Mucca: A Contemporary Northern Italian Steakhouse Opens in Little Italy | Eater Montreal

"I'm writing about a contemporary Italian trattoria and steakhouse called Mucca (Italian for cow) that has opened on St‑Zotique Street in Little Italy. Owned and managed by husband-and-wife team Pasquale Martone and Karine Massicotte, the spot showcases grass-fed beef and house-made charcuterie alongside homemade breads and pastas, taking over the former Hostaria location. Martone, the chef, grew up in the restaurant business and aims to share family traditions in his old neighbourhood with a compact, classically divided menu of antipasti, primi, and secondi and an intention of respecting animals and nature. They source prime grass-fed beef from producers in Alberta and Ontario and age the meat in-house, while other meats reflect northern Italian influences—organic lamb, rabbit, goat, and coquelet—from a local Québec producer. The couple also commit to a vegetarian-friendly selection, including homemade pastas and Northern Italian vegetable dishes like polenta crostini with gorgonzola and pomodorini and malfati pasta with pecorino and butter, and offer a separate kitchen station for wheat-free pasta and bread to serve gluten-free diners. The wine list is focused on northern Italian regions (Veneto, Piemonte, Liguria, Toscana) with varietals such as Nebbiolo, Barbera, Valpolicella, and Dolcetto, bottles aimed at the $40–$60 range and glasses $10–$16, and local beer will be available. Massicotte designed the bright 50-seat white-and-black dining room with emerald green accents, a long bar with vintage butcher equipment, and a glassed-in climate-controlled dry-aging room for the prime beef. Mucca is open at 236 St-Zotique E for dinner Tuesday to Saturday (5–11 p.m.) and for lunch Thursday and Friday (12–3 p.m.), starting Wednesday, July 31." - Ivy Lerner-Frank