Montreal restaurants to see and be seen in

If you care less for what’s on the plate than who’s around you, this list is for you. Fancy the latest fashion trends? Loud music? Possibly some champagne popping? We’ve got you covered. Don’t get us wrong, though - some of these trendy spots actually excel in the kitchen on top of being “in.” [Image credit: iStock.com/ andresr]

Montreal restaurants to see and be seen in
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Restaurant Barroco

1
312, rue Saint-Paul O, Montréal, QC H2Y 2A3

Can a place be both intimate and trendy? Barroco manages to do just that. This fabulous Spanish restaurant also has an excellent cocktail program. Drop by for date night or party night and be sure to check out the signature paella Barroco - you won’t regret it.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Garde Manger

2
408 rue Saint-François-Xavier, Montréal, QC H2Y 2S9

Back in 2011, chef Chuck Hughes won Iron Chef with his now-iconic lobster poutine. Garde-Manger, his Old Montreal restaurant, feels like an underground gourmet speakeasy of sorts, drawing everyone from the cool kids to the “foodies” with its seasonal, market-driven chalkboard menu.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Grinder

3
1708 rue Notre-Dame O, Montréal, QC H3J 1M3

Following the Plateau’s Hachoir, the same people opened Grinder in burgeoning Griffintown, serving raw and cooked meat and seafood of all kinds. The modern, avant-garde interior is complemented by the beautiful terrace nestled between the restaurant and the neighbouring building.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Restaurant Le Richmond

4
377, rue Richmond, Montréal, QC H3J 1T9

One of the cooler spots to open in recent years, Le Richmond suggests market-fresh Italian food in a trendy setting. They also serve brunch - a guaranteed crowd-pleaser with that gorgeous terrace on hand. Lobster Benedict, anyone?

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Restaurant Mercuri

5
645, rue Wellington, Montréal, QC H3C 1T2

After a long hiatus, renowned and well-respected chef Joe Mercuri opened his eponymous, two-in-one restaurant in Old Montreal. Do yourself a favour and check out the bar half of this buzzing place, with its wood/charcoal oven flaming up all sorts of goodies, from organic chicken to strip loin steaks.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Morgane De La Montagne Inc

6
1232, rue de la Montagne, Montréal, QC H3G 1Z1

While most places in this space lose steam and end up folding up after a few years, Rosalie recently managed to make the 10-year mark. A couple reinventions and management changes later, this downtown outfit has settled in as a Neapolitan pizzeria, dishing delicious pies out of an imported wood-burning oven.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Brasserie Lucille's

7
4124, rue Sainte-Catherine O, Westmount, QC H3Z 1P4

The team behind NDG’s Lucille’s Oyster Dive and food truck expanded their portfolio with a massive steakhouse/rotisserie/seafood pusher. Be sure to hit up this happening place if loud music, people watching and surf ’n’ turf is your thing. Hits here include the grilled seafood linguini and the lobster roll with ribs.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:
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514eats is two childhood friends turned opinionated restaurant bloggers that like to go out and talk about it. We are not self-proclaimed "foodies"; we simply love eating and drinking, and we thought we would share our findings, good or bad, with the hopes that somebody out there gets something useful out of them. We will go anywhere and we will say it like it is.
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