As is tradition with Eater, we close the year with a survey of food critics, writers, bloggers and people from the city. This year we asked nine questions, from Food of the Year to Top Restaurant Newbies. Everything will be revealed when we turn off the lights in late 2019. The answers are unprocessed, with the exception of grammar and translations, which are italicized.
Q: What were the top restaurant newcomers in 2019?
Jean-Philippe Tastet, Restaurant reviewer Le Devoir:
Beba, Café-boulangerie Merci La Vie, La Belle Histoire, SAT Labo Culinaire, Le Virunga, Marusan, Moccione, Paloma, Vinvinvin (according to my piece from December 28th in Le Devoir, Zebestov 2019).
Joanna Fox, Montreal Gazette restaurant reviewer:
Beba, Darna Bistroquet, Vesta, Vinvinvin, Provisions Bar à Vin, Roch le Coq.
Mallory Frayn, Contributor to Eater Montreal:
All the new food halls (Le Central, Time Out and soon also Le Cathcart) bring fresh air to the downtown food scene and that is urgently needed!
Iris Gagnon-Paradis, Restaurant reporter and critic of La Presse:
There were a lot of great new restaurants this year. My two favorite places were undoubtedly Le Flamant for creative heights and the Boucherie Provisions wine bar, where I enjoyed a delicious and impeccable meal. Other new restaurants worth mentioning: Darna Bistroquet and Le Dandy. Outside the island of Montreal, I was very impressed by the young team at La Belle Histoire at Laurentians and the Arvi in Quebec, which was voted best new restaurant in Canada in 2019.
There were a lot of very interesting new options this year – my two favorites, no competition, were Le Flamant, for high-tension creativity, and the Boucherie Provisions wine bar, which had a delicious meal. Other newcomers who stood out were Darna Bistroquet and Dandy. Outside of Montreal, I was also impressed by the young team at La Belle Histoire in the Laurentians and by Arvi in Quebec City, which was named Canada’s Best New Restaurant in 2019.
Friend Watson, Food Columnist for the Montreal Gazette:
Provisions wine bar, Poincaré, MeetFresh, Vinvinvin, Ratafia.
Isa Tousignant, Food Columnist for the Montreal Gazette:
I think Marcus was a very exciting arrival and fun to love / hate. Dandy is a winner on all fronts; Pamplemousse is breathtaking to look at. I really enjoy the new Italian [restaurants] like Chez Eddy (Taverne Atlantic), Vesta and Mano Cornuto. And the vegan newbies; From Fance (Radis) to Diner (Mimi & Jones), it’s great to see plant-based foods continue to spread in Montreal.
JP Karwacki, Time Out Montreal Editor:
Beba, Ratafia, the new concepts at Le Central and Time Out Market Montréal – I’ll admit that there’s a serious bias to mentioning the latter, but I’m really proud of the work all of these restaurants have done.
Elise tastes, typed blog:
Moccione, Paloma, Beba, Mano Cornuto, Vesta, Vinvinvin, Provisions bar à vin, Merci La Vie and for a bar tavern Atlantic!
Mayssam Samaha, will travel for food blog:
Moccione, Monarque, Beaumont, Commissions, Vinvinvin, Beba, Roch le Coq, Chifa, Time Out Market.
Daniel Bromberg, Contributor to Eater Montreal:
Moccione, Darna, Horned Hand.
Tommy Dion, Nightlife.ca critic and author, blogger for Le Cuisinomane:
Best High End: While I know some people didn’t like it as much as I did, I loved my experience at the Beau Mont.
Best Casual: If Moccione can be counted as a new restaurant in 2019, add it to my list.
Best “aperitifs”: Vinvinvin, Poincaré, Ratafia (for a good late night dessert and bubbles)
And of course, Le Central and Time Out Market, two other really great additions to Montreal’s food scene.
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