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2025 was the year of hearty schnitzels, indulgent sticky toffee puddings, playful soft-serve, and meticulously crafted crudos.
Sandwiches remain king, while caviar continues to glitter at the other end of the spectrum.
Read more: I visited this beautiful new Montreal sandwich shop and it may be the most stunning in Canada
Most new openings flaunted marble interiors and striking lighting, with staff donning tailored jackets to elevate the experience.
After exploring the city’s most buzzworthy tables—new or established—here are the ten standout restaurants that defined my year.
Check out: The full list of Quebec Michelin-starred restaurants
1. Park
Chef Antonio Park presides over the kitchen with wisdom, care, and determination. His passion translates into impeccably precise nigiri and sashimi, and a forward-looking vision, passing the omakase menu to Natalia Ramos from Brazil, who honed her skills at Evvai and Tuju (both Michelin-starred). Park’s cuisine proudly showcases his multicultural roots.
2. Bistro Franquette
Franquette proves that a restaurant’s greatness isn’t in extravagant décor but in the chef’s clear vision and obsessive attention to detail. Even a simple salad becomes memorable thanks to expert balance and nuance. Bread baked in-house begs to be shared, and the perfectly executed onglet (a reminder why it's a noble cut), and the fries—crafted over three days—might just be the year’s best. Sincere, masterful, and deeply satisfying.
3. Damas
Damas delivers Syrian gastronomy at its finest, serving hundreds nightly while maintaining a sense of intimate dining. From kibbeh nayyeh to hand-rolled grape leaves and shish borek with labneh, every dish demonstrates meticulous technique. The fattoush is an artful masterpiece, and the wine pairings are executed with passion and intelligence. Damas solidifies its status as a top-tier Quebec institution.
4. Lawrence
Behind a deliberately modest façade lies intensely personal, seasonal cuisine. The chef’s English roots, French training, and Montreal experience shine through dishes like chanterelle corn chowder with smoked sturgeon and zucchini flower beignets with Cantabrian anchovies. Every plate invites an intimate connection with the diner.
5. Le Violon
Danny Smiles and Mitch Laughren excel when it comes to restraint, maturity, and precision, foregoing flashy techniques for sincerity. Their dishes nod to cucina povera (the art of doing a lot with little) and Smiles’ Egyptian heritage, exemplified in dishes like the tartare inspired by kibbeh nayyeh. Personal, contemporary, and timeless.
6. Sushi Nishinokaze
This was hands down the most striking dining experience of 2025. Every element, from fish quality to meticulous pre-preparation, highlights the product’s essence. An almost meditative Edomae experience rarely found outside Japan.
7. Ferreira
A decades-long institution led by Carlos Ferreira and daughters Sandra and Claudia. Fresh Iberian seafood, perfectly grilled, and bold flavours of carabinero shrimp and rich seafood rice demonstrate unparalleled mastery and consistency.
8. Leméac
Winter comfort food shines in salmon pot-au-feu, multi-textured vegetable tian, and black pudding with cider sauce. Sprinkle in some refined brasserie charm, and desserts like Valrhona chocolate cake with corn ice cream and sticky toffee pudding, and you've got an unforgettable experience.
9. Pasta Pooks
Under a playful exterior lies precise craftsmanship. From perfect casoncelli mantovani to slow-simmered ragù, Luca’s fresh pasta is the ultimate indulgence.
10. Le Chien Fumant
Every visit blends atmosphere, history, and service. Classics like beef Wellington mingle with inventive dishes—scallops with jamon bellota and pork-cabbage dumplings—plus decadent fare like truffle, caviar, and soft-serve ice cream.
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