West Island Best Kept Secrets

[ios94]

I know West Island doesn't have too much to offer in the way of good eats, but can we start a list of places. From butchers to restaurants, bread, etc...

I learned about Shahib on here, that has been pretty good.

The sausages at Bearnoise (sp) on St Charles are very good and I picked up some Polish sausages at this place on Pierrefonds yesterday, that will be dinner tonight.

Spicy Island is good too for jerk chicken and roti's.

Anyone else care to add?

Best Chinese, Greek, Italian, pizza?

Thanks

[kpzoo]

My two fave places are:

Dejeuner Cosmopolitain - fabulous breakfast/brunch & good lunch
Shahi Palace - great Indian - I dream of their channa bhatura

Also check out these previous threads:

West Island Restaurants
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/551526

West Island Recommendations
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/623503

[ochado]

There's also a great sushi place called Ai Kawa: http://www.aikawa.ca/

And further west, you've got a great Gelato parlor:
La Dolce Vita
3776 Saint-Charles Blvd.
Kirkland

As well as a nice café that serves good food for breakfast & lunch:
Café Maurizio
http://www.mauriziocafe.com/

[Em24]

I second Dolce Vita for ice cream. Bad surroundings (mall parking!) but great flavours!

[wattacetti]

Ai Kawa's sake offerings revolve around generic orange-label Hakutsuru?

[RhondaB]

Second Cafe Mauritzio, was there yesterday for breakfast (M-F early bird $4.95 bacon&eggs&+avg.toast&coffee) & others had nice looking omelettes on nicely garnished plates. Menu is not too big but with enough options & an Italian influence to suit all tastes. Did I mention that the bacon was fresh & crisp & done right? And the bonus was a latte that was surprisingly just about as good as Anthony's or CIG's. Defintely worth a 2nd look.

[hungryann]

Poissonnerie du Marche on Sources for clam chowder and fish&chips.
Pizza Mory
Marche Singh for indian groceries
If I think of anything else I will post again.

[superbossmom]

Chalet Thai in the village of Ste Anne de Bellevue is an all-time favorite of mine.

[hanklin]

Maybe not a secret, but very good and very, very consistent

Ristorante Scarolies Pasta Emporium
950 boulevard St-Jean
POINTE-CLAIRE QC H9R 5N8
Tel: [phone]
www.scarolies.com

What ever you do stay the heck away from La Sirene on the West Island.

[ios94]

Maybe "best kept secret" was the wrong choice of words....let's say..."Best of West Island"

[fredmir]

Nina on St Charles in Pierrefonds

[hungryann]

Best Indian/Pakistani: Bombay Choupati, Shahi Palace

[MartinSLR]

http://www.westislandchronicle.com/article-349073-Best-of-the-West-goes-green.html
http://www.westislandchronicle.com/article-347040-Best-Sweet-Treat.html
http://www.westislandchronicle.com/article-343900-Best-of-the-east.html
http://www.westislandchronicle.com/article-342013-Poutine-the-pedal-to-the-metal.html
http://www.westislandchronicle.com/article-335651-Pizza-mania-takes-over.html
http://www.westislandchronicle.com/article-334980-Weighing-in-on-best-burger.html
http://www.westislandchronicle.com/ar...

etc.

[ios94]

Oooppss....Shahi Palace is what I originally meant, Shaib is alright too.

Anyone ever tried that Portuguese place on Sources across from Shahi Palace, I think it's called Rico's, any good?

[daimon4]

Rico's is meh...the sushi place (Tokyo) near Shahi Palace is quite good. Bombay Choupati is the best indian in the area in my book but Shahi Palace does great take away chicken rolls. To my mind the best kept secret is Adelia espresso bar (just off the sources exit of the 20).

[ios94]

If you like a good Montreal style pizza (done by Greeks), then go to McBay on Sources in Centennial Plaza strip mall. Not over done with the toppings but the sauce and the dough is the way I like it. I have tried Pizza Nikos a few years ago and wasn't impressed.

[hungryann]

Pizza Nikos is not good. I will give your rec a try. I also like Pizza Mory on Sources; quite good for a 2 for 1 place and I love the sesame seeds on the crust.

[ios94]

I used to go to Bombay Chapouti a few years ago (and alwyas enjoyed it as many do in here) but have not tried it since moving to the area as we gave Shahi Palace the opportunity a handful of times.

Well BC didn't disappoint, if anything it tasted even better than I remembered, their dishes are prepared the way I like them with a lot of sauce I guess Shahi is more Pakistani style, if only their dishes weren't as dry. BC will be the place from now on.

[hungryann]

It's a pity you didn't try the short-lived Shalimar. It was Pakistani but their dishes were saucy and delicious. I still mourn its loss along with Delhi Bombay and Masala Mantram.

[moh]

I have had several good meals at Andrea Ristorante bar a vin (3194 Boul. St. joseph). It is close to the water, and has a lovely terrasse. It is one of those red sauce Italian places, and although I normally can't stand red sauce places, this one is pretty good.

The calamari is very light and nicely fried. The roasted marinated vegetables are very flavourful. Pasta dishes are competently made, and the portions are huge. I am very fond of their spaghetti carbonara. This is an insanely rich pasta dish made with cream, eggs, parmesan cheese and pancetta, you can feel your arteries clogging as you consume it, but boy is it good. Hubbie had penne with sausage and a spicy tomato sauce. He said it was good, but not really special in any way.

Wine list is not bad, the prices are fair for restaurant prices. We had a lovely wine last night, a Tuscan red called Badiola 2007, blend of Sangiovese and Merlot. It was a good match for the red pastas and meats, but not so good with the carbonara. Still, I enjoyed drinking it.

I wouldn't make a special trip to go to this place, but I never hesitate to return. The atmosphere is great, service is very good, you have a nice view of the water, the food is filling and reasonably priced and pretty tasty. The whole package is very appealing. I don't know if it can count as a secret, the place seems pretty popular, it is always busy when we go. But I thought it deserves mention.

[hungryann]

Thanks for mentioning this, as I love spaghetti carbonara but find that it is often not made well in most restaurants here. I gave up ordering it and just make it at home when the craving hits. I will check it out if I am in the area anytime soon.

[BLM]

Could you elaborate on how good is the jerk chicken at Spicy Island? I might trek to the West Island tomorrow. I'm attracted to Spicy Island's jerk chicken as it's grilled.

[ios94]

I can't say I've had Jerk Chicken all over the city (mind you I grill my own), but it's better than Curry House. Very tender and moist, very good flavour. I guess better than mine too :)

[ios94]

Finally made it to Dolce Vita, wow...some nice flavours especially for those who like a lot of other "fillers" in their ice creams, i.e brownies, cookies, chocolate, etc...

[MikeyMadness]

There's a new patisserie\boulangerie on Pierrefonds Blvd between St. John's & St. Charles called Maison Mallet. Nice place with a few chairs and tables inside and out, but it really is best for take out as space is limited. The owner (the one I've met) is very friendly and there's always something new to try and everything has been delightful. The pastry tart shells in the various desserts I've tried is amongst the best I have ever eaten.

From the impressive meringue's right at the door front to the pastries, breads and the desserts, ooh the desserts, if you're nearby, I would definitely recommend stopping by and making up your own mind. I think you'll like it. They've got a good selection, fanciful to rustic.

They have a facebook page if you'd like to look before dropping by: http://bit.ly/a7AMQp

Maison Mallet, 15749 Pierrefonds Blvd, Pierrefonds, QC, H9H 3X6

[Haggisboy]

Hey thanks for this. This is right in my area and I had no idea they existed. I will definitely be checking them out. The place looks amazing judging by the photos.

[BLM]

Thanks, keep us updated what's new & interesting foodwise in the West Island. The Montreal food press generally doesn't cover this area of town.

[ios94]

Thanks Mikeymadness for the suggestion, I went last night before the game to sample a few things. Their baguette was decent (better than Premiere Moisson), although ever since trying Mamie Clafoutis a few weeks ago I don't know if there's anything that comes close. Their italian style pizza (tried the bacon, mushroom with bechemel sauce) was fantastic, the dough was excellent (Too bad I didn't know about this place last week when I was looking for this type of pizza). I also sampled their Royale pastry which was quite good. I will be back in the future.

[JedZ]

I drove to Bombay Choupati yesterday only to find it closed. A sign on the door announces they are re-opening June 22. I know they usually go to India in the winter for 6 weeks, but this closing is unexpected. I need my butter chicken and Masala dosa!

[ios94]

"Boucherie et BBQ Abou Abed" on Gouin a couple of blocks east of Sources (in a small strip mall a few blocks away from Bombay Choupati) is pretty good. It's quite similar to Abu Elias on Cote Vertu, in that they are a butcher/take out place with their meats being fresh and going straight on the charcol once you order . Their sandwiches are slightly off par compared to Abu Elias but still very tasty and fresh, unfortunately they don't serve garlic potatoes. :(

They also make their own burger patties to take home for your own BBQ'ng, they were pretty good and nicely seasoned with middle eastern spices (although a touch on the salty side). The ones I bought were already made and in their fridge display but if I'm not mistaken it looks like they will mix up the beef patties right in front of you and ask you what spices you want, that is what one customer seemed to be doing (they were speaking Arabic, so I can't confirm).

[ios94]

Does anyone know what is going on with Bombay Choupati? They are still closed, maybe I'll drive up to the door and see if there's a message.

[BLM]

Maybe there are also off, for the contruction holiday.

[ios94]

Bombay Choupati is open again.

[ios94]

I found another decent Indian/Pakistani resto in the WI, "Chef Akbar" is on Pierrefonds Blvd west of St Jean in the same strip mall as Marche Akhavan. It's run by a couple, the owner (his actual name is Akbar) used to work at Moti Mahal in India. The ingredients taste very very fresh which in turn gave our dishes a lot of flavor. We tried the Lamb Rogan Gosh, Chicken Vindaloo and Chicken Biryani all were great and the added plus was that the place seemed much cleaner than a number of other Indian restaurants in the city. I've had better naan but it was still ok. We'll be throwing this place on rotation with Bombay Choupati.

[Haggisboy]

I think what you may have thought was burger patties being custom made on the spot at Abu-Abed was them actually making batches of custom tartars for raw meat sandwiches.

http://twitpic.com/46v01s

http://www.midnightpoutine.ca/food/20...

[ios94]

Quite possibly, although what I bought were burger patties that they had prepared. What's the deal with these tartars anyway from a food safety perspective, I'm pleading ignorance on this one. I saw some guy chow down a huge serving of tartar at Abu Elias once.

I posted that twitpic as well from Zimmern the other day, he was at Abu Elias.

[Fabulous1977]

After hearing all of the CJAD staff boast about how GOOD Riccardo' is, my bf and I decided to try it out and we were very disappointed.

Has anyone had a better experience than me?

[SourberryLily]

I went there twice for lunch and i really enjoyed it. The service was friendly and professional, the sauces were really good ( i forgot what i had but it was a spicy tomato base sauce). the desert was nice, though they told me they have it brought in every day by another shop.

The prices, also, were not expensive. Only thing i would say is the restaurant is quite small so I would be weary of going on a friday lunchtime.

Is it earth shattering, knock your socks off good? No. But i liked it and would definitely return.

[kpzoo]

I've been there for dinner several times (not my choice) and found it really mediocre. Over-salted, over-sauced pasta. Hubby said pizza tasted more cardboardy than frozen versions. The service is pleasant, that's about it.

[Haggisboy]

If I'm not mistaken, my former stepdaughter is a server there. I'll have to double check with the ex. Might be able to get some inside info on the place.

[ios94]

It seems that the Parc Ex pastry shop Afroditi will be setting up shop at the Mourelatos WI location.

http://westislandgazette.com/business...

[hungryann]

Mourelatos Wi closed down?

[kpzoo]

Looks like they opened a stall within the Mourelatos store itself: "Afroditi, established in 1971, is thrilled to undertake this new venture, and will have a dedicated kiosk, showcased front & centre in the supermarket"

[morebubbles]

On Sunday I was pleasantly surprised to find Afroditi in the Mourelatos store, just past the front entrance. They have a nice counter, with lots of cakes and pastries. Of course I didn't resist. A great addition to the neighbourhood.

[Haggisboy]

A fellow Chowhounder, Troy Mercury, alerted me to a new Jamaican resto that recently opened on blvd des Sources in DDO, pretty much next door to Bagel de l'Ouest. He couldn't remember the name of the place and said they are so new they don't yet have a sign up. He did, however, order take out and was raving about how terrific the food was. Anybody know about this place? I will e-mail TM and see if I can prod him to post his review.

[ios94]

Sweet, never noticed anything. I will try to make a stop this weekend.

[ios94]

It's called Carribean Tasty Treats.

http://caribtastytreats.com/

[ios94]

Good news bad news.

St. Viateur is opening a location in DDO, bad news is they can't use a wood burning oven.

http://www.westislandgazette.com/news...

[fredmir]

any idea where they be opening??

[kpzoo]

The article said they're not releasing details until they've signed a lease.

[jim2]

Our first visit as a family.Great food and super service on Saturday evening. A 10 minute wait for a seats for 3. Portions are big and most seem to leave with a doggie bag. We had a plate of Lasagna, Salmon and Mussels. Everything was good. Salads were nice. The salad dressings were not overbearing. Recommended..

-----
Del Friscos Restaurant Lounge
3237 Boul Des Sources, Dollard-Des-Ormeaux, QC H9B1Z6, CA

[ios94]

Carribean Tasty Treats reviewed in the Gazette.
http://www.montrealgazette.com/life/f...

I agree with Musgrave, very tender goat and the rice was done properly. Their roti was on the dry side though but very fresh. Have not got around to trying their Jerk chicken. IIRC the father told me their patties are from Mr. Patty but we would need to confirm as this was back in Nov just after they opened.

Pleasant family runs the show and yes lower the TV please.

[Andria]

Baraka Grillade/BBQ Sur Charbon has been open right beside Mourelatos on Saint Jean for about seven months. I dropped in for the first time yesterday and had a small Shish Taouk brochette on pita and a small filet mignon pita. I got both sandwiches with their creamy hummus ans spicy marinated eggplant. Hands down, this is the best Shish Taouk I have ever had! Both the chicken and the filet mignon were extremely tasty and tender. Much tastier than my previous favorite, Abu Elias! I was so impressed that I went back today and ordered their whole spatchcock marinated chicken. It was excellent too. Everything is made fresh to order, so it is a good idea to order ahead, allowing one hour for the whole chicken. I didn't try the potatoes or rice, but they looked very tasty. This place was also very clean. Super friendly owner and staff and excellent value for the money. In fact, why cool chicken at home... their family deals are a great deal. This is my new favorite place.

[ios94]

Thanks for the report Andria, I posted about this place in the WI Take Out thread last Sept when it first opened but I never got around to trying it. I'll have to try it and compare to it to my favourite WI Shish Taouk, "Boucherie et BBQ Abou Abed" (Pierrefonds/Gouin) which is right up there with Abu Elias.

[JedZ]

I have tried both Abou Abed and Baraka Grillade now. I will give a slight advantage to Abou Abed - simply because the sandwiches are a bit tastier, and a bit more inexpensive.

But I have to give props to Baraka Grillade for:
- a decent decor (Abou Abed has none)...
- lots of enthusiasm. These guys are selling an excellent product with commitment and enthusiasm. You do not leave without them asking how you liked your food. (At Abou Abed...not so much!)

[maj54us]

can't wait to have a job in the WE
as a 411 for those looking for the place

Boucherie et BBQ Abou Abed
11495, boul Gouin O Roxboro, QC H8Y 1X7
[phone]

Restaurant Baraka Bbq
4933, boul Saint-Jean, Pierrefonds, QC H9H 2A9
514-624-0050

[Gregoso]

Just want to add to the love for Baraka. I was actually not a fan of the sandwiches when we first went - I tried both the beef and chicken, and was unsure if I would try it again. Since then we have given it another shot, except we have been ordering the chicken 'family' meal (a whole chicken, generous portion of potatoes / rice / fries [your choice], garlic sauce, hummus, pita) and it is fantastic.

The chicken is beautifully marinated. The hummus is delicious. I am a huge fan of the garlic potatoes - spicy, garlicky, and a perfect accompaniment. My biggest complaint is the green salad, which appears to be your basic bagged salad with some cesar / ranch hybrid on top. Order the fattoush instead, which is well seasoned and as fresh as it can be this time of year.
And the meal is a good value - 20$, or 25$ if you add a medium fattoush. Awesome price to quality ratio.