The Best Risotto in Montreal: Our Favourite Spots
Risotto is one of those Italian dishes that demands time and attention above all else. Behind its apparent simplicity lies real know-how: each grain needs to keep a slight bite, while the dish as a whole stays supple and creamy. It’s a delicate balance, and when it’s done right, you’ll want to scrape up every last spoonful.
All’Onda: A Northern Italian Art
Originally from northern Italy, particularly Lombardy, Piedmont and Veneto, risotto is made with rice varieties such as carnaroli, arborio or vialone nano. The rice is first toasted in fat until pearly, then hot broth is added a little at a time, releasing its starch as it cooks. Next comes the mantecatura, the step where butter and cheese are usually stirred in to bring everything together. The goal? A wave-like consistency, known as all’onda, that gently spreads across the plate.
From Neighbourhood Trattorias to Fine Dining Rooms
In Montreal, this Italian classic is just as at home in neighbourhood trattorias as it is in fine dining rooms. From traditional saffron risotto alla milanese to versions with mushrooms, seafood or seasonal vegetables, the possibilities are many. It’s also a wonderful canvas for kitchens that love to pair Italian traditions with Québec products.
What we love most about risotto is the way it brings generosity and finesse together on a single plate. Comforting without necessarily being heavy, it lets the ingredients take centre stage, as long as they’re given the care and time they deserve.
Where to Eat Great Risotto in Montreal
Here are our favourite places to eat a great risotto in Montreal, from classic interpretations to seasonal creations. And if your love of Italian cuisine doesn’t stop at rice, check out our list of the best pasta in Montreal too.
Buon appetito!
Le Club Chasse et Pêche
On Rue Saint-Claude in Old Montreal, Le Club Chasse et Pêche welcomes guests into an intimate, hushed setting. Its braised suckling pig risotto, crowned with thin slices of foie gras, is one of the house’s signature dishes. Served as an appetizer, it delivers all the richness and comfort we love in this Italian classic, with an indulgence all its own. Note that the menu may change with the seasons.
Montréal
Bistro Amerigo
On Monkland Avenue in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, Bistro Amerigo honours Italian cuisine with generous, comforting plates. Here, risotto plays a standout supporting role: with saffron alongside braised veal shank, or with zucchini and asparagus alongside fried cod. Two outstanding sides that deserve as much attention as the mains they accompany.
Montréal
Stellina
On Rue Saint-Jacques in Old Montreal, Stellina celebrates Italian cuisine with a menu that also makes plenty of room for risotto. The current version brings together mushroom ragout, chanterelles and stracchino, a soft Italian cheese, for a creamy result rich in umami.
Montréal
Renoir Restaurant
In downtown Montreal, Renoir, the Sofitel’s restaurant, serves French-inspired cuisine by chef Olivier Perret. Its risotto evolves with the seasons and currently showcases squash, with a sage emulsion, sautéed pattypan squash and Delicata squash from Québec. A comforting dish that reflects the care given to local products.
Montréal
Restaurant Graziella
On Rue McGill in Old Montreal, Graziella serves refined Italian cuisine led by chef Graziella Battista. Her risotto changes with each evening’s inspiration, letting the seasons and the day’s deliveries guide the plate. It’s a lovely way to discover this classic in different forms from one visit to the next.
Montréal
Birbante
On Boulevard Saint-Laurent in the Mile End, Birbante lives up to its name: in Italian, the word affectionately describes a little troublemaker, a “p’tit tannant.” In a colourful setting with a lively atmosphere, the restaurant serves northern Italian-inspired cuisine, best discovered over an aperitivo that carries on to the table. Its “Risotto alle erbe” brings together herbs, grilled maitake, vincotto, parmesan and chives. Discover it at one of those beautiful Montreal Italian tables that still don’t get talked about enough.
Montréal
Le Serpent
Housed in the Darling Foundry on Rue Prince in Old Montreal, Le Serpent serves Italian-accented cuisine in a vast industrial space punctuated by contemporary art. Its lobster risotto, served with golden beet, mascarpone and basil, combines generosity and finesse.
Montréal
