The MICHELIN Guide reveals its first Québec selection
The spotlight is on the Québec dining scene this spring with the arrival of the MICHELIN guide. Québec becomes the third Canadian destination to be featured in the famous guide, following Toronto and Vancouver. This major milestone for the Montréal dining scene celebrates our rich and unique gastronomy and our chef’s creativity and excellence.
Mastard
Founded in France in 1900 by brothers and car tire manufacturers Édouard and André Michelin, the MICHELIN Guide was originally intended to encourage people to travel by car (and buy more tires). Today, it is recognized as the benchmark for excellence in the restaurant world on an international level. Its coveted “stars” are talked about in knowing circles as the epitome of unparalleled dining experiences. Restaurants can be awarded one, two or three stars for their exceptional cuisine. The guide is also unveiling its Bib Gourmand selection of restaurants that offer great cuisine at a friendly price, and the MICHELIN Green Stars to establishments that strive to adhere to a sustainable philosophy. Recommended restaurants and special professional awards are also highlighted in this first guide.
The Québec restaurant selection follows MICHELIN’s historical methodology, based on five rigorous criteria that are applied to all guides: quality of products, harmony of flavours, mastery of cooking techniques, voice and personality of the chef, and consistency across visits (each restaurant is visited several times).
The inaugural list of Montréal restaurants selected by MICHELIN’s inspectors was just unveiled. We are proud to publish the list of awarded establishments below.
Europea
1 star
Jérôme Ferrer – Europea
After 23 years of operation, chef Jérôme Ferrer has earned a MICHELIN star for his relentless pursuit of excellence at his signature restaurant Europea. The chef’s cuisine fuses his French upbringing with Québec’s terroir. Dinner here comes with a bit of a show as the dishes are often plated with some theatrical elements.
1065 de la Montagne Street
Mastard
Chef Simon Mathys’ very personal cuisine at Mastard showcases the best of Québec’s terroir. The plating is modern, minimal and elegant, lending this neighbourhood restaurant its unique style.
1879 Bélanger Street
Sabayon
Chef Patrice Demers excellent cuisine is only equalled by his partner, sommelier and front of the house manager Marie-Josée Beaudoin’s flawless service. The star duo has created a 14-seat butter-hued establishment that is the perfect stage for chef Demers’ precise cuisine and exquisite desserts.
2194 Centre Street
Annette bar à vin
Bib Gourmand
Annette bar à vin
Annette is more than a wine bar. It’s a place to gather with friends around the open kitchen or on the plush seats and enjoy a great spread of seasonal dishes. The precise cuisine is only matched by the flawless service and extensive wine list.
4051 Molson Street
Cadet
The brilliant Bouillon Bilk team is behind Cadet, a more casual restaurant located in the same neighbourhood. The cuisine here is market-forward and fresh, featuring ingredients that shine on the plate. It’s the perfect spot to grab a bite before or after a show.
1431 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
Casavant
Buzzy and lively neighbourhood restaurant Casavant serves updated and modernized versions of classic French bistro dishes. Beef tartare, Grenoble-style sea bass, sausage with mashed potatoes have become menu mainstays while seasonal dishes make up the rest of the enticing offer.
350 de Castelnau Street East
Le Petit Alep
Le Petit Alep is a family-run restaurant serving Syrian and Armenian specialties. The welcoming room is always buzzing with the hum of happy diners gathering around a mazza spread of flavourful dishes infused with warm Levant spices. The wine list is one of the best in the city and worth exploring.
191 Jean-Talon Street East
L’Express
Classic French bistro dishes adorn the hand-written menu at Montréal institution L’Express. The décor, with its long bar, Art Deco details, immense mirrors, and checkered black and white floor, adds to the charm of this timeless place. Must have dishes here include the bone marrow with coarse salt, the chicken liver pate, the veal kidney in mustard sauce, and the île flottante with caramel.
3927 Saint-Denis Street
Parapluie
The best seat in the house at Parapluie is at the counter from which you can watch chef Robin Filteau Boucher work his magic in the kitchen. The cuisine is rooted in France and features sharing plates of local and seasonal ingredients.
44 Beaubien Street West
Rôtisserie La Lune
The outstanding team of Mon Lapin have opened La Lune, an ode to their love for the art of the traditional rotisserie. Impeccably sourced quality ingredients, an outstanding wine list and great service make family friendly La Lune one of the best dining experiences in town.
391 Saint-Zotique Street
Foxy
Selected restaurants
Au Pied de Cochon
Beba
Bouillon Bilk
Cabaret l'Enfer
Candide
Damas
Dorsia
Ferreira Café
Foxy
Garde Manger
Hoogan et Beaufort
Ile Flottante
Joe Beef
Jun I
La Chronique
Lawrence
Le Club Chasse et Pêche
Le Filet
Le Mousso
Le Serpent
Le St-Urbain
Le Tap Room - Manoir Hovey
Le Vin Papillon
Le Violon
Le Virunga
Leméac
Les Mômes
Maison Boulud
Marcus
Memo
Moccione
Monarque
Mon Lapin
Montréal Plaza
Okeya Kyujiro Montréal
Oncle Lee
Othym
Panacée
Park
Place Carmin
Restaurant de l'ITHQ
Salle Climatisée
Schwartz's Deli
Toqué!
Yokato Yokaba
The MICHELIN Guide has also announced some Special Awards.
Véronique Dalle, owner/sommelier of Foxy has received the MICHELIN Exceptional Cocktails Award and Vanya Filipovic of Mon Lapin has received the MICHELIN Sommelier Award.
Congratulations to all the selected establishments!
Head to the MICHELIN Guide website for the complete list.
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 36 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.