January is the toughest month for Montreal restaurants and bars. After the Holidays, clients have had enough of all the diners and parties they had to attend in December, and they also don’t have much money left. That is why a lot of restaurants decide to close the first weeks of January to give employees a little break before it gets busy again. As we are slowly approaching the end of the slowest month of the year in the hospitality industry, there is a lot going on : openings, (re)openings, new concepts, new chefs…
So, what is new in the Restaurant Industry this month?
Restaurant Miel will (finally) reopen on January 29th
Do you want to start with the good or the bad news? The good news is Restaurant Miel, from celebrity chef Hakim Chajar is reopening on January 29th for the season. The bad news is : they didn’t close because they wanted to. The restaurant has unfortunately been closed for 3 weeks because it has been vandalized. Since it is sadly too common that a restaurant has to close for these unfortunate reasons, chef Hakim Chajar is eager to finally reopen and welcome its first clients of the New Year for dinner as of Tuesday January 29th, 2019. We wish that he will remain open without further perturbations, since its first restaurant as a chef-owner has been a foodie’s favorite since its opening.
Parma Cafe opened a second location on Beaver Hall
It’s been about two years since Parma Cafe has opened its doors downtown Montreal and business has been good. So good actually that they decided to open a second location on Beaver Hall. Parma 2.0 has a similar menu but looks completely different inside. The new space has a coffee/gelato outdoor window for the summer, more stools and seating and is truly an Instagram heaven. Open six days a week from 7 AM – 7PM (closed on Sunday), this location also serves a breakfast menu, lunch and dinner options and also has a take away station.
Perles & Paddock welcomes new concept and a launch promotion
In the last year, restaurant Perles and Paddock had been proposing a classic three-course service consisting of appetizers, mains and desserts. Alternatively, this copious new menu lists smaller, elaborate plates aplenty, each ranging between twelve and twenty dollars, alongside two heartier dishes of the day. Overseeing these changes is, as always, Chef Paddy Cheang (Park, Perles et Paddock) and his new sidekick, sous- chef Julia Gireaud (Buvette Chez Simone, Pastaga), skilled in her tremendous use of local and seasonal produces. To launch their new concept/menu, Perles et Paddock will be offering their À la Carte menu as well as their Tasting menu half price, every Wednesday of February 2019. This discount is applicable to food only.
Restaurant Europea has moved and offers a revamped decor and concept
Relais & Chateau chef Jerome Ferrer announced earlier last year that he would move and change the concept of his long-time signature table Europea. It has now been done and the new concept, named Restaurant Jerôme Ferrer– Europea, hosts a luxury brasserie where guests can enjoy sharable small plates, for lunch and dinner. The lounge area of the restaurant will also be serving a daily Afternoon Tea and cocktails at night. Guests can also enjoy the renowned signature high gastronomy tasting menu by chef Jerome Ferrer in the Formal Dining section of the new restaurant, now located on the corner of Rene-Levesque and De La Montagne.
Bord’elle Bar & Eatery turns 2 years old!
To celebrate their 2nd anniversary, the very festive Bord’elle Bar & Eatery, known for their unique concept of “burlesque dinner and a show” kind of nights is throwing a “Casino Royale” special evening on January 31st to thank their clients for an amazing venture since its opening. Vastly influenced by the roaring 20’s, Bord’Elle recreates the glam and grandeur of that era, while staying sharply modern and avant-garde while offering : nightly entertainment, dinner and drinks in the heart of Old Montreal.
More restaurant news to share? Email me.
Catherine Maisonneuve : catherine@mtltimes.ca
