Perfectly in keeping with the French stereotypes you no doubt hope to find in the oft-called ‘Paris of North America’, Montrealers love their wine and food, and, in fact, have a way you can enjoy them both that (sacrebleu!) isn’t even legal in France: BYOB Restaurants.
According to the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux, Montréal had 362 Bring Your Own Wine (BYOW) restaurants in October 2012. There is a variety of both high end and cheap Montreal BYOW restaurants, offering just about every type of food. Bring Your Own Wines can save you $40-$80 on your bill, so it’s a great opportunity to sample some high end cuisine that would otherwise be over your spending threshold, or just to go really light on the spending for a night out without having to go light on the drinking—or sacrifice the quality of food (really—if you know where to go, the food won’t only taste good because of all the wine you will be drinking).
Including some lesser-known gems as well as some of the most popular ones in the city, here is just a sampling of quality BYOW restaurants in Montreal:
Low Price Range (Doable for Under $30 Per Person):
Pizzeria Napoletana: Italian, Pizza and Pasta, big place, Little Italy
Eduardo’s: Italian, huge portions, cheap, small/intimate place but lively, Duluth (Plateau neighborhood)
Grenadine: French/Asian fusion, small/intimate, downtown
L’Académie: French, good for people watching, youngish crowd, big venue, Plateau
Tay Do: Thai/Vietnamese, cheap, big place, fried pineapples for dessert, Duluth (Plateau neighborhood)
fried pineapple at Tay Do
Medium to High Price Range
Apollo: international, different menu each night, terrasse, screens for sports, McGill
Quartier General: French bistro, meat and seafood-focused menu, Plateau
O’Thym: French, trendy, local ingredients, The Village
La Colombe: French market, fixed menu, great service, classy, Duluth (Plateau)
Many of the above are ideal for groups, but make sure you make reservations in advance, as many of the above are very popular.
Also, some may be more suited to your group than others, and many great ones aren’t even on the list. In a city overflowing with BYOW suited to every taste and budget, why not make sure the one you are going to is perfect for your Montreal bachelor party or other occasion? Let your VIP help you choose the best Montreal restaurants for your itinerary.
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