BAR ST-DENIS
Restaurant · District de Saint-Édouard
6966 Saint Denis St, Montreal, Quebec H2S 2S4, Canada
Highlights
Inventive cocktails, natural wines, and elevated bar bites
Inventive cocktails, natural wines, and elevated bar bites
"This Little Italy spot from Au Pied de Cochon alums Emily Homsy and David Gauthier resists easy categorization. Housed in a former dive bar (and proudly bearing its name), it offers up some great drinks and an impressive wine list, but is first and foremost a restaurant — and an exceedingly good one at that. The menu is seasonal, with nods to Egyptian flavors with crisp falafel, razor clams filled with tabbouleh, and olive- and pistachio-topped labneh alongside gorgeous flatbread, but dishes also hint at a host of other intermingling inspirations. Seafood and fish lovers are well-served here (especially this time of year), perhaps with some unbelievably soft, subtly sweet scallops or rainbow trout atop a pool of beurre blanc , and though you may be tempted to fill up on heftier options like boudin or sweetbreads, be sure to hold space — or be able to summon the will power — for dessert, which is usually a knockout. Know before you go: Bar St-Denis’s menu is in flux with the seasons, so don’t get too attached to any particular dishes." - Valerie Silva
"You might pass by Bar St-Denis on your way to the Jean-Talon Market without even realizing—it’s tucked in between a grocery store and a revival church. The menu at this modern bistro is constantly changing: think scallops with lemon confit, duck breast with local chanterelles, or Egyptian-inspired small plates like clams with tabbouleh. Their homemade labneh with olives, a spectacular olive oil-swirled sundae dusted with pistachios and served with crunchy-edged flatbread, is one of the highlights. The wine list leans natural, with lots from France and Québec, alongside fun cocktails and the option for a generous (and very reasonable, at $80 per person) chef’s choice menu for the table. Take in the retro backlit ceiling before you sit down on the long banquette facing the open kitchen, where all the action happens. photo credit: Two Food Photographers photo credit: Two Food Photographers" - Ivy Lerner-Frank
"When you’re traveling, it might be hard to find some Saturday night energy if your vacation is during the week. But that’s not the case at Bar St-Denis—they’re closed on the weekends, and there are always people celebrating something here Monday through Friday. The food is a mix of bistro classics like smoked sturgeon and crème fraîche, alongside Egyptian-inspired small plates like razor clams with tabbouleh and homemade labneh with pistachios. There’s a long bar, cozy tables, and high counters to suit any occasion with natural wines, great cocktails, and a stylish Art Deco ceiling. If you’ve never tried boudin, Québecois blood sausage, this is the place to do so." - ivy lerner frank, team infatuation
"You wouldn’t know by looking at it that this was once a local dive that didn’t have much going for it beyond video lottery terminals and tall bottles of beer, but this is one of the more accomplished Montreal bars in the city. Specializing in small plates and natural wine alongside beers and one of the city’s longest cider lists, this restaurant and bar from ex-Au Pied de Cochon chefs Emily Homsy and David Gauthier excels in just about every category." - JP Karwacki
"Housed in a former dive bar of the same name, this is perhaps the best spot to grab a strong drink in La Petite-Patrie. Expect stunning cocktails such as a peach mezcal sour and a choco-chip mint espresso martini alongside a long list of natural wines by the glass and a food menu far superior to most bars." - Daniel Bromberg
