Show me someone who doesn’t like fried chicken, and I’ll show you a damn liar. What’s there not to like? Chicken that’s battered and fried until a golden crisp, RE-BATTERED and then RE-FRIED. Bite after bit of tender pieces of marinated chicken surrounded by ear-drum shattering, impossibly crunchy batter. In some cases, it’s slathered in a sweet and spicy red sauce, or doused in a sweet soy sauce topped with chopped fresh garlic and shredded scallions. Listen, if you don’t like fried chicken – and in this case Korean fried chicken – you basically hate life. In the past few years, the Korean fried chicken game in Montreal has blown up, with spots like Dawa, Mon Ami, and Hoya to name a few. I recently checked out the newest player in the Montreal Korean fried chicken game, Restaurant Comon Korean Cuisine.
I’ve been on the fence about mentioning this place for quite some time now. Why? Because I’m selfish. But luckily for you, I also love sharing great discoveries especially when it comes to food. I’ve been coming to this quaint Italian Bistro in N.D.G. for a while now. I’m confident in saying that it’s probably one of my favourite places for casual home cooked Italian food in the entire city. What was once The Italian Pantry – one of the N.D.G’s Italian specialty shops for fine imported goods, is now Bistro Amerigo, your new favourite neighbourhood spot for Italian with soul like nonna used to make.
Yes, you read that correctly! Icehouse! The Plateau’s beacon for the Montreal’s best Tex-Mex just added best brunch to their menu. The go to spot for buckets (literally) of some of the city’s best fried chicken and sticky ribs now serves that elusive meal that inspires people to get out on a Sunday morning early for the gram. I know what you’re thinking, “Wait, Icehouse has had brunches before, Old man Jason is off his damn rocker.” Yes and no. Yes, They’ve had seasonal brunch pop-ups in the past, and no, I’m not that old. So what is Icehouse serving you ask? Great question, you’ll need to sit for this.
What food can you eat every day and not get sick of? Let it be known, I love pho. So much so that I’m on a perpetual quest to find Montreal’s best bowl of pho (Montreal’s Best Pho). I’ve eaten over 50 bowls from 50 different restaurants, it’s a claim that I’m both proud of and a bit scared of, as I’m sure I’ve eaten my weight in fatty tendon, tripe and M.S.G. But my sacrifice is for the greater good, to find the city’s best bowl of pho – the “dac biet” more specifically. My journey takes me newly opened Pho Mymy in The Plateau.
I’ve said this several times before, every neighbourhood needs a local pizza joint. A place that makes solid, delicious pizza. I don’t necessarily mean gourmet or fancy pizza, but far from a 2-for-1 place where they charge for extra toppings but the gastro is free. Not to say that a occasional grease wheel isn’t appreciated from time to time, but everyone has a soft spot for a traditional pie. I recently checked out a pizza spot in The Dege (N.D.G.) that’s serving classic Neapolitan style pizzas – Pizzeria Melrose.
Let’s play a quick word association game. Ready? “Dog”. Did you say “cat”? Good job! How about, “day”. Did you say “night”? Wow, you’re good! Here’s another; “Dollar-des-Ormeaux”. Did you say KOREAN BARBECUE?? WOW! You are both good looking and smart! You read that right. Besides not stopping at stop signs, most soccer fields per capita and population that considers anything past Ikea as “downtown”, the West Island can add Korean Barbecue to the list of things they’re known for! I checked out the relatively new all you can eat Korean barbecue restaurant, Restaurant K-BBQ.
I don’t have to tell you that the south west borough of Montreal (Saint-Henri, Griffintown…) is the place to be for some of the hottest food destinations, coveted reservations that bring out the humblest of brags on social media. With spots like Arthur’s, L’Avenue‘s new location, Foiegwa or Le Bird Bar, cuisine offerings of this area is diverse as is their neighbourhood and clientele. From modern Jewish deli-inspired food, tacos and burritos, to upscale refined comfort food, the “Sud-Ouest” has it all… except a go-to legit Asian spot (more specifically, Vietnamese) until now; Tran Cantine.
Server problems. Sick reviews on their way as soon as I get this sorted out!
Thank you!
Hoping everyone had a great holiday. Spent mine the same as every year, breaking resolutions in world record time and eating my weight in things cooked with butter. Reconnecting with friends and family during the holidays is also fun; classic discussion topics, Kardashians, politics, how fast someone filled up gas at the first sight of a price increase and most importantly recent restart discoveries. I’ve discovered that far above a game of Monopoly, or sliding into the DMs of a common crush, what will really test the relationship between you and a loved one are your restaurant opinions. Little did I know that this local brunch hot spot in the plateau (with now a location in Saint-Henri) would be the epicentre of a recent discussion blowout – Restaurant L’Avenue.
It’s the holiday season, so you know what that means; food, food and even more food… Or as I like to call it “I’m-Not-Even-Hungry-Anymore-But-I-Can’t-Stop-Eating-Season.” All jokes aside, it’s not the food that makes the season, but it’s the company. It’s all about the people that you’re enjoying the copious amounts of food with in the name of merriment and cheer. However, catching up with loved ones can be stressful – managing schedules, meal planning, kids – but it doesn’t have to be. What’s easier than meeting up for a casual brunch to gossip about Aunt Debbie’s new 27 year old boy toy? Nothing. I recently checked out this quaint little neighbourhood spot for brunch, Restaurant Well.
