$55 set price restos
Bagatelle Bistro
4323 Ontario Street East | Website
The quintessential neighbourhood bistro, this resto is located near bustling Maisonneuve Market. Because of this proximity, its Mediterranean-influenced menu draws heavily on fresh seasonal produce. All you really need to know are four words: black pudding crème brûlée!
Gaston
2666 Masson Street | Website
This beastly bustling bistro is a beauty. A classic French-inspired restaurant, located on Rosemont’s Promenade Masson, Gaston also switches up its menu depending on the bounty of the seasons. The marinated grilled Québec pork rib is perfect fall fare.
Les Canailles
3854 Ontario Street East | Website
Paella? Oh yeah! This fantastic French resto likes to mix it up with classic cuisine, leading to delicious mashups like braised beef cheek with creamy Québec cheddar polenta. Les Canailles is simply a must-try.
Monsieur B
371 Villeneuve Street East | Website
The appeal of Mister B. is no mystery. This chill yet chic corner bistro is open 7 nights a week and excels at French classics, including chicken ballotine stuffed with mushrooms, or a dish of deliciously crispy oysters.
La Raclette
1059 Gilford Street | Website
Not to get too cheesy about it, but when it comes to a fun fondue fun ‘do, La Raclette is the best you can get. This stalwart Plateau Mont-Royal icon will get you dipping into a bevy of rich Swiss cuisine, topped off with the sorbet du jour.
Restaurant Le Square
162 Prince-Arthur Street East | Website
It’s hip to dine at Le Square. Nestled in the incredibly vibrant pedestrians-only Prince Arthur area, this bistro has, for over a decade, been a go-to for fine French fare like duck foie gras, and flank steak with fries.
$45 set price restos
Cabotins
4821 Sainte-Catherine Street East | Website
This charming resto is as quirky and creative in its recycled-cool décor as it is in its cuisine. Situated in a former clothes store, the menu will set tongues salivating with braised wagyu beef tongue with port sauce and pickles.
Restaurant La Rose des Sables
1815 Beaubien Street East | Website
A cozy Tunisian treasure, this resto will have your belly dancing with delight with an exotically festive North African menu including gargoulette lamb with a side of vegetable couscous. And afterwards, of course, a warm cup of mint tea with Tunisian pastries.
BYO… What?
Of course, when it comes to BYOW, much of the fun comes from what you, literally, bring to the table. An easy and elegant all-purpose solution is to reach for the vivacious, vibrant and varied wines of Spain’s famed Rioja region. This Spanish denominación de origen calificada has been a legendary wine-producing area for millennia, and its international reputation rests on wines made primarily from indigenous tempranillo grapes, but also includes wonderful whites made from the Viura varietal. Rioja’s structured yet fruity wines — which range from young and zesty to aged and deeply complex — pair well with everything from red meats to seafood. Olé, olé, olé!
