The Best Restaurants in Laval: For a gourmet excursion
We’re happy that our readers live all over Quebec, and our team works hard to help you discover as many places as possible in as many cities as possible. But what if we told you that some of the best restaurants in the province are right next door in Laval? It’s true! The North Shore has an incredible gourmet, diversified and multicultural culinary offering; excellent bakeries, lively wine bars, festive restaurants, gourmet microbreweries, Asian cuisine institutions, classic bistros, and more!
From freshly baked bread in the morning to a sweet treat—or drink—at the end of the evening, Laval is full of places to discover or rediscover! In recent years, several Montreal restaurateurs have decided to make the move and set up shop in Laval. Did you know that Laval is the third most densely populated city in Quebec? Just after Montreal and Quebec City. Just a few kilometers from Montreal, the addresses presented here are definitely worth the trip!
If you’re visiting the region, plan your itinerary in advance with our guide Le Petit Tastet – Laval, produced in collaboration with Bonjour Québec. Check it out—in French—here!
La bête à pain (Laval)
After the success of their locations in Ahuntsic and Griffintown, La Bête à Pain has opened in Laval! The owner—Marc-André Royal (L’Express, Club 357C, Bête à Pain Ahuntsic, Le St-Urbain), Chantal Gervais and Annick Dufresne—decided to explore this market because of the almost complete absence of bakeries in the area. The team selected a location on the edge of Highway 15 to be a quick and easy stop for motorists on the go. At La Bête à Pain Laval, you can savour the delicious breads, pastries and pâtisseries responsible for the success of the other locations of the same name. Plus, they offer a delicious menu inspired by Le St-Urbain. What more could you ask for!
Laval
Bottega Pizzeria
Bottega Laval opened its doors in April 2010 following the success of Bottega in Montreal. You can be sure to expect the same excellent pizzas and Italian specialties at their new location. Bottega Laval is owned by brothers Fabrizio and Massimo Covone, their mother Giovanna, Raffaele Covone, and Enzo Sarno. “We thought that there was a lack of good restaurants in Laval, especially good pizza restaurants, and we thought that the demand would be there”. Well, they were right, because “the restaurant is always busy,” says Massimo. Bottega means “artisanal boutique” in Italian. And here, almost everything is homemade. Chef David Zaccardi is in charge of the menu that features the same appetizers and entrées as at their Montreal location, but with different daily specials. At Bottega Laval, the menu consists mainly of excellent Neapolitan-influenced pizzas. There are a few pizzas stuffed with prosciutto cotto, eggplant, mozzarella, ricotta, salami, mushrooms and mozzarella, or multiple cheeses, Parmigiano and prosciutto di Parma. There are also some “white” pizzas (without tomato sauce), which range from simple olive oil, oregano and grated Parmigiano Reggiano, to rapini, homemade sausage and mozzarella.
Laval
Restaurant Torii Sushi
Torii Sushi is an exceptional BYOW (bring your own wine) address in Laval. The restaurant welcomes you in an elegant atmosphere and offers excellent Japanese delicacies. Torii refers to the traditional Japanese portal that symbolizes the passage between the physical and spiritual worlds. A symbol of Buddhist and Shinto beliefs, it refers to the Japanese gastronomic heritage from which the talented chef Ga-Con Ruan draws inspiration to create small delights.
Laval
Oregon Bar à vin
Oregon bar à vin is a restaurant-bar where you can party, eat well, and drink good wine on the North Shore! “The idea was to offer a restaurant that would also serve as a bar and wine bar, where you could savour good food in a relaxed atmosphere without having to go downtown,” explains co-owner Étienne Gratton-Bourret. Oregon wine bar opened its doors in December 2016. The name of the bar was born from a coincidence: when it came time to come up with a name for the address, in the middle of building the space, the sommelier was going on a trip to Oregon and something clicked. “We liked the idea of having a city name, and we liked Oregon. It sounds good in both languages, it’s simple, and it piques curiosity. We like the laid-back vibe of the American West coast.”
Laval
Les Insulaires - Microbrasseurs
Beer lovers, this address is for you! Les Insulaires is a microbrewery of choice in Laval to stop for a drink and a bite to eat. Inspired by the German biergarten and tropical trends, the address offers a nice space to escape for an evening. For those who are a little peckish or are very hungry, the house also offers a casual bistro-style menu that will make your mouth water.
Laval
Miss Wong
Located in Centropolis, Miss Wong is a brewery offering Asian fusion cuisine. The festive, beautiful and spacious restaurant impresses with its grand decor. Open since August 2018, Miss Wong is the collective effort of Dan Pham (Kamehameha Snack Bar, Blossom) of Lucky Belly Group and Jacques Gaspo of Foodtastic Group. The restaurant offers a so-called fusion cuisine, at the crossroads between Chinese and North American cuisine. The concept is reflected in the surprising decor of the place, but also in the name of the establishment; Miss Wong is in fact a tribute to Anna May Wong—Wong Liu Tsong being her real name—the first Chinese actress who broke through in Hollywood in the 1920s. Establishing itself in Laval allows the group to carry out this ambitious project which is located in the former Moomba de Laval.
Laval
Le Boating Club
Founded in the late 1800’s by Joseph Bourdeau & Daniel Hatton, the Sainte-Rose Boating Club was at the time the most renowned boating club in the area. The club was mostly made up of English-speaking vacationers from Montreal who organized canoe regattas, social evenings and large balls in the “Club House”. This beautiful modern project was created in 2014 and was designed by none other than Zébulon Perron. It is now a staple in the metropolis, a true neighbourhood restaurant where you are warmly welcomed at all times. We always eat well in a lively atmosphere in the evening and festive at the end of the evening. On the menu, you will find dishes with seasonal flavours such as fresh pasta and seafood—a little wink to the Boating Club.
Laval
Escondite Laval
If you are looking for a place to escape for a little while, this is the place for you. As soon as you enter Escondite, you are transported into a colourful Mexican atmosphere with flavours from here. The menu offers tapas with Mexican influences—we love the extraordinary guacamole and the cheese and mushroom quesadillas—ceviches, grilled meats— including spicy cherry ribs with BBQ sauce. Other dishes we particularly love include the fried chicken, crispy cod and beef tongue.
Laval
Chez Lionel - Laval
If you’re looking for a convivial restaurant with a chic twist on the North Shore, Chez Lionel is the place for you. The French-inspired brewery is the perfect destination to satisfy both discerning palates and small appetites. The name of the restaurant comes from the first branch, located on Lionel-Daunais Street in Boucherville. It features all the classics of French cuisine that change with the seasons, including tartares, onion soups, sweetbreads, and blood sausages. Chez Lionel is the gourmet destination par excellence for a taste journey.
Laval
Lucille's Laval
Lucille’s Oyster Dive—whose first location opened in 2009 in NDG—is definitely a staple. It’s the perfect place to savour delicious oysters and traditional seafood dishes in a festive and convivial atmosphere. The name “Lucille” is a nod to the famous song by the legendary King of the Blues, B.B. King, of whom the owners are huge fans. At Lucille’s Oyster Dive, you get what you pay for. The portions are generous and the ingredients used are of excellent quality. The seafood is always fresh and the oyster bar is exceptional. Chef Mark Gaffney also thinks of meat-eaters with an emphasis on the beef that has also made the house famous.
Laval
Gatto Matto
Ouvert le 1er septembre 2018, le Gatto Matto est un très bon restaurant italien au décor magnifique. Le festif restaurant sert une panoplie de classiques italiens et de plats originaux exécutés avec brio. Avec son excellente cuisine et une atmosphère festive et conviviale, l’endroit se prête aux repas en famille tout comme aux festivités plus tard en soirée.
Laval
Restaurant Sekoya
Bien que son nom rappelle le pays du soleil levant et qu’il appartienne aux mêmes proprios que Torii Sushi, Sekoya n’est pas un restaurant Japonais. Le chef Kevin Bates Breault, passé par les cuisines de Richard Bastien, nous propose plutôt une délicieuse cuisine du marché d’inspiration européenne. Le tout dans un magnifique décor signé Gauvreau Design.
Laval
Falafel Freiha
Si vous n’avez jamais goûté aux falafels de Bechara Freiha, vous n’avez jamais mangé un vrai falafel! Mené par Bechara en personne et son épouse, Joséphine, ce minuscule comptoir perdu sur le boulevard Perron, à Chomedey, ne fait qu’une chose, mais il le fait divinement bien! On peut même affirmer sans crainte qu’on y trouve l’un des meilleurs falafels au Québec – sinon le meilleur, point à la ligne.
Laval
Le Mitoyen
On connait le chef Richard Bastien pour les restaurants Leméac et Monarque, mais il ne faudrait oublier aussi Le Mitoyen, où il nous reçoit avec amour depuis 1976! Établi dans l’ancienne demeure du chef à Sainte-Dorothée, le restaurant propose un somptueux menu d’inspiration française et québécoise avec une très belle carte de vin. Une véritable institution de la Rive-Nord!
Laval