This text is part of the special Pleasures notebook
Mark your calendars! Montreal’s great fall gastronomy festival is back from November 3 to 19. The reservation period has just opened — and places are going fast! What’s good on the MTLàTABLE menu this year?
Since 2012, a delicious euphoria has gripped the Montreal metropolis, as a colorful crowd of gourmands and gourmets — more than 92,000 in 2022 — storm restaurants during the MTLàTABLE event. Several have even made it an annual event, a sort of pilgrimage which allows them to discover, as a couple, with family or friends, new addresses, neighborhoods that they are less familiar with, culinary cultures that they do not know. would not dare to experiment, or even tables that they would not normally be able to afford.
The first strength of MTLàTABLE undoubtedly lies in the simplicity of its concept, based on three or four course menus at a fixed price; this year, they will range from $38 to $83. In these times of budgetary constraints, knowing in advance how much a restaurant outing will cost is valuable.
MTLàTABLE also stands out for its great diversity. From the bar that serves food to the neighborhood restaurant, including the hotel and the big table; from typical North American steakhouse to cuisines from around the world, including vegetarian and vegan influences, the plural character of Montreal is perfectly reflected in the event’s offering.
Gourmet suggestions
This year, the duration of the event has been extended, spanning six evenings, and it offers a choice of 135 different restaurants, 21 more than last year. For those on a budget, the $38 menu options include highly recommendable Italian restaurants like BEVO, Il Bazzali (bonus chef’s lyrical singing) and Aqua E Farina, Mexican eateries La Toxica and La Catrina, as well as Bonheur d’occasion, a newcomer to Saint-Henri which is already part of Air Canada enRoute’s top 30 best new restaurants.
By climbing to menus at $53 and $68, the offerings multiply and take all avenues. We notably come across the generous Caribou gourmand, the comforting Enfants terribles, the French brasseries Chez Lévêque and the Boulevardier, the bustling Waverly (with a brand new decor), the trendy Richmond and Kamuy, the worked h3 and Bivouac (at a very good value for money for the occasion), as well as the vegan LOV and Bistro Tendresse. Attention, the delicious Palomar to which we have devoted an article, as well as other recent addresses to try such as the Pamika Wine bar (for lovers of Thai cuisine and good associated wines) Stanley, the Umami and the Kitchen Galery (with new owners) are also part of these middle categories.
Finally, to treat yourself with an $83 menu, it is possible to go to more upscale restaurants, such as the Renoir, the Lawrence and the Garde Côte. If you’ve never tried it, there’s also Ratafia in this price range, as creative in the savory as in the sweet.
Those interested should book without delay, as places sell out quickly!
This content was produced by the Special Publications team at Duty, relating to marketing. The writing of the Duty did not take part.