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The Main Media Inc. 2026

✦ Built By Field Office
    The Main

    Montreal's Cultural Directory

    Help us improve! Share your thoughts on how we can make your experience better.

    Leave feedback

    For partnerships and collaborations:

    partnerships@themain.com

    Explore

    • About us
    • Shop
    • Advertise
    • Pitch us

    Connect

    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • Tiktok
    • Linkedin

    Resources

    • RSS Feed
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    Legal

    • Terms of service
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    The Main Media Inc. 2026

    ✦ Built By Field Office
      --°C|Tuesday, March 10, 2026|
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      --°C|Tuesday, March 10, 2026|
      Subscribe today to get 3 free articles per month.ROYALMOUNT Wants to Be Your Dining Destination for a Whole MonthGet 50% off your first 5 rides with Lyft
      InstagramTwitterTiktokLinkedin
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      The Main Logo
      Magazine
      Categories
      • Arts & Culture

        Creativity, heritage, and expression.

      • Beyond Montreal

        Travel, adventure, and global perspectives.

      • Design

        The best of Montreal design.

      • Food & Drink

        La bonne bouffe.

      • History

        Stories, lessons, and context.

      • Newsletter

        Our weekly newsletter.

      • See all original stories
      Explore Montreal
      Popular Guides
      • The Best Restaurants in Montreal
      • Best new Restaurants
      • Best Cafés
      • Unique Boutiques
      • Romantic Restaurants
      • Best Bookstores
      • See all Guides
      Neighbourhood
      • Downtown
      • Le Plateau-Mont-Royal
      • Mile End
      • Mile-Ex
      • Saint-Henri
      • See All
      Business Type
      • Restaurant
      • Café
      • Boutique / Store
      • Bar
      • Bakery
      • See All
      Near the Metro
      • Peel
      • Mont-Royal
      • Place-Saint-Henri
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      1. Articles
      2. Food & Drink

      Le Violon: Stepping into a Painting of Fine Dining in the Plateau

      Taking over the address that once housed Maison Publique, Le Violon is a new neighbourhood project that celebrates kinship and thoughtful, ingredient-driven cuisine.

      By J.P. KarwackiJune 26, 2024 - Read time: 6 min
      Le Violon: Stepping into a painting of fine dining in the Plateau
      "Le Violon is truly a reflection of who I am and what I stand for in the culinary world—it's polished, unpretentious, and fun," says co-executive chef Danny Smiles. | Photograph: Scott Usheroff / @cravingcurator
      1. Articles
      2. Food & Drink

      Le Violon: Stepping into a Painting of Fine Dining in the Plateau

      Taking over the address that once housed Maison Publique, Le Violon is a new neighbourhood project that celebrates kinship and thoughtful, ingredient-driven cuisine.

      By J.P. KarwackiJune 26, 2024 - Read time: 6 min
      Le Violon: Stepping into a painting of fine dining in the Plateau
      "Le Violon is truly a reflection of who I am and what I stand for in the culinary world—it's polished, unpretentious, and fun," says co-executive chef Danny Smiles. | Photograph: Scott Usheroff / @cravingcurator

      Walking along Rue Marquette in the Plateau, one could almost miss Le Violon if it weren’t for the locals’ enthusiastic reception. Beyond its fresh exterior black paint job and frosted glass windows, the dining room bustles: an intimately close-quarters 50-seat space that embodies the vision of co-executive chefs Mitch Laughren and Danny Smiles, general manager Andrew Park, and Montreal artist / creative director Dan Climan.

      A project discreetly in the works since Smiles announced his departure from Hudson’s Willow Inn in December 2023, the restaurant is easily filling the shoes of its predecessor, Maison Publique.

      Photograph: Scott Usheroff / @cravingcurator
      It’s exciting to think of the restaurant as a living artwork that people can step into, interact with, and enjoy. Like I do in my art practice, I approached designing this space by thinking about the feeling we wanted to create.
      Free account required

      For readers who care about Montreal

      Create a free account to read this story and access 3 articles per month, plus our weekly Bulletin.

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      Advertisement

      Advertisement

      Advertisement

      Arthurs Nosh Bar Is Coming to NDG, and This Time, They're Bringing Dinner
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Arthurs Nosh Bar Is Coming to NDG, and This Time, They're Bringing Dinner

      Alex Cohen and Raegan Steinberg are combining dinners with breakfast classics to the 48-seat Arthus Dinette in Monkland Village.

      Peel Pub Is Coming Back
      Food & Drink
      The Main

      Peel Pub Is Coming Back

      Eight months after closing, the downtown institution has new owners, a renovation, and a reopening before St. Patrick's Day.

      How Boom J's Went From a Home Kitchen to a Jamaican Institution
      Food & Drink
      Anick Jasmin

      How Boom J's Went From a Home Kitchen to a Jamaican Institution

      Owner Jermaine learned to cook from his grandmother in Jamaica at six years old. Everything at Boom J's still carries those teachings.

      Bistrot Boisselet Skipped the Hype and Went Straight to Work
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Bistrot Boisselet Skipped the Hype and Went Straight to Work

      A quietly confident Little Italy bistrot from Montreal restaurant alum puts chef Darcy Gervais-Wood front and centre.

      Why Does It Feel Like We’re All Eating At the Same Places Now?
      Food & Drink
      AnnaClare Sung

      Why Does It Feel Like We’re All Eating At the Same Places Now?

      Discovery is now social, and algorithms are setting the table. So why does dining feel more uniform than ever?

      Figata is Saint-Henri's New Italian-American Red Sauce Temple
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Figata is Saint-Henri's New Italian-American Red Sauce Temple

      Meatballs from a family recipe, martinis refreshed before you ask, and a room dressed in heirlooms: eat with your hands and make a mess.

      Walking along Rue Marquette in the Plateau, one could almost miss Le Violon if it weren’t for the locals’ enthusiastic reception. Beyond its fresh exterior black paint job and frosted glass windows, the dining room bustles: an intimately close-quarters 50-seat space that embodies the vision of co-executive chefs Mitch Laughren and Danny Smiles, general manager Andrew Park, and Montreal artist / creative director Dan Climan.

      A project discreetly in the works since Smiles announced his departure from Hudson’s Willow Inn in December 2023, the restaurant is easily filling the shoes of its predecessor, Maison Publique.

      Photograph: Scott Usheroff / @cravingcurator
      It’s exciting to think of the restaurant as a living artwork that people can step into, interact with, and enjoy. Like I do in my art practice, I approached designing this space by thinking about the feeling we wanted to create.
      Free account required

      For readers who care about Montreal

      Create a free account to read this story and access 3 articles per month, plus our weekly Bulletin.

      Independent. Local. Reader-supported.

      or

      Already a member? Sign in

      Advertisement

      Advertisement

      Advertisement

      Arthurs Nosh Bar Is Coming to NDG, and This Time, They're Bringing Dinner
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Arthurs Nosh Bar Is Coming to NDG, and This Time, They're Bringing Dinner

      Alex Cohen and Raegan Steinberg are combining dinners with breakfast classics to the 48-seat Arthus Dinette in Monkland Village.

      Peel Pub Is Coming Back
      Food & Drink
      The Main

      Peel Pub Is Coming Back

      Eight months after closing, the downtown institution has new owners, a renovation, and a reopening before St. Patrick's Day.

      How Boom J's Went From a Home Kitchen to a Jamaican Institution
      Food & Drink
      Anick Jasmin

      How Boom J's Went From a Home Kitchen to a Jamaican Institution

      Owner Jermaine learned to cook from his grandmother in Jamaica at six years old. Everything at Boom J's still carries those teachings.

      Bistrot Boisselet Skipped the Hype and Went Straight to Work
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Bistrot Boisselet Skipped the Hype and Went Straight to Work

      A quietly confident Little Italy bistrot from Montreal restaurant alum puts chef Darcy Gervais-Wood front and centre.

      Why Does It Feel Like We’re All Eating At the Same Places Now?
      Food & Drink
      AnnaClare Sung

      Why Does It Feel Like We’re All Eating At the Same Places Now?

      Discovery is now social, and algorithms are setting the table. So why does dining feel more uniform than ever?

      Figata is Saint-Henri's New Italian-American Red Sauce Temple
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Figata is Saint-Henri's New Italian-American Red Sauce Temple

      Meatballs from a family recipe, martinis refreshed before you ask, and a room dressed in heirlooms: eat with your hands and make a mess.

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      Chinatown is now home to a classic casse-croûte
      Food & Drink
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      Chinatown is Now Home to a Classic Casse-croûte

      The chefs behind Dobe & Andy and Buboy decided all the neighbourhood needs is a solid source of steamies and poutine.

      What defined Montreal's dining scene in 2025, and what's coming in 2026
      Food & Drink
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      What Defined Montreal's Dining Scene in 2025, and What's Coming in 2026

      From 2025's defining themes to predictions for 2026, here's what Montreal's food insiders are saying about the city's evolving dining culture (and its next Michelin hopefuls).

      Old Montreal gets an intimate speakeasy for Peruvian dining with the arrival of Mezcla
      Food & Drink
      The Main

      Old Montreal Gets an Intimate Speakeasy for Peruvian Dining with the Arrival of Mezcla

      Chef Marcel Larrea resurrects the restaurant that put him on the map seven years ago, this time hidden inside Capisco with a blind tasting menu and full creative control.

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      Give the gift of Montreal’s best restaurants this holiday season
      Food & Drink
      The Main

      Give the Gift of Montreal’s Best Restaurants This Holiday Season

      Experiencing a great meal can stick with you longer than anything that comes wrapped.

      Cécile Puts Fine-Dining Polish on Rotisserie and Acadian Comfort Cooking
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Cécile Puts Fine-Dining Polish on Rotisserie and Acadian Comfort Cooking

      The Fleury Ouest newcomer pays tribute to post-war family tables and its chef Benjamin Gilker's Nova Scotian roots.

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      The Bulletin: Celebrate Cana-don't Day with these parties, pop-ups, and paloozas [Issue #83]

      Advertisement

      Chinatown is now home to a classic casse-croûte
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Chinatown is Now Home to a Classic Casse-croûte

      The chefs behind Dobe & Andy and Buboy decided all the neighbourhood needs is a solid source of steamies and poutine.

      What defined Montreal's dining scene in 2025, and what's coming in 2026
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      What Defined Montreal's Dining Scene in 2025, and What's Coming in 2026

      From 2025's defining themes to predictions for 2026, here's what Montreal's food insiders are saying about the city's evolving dining culture (and its next Michelin hopefuls).

      Old Montreal gets an intimate speakeasy for Peruvian dining with the arrival of Mezcla
      Food & Drink
      The Main

      Old Montreal Gets an Intimate Speakeasy for Peruvian Dining with the Arrival of Mezcla

      Chef Marcel Larrea resurrects the restaurant that put him on the map seven years ago, this time hidden inside Capisco with a blind tasting menu and full creative control.

      Montreal's most exciting openings and heartbreaking closures of 2025
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Montreal's Most Exciting Openings and Heartbreaking Closures of 2025

      The restaurant and bar arrivals that thrilled Montreal writers, photographers, and influencers—and the beloved spots whose closures left lasting gaps.

      Give the gift of Montreal’s best restaurants this holiday season
      Food & Drink
      The Main

      Give the Gift of Montreal’s Best Restaurants This Holiday Season

      Experiencing a great meal can stick with you longer than anything that comes wrapped.

      Cécile Puts Fine-Dining Polish on Rotisserie and Acadian Comfort Cooking
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Cécile Puts Fine-Dining Polish on Rotisserie and Acadian Comfort Cooking

      The Fleury Ouest newcomer pays tribute to post-war family tables and its chef Benjamin Gilker's Nova Scotian roots.

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