Eco-Friendly Restaurants: Where to eat well without harming the planet
What are the eco-friendly restaurants in Montreal? Eco-friendly eating is the new frontier! The environment has never been talked about as much as it is right now, and rightfully so. As climate change becomes more pronounced around the world, awareness of our impact as consumers is on the rise.
It is undeniable that the food industry has a major effect on the wellbeing of our planet. From transporting products across oceans, over-consuming resources and overusing disposable packaging, the steps involved in preparing a dish can have an enormous ecological weight. However, there are several solutions to minimize your ecological footprint on both a small and large scale. Focus on composting, purchasing local and organic products, supporting sustainable fishing practices and reducing your consumption of animal products and production of waste. These are all incredibly simple and effective ways to consume responsibly, without sacrificing the pleasure of great food.
Gourmets are becoming increasingly interested in the quality and origin of the ingredients on their plates. Responsible practices are gaining traction amongst restaurant industry professionals. Restaurants are in a great position to advocate for eco-responsible eating, and to raise awareness of ecological gastronomic practices. Of course, we are not willing to accept a sacrifice in flavour, texture or presentation.
Although the Tastet team is not an expert in eco-responsibility, we like to eat healthy, quality products from local producers. In collaboration with Blue Organization, we wanted to highlight the efforts made by eco-friendly restaurants in terms of their respectful use of resources. For example, we love the use of organic Quebec products, and business relations with environmentally responsible suppliers.
The Blue Organization was founded in 2018. This special group is a non-profit organization that raises awareness for the environment through popular science. Their goal is to equip the public with the necessary tools to face the changing planet over the next decade. The Blue Organization constantly strives to push boundaries in order to deliver information in a way that is appealing and accessible. Initiated by a generation dazed by the environmental warnings in the media, the goal is to educate those who are at the forefront of the changing planet. We need to open the eyes of those who still have the ability to change their consumption habits.
What the Blue Organization proposes:
A vision and discussion focused on finding accessible solutions around the environment that are based in science. Positive, active and realistic steps to take, lead by their strong presence on interactive digital media.
To make this daunting task a little easier, here is a list of eco-friendly restaurants that are reducing their carbon footprint. These restaurants are leaders in the industry of sustainable gastronomy, and we hope they can encourage others to follow suit!
Candide
Hidden between Notre-Dame Street West and Avenue Lionel Groulx, restaurant Candide has a unique charm. The restaurant is actually located in a converted presbytery! Chef John Winter Russell’s cuisine is extravagant and delicious – you will want to come back over and over again. At Candide, you will find great local gastronomy that is both tasty and thoughtful. The establishment is taking multiple steps to minimize its carbon footprint. The kitchen carefully chooses pesticide-free ingredients from nearby areas (virtually nothing travels by air!) and reduces food waste as much as possible. In addition to composting and preparing 4000 litres of canned food for winter cooking, the address does not use any single-use plastic, and every plastic container used is recyclable. Well done! Alison Slattery
Montréal
La Panthère Verte
We would eat at the Green Panther everyday if we could! This restaurant offers a menu composed entirely of pesticide-free, locally sourced and sustainably grown products. The menu is also entirely vegan! Expect to eat soups, salads, and sandwiches (but remember that they are most famous for their falafel). The nature inspired environment is consistent at each of their locations. The company educates their customers about recycling and composting- they do not offer any plastic materials and all of their take-out containers are compostable! They also offer a small discount for customers who bring their own reusable containers and cutlery. The place is open every day, except Sunday, and offers a delivery service. Jessiguesss
Montréal
O'Thym
Ô Thym is a delicious Bring Your Wine restaurant on de Maisonneuve Boulevard East that serves great Quebec classics influenced by market cuisine. Open for 14 years now, Ô Thym has become one of the best Bring Your Wine restaurants in the city with a slate menu that evolves with the seasons. Chef Noé Lainesse sources only from local producers and is a member of Arrivages (formerly Chef514). “I am a chef, urban gardener and wild food picker who is zero waste at home and transposes these values as much as possible to my restaurant. Not to mention a gradual evolution towards organic.” The Ô thym restaurant is thus among the eco-responsible restaurants in Montreal!
Montréal
Aux Vivres
Aux Vivre offers a delicious vegetarian menu that prioritizes healthy and tasty innovations on classic foods . We love the dragon bowl with tempeh and the Thai bowl with tofu. Here, you can find GMO-free food, with lots of fruit, vegetables and grains from the most local and organic sources possible. Both addresses are open 7 days a week and have take-out counters! Gabdo1
Montréal
Lola Rosa
Lola Rosa is an unpretentious, charming and welcoming address. They offer very good vegetarian meals; salads, quesadillas, hempburger, burritos, curries, chilis, lasagna, soups and other healthy dishes. Honest, humble and tasty dishes. The menu features a selection of choices made up of as many organic and local ingredients as possible, as well as a delivery service in compostable or recyclable containers. The facility also composts. We like it a lot! Lola Rosa
Montréal
Renoir
When we think of a culinary centre in the city, Sherbrooke Street isn’t necessarily what comes to mind. However, bracing yourself for the traffic is far worth a stop at restaurant Renoir inside the Sofitel hotel. French cuisine is at its best here, and it is not afraid to celebrate local products. The facility has developed an innovative process to reduce its waste: it turns it into liquid to massively reduce its use of garbage bags and waste transport. The fish cooked here are also certified by Ocean Wise. A beautiful and environmentally friendly address to discover! Photo Restaurant Renoir
Montréal
Leméac
Leméac is a restaurant that we have had a long standing love affair with, as its quality is always consistent. In an elegant and classic setting, you can enjoy a classic French brasserie menu, with tasty dishes and reasonable prices. The service is always courteous and efficient; everything here is perfectly balanced. The highlight of the show: this address promotes organic, local products, sustainable fishing and actively tries to minimize its waste. Photo Jimmy Hamelin
Montréal
Restaurant Toqué!
Toqué! restaurant is a Montreal institution that has dominated the Quebec gastronomic scene for more than 20 years. Quality, consistency and resistance are the hallmarks of Toqué! This establishment has had a significant impact on the restaurant industry: chef owner Normand Laprise is one of Canada’s most important chefs in the field of gastronomy. He is also very active in reducing his establishment’s ecological footprint; they rigorously manage waste production, draw as many of their ingredients as possible from local producers, and they strongly support sustainable fishing. The establishment has even banned disposable towels in its bathrooms! Hans Laurendeau
Montréal
Chez Victoire
Chez Victoire is on our list of the best Quebec restaurants in Montreal. We come here to taste great local cuisine prepared by chef Alexandre Gosselin. There are excellent small and delicate dishes to share, and which perfectly compliment the festive atmosphere. The address partakes in several eco-responsible practices: procurement by local producers who practice responsible agriculture, and presentation of a wine list highlighting Quebec and Canadian products. We like it a lot! Félix Hallé
Montréal
Le 5e
The 5e is a charming “zero waste” café located on Wellington Street in the Verdun Borough. In terms of eco-responsibility, le 5e is a true expert! The casual establishment offers tea, coffees, and vegan dishes, which are all organic and prepared with local ingredients. You can also take introductory workshops on the “zero waste” lifestyle! Carolanemoore
Montréal
Graziella
Ah Graziella! Graziella Battista is one of the best chefs in Montreal. Since 2008, the chef has been in charge of this incredible restaurant on McGill Street in Old Montreal. In a chic and impressive setting, Graziella’s cuisine remains without a doubt one of the best Italian restaurants in Montreal. Graziella surprises its diners with the simplicity of its cuisine, its respect for tradition, the freshness of the products used, and the precision of each dish. For several years now, the house has been very proactive in reducing waste; sourcing from local producers, minimal use of plastic, banned straws and eco-friendly cleaning products are household standards. We love it! Alison Slattery —
Montréal
Restaurant de l’ITHQ
Opened in 2005, the restaurant of the Institut de tourisme et d’hôtellerie du Québec (ITHQ) showcases the dishes prepared by the students of its associated school. Located on the ground floor of ITHQ with large windows overlooking Saint-Denis Street and Square Saint-Louis, restaurant ITHQ is a showcase space for students put their knowledge to the test, and to become sommeliers and cooks for the night. The establishment opts for eco-responsible practices in a variety of ways: compost, mostly local ingredients, sustainable fishing. They even have sparkling water that is homemade to avoid the use of plastic bottles! We love this place for the affordable and eco-responsible dining experience they offer. ITHQ
Montréal
Café Dei Campi
Barista Nicola Vardarro and pastry chef Isabelle Deschamps (formerly H4C) are the owners of this special café. Right in front of Père-Marquette Park, the café offers one of the best Italian coffees in Montreal! The address is also known for its pastries made without eggs, butter or milk, which leave you feeling fully satisfied. On the counter, you will find delicious pizzettes and vegetarian sandwiches that are perfect for a lunchtime break. In line with its desire to exclude animal products from the kitchen, the house composts, uses local and organic products as much as possible, and uses preserving techniques so we can taste the summer flavours of Quebec all year round. The packaging they use is also 99% compostable and recyclable. Odile Joly-Petit
Montréal
Rosélys
Au cœur du centre-ville, le Rosélys, resto du Fairmont Reine-Élizabeth, propose des plats conjuguant la cuisine gastronomique et de style bistro dans une ambiance sophistiquée et art déco. Ici, tous les plats s’inspirent des produits de saison et du principe d’incorporer le plus d’ingrédients locaux possible. Coup de cœur pour la morue, la bavette et la purée de pommes de terre. On aime beaucoup la gastronomie locale de cette adresse. Certifié Ocean Wise pour la majorité des produits de la mer de son menu, Rosélys intègre en été les herbes et les fleurs comestibles du jardin de l’hôtel situé sur le toit du bâtiment. Rosélys
Montréal
