"After more than a decade in business, Impasto feels classic, enduring, and yet perpetually fresh. The first in a string of ventures by prominent Montreal restaurateurs Stefano Faita and chef Michele Forgione, this Italian spot satisfies with house-cured charcuterie, fluffy focaccia, seasonal salads, and regional pastas and mains. The menu evolves regularly, but expect Quebec ingredients composed in dishes that ferry you through Italy, from Rome’s vitello saltimbocca (sauteed veal with prosciutto and sage) and tubetti alla gricia (guanciale, black pepper, pecorino) to southern Italy’s nutty sea bass crudo and Sicilian-style cavatelli in sun-dried tomato and almond pesto. Sibling spots Gema (Neapolitan pizza across the street), Vesta (more pizza, with a slightly more local bent), and Chez Tousignant (a reimagined Quebec-style diner) are also worth visiting. If you drive: Parking can be tricky in the heart of Little Italy, but it’s not impossible. Bike paths and Bixi stations are easily accessible nearby, though." - Valerie Silva