The patios are open and the long days are just begging you to linger over a good meal with friends. Try something fresh with these 5 great new and nearly new Montreal restaurants.
1. Invitation V. Vegans in Montreal have been spoiled with great choices (Aux Vivres, Crudessence, Cafe Juicy Lotus...we could go on) and now they can feel an even more abundant thanks to the opening of Invitation V. This Outremount bistro offers up a combination of veggie staples like lentil soup or quinoa salad, as well as more adventurous items like a fun-to-eat hot pot or the creative dark chocolate & kale cake. They are now doing take-out too, so grab it to go and head to the park for a green on green culinary experience.
2. Café Verdure. If you pick restaurants based on what you can't eat versus what you can, this is the place for you. The menu is stocked with gluten-free, meat-free, sugar-free options but the one thing in everything is organic yumminess. The best part is, your less picky friends won't miss what's not in there. Need to tempt them? Showing them the mouth-watering pics of the daily special posted on the cafe's Facebook page. You'll have plenty of company for brunch, lunch or dinner.
3. Resto Végo. Vegetarians in a hurry (or who can't decide what they want to eat) rejoice at one of the two new vegetarian buffets (one on St. Denis and the other at McGill) called Resto Végo. Grab and go or sit and stay - either way, you'll be eating healthy food faster than if you had to order. And while this may be a great reason to check out Resto Végo, we like it because the pay-by-weight method means you can try a little bit of everything that tempts you (they have a maximum price, so don't be shy to try). With gluten-free and vegan options clearly labeled, your sample plate won't have any unwanted surprises. Of course, piling up that plate might negate the 'quick meal' benefit all together.
4. Le Kitchen. Whether you're in need of some post-workout sustenance or a raw, fresh snack to munch on while junior kicks up a storm at karate class, the new Le Kitchen at Studio Breathe in Griffintown has you covered. With healthy organic juices, hearty, raw veggie bowls and sweet vegan treats on offer, there’s sure to be something to help you stay energized. If you need something even heartier (but still healthy and vegetarian) check out Velo Burrito who just recently moved in too. With so many options, we bet you'll be breathing easy and eating well in no time.
5. Le Vin Papillion. Barely qualifying as 'new' (they'll celebrate their one year anniversary next week) this out of the way wine bar is well worth a mention. The food is freshly prepared using many local ingredients (the herbs may have been picked from the terrace garden earlier that day). But this is a wine bar, so let's talk about the vino selection. It's jam-packed with options from Canadian wineries and will be perfectly paired with something from their ample local cheese selection. Take the menu in stride; the share plates can be hearty so order as you go. Vegetarians will be well taken care of and meat eaters will be in heaven - fresh, local heaven.
And, more places are always popping up (rumour has it that beloved Toronto healthy institution Fresh is readying a Plateau location for the fall). It's great to try something new but don't forget about all of the great places that we love forever and ever (found in our Montreal City Guide).
Did we miss something? Share the new and healthy eateries you love in Montreal in the comments below or on our Facebook page.
Bon appétit et santé!
