Where to Find Healthy Dining in Montreal

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6 places recommended by JennyC

Expert Trendsetters from Westmount

Created on Oct 17 2009

Contrary to popular belief, the culinary delights of Montreal extend far beyond doughy bagels, smoked meat, and squeaky cheese curds. Travellers to "la belle province" don’t have to forfeit taste in order to enjoy healthy dining options from around the world. From olive-oil infused Mediterranean, to Korean market sushi, to vegetarian Thai, here are six fabulous restaurants that fit the bill.

Commensal

1204 McGill College Street, Montreal, QC

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posted Feb 22 2009

For the vegetarian in all of us: Open daily at 11:30, Commensal is a vegetarian buffet/cafeteria-style restaurant for eat-in or take-out that also offers catering service and Veggie brunch on Sunday mornings. Commensal offers a buffet of cold salads, hot mains, and desserts, allowing for a sampling of many different items. In addition to great pasta varieties and delicious homemade pizza options, Commensal boasts tofu dishes that are so well done, even meat eaters will be satisfied. Commensal features weight-based pricing, with the idea that if customers are given the option of only buying what they think they can eat, there will be less food wasted. Ste. Catherine location is on the second floor (with elevator access) and allows diners to look out over the busy shoppers at University and Ste. Catherine, while the St. Denis location is BYOB.

Crudessence

105 Rachel W, Montreal, H2W 1G4

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posted Oct 17 2009

The raw story: Crudessence, or “Cru” to regulars, is a bold and original new cafe in Montreal’s plateau neighbourhood that completely embraces the raw food movement. All ingredients are vegan, organic, and alive - read: fully raw. This means uncooked lasagne, quiche, pizza, and a variety of other selections. The Crudessence goal is to move us away from processed foods, and to make us more aware of what we are putting into our mouths. These dishes have the advantage of retaining all of their nutrients – nothing will be destroyed by heat. Even sceptics can’t help but enjoy fresh salads, pates, nachos, sushi rolls, smoothies and freshly squeezed juices. For the more adventurous palate, Cru offers raw soups, mushroom burger on chapatti and pancakes made of Brazil nuts and banana. Crudessence also sells wheat grass – rumoured to have special health and weight loss properties - along with homemade Kombucha – a fizzy health drink, reminiscent of beer or cider, born from a combination of mushroom culture and fermented black tea. Both carry with them a variety of health claims, and cult-like followings of believers. Items run from about $3.00-$12.00, and Cru offers a “lunch box” delivery service for offices, catered buffets, prepared food for take-home and even “un-cooking classes”. It may not make you a raw-food convert, but something this clever, health-conscious, and adventurous is an experience not to be missed.

Mythos Ouzeri

5318 avenue Du Parc, Montreal, QC, H2V 4G7

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posted Oct 17 2009

A little taste of the Mediterranean: Loud, raucous, lively restaurant on avenue Du Parc, Mythos serves up traditional Greek fare at reasonable prices. Mythos offers a huge selection of healthy appetizers, such as patzaria (marinated beet salad), stuffed vine leaves, gigantes (baked lima beans in tomato sauce, with olive oil– surprisingly delicious!), fish soup and grilled octopus. Alongside fresh grilled fish, mains include grilled lamb, chicken and pork, all served with steamed horta – a classic Greek plate of dandelion greens, seasoned with lemon, sea salt and olive oil – chock full of iron and vitamin A. Mythos is a little more reasonable on the pocket book than Milos and Trinity – two of Montreal’s well-known upscale restos - both of which also offer delicious, healthy, traditional Greek food, at vast expense. As a bonus, unlike the majority of restaurants in Montreal, Mythos accommodates large groups. One meal here will have you embracing the Mediterranean diet.

Aux Vivres

4631 Saint Laurent, Montreal, QC, H2T1R2

Rated this place:

posted Oct 17 2009

Viva Aux Vivres!: Fresh, innovative, organic-vegan restaurant on trendy boulevard St. Laurent, Aux Vivres serves up hot and cold soup options, sandwiches, chapattis, salads, smoothies and freshly squeezed juices. Delicious toppings include tapenade, hummus and roasted red peppers. A big seller is the BLT wrap – sans B. Instead, bacon is replaced with smoked strips of coconut that are big on taste without the greasy guilt. Try the Dragon Bowl – tofu, brown rice and tahini topped with crisp, fresh vegetables. A great option for health conscious foodies.

ChuChai

4088 Saint-Denis, Montreal, QC

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posted Oct 17 2009

Chu-chu-choose it: Just down the street from decadent, carnivore fat-farm Au Pied de Cochon on the food-laden corner of Saint-Denis and Duluth sits creative Vegetarian Thai resto ChuChai. ChuChai is described most often as “fine vegetarian Thai cuisine”, which basically means that along with being delicious, it’s not cheap. However, despite prices, ChuChai maintains a devoted following, thanks in part to their delectable Thai curries served with vegetarian soy or wheat-based chicken, duck, beef and shrimp alternatives. Menu items are high in protein, low in fat, and full of taste. Quite a feat. Did I mention there are 95 inventive menu items? Entrees run between $7-20.Spicy coconut chicken soup and duck salad are excellent options. Next door is ChuChai’s sister-store, Chuch, a casual BYOB with an express counter for those in a rush or on a budget. Items can be ordered for take-out, delivery (in some areas) and catering.

Sushi Bar Kim

1 Westmount Square, Montreal, QC, H3Z 2P9

Rated this place:

posted Oct 18 2009

Under the sea...: A great spot for lunch or an afternoon snack, this little gem is hidden at the back of a small Korean grocer/florist in the Westmount Square food court. Enjoy a complimentary cup of Jasmine tea as you look over the a-la-carte menu. Staff and sushi artists are helpful and friendly, and the fish is fresh and delicious. Enjoy a crunchy green salad appetizer ($4.00), edamame ($4.95) or warm miso soup ($3.00). Inventive sushi selections, such as the Green Ave. roll with mango and honey ($8.75), or Buddha veggie maki with pumpkin and asparagus ($6.50) will keep you coming back. As a bonus, you may run into celebrity trainer and 5-Factor Diet guru Harvey Pasternak, who names Sushi Bar Kim as one of his top Montreal health food havens in EnRoute magazine’s Healthy Traveller column. Maybe you’ll have the chance to ask him for some tips on tackling your trouble spots over some hand-rolled avocado hosomaki ($3.95).

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