Chez Victoire: The Upscale Neighborhood Restaurant on Avenue Mont-Royal East

“In fact, our goal with Chez Victoire was really to open a neighborhood restaurant — that’s why we installed 21 seats at the bar! We wanted people from the neighborhood to be able to drop by for a bite, alone, as a couple, or in a group — it didn’t matter.”

But the appeal of Chez Victoire has reached far beyond the neighborhood, and the restaurant now welcomes guests from all over. The owners — Edward Zaki, Alexandre Gosselin, and Karl Leblanc — have done a fine job of creating a welcoming, convivial space where people feel at ease.

The name “Victoire” is a nod to the artistic and historic character of the Plateau Mont-Royal. Victoire is a character from Michel Tremblay’s work — an old woman who’s both charming and despicable. “We thought it felt warmer and more inviting to name our place ‘Chez Someone,’ and we settled on ‘Chez Victoire.’”

Originally, Edward and his former business partner Sindie knew each other from the restaurant Confusion, and they thought it would be fun to open something together. Chez Victoire initially launched alongside the now-closed Hyper Taverne Edgar. At the time, Avenue Mont-Royal East was the place to be. “The neighborhood is still very lively — we love it. There are tons of restaurants, bars, fruit shops, and cheese shops — exactly what we were looking for.” Chez Victoire welcomed its first guests in 2010.

The space has a French brasserie feel, with an open layout. The bar is a central feature, the tables are mostly communal, there are plenty of banquettes, and a private dining room that can accommodate 30 to 50 guests. The owners fully renovated the restaurant to mark its 10th anniversary. The wine cellar is now painted a beautiful mustard yellow, and the formerly silver façade is now an elegant black.

The menu focuses on elevated local cuisine. Chef Alexandre Gosselin creates seasonal — and mostly local — dishes with care and creativity, placing the restaurant among Montreal’s top Québécois dining spots. The menu changes roughly every four weeks. Dishes average around $29, with the exception of a côte de bœuf for two to three people priced at $120. The restaurant also offers oyster platters ($1 oysters every Tuesday), as well as cheese and charcuterie boards. Among the house classics: roasted cauliflower with truffle, bacon, soft scrambled eggs, brown butter, and lemon; and a tomato salad with buffalo mozzarella, edamame, pine nuts, white balsamic, and basil. From 10 p.m. to midnight, Chez Victoire serves a late-night menu featuring either a starter and main or a main and dessert for $25.

As for drinks, Chez Victoire doesn’t disappoint either! Gabrielle Plastre curates a wine list that includes natural, organic, biodynamic bottles as well as classic French wines from small, eco-conscious producers. In addition to selections from Quebec and Canada, the sommelier also highlights gems from unexpected regions like Serbia, Austria, Italy, and Portugal. For the more festive crowd, bartender and mixologist David Corbeil crafts the cocktail list.

Quebec products are front and center — both in the wine selection and in the spirits used behind the bar. “One of the things we love most here is our regulars who come two or three times a week.” The Chez Victoire clientele is made up mostly of loyal customers — a good sign. When something’s good, people want to come back. And Chez Victoire is really good.

Thanks to its local, responsibly sourced cuisine and a wine list that showcases Quebec and Canadian producers, the restaurant has earned a spot on our list of eco-conscious addresses in Montreal.

“We’re lucky — we really do have a great clientele. People are happy to be here! Most of the guests who come to try us out end up coming back because they had such a great first evening. And what’s fun is that we’ve managed to create a place where those returning guests start to recognize one another and eventually get to know each other.”

What we love most about Chez Victoire is its warm atmosphere, its inviting and down-to-earth spirit, not to mention its delectable menu and beautiful wine list. It’s now one of our top recommendations for a Monday night date or a laid-back dinner with the guys.

Written by Jean-Philippe Tastet


Last update: July 09, 2025

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