Bertha’s: a peruvian-inspired rôtisserie in Outremont

Bertha’s is the fourth address of the Montreal-based group behind Provisions, which owns Le Petit Italien and Bar Dominion, in addition to a butcher shop in their Outremont restaurant.

When the adjacent space to Provisions, previously housing an African restaurant, became available, the team seized the opportunity to expand with a new brand and set up a rotisserie: Bertha’s, a nod to owner Pablo Rojas’ Peruvian grandmother.

Pablo drew inspiration from her cuisine to create the menu, which revolves around spices, yuca fries, lime, and aji verde, a traditional spicy Peruvian green sauce. The central ingredient here is chicken, which is proudly featured in the restaurant’s logo and grilled over charcoal in the kitchen. “We always ate pollo a la brasa when we went out as a family, with a 2-liter bottle of Inca Cola on the table, and everyone shared everything,” says Pablo. Bertha’s dishes (ranging from a quarter thigh to a whole chicken) are accompanied by yuca fries and coleslaw.

The chicken – wonderfully tender – is also served in sandwiches, meal salads, vegetable soup, and bowls (with quinoa and sweet potatoes), all of which can be paired with Inca Cola, the national soda of Peru. The sauces and mayonnaises are indulgent and homemade, just like at Provisions. The seasonings, featuring rocoto, a traditional Peruvian pepper, are offered in three levels of spiciness to cater to more sensitive palates.

Completing Provisions’ Offer

The interior, which features brightly coloured walls, chicken figures, and candles of all colours, evokes the owner’s heritage and the stands found in markets. On the counter, Peruvian treats (maiz morado, Bubbaloo gummies) catch our eye. An opening in one of the walls connects to Provisions; both addresses are managed by the same team.

Set up in a small space, the rotisserie does not have indoor seating and offers only takeout. However, a small patio is set up in the front, and it’s also possible to eat on the Provisions terrace if you ask nicely. Bertha’s thus complements the group’s offerings, which now occupies an entire corner of Van Horne in Outremont.

This small, relaxed counter also meets a demand from regulars from nearby offices and shops who can’t afford to have lunch at Provisions five days a week. Bertha’s dishes are priced around $15. The goal is to be “an easy pick-up option for neighbourhood residents” – and others too, it seems, as orders come from all over the city.

The new establishment focuses on chicken as its signature dish to be more price-accessible with a cheaper protein, while the adjacent butcher shop and restaurant primarily sell beef. While many recent establishments focus on fried chicken, Bertha’s wanted to take a different direction with its charcoal-grilled chicken, which brings a sense of nostalgia. A different style from Provisions, then, but just as flavorful.

Written by Marie Pâris
Photography by Alison Slattery

Last update: July 08, 2024

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