Sip Back And Relax

Since the beginning of time (for this website) I have been asked all sorts of questions concerning restaurants, bars, hotels and events in Montreal and beyond. Perhaps the most recurring of these questions is “Where is the best bring-your-own-wine place in Montreal?”. Well, at long last I have combed through the streets of the city to bring you (what I think are) the 5 most interesting BYOW places in Montreal. So sip back and relax because this is the only list you will ever need before dropping by your favorite SAQ and heading out to dinner.

Smoking-Vallée (4370 Notre Dame West, St-Henri 514-932-0303) – Le Smoking Vallée was one of the first restaurants we covered here at DJNL and to this day it remains one of our favorite BYOW restaurants in Montreal. Serving up traditional French cuisine with a Smoking-Vallée spin, the best dishes on the menu are the onglet de beouf (with a roasted garlic mayo), the tarte fine with mushrooms and the tuna tartar. A special mention must go to the creme brulée, one of the only desserts in the city we leave room for. See the full menu for yourself at smoking-vallee.com and drop by here to read our full review.

Monsieur B (371 Villeneuve East, Mile-End 514-845-6066) – The B stands for bistro and this small restaurant located in a quiet corner in Mile-End serves its guests the only the finest French inspired, market cuisine using the freshest ingredients of the moment. The amibance is lively yet relaxed and is a great choice for a date night or an intimate friendly get together. Learn more at monsieurb.ca

O’Thym (1112 Maisonneuve East, Village 514-525-3443) – Open for lunch and dinner, O’Thym is bright and etheral, a restaurant with a sophisticated yet delicate menu that draws on culinary strengths from across Canada. Featuring everything from Alberta lamb to PEI mussels and Quebec cheese, O’Thym takes these primary ingredients and whips them into delightfully savoury dishes. See the menu at othym.com.

Les Heritiers (1915 Mont-Royal East, Plateau 514-528-4953) – With so many French bistros taking up space in Montreal, it’s important for a restaurant to be inventive. Les Heritiers have been putting their creative spin on classic French cuisine for years, making them one of the best bistros in the business. Their best dishes include a delicious pork osso bucco, a wonderful smoked duck salad and a mouthwatering bavette de beouf, Les Heritiers has something for everyone. Visit lesheritiers.com to check out their full lunch and dinner menus.

Khyber Pass (506 Duluth West, Plateau 514-844-7131) – This restaurant isn’t just a great BYOW, it is one of the best Afghan restaurants in Montreal. Open for dinner only, Khyber Pass is hard to miss as it features one of the most unique facades in the city. A creative facade however means nothing if there’s no substance behind it and Khyber Pass substance to spare with a menu bursting with flavourful choices like succulent lamb, their cucumber and coriander infused Afghan salad and my favorite, the Kofta Chalaw (ground beef balls in a spicy Afghan tomato sauce). Take our word for it, you will not leave this restaurant on an empty stomach.

These 5 restaurants are superbly unique in both their location and approach to food. They offer a variety of dishes for just about any taste. Sure there are those steak and fries chains that, for the most part, look pretty (and were ok at one point but that ship sailed the minute they grew into a chain and cut back on food quality and service) but they leave you wishing you should have put a little more thought into your BYOW. With our list of amazing bring-your-own-wine restaurants, that thought process is made a little easier.