These 5 Restaurants in Montreal, Canada Deserve a Michelin Star

Montreal is known for its museums, history, beauty, and of course, amazing food. You might not realize that this city in Quebec is famous for foods such as poutine and smoked meats and is home to some truly incredible restaurants. The Michelin Guide recently came to Canada. Today it covers restaurants in Vancouver and Toronto, but it has not expanded its awards to the city of Montreal.

Quebec, the province where Montreal is located, is anticipated to receive a Michelin Guide in 2025. Until then there won't be any Michelin Star restaurants in Montreal, but that doesn't mean the city's restaurants aren't worth visiting. Some of the restaurants on this list have been recommended by the James Beard Foundation's executive vice president, Mitchell Davis. Others have been lauded in trustworthy food magazines, and all are definitely worth a visit. (After this article, check out The Best Wines in the World According to the Experts.)

1228 Sherbrooke St. West, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1H6, Canada

Maison Boulud is a Michelin-recommended restaurant. Run by Michelin-starred Chef Daniel Boulud and Executive Chef Romain Cagnat, Maison Boulud is an elegant French restaurant located within the Ritz Carlton. Chef Boulud created a menu inspired by French tradition combined with decades spent cooking in New York City, resulting in refined yet soulful modern French cuisine.

The restaurant offers breakfast, lunch, brunch, and dinner. Don't miss specialties such as Lyonnais charcuterie and dishes like saffron risotto, halibut with ratatouille, and saddle of rabbit. Classics like omelets and pancakes are available for breakfasts and you won't be disappointed when finishing a meal with cheesecake with peach and mint.

2491 Notre-Dame St. West, Montreal, Quebec H3J 1N6, Canada

Joe Beef is the first of the restaurants on this list recommended by Mitchell Davis of the James Beard Foundation. The high praise surrounding the restaurant's food may lead you to believe that Joe Beef is an up-tight eatery — but not so. Joe Beef is a relaxed restaurant in an old-school setting.

Chef Fred Morin works to showcase the local produce, meats, and ingredients of the Quebec terroir. Their menu is seasonal, but features items like steak dishes, seafood, and croquettes. Joe Beef also sells products from cookbooks and apparel to steak spice and coffee.

900 Place Jean-Paul-Riopelle, Montréal, QC H2Z 2B2, Canada

Toqué! is a James Beard-associated restaurant thanks to Chef Normand Laprise. According to JustLuxe, the chef's cookbook "Toqué!: Creators of a New Quebec Gastronomy," won "Best Cookbook of the Year" for Canada at the Gourmand International World Cookbook Awards, as well as a James Beard Foundation Award for excellence in the category "Cooking From a Professional Point of View."

Along with co-owner Christine Lamarche, Chef Laprise brings some of the best ingredients from the region into the kitchen using farm-to-table ingredients. The restaurant offers lunch and a la carte menus with dishes such as deer Cappelletti, foie gras terrine, and candied trout. The 7-course tasting menu is a luxurious experience that can be paired with prestige wines.

536 Av. Duluth E, Montréal, QC H2L 1A9, Canada

Au Pied de Cochon often earns a mention among lists of the best restaurants in Montreal. Indeed Condè Nast Traveler listed it when naming the best 25 spots in the city. Bon Appétit lauded the eatery as a "temple of excess" recommending the tender duck magret, bechamel-covered tomato tart, lobster poutine, and the iconic Plogue à Champlain.

Chef Martin Picard put Quebecois food on the map, with Au Pied de Cochon. His nephew now runs the kitchen, and he and his team utilize local and seasonal items to create a timeless menu. The Au Pied de Cochon group also offers a range of artisanal spirits and a cidery has been in operation since 2019.

22 St Catherine St E, Montreal, Quebec H2X 1K4, Canada

Bouillon Bilk is a popular spot for both lunch and dinner thanks to its accessibility. This Montreal restaurant with French influences serves up delectable eats such as foie gras, ravioli with mussels, and scallops with zucchini, shiitake mushrooms, and brown butter. For dessert, don't miss rice pudding and other sweet treats. Bouillon Bilk also offers five-course and eight-course tasting menus.

Although the restaurant doesn't have a Michelin Star, Bouillon Bilk earned a mention in Condè Nast Traveler's 25 Best Restaurants in Montreal in 2022 and NUVO lauded the work of its co-owner and chef François Nadon. Online, guests gush over the restaurant's food, service, and ambiance. (Next, read about The Most Successful Food and Grocery Retailers in North America.)