New restaurant openings in Montréal

Restaurant Moccione

A very exciting addition to the Villeray neighbourhood dining scene comes from two former Toqué! kitchen staff members. Chef Luca Cianciulli is at the helm at Moccione, an Italian restaurant aiming at shining the spotlight on local produce and beverages.

Fiorellino Snack Bar - Ristorante

The beloved downtown pizza and pasta place now counts a second location on the west side of chic Laurier Avenue. The large restaurant is on two floors and the décor is elegant yet casual. Open for lunch and dinner, the Fiorellino menu includes classic pizze and pasta dishes as well as antipasti and secondi.

Le Kioko

One of Saint-Henri’s latest openings is Le Kioko raw seafood restaurant, serving tartare and poké bowls as well as an elaborate sushi and sashimi menu.

Hanzō

This new Old Montréal izakaya draws its décor inspiration from Kill Bill and prides itself on catering to a more mature crowd. Hanzō’s menu includes classic izakaya dishes such as gyoza, yakitori and ramen as well as interesting cocktails.

SLK Rd

The sleek interior of this new downtown spot is dark and smooth with shiny brass accents and plush velvet seats. SLK Rd’s cuisine is inspired by the Silk Road and spices of Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

Clairon

Hidden behind an inconspicuous white brick façade is Clairon, the Plateau’s latest restaurant with a focus on regional and seasonal produce where every product on the plate or in the glass is carefully selected and transformed with great talent.

Rita

Pizza, pasta, antipasti, and more are on the menu at Rita, an adorable Italian restaurant that’s a welcome addition to the Verdun dining scene. Named after the two owners’ grandmothers both named Rita, this welcoming spot has garnered great reviews and a loyal clientele in the short time it’s been open.

ASADO

Griffintown’s ASADO was born out of the ashes of Hvor. This Argentinian-inspired restaurant impresses by its dark décor and its fire-based cuisine where “90% of the food will touch the flames, from your first cocktail to dessert.”

Nama

There aren’t many Sri Lankan restaurants in Montréal and if the cuisine of this exotic island nation intrigues you, head to Nama, where you’ll find heart-warming curries and house specialties. The Jaffna kari is particularly delicious.

India Rosa

Montréal’s Plateau neighbourhood now boasts a trendy chic Indian restaurant. India Rosa is the perfect spot to indulge in one of its creative cocktails and scrumptious bites after work or to dive into an elaborate dinner in a funky and fun ambiance.

Restaurant Le XVI XVI

By now you’ve surely heard of R1-B1, Le XVI XVI’s robot-barman whose photo has been posted on Instagram more often than a supermodel’s. Head to Le XVI XVI to gawk at the robot, but also to sample its French-rooted market cuisine.

Jiao Dim Sum Bar

Jiao Dim Sum Bar is surely Montréal’s most beautiful dim sum bar with a breathtaking décor that includes a manga mural and oversized light fixtures. Open until 3 a.m. every day, it’s the perfect spot to grab a drink and a snack after work or to linger until last call. The menu includes dim sum classics as well as revisited dishes by chef Phong Thach of Red Tiger fame.

Pikeos

A city can never have too many Peruvian restaurants, so the addition of Pikeos to the Saint-Henri dining scene is very welcomed. Classic Peruvian dishes and cocktails are on the menu, such as lomo saltado, causas and pisco sours.

Monarque

The Montréal food scene waited with baited breath for this Old Montréal restaurant for years. Monarque is finally here and it doesn’t disappoint. This oversized project is the chef d’oeuvre of the family behind Leméac. The cuisine is French with a twist, the décor is grandiose and the service impeccable. Monarque is an instant culinary institution.

Magnolia MTL

Rosemont’s Angus Shops have welcomed Magnolia MTL, a new gastronomic restaurant with a casual chic ambiance. The cuisine is healthy yet hefty, with beautiful plating and a focus on vegetables (although it’s far from being a vegetarian spot). Magnolia also has a take-out counter for those on the go.

Giulietta - Pizzeria Napoletana

Venturing out to Saint-Léonard for dinner is not something most Montrealers do, but that might change with the opening of Giulietta, a new Italian restaurant that specializes in Neapolitan pizza, fresh pasta and antipasti.

Radicelle

This Plateau-Mont-Royal farm-to-table restaurant is dedicated to shining a light on Québec’s producers and products. The menu consists of two sections, a seasonal side and another “bistro” side with a two-course table d’hôte. Radicelle also serves a seasonal Sunday brunch.

Restaurant Õréa

The old 400 coups space in Old Montréal has found a new tenant in Õréa. The new French restaurant is only open for lunch at the moment while awaiting its alcohol permit, but the few available photos already hint at the beautiful fine-dining plating that Õréa will be serving once fully operational.

Henri Brasserie Française

Named after Henri Birks and located inside the new Birks Hotel, Henri Brasserie Française is a magnificent new brasserie with the same opulence of the Birks institution and a menu steeped in French brasserie.

Restaurant Saison

Breakfast restaurant Les Cocottes is now lunch restaurant Saison, an unpretentious and affordable elegant neighbourhood establishment with a special focus on local producers. Saison also has a gourmet boutique and a homemade pastry counter.

Mayssam Samaha, blogger

Mayssam Samaha is a food and travel writer and blogger. 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.

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