© Estiatorio Milos
Milos
5357 Parc Avenue | Website
New York, Athens, Miami, Dubai, Los Cabos, Vegas and London, the Milos empire reaches far and wide but the original one where it all started is on Parc Avenue in Montréal. Freshness and authenticity are what made Estiatorio Milos one of the best fine dining establishments in Montréal. The fish is imported daily from the Mediterranean, the olive oil is Milos’ own private label, the vegetables are locally sourced and everything else, including the service, is tended to with much care and professionalism. The Milos Special, a mountain of thinly sliced, battered and deep fried crispy zucchini and eggplants served with tzatziki are a must, as are any of the fish on display.
Rôtisserie Panama
789 Jean-Talon Street West and 11604 Boulevard de Salaberry (DDO) | Website
A favourite among Greeks in Montréal, this tavern-style restaurant is famous for its grilled meats, in particular the succulent chicken and lamb chops. Family-style dining and sharing is encouraged with friendly and relaxed service and ambiance. Don’t forget to order the Greek-style roasted potatoes.
© Alison Slattery
Ikanos
112 McGill Street | Website
Ikanos serves modern Greek cuisine with a focus on fish and seafood. Chef-owner Constant Mentzas’ inventive yet simple dishes are rooted in Greek tradition with a respect for the fresh produce. Ikanos is located in a historical building in Old Montréal. The space is contemporary yet warm and inviting and the service flawless.
Philinos
4806 Parc Avenue and 1670 Saint-Martin Blvd West (Laval) | Website
Philinos’ cuisine is simple yet so satisfying. Here you will find classic Greek restaurant dishes such as souvlaki, grilled lamb chops and fish as well as some more “homey” recipes such as moussaka. The portions are hearty, the Greek-style potatoes are delicious, and the shade-filled flowered patio of the original Parc Avenue location is lovely.
Faros
362 Fairmount Avenue West | Website
Faros restaurant, right between Outremont and the Mile-End, feels like a trip to the Greek islands. This Greek psarotaverna (fish tavern) specializes in fish and seafood dishes but also offers meats and a great variety of mezzes. Their small patio is the perfect oasis to enjoy an al fresco meal while dreaming of an Ionian holiday.
Mythos Estiatorio
5318 du Parc Avenue | Website
Mythos Estiatorio has been around for a couple of decades and has become an institution in Montréal. You come here for the great mezzes and charcoal grilled meats but also for the lively ambiance fueled by live music and dancing that can last all night long on any given Friday or Saturday night. Fuel up by ordering some loukoumades, the Greek fried dough balls that are sprinkled with cinnamon and almonds and doused with honey.
Ouzeri
4690 Saint-Denis Street | Website
Ouzeri is hidden on an awkward street corner of Plateau Mont-Royal. The menu consists of a great variety of your classic Greek specialties with a few exceptions you won’t find anywhere else and that are worth the visit, like the absolutely delectable feta chicken and some other more “homey” dishes. The fried saganaki cheese flambéed in ouzo is also a must and makes for a great spectacle.
Nostos
9350 De l’Acadie Boulevard | Website
With a menu that offers all the usual dishes one craves, Nostos is a great option for some very delectable Greek food. The portions are generous and perfect for sharing. Try the grilled lamb chops or the loukaniko.
Elounda
1818 Côte Vertu Boulevard | Website
Elounda is an elegant, white tablecloth clad restaurant located in the heart of Ville Saint-Laurent. It specializes in fish and seafood while also offering some of the more traditional pikilia. Try the fresh by-the-pound fish that are delicately cooked or indulge in a plate of linguine seafood.
Petros
Several locations | Website
With several locations across the city (and one in Florida), Petros has become synonymous with Greek taverna food in Montréal. Specializing in fresh fish and seafood, the Petros restaurants offer a great variety of traditional mezzez as well as many grilled dishes.
Kouzina Niata
221 Saint-Viateur Street West | Website
This Mile-End Greek café offers “country style cooking” from Niata, a small village in southern Greece. Here you’ll find homecooked dishes like moussaka, pastitsios, gemista and more. They also carry several phyllo pies made with hand phyllo using local organic flour. Try the excellent kotopita (chicken pie) or the decadent bougatsa (custard pie).
Le Jardin de Panos
521 Duluth Avenue East | Website
Open since 1979, Le Jardin de Panos is the first BYOW restaurant in Montréal. The menu at this “Greek brochetterie” is straightforward and offers all the classics but everything is made well with fresh ingredients. One of the main attractions here is definitely the terrasse that’s reminiscent of a Mediterranean courtyard.
Phyllo Bar Melina’s
5733 Parc Avenue | Website
A small café and snack counter on Parc Avenue, Melina’s specializes in sweet and savoury phyllo pies. Everything on the menu here is vegetarian and/or vegan. This tiny but mighty space is an excellent spot to stop for a treat and the best Greek frappé this side of Acropolis.
Mayssam Samaha
Mayssam Samaha is a food and travel writer and blogger and the founder behind the blog Will Travel for Food. She travels the world in search of the next culinary discovery. From Iceland to South Africa, she’s already visited over 30 countries and there’s nothing she enjoys more than wandering around a farmers’ market in a foreign city. She is also the founder of the SAISONS intimate dinner series highlighting Québec products and chefs.
