Cult MTL’s top 5 Valentine’s Day restaurants near Concordia
Romantic, right? | Photo courtesy of Yelp
It’s almost Valentine’s Day, which means you might be making dinner plans for Friday night. We know how tough that can be, so we got in touch with our friends from Cult MTL — the daily website and monthly newspaper — to see where their intrepid food team would go. They sent us these five recommendations.
In case you somehow missed it, this Friday is Valentine’s Day, our culture’s annual celebration of coupledom. If you and your squeeze don’t plan on binge-watching the new season of House of Cards over takeout — as at least two Cult MTL types intend to do — you probably have at least faint intentions of grabbing something to eat.
Lucky for you, Montreal has no shortage of restaurants. But where to go? While a meal at the posh Toqué! may be out of the question (and totally unnecessary), there are plenty of good options within walking distance of Concordia’s Sir George Williams Campus. Which means you can easily get your date-night study on before you whisper sweet nothings into each other’s ears over dinner.
With precisely that kind of evening in mind, we at Cult MTL have come up with five resto options that are both close by and relatively affordable. We make no promises as to how your date will go, but any of these spots is, at the very least, a good starting point for the evening.
Kazu
1862 Ste-Catherine St. W.
Kazu is utterly unique in Montreal. It was the first izakaya (Japanese pub) in town, and is still unmatched by any other in the quality of its eats.
Sure, there is unfailingly a line, and they move you in and out of there quickly, but if an untraditional V-Day is what you seek, consider Kazu — especially if your date hasn’t been there before. That salmon-tuna bowl is a revelatory experience that won’t easily be forgotten.
KanBai
1813 Ste-Catherine St. W.
Over the last decade or so, the area around Concordia — particularly the stretches of Ste. Catherine Street and De Maisonneuve Boulevard just west of campus — has come to be known as Chinatown 2. Among the many legitimate Chinese spots in the ‘hood is KanBai, which serves some seriously top-notch Szechuan and Hunan dishes.
The menu is more authentic than those you’ll find elsewhere, so don’t go if you’re looking for fried rice and General Tao chicken. This is a good place to be adventurous. Together. Because it’s Valentine’s Day.
Imadake
4006 Ste-Catherine St. W.
If you’re looking for a different kind of Valentine’s Day downtown, the raucous Imadake is your spot. Unlike its rival izakaya neighbour to the east, the afore-mentioned Kazu, Imadake is the kind of place where you linger.
Come for the small plates of Japanese bar food (organized on the menu by preparation — grilled, fried, etc.) and stay for the atmosphere. One thing, though: it’s popular, so we suggest you reserve. Irasshaimase!
Alpenhaus
1279 St. Marc St.
You’ve definitely noticed Alpenhaus, the unmistakably Swiss restaurant at the corner of Ste. Catherine and St. Marc Streets. If you’ve never tried it, Valentine’s Day is a good time to do so.
The logic here is pretty simple: it’s cold, and fondues, which Alpenhaus has plenty of, are warm. By default, you’ll want to try the Swiss cheese iteration, but don’t be afraid of the others. As for the main courses, we suggest you keep it authentic and opt for the wienerschnitzel or something like it. But hey, the Cajun chicken (seriously) sounds good, too.
Dominion Square Tavern
1243 Metcalfe St.
Downtown’s most brilliant hidden gem offers refined bistro fare with a British twist in an atmosphere that retains all the charm of its jazz-age vintage, from the steam punk contraptions behind the bar to the suspenders and waxed moustaches the waiters wear.
The tavern opened in 1927 as part of the surrounding Dominion Square Hotel, went raucous for a spell in the 70s and relaunched this decade after being restored to its original ritzy state, inside and out. So reserve a table and try deviled eggs or salmon gravlax for openers, and, if you’re in the mood to share, a roasted Cornish hen for two. Otherwise, braised beef top blade and roasted cod are recommended mains, as is the sticky toffee pudding for dessert. This one’s bit pricier, but worth it.