r/RestoMontreal

After weeks of building excitement, Croquette is officially open in a few days Montreal's Saint-Henri neighbourhood. Already one of the season's most anticipated openings, the new restaurant offers comforting cuisine inspired by classic Quebec diners, elevated with the craftsmanship and attention to detail of a modern bistro.

The menu features shareable plates alongside classics such as beef tartare, a bologna club sandwich, a signature burger, guinea fowl, prime striploin and a selection of house-made desserts. The food is complemented by an impressive list of natural wines, thoughtfully crafted cocktails and carefully selected beers.

With its warm interior inspired by nostalgic diners and an approach that feels both refined and approachable, Croquette has all the makings of a new neighbourhood favourite.

Reservations are now open. You can reserve your table now by clicking here.

There was a time when late night dining options were plentiful in Montreal, both in terms of demand and supply. Think of restaurant workers finishing their shifts, actors wrapping up a performance or a day on set, office workers staying late unexpectedly, or anyone looking to end a festive evening with a proper meal. In other words, people who wanted to sit down for dinner somewhere other than a fast food chain along a busy commercial strip.

Back then, the choices were endless. So why has it become so difficult to find restaurants that still serve food late into the evening? The pandemic certainly changed dining habits, but so did the rise of food delivery apps, which made restaurant meals more accessible without ever leaving home. As a result, fewer people are heading out to dine after 10 PM, prompting many establishments to shorten their operating hours.

With that in mind, we created this guide for anyone nostalgic for Montreal's late night dining scene and looking to rediscover the city's best spots where a proper meal can still be enjoyed at an hour that would make many Europeans smile.

There comes a point in every cocktail lover's life when sweet stops being interesting.

You begin ordering drinks with names that confuse your friends. You develop opinions about vermouth. You start judging bars by the size of their ice cubes. And eventually, whether by curiosity or accident, someone slides a Negroni across the bar.

It's equal parts gin, sweet vermouth and Campari. Three ingredients. Endless personality.

Legend has it that the cocktail was born in Florence in 1919, when Count Camillo Negroni asked his bartender to strengthen his favourite Americano by replacing the soda water with gin. More than a century later, that simple swap has become one of the world's most iconic cocktails.

A great Negroni isn't trying to please everyone. It's bitter, bold and unapologetically complex. The first sip can catch you off guard, but that's precisely the point. Unlike sweeter cocktails that reveal everything at once, the Negroni rewards slow sipping. The bitterness softens, the botanicals begin to shine and, before you know it, you've completely understood the obsession.

Perhaps that's why the cocktail has stood the test of time. It feels just as appropriate on a sunny terrasse before dinner as it does in a dimly lit cocktail bar long after the sun has set. It's elegant without trying too hard, timeless without ever feeling outdated and versatile enough to pair with everything from oysters and charcuterie to pizza and pasta.