A nice surprise: Montreal restaurants with creative cuisine

With several award-winning, innovative cookbooks to his name, François Chartier knows a thing or two about creative cuisine. Here, he kindly provides a guide to some of the most interesting eateries in Montreal, where inventive dishes and unique flavours are sure to please. Prepare to be pleasantly surprised!

A nice surprise: Montreal restaurants with creative cuisine
François Chartier By

Accords Bar A Vin Resto

1
212, rue Notre-Dame O, Montréal, QC H2Y 1T3

Excellent creative cuisine emanates from the kitchen of Simon Mathys, one of Quebec’s greatest chefs. The wine list has impressive depth and is as inventive as the cuisine. Enjoy all this on the magical terrace in the summer months. It’s the stuff of dreams for food lovers!

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Bouillon Bilk

2
1595, boul Saint-Laurent, Montréal, QC H2X 2S9

Bouillon Bilk is without a doubt one of the city’s most creative kitchens, especially in the evening. Add to this a wine list that’s admittedly brief but rich in discoveries and you’re in for a special dining experience.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Maison Boulud

3
1228 Sherbrooke St West, Montreal, QC H3G 1H6

Recognized as one of the top establishments in the city, Maison Boulud’s cuisine is peerless, the service is amongst the best – if not the best – and the wine list is carefully orchestrated by a team of outstanding sommeliers.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Europea Administration

4
1065 RUE DE LA MONTAGNE, Montreal, QC H3G 0B9

Europea builds on what is surely the most inspired wine list in Montreal with its green surrounding and service that is matched only by the exceptional cuisine of chef Jérôme Ferrer, whose reputation reaches far beyond the borders of the country.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Hoogan et Beaufort

5
4095, rue Molson, Montréal, QC H1Y 3L1

The most recent addition to Montreal’s array of restaurants with creative modern cuisine, and well worth a visit. Hoogan et Beaufort’s chef Marc-André Jetté (formerly of Les 400 Coups) offers up culinary creations inspired by high-quality Quebec products.

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Tapas 24

6
420, rue Notre-Dame O, Montréal, QC H2Y 1V3

The Montreal branch of Barcelona’s famous Tapas24 sees Catalan chef Carles Abellan (previously of elBulli) put his name to a high-flying tapas menu. This is also where a certain François Chartier (also previously of elBulli) reveals his top Spanish picks on a highly original wine list.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Restaurant Toqué

7
900, Place Jean-Paul-Riopelle, Montréal, QC H2Z 2B2

One name says it all: Normand Laprise. Simply mention this chef’s name, and the culinary world knows that we’re talking about the headquarters of modern Quebec gastronomy, including one of the most inspiring wine lists in Quebec, concocted by some of the best sommeliers.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:
More from François Chartier François Chartier
François Chartier is known worldwide as an expert on recipe creation and the pairing of wine and food. Since 2011, he has also produced wines in Europe, bringing two ranges of critically acclaimed wines to Quebec consumers.
Wine and dine like a king at Montreal’s best wine bars

Discover superior wining and dining at these top wine bars

In our ongoing search for the ultimate combination of great food and excellent wine, we’ve turned to wine and food expert and award-winning author François Chartier. We asked him for his top picks for wine bars in Montreal that pair an excellent wine list with truly impressive food coming out of the kitchen. Read on to discover his recommendations. [Image credit: iStock.com/PeopleImages]
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