Labo Culinaire – Food Lab: Inventive local cuisine at the SAT

In the heart of the Quartier des Spectacles, the Labo Culinaire – Food Lab is an excellent restaurant whose team is constantly experimenting to make Quebec producers shine.

The Labo Culinaire – Food Lab is located on the third floor of the Society for Arts and Technology (SAT), Montreal’s epicentre for creative research.

New team, same mission

The SAT is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and is welcoming a dynamic new team to manage its restaurant. Le Labo, which opened in the autumn of 2011, continues to evolve in its quest to think differently about gastronomy. The restaurant is a member of the Aliments du Québec au menu program; this means that they showcase the wonderful products of Quebec and its producers.

Chef Emilie Bégin is taking over the reins at Le Labo. Her background is fascinating: trained in baking and cooking, she has worked with several renowned chefs; this includes the incredible Marc-André Royal at La Bête à Pain, Marie-Fleur St-Pierre at Mesón and Danny St-Pierre. She then moved on to Manitoba, then to Clos des Sens—a triple-starred French restaurant—before returning to Quebec, where she worked at Le Naufrageur, a darling microbrewery in Carleton, in Gaspésie.

This is a truly passionate chef who has taken over; when we asked Emilie about her motivations, she simply answered: “I genuinely cook for the love of it and for the sake of making people happy”. Emilie, we can confirm that you have made us very happy!

The drink menus are designed by sommelier Kim Urbain and bar chef Étienne Cloutier-Mongeau. Kim focuses on natural and biodynamic wines, and the list is full of great finds; so much so that it has earned a place on our list of the best places to drink natural wine. Étienne’s cocktail list offers unusual combinations, as he experiments with surprising ingredients; taro, wild rice and even porcinis make appearances in his cocktails!

Bright and casual

On the top floor of the SAT and adjacent to the Satosphere, the Labo’s dining room is bright and casual. Modern and with a penchant for raw materials, the décor is welcoming and offers a friendly vibe to the space. The open kitchen contributes to the experience as it demonstrates the transparency of the project, which aims to “help demystify the inner workings of the kitchen”. We also love their terrace, which, thanks to its breathtaking view of the city, has been included in our guide to the most beautiful terraces.

At the corner of Saint-Laurent Boulevard and Place de la Paix, the Labo Culinaire is a very interesting project. The Labo Culinaire – Food Lab is also on our list of places to go out in the Quartier des Spectacles.

We recommend checking out the SAT’s programming before your visit. Their dynamic calendar offers immersive experiences in the Satosphere, concerts, a series of “Ciné-concerts” in collaboration with the Cinémathèque Québécoise, and much more.

A visit is a must!

Written by Sarah Laporta
Photography by Labo Culinaire – Food Lab

Last update: June 24, 2022

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