65 Years of Montreal Culinary Heritage Now on Display at McCord Stewart Museum
MONTREAL, December 3, 2025 — About 15 years ago, I was strolling along Greene Avenue in Westmount when I encountered an acquaintance of mine named Pete. He was standing on the sidewalk by himself with a frustrated look on his face. I asked him what was wrong.
“There are 16,000 restaurants in Montreal, and my brother and I can’t decide on which one to go to,” he replied in his usual gruff and grumbly manner.
For a Montreal native or resident who loves food and dining out, this is quite the “embarrassment of riches” kind of dilemma. Since 1960, Montreal has evolved into the gastronomic capital of Canada, with restaurants that have gained devoted followings amongst its hometown clients, as well as an international reputation amongst foodies and lovers of fine dining. They range from longtime institutions like the Beaver Club, Festins des Gouverneurs, the Rib ‘n Reef, and Desjardins, to casual dining legends like Schwartz’s, Wilensky’s Light Lunch, Beauty’s and Magnan’s Tavern.
From now until October 18, 2026, the McCord Stewart Museum celebrates 65 years of Montreal’s culinary heritage with a new exhibition that will certainly illicit fond memories—and tantalize your taste buds once again—called “On the Menu … Montreal: A Restaurant Story”.
The exhibition is the brainchild of Lesley Chesterman, the veteran fine dining critic of The Gazette, who pitched the idea to the museum 10 years ago, and took a total of two-and-a-half years to put together.
“Montrealers like restaurants and to dine at them. It’s great that our love of food can go beyond the two solitudes. No matter if it’s Italian, French or Szechuan, it’s Montreal cuisine. The exhibition offers nostalgia, pride and hope for the future of our gastronomic scene,” she said during a recent press conference that officially launched On the Menu.
Over 400 artifacts from over 100 Montreal restaurants, past and present
Visitors will be treated to a fascinating culinary history of the city through an impressive display of over 400 artifacts that profile over 100 Montreal restaurants, past and present. This includes over 175 menus, matchbooks, place settings, photos, restaurant signage, and memorabilia, and thanks to the Radio Canada archives, continuous showings of an assortment of news reports, film clips, and memorable vintage commercials from such famed eateries as La Cage aux Sports, St. Hubert BBQ, and Da Giovanni.
The focus of the exhibition, through its curated thematic displays, pays tribute to Montreal’s fine dining institutions through its table settings, its casual restaurants and their world-famous fare, Montreal’s award-winning chefs and even the writers and critics who spread the word about Montreal and its unique culinary scene to the rest of the world.
A delicious Montreal nostalgia trip
On the Menu is a delicious nostalgia trip that is not to be missed and must be savoured like a memorable meal at a five-star restaurant. It’s like a history lesson through our collective palate. So if you ever had a Dilallo burger, a pupu platter from Pumpernik’s or takeout BBQ chicken from St. Hubert; or in turn experienced the South Pacific ambience of the Kon Tiki, Magic Tom’s Thursday night shows at Piazza Tomasso, or Laurier BBQ during its golden age (before Gordon Ramsey briefly owned it), On the Menu is a rare treat to discover on the story about how Montreal developed its own international food culture.
For more information about the On the Menu exhibition, opening hours, ticket prices and upcoming related activities and programming, go to the museum’s website at mccord-stewart.ca.
words and images by Stuart Nulman
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