Our suggestions for restaurants open at the beginning of the week

The pandemic has changed a lot of things. Among them, the opening days of restaurants, which have shrunk to a trickle, a situation largely attributable to the shortage of manpower. Looking for places to eat at the start of the week? Our journalist has concocted a (non-exhaustive) list of suggestions that are worth checking out.

BarBara Wine

Serious water damage forced the closure of the popular café and wine bar in the Saint-Henri district last September, but good news, BarBara Vin is finally back, better than ever, and seven days a week to boot . From morning to late evening, you can enjoy breakfast sandwiches, fresh daily focaccias, sandwiches, antipasti, pastas and other delicious Italian dishes to share, a menu signed David Pellizzari while the wine list is the business by Catherine Draws, an unbeatable duo who made a name for themselves with the late Lili. Co.

Bouillon Bilk/Cadet/Place Carmine

Good news: the excellent Bouillon Bilk restaurant is once again open every day, and for five lunches of the week, which makes it an ideal address for your business lunches (or lunches in general). Same song on the side of Place Carmin, which belongs to the same group (including chef François Nadon and butler Mélanie Blanchette), which recently offers lunches from Monday to Friday in Old Montreal. As for the Cadet, whose menu is dedicated to small dishes to share, an ideal formula before or after the show, it is back seven evenings a week.

Mastard-Restaurant

With his first restaurant, chef Simon Mathys bet on closing weekends and offering service from Monday to Friday evening only. The formula is a hit, and the Restaurant Mastard has been a great success since it opened last year. It even finished second in the Best New Restaurant in Canada ranking. enRoute 2022. Lots of good reasons to visit this excellent restaurant in the Rosemont district.

Melba

In Quebec, chef Guillaume Saint-Pierre and his associates Charles Provencher-Proulx and Alexandra Roy have also bet on an opening from Monday to Friday evening. This elegant new restaurant in the Saint-Sauveur district offers a menu inspired by modern French cuisine, composed of refined appetizers and dishes to share, with a wine list designed by experienced sommelier Marc Lamarre, offering a mix of classics, discoveries and rarities.

ichigo ichie

Are you looking for atmosphere, no matter the evening of the week? You’ll easily find them at popular Ichigo Ichie, a Plateau izayaka where you can feast seven nights a week. Whether it’s the steaming bowls of ramen noodles, among the best in town (also served at the adjacent little brother Yokato Yobabai doesn’t take reservations and doesn’t serve alcohol) or small and large dishes inspired by Japanese brasseries (we loved the udon carbonara during our last visit), this lively restaurant also offers a nice cocktail menu.

Majestic/Darling/Galaxy Brewery

Here are three sure values, owned by restauranteur Richard Holder and his partners, who are in action seven days a week. We go to the Majestique to stuff ourselves with oysters and party until late (the kitchen is open until at 2 a.m.) and its little brother Darling all day long, for a coffee, an aperitif (the place specializes in ciders) or a casual dinner. The latest addition to the family, Galaxie Brasserie, which overlooks the new Esplanade Tranquille, offers a French brasserie-style menu, for lunch or dinner, in a funky decor designed by Thomas Csano.

Monarch

We always eat well at Le Monarque, which offers two types of menus: a menu inspired by French brasseries on the bistro side, then a more refined table d’hôte on the dining room side, where chef Jérémie Bastien lets his creativity run wild. The restaurant in Old Montreal is open every day, and serves lunch from Monday to Friday.

Bar Cicchetti

At this Venetian-inspired bar in Mile-Ex, you can enjoy platters of cicchetti (small bites) while sipping a classic or more funky cocktail, or a glass of wine from the very inspiring menu, focused on natural juices and in biodynamics. In short, it’s always time forappetizer at Cicchetti, which is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 4 p.m. until late.

O’Thyme

This bring your own wine restaurant recently won the Prix Restaurateur d’Aliments du Québec au menu, which recognizes the effort made by the establishment to include local foods on its menu. Chef Noé Lainesse offers a creative and 99% local menu from Tuesday to Sunday, where he uses several preservation techniques such as lactofermentation. To discover !

Bar St-Denis

In this bar in the Petite-Patrie district where we eat very well, we have also chosen to open weeknights only. From Monday to Friday, the place, always very lively, is perfect for a relaxed aperitif or a dinner with friends. The wine list is beautiful to see, the cocktails are delicious and the menu of small dishes, which changes often, is very inventive and highlights local producers and artisans.

Theophile wine bar

A wine bar in a mall? Do not be afraid, you will see nothing but fire. Adjacent to Promenades Saint-Bruno, Théophile is an excellent address on the South Shore. Chef Robin Filteau Boucher offers tasty and well-executed seasonal dishes, from Tuesday to Saturday evenings, and for lunch, from Tuesday to Friday.

Gia/Elena/Nora Gray

The reputation of these three establishments in the Southwest, owned by the restaurant Ryan Gray and its associates, is well established. Nora Gray’s more classic table offers its delicious Italian menu from Tuesday to Saturday evening, while its little sister, the excellent pizzeria Elena, is in action for seven days. The latest, the charming Gia wine & grill, offers lunch from Tuesday to Friday, and welcomes customers in the evening from Tuesday to Saturday.

jjacques

In Quebec, the hidden bar jjacques has little wonders to discover. Oysters, sophisticated cocktails, seafood platters, people come here to spoil themselves and experience a special evening, in a setting that is both refined and festive. The big plus? The place is in action from Wednesday to Monday from 5:30 p.m., and you can eat there until late (1 a.m. for the kitchen and 3 a.m. for the oysters).

Rouge Throat

Established since 2015 on Mont-Royal, the Rouge Gorge has unquestionably become a must in the Plateau, where you are sure to find atmosphere, good juice, amazing cocktails and very good small plates, every day of the week, from 3 p.m. PS: dare to go down to the basement to discover the magnificent hidden bar of the place.

The Boating Club

From Tuesday to Sunday, this institution in Saint-Rose, Laval, welcomes friends and groups who want to celebrate over a good meal. Oysters, hearty dishes to share, tartars and other delicacies are on the menu, with an atmosphere that comes alive as the evening progresses.

Cafe Parvis/Furco

In the city center, looking for a good plan to eat and drink? When in doubt, choose a safe bet: the Parvis café and its party-loving little brother, the Furco. The first, magnificent with its large windows and hanging plants, is open every day (except Mondays) and will delight you with gourmet pizzas, original salads and other creations by the always inspired chef Joëlle Trottier. A shorter version of the menu is also offered at the popular bar Furco, which welcomes festive customers from Tuesday to Saturday from 3 p.m.

Cabinet

Vegetables, caviar and small dishes. This is how this elegant cocktail bar on Laurier Avenue West, a new project by chef Jean-Michel Leblond (aka Jonh Mike), presents itself. In addition to being superb, the place invites you to party, chic style, every day, except Tuesday. A little pearl to visit absolutely!

Iru Izakaya

In Brossard, the Iru Izakaya takes us into another world with its neon signs and large infinite mirrors. On the plate, the classics of this type of Japanese cuisine are well executed and frankly tasty, thanks to the joint work of executive chef Frédéric Dufort and chef de cuisine Van Amtel. The place is open 7 days a week until 11 p.m. and offers a “Bento box” type menu at lunchtime on weekdays.

Stellina

Lovers of pasta and Italian cuisine, the Stellina has something for you. The establishment in Old Montreal opens its kitchens from Monday to Friday, for lunch and dinner, as well as on Saturday evenings. Expect to find a variety of less common fresh pasta such as fazzoletti, cappelletti or tallegio and a nice selection of antipasti.