This is my first Current Crush of 2015 and we’re hopefully off to a great eating year! Just a quick reminder that these “Current Crush” posts are here so I can share a few of my latest coups de cœur with you. Some of these spots may be new, some a bit more honed but they’re all fantastic and definitely worth a visit. Enjoy this edition and don’t forget to check out the others here!

PING PONG CLUB
5788 Saint Laurent Boulevard / 514 272 7464
Monday to Sunday: 11am – 3pm

But what is it? Is it a Ping Pong club or is it a restaurant? Those are the burning questions I received when I posted a photo of my brunch at the new Mile End hot spot. According to their Facebook page, it’s a “beer garden” but according to me it’s a restaurant that’s open all day, 7 days a week. There’s also a ping pong table in the restaurant, as well a foosball table. Confused yet? Don’t be! They serve a casual and unpretentious brunch on weekends, which includes dishes like benedicts, rösti, cowboy beans and a breakfast burger. It’s a fun place to spend a couple of hours enjoying the Mile End vibe. Great for groups and families too!

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CAFEDEN
6576 Saint-Laurent Boulevard / 514 419 1589
Monday to Wednesday: 5:30pm – 10:30pm / Thursday to Saturday: 5:30pm – 11pm / Wednesday to Friday: 12pm – 2:30pm

Cafeden is a small, casual yet elegant Vietnamese restaurant recently opened on the main just before Little Italy. It features traditional Vietnamese fare like pho and imperial rolls made with care, attention to detail and a modern touch. The lightly battered and fried calamari served with a horseradish, hoisin and sambal oelek dipping sauce are excellent and so is the tangy and fresh ceviche. But what I really want to talk to you about is the green papaya salad, which to me is the stuff cravings are made of. It’s light, refreshing, crunchy, sweet, tangy and absolutely perfect. The coconut and condensed milk panna cotta also deserved a mention as it is particularly well made and a perfect ending to dinner at Cafeden.

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MAJESTIQUE
4105 Saint-Laurent / 514 439 1850
Monday to Saturday: 4pm – 3am / Sunday: 11am – 3am

I’ve been wanting to try Majestique for a while now and I finally managed to get myself there on a Saturday night. I sat at the bar and wondered at how delicious and fun the food is and how dynamic and magical the ambiance is, like a well-balanced mix of vintage kitsch and circus delight. I loved it so much that I went back the next morning for brunch, when the brunch menu as well as the regular one are available. Some of my favourite dishes included the absolutely scrumptious Gaspor pork caramelized bacon with Brussels sprouts, the salmon confit (amazing texture!) and the mackerel spread. The stuffed crepe on the brunch menu is also worth the try. It’s open every day from early in the afternoon until 3am so really, there’s no excuse not to stop in for a drink and a snack at any time.

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MIMI LA NUIT
22 Saint Paul Street West / 514 507 5449
Monday to Friday: 11am – 2:30pm / Wednesday to Sunday: 5pm – 3am

When Eloi Dion decided to retire from his life as a chef a couple of years ago, his many fans were decidedly disappointed. Good news though, Eloi is back at the helm of Mimi la nuit, a stunning neighbourhood speakeasy in Old Montreal where the cocktails are memorable and so is the wine list. Do not mistake this place as just another neighbourhood bar because it is also a great restaurant. Eloi is back at the top of his game. The food here is sometimes refined and sometimes casual but always accessible, unpretentious and very good. My favourites include the marinated mackerel, the romaine with grapefruit and the blackened chicken.

Disclosure: Mimi la nuit is my client but I have been a fan of Eloi since his days at Van Horne restaurant and since my goal is to share my crushes with you, this definitely fits the description.

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LE PETIT COIN
45 Beaubien east / 514 439 2135
Monday to Sunday: 10am to 8pm

And finally, just a note on this new corner store that just opened on the corner of Saint Dominique and Beaubien. Chefs Martin Juneau, Louis Philippe Breton and David Ferguson are partners in this new endeavour. The store is a cross between the traditional Montreal dépanneur and a gourmet store. It features products made by some great Quebec enterprises like Société Orignal, Ils en fument du bon, Preservation Society, Gaspor pork and restaurant Gus’ homemade hot sauces as well as your usual corner store staples of candy bars, canned tuna, Kraft dinner and great fruits and veggies. Le petit coin will also be making grilled cheese sandwiches.

Disclosure: Restaurant GUS is my client but not Le petit coin