as there is in the West Island. Boroughs celebrate their inauguration with huge parties, like Kirkland Day, and whole communities rally behind local sports’ teams during games (inter-city soccer, for example, unites and divides them). It’s the perfect place for people looking to start a family, or for people who are new to the city and want to make friends.
7. Outdoor Activities
Speaking of soccer, there are so many outdoor activities and clubs out on the West Island. Do you like skiing? Morgan Arboretum has you covered. Want to go swimming? Check out one of the many pools, like Cedar Park. Horseback riding? Ok, they don’t have that yet, but they’re only ten minutes away from St. Lazare Ranch, which isn’t too shabby if you ask us.
8. Low Stress
Things just don’t seem as stressful on the West Island as they do downtown. Maybe it’s because there isn’t as much noise, they save more money on rent, or because they can go outside and smell the roses, but the days feel more laidback and less scheduled out there. If you’re an anxiety riddled person, then you may want to consider moving asap.
The West Island has some of the best high schools in Montreal. From St. Thomas High School with their International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program, John Rennie’s Sport-Études Program, to Beaconsfield High School’s Embarkation Program for students who take an alternative approach to learning, the West Island boasts an impressive academic record. Sorry downtown.
10. It’s Quaint
Don’t get us wrong, the West Island isn’t a small place, and it’s definitely not outdated. But the villages, like the Pointe-Claire or Beaurepaire Village for instance can make you feel like you’re in a small town with small town comforts. Mom-and-pop restaurants, independent coffee houses, and unique stores can make the backdrop to an awesome and relaxing weekend. Even the suburbs are cute and welcoming if you’re looking to get away from big-city living.
Stop me if you heard this already. You're in a social situation, could be a party, could be just a casual meeting with some friends of friends. People start chatting. Someone turns to you.
"So, where do you live?"
"The West Island."
Here it comes, either a) they're a fellow Westie, or b) they don't care, or c) they raise an eyebrow, feel a brief flash of pity for this poor West Islander living so far away from everything cool, and then immediately go back to not caring. Hey, I lived in West Island for a long time. There's plenty of plus sides to living there - the biking trails, the quiet, the affordable housing - too bad sometimes we act as a punchline for the rest of the island. But if you live in Dorval, Pointe-Claire, Kirkland, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Beaconsfield, Baie-D'Urfé, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, or Pierrefonds, you know that the struggle is real.
People who stay in West Island think French people are weird, mythical creatures of legend: they're heard of but never seen (like unicorns. To West Islanders, Francophones are unicorns).
Ending every afternoon out with friends with "Sorry guys, I have to catch my train."
You have the 6:30 P.M and 9:15 P.M Lucien-L'Allier train departure times seared into your brain, to the point where your train senses start tingling without you even checking the time.
Bragging about your local restaurant scene is a bit difficult
The choice when eating out in the West Island is...not amazing, compared to some other neighbourhoods. Unlike some of your Mile End or downtown friends, you don't have many choices for a cool, local spot to call your own.
Figuring out which bus terminal is more depressing: Dorval, Côte-Vertu, or Fairview
Non-white people: Looking around sometimes and thinking "Woah, I'm the only brown/black/Asian person here."
And when you finally find someone else, you nod at each other like "AYYYYY ....I see you".
Trying to explain that Ligne Vaudreuil-Hudson and Dorion-Rigaud are actually the same thing
Taking the night buses.
If you've ever taken a night bus, you know what I'm talking about here.
Navigating the congested traffic on Autoroute 20
In most cases, it's better to take the train during rush hour. Too bad rush hour starts at 2:3o P.M and lasts till 6 P.M.
Never escaping high school, because everyone ends up at John Abbott
Unlike people who leave for other schools, it's impossible to let the people you dislike to fade gracefully out of your life. When are they going to accept that you two are still Facebook friends, but you're going to mutually pretend not to see each other in social situations?
If you’re also a weirdo about Montreal culture and humour, find Sijia on Twitter (@chuffystilton) or on her tumblr.
