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les enfants terribles

When it comes to eating out in Montreal, a familiar name on the building often feels like a guarantee — a sign you can trust what's being served. But even well-known restaurant chains can land in hot water for food safety.

The Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation du Québec (MAPAQ), which oversees food safety in the province, recently issued fines to three popular restaurant chains. The penalties resulted from inspections revealing contamination issues involving pollutants, pests or their droppings. The convictions were handed down at Montreal municipal court in July, and each resulted in a $1,500 fine.

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There are few pleasures as great as sitting on a Montreal terrace in the sun with fancy cocktails in hand and several friends around you as the St Lawrence River sparkles below. Unfortunately, the season of relaxation and sun is coming to a close, meaning your chances to visit a gorgeous outdoor dining area are running out. We'll be trading the sunny weather for what looks to be an aggressively awful winter.

That means now is the prime time to try as many terrasses as possible before their doors close for the winter, and we have 24 excellent options to check off your 2023 bucket list today.

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The Réseau express métropolitain (REM) has officially taken off and a select number of Greater Montreal Area residents were able to get a first go at the REM's route between Montreal's Gare Centrale and Station Brossard in the South Shore. And you know what this means? New REM stations allow access to new eat and drink destinations.

As of July 31, 2023, the REM will be available to anyone and everyone and will service a total of five stations: Gare Centrale, Île-des-Soeurs, Panama, Du Quartier and Brossard. Considering you can now hop on and away to the South Shore far more effortlessly, folks have more opportunities to enjoy a handful of cafés near each REM station, new shopping spots and activities that you can now access using the new train.

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