Ah, spring. Is there a season more beautiful? Everything's defrosting and coming back to life; it's truly a magical time. And what screams "spring" and "magic" in Montreal? That's right, friends. Maple syrup.
For the sixth year in a row, La Cabane Panache et Bois rond will be taking over the Promenade Wellington, starting on March 18 and ending on March 20, 2016. For those of you who know a little about this event, you already know what you're in for (A good time). For those of you a little new to things, don't worry. This event is super fun and celebrates all things maple syrup, with a a traditional tire d'érable, contests, games, music, and food (And much more, of course).
But what kind of food, I hear you ask? Well, while without giving too much away, I can tell you that everything has a maple syrup, traditional "cabane à sucre" twist to it. Oh, and I can give you a list of participating restaurants. Ready for this? Okay:
Blackstrap BBQ
Restaurant Wellington
Station W
Restaurant Augusto Al Gusto
La Queue de Poisson
Fromagerie copette & Cie
La Marquise Express
Crèmes Boboule
Boulangerie Rustique Sweet Lee's
Lefebvre et Filles
Ma Douce Moitié
... Plus many other businesses. If this sounds like the kind of thing you'd be super down for (And, let's be honest, it totally does), then don't forget to check out Promenade Wellington's website and Facebook page for more information.
Alright, guys, who here loves comfort food? Well, everyone, obviously. And is there any greater comfort food than fish and chips, in all its crisp, flaky, fried goodness? No. No there is not.
If you think about it, fish and chips is actually the perfect meal - and the best part is that it's great, whenever you're down to eat it. Seriously. Exhausted after a long day of a exploring the city? No problem, get some fish and chips. Feel like celebrating a milestone? Great. Break out the vinegar and go beast. You get the picture; and luckily for us, Montreal has tons of places to enjoy this awesome dish. Don't believe me? Well, friends, prepare to believe. Best Montreal Fish And Chips Restaurants 2016.
Oh boy. Where do I even start with this place? First of all, if you're a fish and chips lover, then you should already know about Brit & Chips; if you don't, then you've really been missing out, my friend. Not only does this eatery offer up some of the most authentic fish and chips dishes you'll ever try in the city, but they also have a wide variety of fish and batter choices for you. Doesn't matter what you take, though: their food is always fresh, flavourful, and oh-so delicious.
Somewhat newer to Montreal's fish and chips scene, Ad Hoc has already been making some serious waves. Why? Their awesome gluten-free menu might have something to do with it; but then again, it could be their great service their; trendy-yet-friendly atmosphere; or their delicious fish and chips. But I'm betting that what makes this place so amazing is a combination of all of the above. Get yourselves there ASAP, friends, for a fish and chips experience you won't soon forget.
Can we talk about how adorable Comptoir 21 is for a second? Seriously, their atmosphere is super casual and friendly, and gives off the vibe of some kind of chill, old school diner. As if the feel of the place wasn't awesome enough, their fish and chips? Yeah, it's game changing. Super, super moist, with a crisp batter and delicious fries; one bite of their fish and chips is all it takes for you to be hooked. (I'm personally still having dreams about this place, no joke).
Alright, who here is unfamiliar with Lucille's Oyster Dive? No one? That's what I thought. Lucille's Oyster Dive is a hugely popular place for getting some seriously legit seafood dishes in Montreal. Although their awesome oysters are what they're most popular for, they do up some other awesome seafood dishes, as well. Most notably? Their "Lucille's Classic" fish and chips, which features super fresh, crispy, delicious fish, and equally awesome chips. Get there, friends. Get there ASAP.
Okay, raise your hand if you're a fan of Ye Olde Orchard. I know your hand is raised. Everyone's a fan of Ye Olde Orchard. This casual pub offers an unmatched atmosphere for relaxing with some friends (or even a date), grabbing a pint, and just having an all-around awesome time. But the icing on the cake? Their fish and chips dish. Trust me when I say that, much like all of the food on Old Orchard's menu, it's simply amazing.
This Lachine eatery has been serving up fish and chips to Montrealers for decades, and one taste of their fish and chips will tell you exactly why. Their moist, flaky fish is smothered in a thick, crispy, and decadent batter, and served with thick, delicious, perfectly cooked french fries. Add this in with a super friendly and casual atmosphere, and you've got the recipe for your new favourite spot.
Okay, first of all, mushy peas FTW. (Are we still using 'FTW' anymore? No? Oh. Okay). Burgundy Lion's delicious fish and chips dish comes with a side of their mushy peas, which is a British dish that's done up to perfection over here. And, of course, their fish and chips are just as awesome, featuring fresh and flaky chunks of cod fish, thick and crispy batter, and some seriously soft, chunky chips. Delicious? Delicious.
Fans of fish and seafood, rejoice: you've just found your new favourite spot. Seriously. This Verdun fish emporium has a seriously amazing menu, full of sea treats like grilled swordfish steak, homemade smoked salmon, and scallop tartare. And, of course, four different types of fish and chips - including salmon and shrimp (!!!). Although their most, crispy, and flavourful fish and chips dishes are delicious on their own, a little protip? Try their tartar sauce. It's amazing.
Alright, Holder might win all the points because of its amazing tartare, but the real star of the show? Yeah, I'm going to say its their fish and chips dish. The fish and chips plate at Holder is fresh, crispy, just slightly on the sweet side, and all-around amazing; but to be completley honest, no words can do it justice. This is just one of those things you're going to have to try for yourself. But, fair warning: prepare to be completely and totally blown away, into a world of pure fish and chips bliss.
OMG, I could write you an entire novel about the fish and chips at Pub Sir Joseph. Seriously. Their dish features a moist, flaky chunk of cod wrapped in a thick and yummy batter, on a bed of their chips. Oh, and their chips? Yeah, they're top notch: cooked to perfection, flavourful, and all-around awesome. Fans of fish and chips, get yourselves here, ASAP.
Verdun is often considered the ugly, dysfunctional sibling to Nun’s island. It was the one with the drug problem, that everyone said was dangerous, and caused immediate disapproval from your friends when you told them that you were moving “lower on the Green line”. (full disclosure: I’ve been a Verdunite for 4 years). Whatever the reason for its bad rep., it has recently begun to attract a lot of attention. In fact, it’s quickly becoming better than your neighborhood.
Uniquely in Montreal, and of most other civilized cities, Verdun was a partially dry community from 1965-2014. That meant that alcohol sales were restricted to restaurants with liquor licenses, grocery stores and the SAQ. Nobody wanted that. Thankfully, sanity was restored and Benelux opened a micro-brewery on Wellington street two years ago. Suddenly, things became lively. Coincidence? I think not! Now that prohibition has ended, Verdun is beginning to look like the new Plateau. Here are some of the best reasons why Verdun has what you wish you had near your house.
2. Cheap Housing
Housing! When looking for apartments and room-shares on Craiglist or Kijiji, Verdun is always one of the top searches. It is not out of the ordinary to find a 4 ½ for $700/month. It’s not just the cheapness either, it’s the type of apartments found here that makes most people jealous. This borough was historically for working class families. What that means for you and your hardworking roommates are apartments with big closets, with washer and dryer hook-ups (hello NDG! Get with the times!), and where double living rooms are the norm. It also doesn’t hurt that there are three Metros (Lasalle, De L’Eglise, and Verdun) that run through the main residential areas. Dollar-for-dollar, you will get more apartment in Verdun than you will downtown or near the mountain. Speaking of which...
The waterfront in Verdun stretches into Lasalle, down the Canal, and eventually leads you into the Old Port, via the Lasalle/Verdun Loop. If you need a scenic and car-free place to get outside and play Frisbee, this spot has green space plus a view of the rapids. There are two public pools along the waterfront and there are plans to develop a beach. Oh, and did you know that you can surf there too?
Bet you didn’t know about this. Known officially as parc aqueduc de Montreal, this hidden gem has one of the best unobstructed views of the city. The official use is for rugby and cricket games, with access through gates open 24 hours/day. I would certainly not advise anyone to go there at night with a couple of fold-able chairs and a bottle of wine to enjoy the city lights under the stars. Now, who would enjoy that?
5. Vintage Gold Is Abundant
As Verdun slowly transforms into something new and exciting, it still celebrates its weirdness in all its glory. One of the new additions to be found attracting a lot of attention is Esprit Vintage . This unique shop sells refurbished furniture and décor from days past. They also offer classes to help you get your DIY on. There is also the Ecole de Cirque de Verdun which is freaking awesome!. Yes, they have trampolines and yes, you can jump on them. If role-playing games are more your thing, Face to Face is a massive store that hosts players of any board or card game until 9 pm week nights. On the subject of games, Verdun is also a treasure trove for retro video games. Game Zone one of the few video rental shops left in the city, has an enormous collection of retro console games from Nintendo, Sega and original Playstation that would make any gamer drool.
If the best way to get at someone’s heart is through their stomach, then I think Wellington street is flirting with us like it's last call. Recent additions to the Verdun culinary scene have garnered a lot of interest near De L’Eglise metro. The first and most important was Black Strap BBQ. Close to the metro and the waterfront for summer pic-niks, they serve up authentic Memphis-style barbecue from Old Hickory Pits like they do it down south. This shop has proven to be the best alternative to Schwartz's. At the opposite end of the spectrum (and the street), La Queue de Poisson is a poissonnerie offering fresh seafood to take home or eat on the spot. Their fish N chips with salmon fills the belly with joy. Showing a little entrepreneurial flair, Sweet Lee’s is a self-described rustic bakery that joined forces with Café Saint Henri Micro Torréfacteur and share a building. As you walk in their shop, one side offers you the lunches and deserts, and the other offers you coffee from a separate business, and the main seating space at the back is shared. It’s brilliant!
Bottom line is that if you have decided not to re-sign your lease and are looking for a new ‘hood to call your own, Verdun should be at the top of your list.
When you think fish and chips, you undoubtedly think of the United Kingdom, even if you've never been there. Luckily, we live in a town that loves to eat, so we don't have to cross an ocean in order to get a taste of this delicious English dish. We've even become home to several fish and chip-dedicated shops, or "chippy" if you want to get fancy with the British slang. In no particular order, but with details that will make your mouth salivate and will fill your dreams with battered fishy goodness, here are Montreal's best spots for fish and chips.
Brit and Chips has been making waves in the Montreal food scene because of their spot-on fare. They offer various fish in different kinds of batter (maple syrup, Guiness, orange crush, chipotle) and you can get them with or without chips (obviously, with is the better option). Not too greasy, fish is fresh and, as promised, there's a little Quebecois spice to this chippy. We're not surprised that it's a Montreal favorite!
Comptoir 21 is styled like an old-school diner and has easily become a Montreal favorite. Grab a bar stool and order up a large portion of fish and chips. The batter is light and crunchy, not too oily. Definitely try their homemade clam chowder as well - you won't be disappointed!
Verdun's local fish and chips spot is a lot more than it seems. Experiment with different kinds of battered fish, including sole, haddock, cod and salmon, while munching on crispy fries (don't forget to add the malt vinegar!). But wait - there's more! La Queue de Poisson also sells fresh fish and seafood, frozen foods for takeout, live lobster and much more. It's a one-stop shop!
For many Montrealers, Fiddler's Green has the BEST fish and chips in town - that's saying something considering all the amazing chippies we have! Light batter and homemade fries, coupled with the friendly vibe of this pub, makes it a prime contender for best fish and chips.
Although it may not look it, we promise that this place is going to become one of your new favorite spots. This market's fish and chips plate is mouth-wateringly (this level of deliciousness deserves a made up word) good. The haddock is fresh, the batter is light and the 'chips' are crispy.
Rayan is a true one of a kind spot - this Egyptian fish market and restaurant offers fish and chips with a twist. Fried tilapia and delicious potatoes? Yes, please!
'Lucille's Classic Fish & Chips' will definitely keep you coming back for more. Lucille's is a trendy spot, but it's the food that has people talking! After you've stuffed your face with delicious, light and airy fish and chips, try their lobster rolls and salmon tartar!
Holder has already made our list of best calamari in Montreal so it should be no surprise that they find themselves on this list as well. Soft, flaky, a little bit sweet and just the right amount of dee-lish-ious.
Although you're paying a little more at Chez Delmo, the cod is fresh and the beer batter is light and crisp. This spot should definitely be at the top of your list; trendy, eclectic, fun and the seafood is unbelievably good - what more can you want?
It should come as no surprise that some of the best fish and chips this city has to offer comes from an authentic old-world pub. Ye Olde's fish and chips are a favorite at all of their locations because of the insanely good Griffon Blonde ale batter, homemade tartar sauce and the affordable price!
This place may be one of Lachine's best-kept secrets. Serving up diner-style fish and chips since 1972, this chippy is a staple in the local community. The haddock is fresh, batter is crispy and the fries are those slightly thick, Quebec fries we all know and love. Definitely ask for some extra tartar sauce - it's incredibly good!
