Italian$$$griffintownTue-Sat 17:00-23:00
Nora Gray is Emma Cardarelli's dim, clubby southern-Italian room on Saint-Jacques in Montreal, pouring amaro over hand-cut pasta and a cult wine list.
Order: The pasta of the night and a negroni to start.
Tip: The bar seats are first-come and the easiest way in on a busy weekend.
Italian$$saint-henriMon-Sat 17:00-23:00
Elena is the Nora Gray team's sunny coffee, pizza and wine room in Saint-Henri, Montreal, spinning sourdough pizza and Italian small plates off Notre-Dame.
Order: A blistered sourdough pizza and a spritz.
Tip: Daytime is coffee and pastries; the pizza and wine crowd arrives after five.
Contemporary$$$little-italyWed-Sun 17:00-23:00
Marconi is Mehdi Brunet-Benkritly's inventive bistro near Little Italy in Montreal, plating clever, short-menu seasonal cooking off Avenue Mozart.
Order: Whatever the two-line menu is doing with the day's produce.
Tip: The menu changes constantly and is short; ask the room what to order and trust it.
Bistro$$$downtownMon-Sun 17:00-23:00
Cadet is a Bib Gourmand bar and bistro on the Main in downtown Montreal, matching a smart natural wine list with sharp, snacky plates until late.
Order: The tartare and whatever seafood snack is on the board.
Tip: The bar takes walk-ins and stays lively late; it is a strong pre or post-show stop.
Bistro$$$villerayWed-Sun 17:00-23:00
Casavant is a warm Bib Gourmand bistro near the Jean-Talon Market in Villeray, Montreal, pairing convivial French-Quebecois plates with a lively natural list.
Order: The daily plats and a bottle from the growers' list.
Tip: It is a genuine neighbourhood room; book midweek and settle in for the night.
Syrian$$villerayTue-Sat 11:00-23:00
Le Petit Alep is the beloved Syrian-Armenian bistro by the Jean-Talon Market in Montreal, a Bib Gourmand pouring Lebanese wine over warm mezze.
Signature: Muhammara, Sujuk
Order: Muhammara, sujuk and the garlicky grilled meats.
Tip: The casual Petit Alep next to formal Alep is the one you want; it takes no reservations.