Michelin stars trigger booking surge at Montreal restaurants
By
When the Michelin Guide awarded one coveted star to only three Montreal restaurants earlier in May, the effect was immediate — reservations surged, phones buzzed and inboxes filled with booking requests.
At Mastard, a restaurant in Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie, chef and owner Simon Mathys said demand has increased significantly.
'It's been crazy in a good way,' he said.
Quebec's Michelin Guide, which is the third in Canada after Toronto and Vancouver, has drawn attention to the restaurants it featured. The three Michelin starred establishments in Montreal — Mastard, Jérôme Ferrer's Europea, and Sabayon — report heightened interest.
But Mastard, which offers a single tasting menu served only on weekday evenings, will not be expanding its hours, Mathys said. The restaurant is only open for dinner and remains closed on weekends.
'We received a star for what we were already doing, so there's no point in changing,' he said. 'We want to preserve our quality of life.'
Mathys lives nearby with his family. He said the local response has been notable.
'People were honking, neighbours knocked on my door to say congratulations,' he said.
Europea's lunch menu is popular
Jérôme Ferrer's Europea, a long-established downtown restaurant, has extended its booking window from three to five weeks following the Michelin announcement, according to Valentine Gros, who oversees the restaurant's gastronomic service.
'We've seen a big increase in calls,' he said. 'It's become very difficult to find a table.'
Gros said the restaurant's $50 and $90 lunch menus have become especially popular, with bookings rising since the guide's release.
The set lunch includes three courses, a glass of wine and a complimentary amuse-bouche. By contrast, the evening set menu is $185 with a $250 wine pairing option.
'It allows people to experience a Michelin-starred restaurant at a lower price point,' he said.
Sabayon bombarded with messages
At Sabayon, co-owner Marie-Josée Beaudoin said the restaurant was already fully booked most nights before the announcement. But since receiving the star, inquiries have increased.
'We've been getting messages from everywhere,' she said. 'There's a lot of interest.'
The Quebec Michelin Guide was promoted in partnership with the Alliance de l'industrie touristique du Québec and backed in part by six organizations across local, provincial, and federal levels.
While full financial details remain confidential, the city of Montreal and Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions confirmed contributions totalling $750,000.
A 2024 survey by Quebec's tourism ministry found 70 per cent of would-be summer visitors were interested in the Michelin Guide.
However, despite now being under the Michelin spotlight, the chefs and owners say their recipe for success remains unchanged.
'This is like inviting someone to my home,' Mathys said. 'And when you come to my home, I'm the one who decides what's for dinner.'
Asked whether he might open the restaurant for lunch in the future, Mathys replied: 'No way.'
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Montreal Gazette
25-05-2025
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Michelin stars trigger booking surge at Montreal restaurants
By When the Michelin Guide awarded one coveted star to only three Montreal restaurants earlier in May, the effect was immediate — reservations surged, phones buzzed and inboxes filled with booking requests. At Mastard, a restaurant in Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie, chef and owner Simon Mathys said demand has increased significantly. 'It's been crazy in a good way,' he said. Quebec's Michelin Guide, which is the third in Canada after Toronto and Vancouver, has drawn attention to the restaurants it featured. The three Michelin starred establishments in Montreal — Mastard, Jérôme Ferrer's Europea, and Sabayon — report heightened interest. But Mastard, which offers a single tasting menu served only on weekday evenings, will not be expanding its hours, Mathys said. The restaurant is only open for dinner and remains closed on weekends. 'We received a star for what we were already doing, so there's no point in changing,' he said. 'We want to preserve our quality of life.' Mathys lives nearby with his family. He said the local response has been notable. 'People were honking, neighbours knocked on my door to say congratulations,' he said. Europea's lunch menu is popular Jérôme Ferrer's Europea, a long-established downtown restaurant, has extended its booking window from three to five weeks following the Michelin announcement, according to Valentine Gros, who oversees the restaurant's gastronomic service. 'We've seen a big increase in calls,' he said. 'It's become very difficult to find a table.' Gros said the restaurant's $50 and $90 lunch menus have become especially popular, with bookings rising since the guide's release. The set lunch includes three courses, a glass of wine and a complimentary amuse-bouche. By contrast, the evening set menu is $185 with a $250 wine pairing option. 'It allows people to experience a Michelin-starred restaurant at a lower price point,' he said. Sabayon bombarded with messages At Sabayon, co-owner Marie-Josée Beaudoin said the restaurant was already fully booked most nights before the announcement. But since receiving the star, inquiries have increased. 'We've been getting messages from everywhere,' she said. 'There's a lot of interest.' The Quebec Michelin Guide was promoted in partnership with the Alliance de l'industrie touristique du Québec and backed in part by six organizations across local, provincial, and federal levels. While full financial details remain confidential, the city of Montreal and Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions confirmed contributions totalling $750,000. A 2024 survey by Quebec's tourism ministry found 70 per cent of would-be summer visitors were interested in the Michelin Guide. However, despite now being under the Michelin spotlight, the chefs and owners say their recipe for success remains unchanged. 'This is like inviting someone to my home,' Mathys said. 'And when you come to my home, I'm the one who decides what's for dinner.' Asked whether he might open the restaurant for lunch in the future, Mathys replied: 'No way.'
CBC
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Whether it's the people driving the 100 trucks coming in and out of the plant daily, or local restaurants and shops, more than just plant workers would bear the burden. Mitchell likens the current political and economic tension to an animal storing food for the winter. The only difference? The animal doesn't know if winter is actually coming. "Do you start tucking away your money and preparing for a slowdown?" Mitchell asks. "Or is it all a bluff that's going to go away?"
