Moe’s Bar & Grill West Island continues to achieve success three decades later

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For more years than I can remember I would drive to Pointe Claire just to enjoy a good smoked meat sandwich or some breakfast at Moe’s Bar & Grill. The menu had so many tempting items, I always tempted to return.

On my way home from Ottawa recently I decided to make a pit stop and call in a large order that I could enjoy over a couple of days. When I arrived, longtime owner Johnny Cripotos was there to greet me.

There is a reason why Moe’s has such a fine reputation. Johnny has been the owner since the place first opened in 1991. He attributes the success to the use of the highest quality of ingredients, friendly service, constant evolving menus and a 2012 remodeling which brought the seating capacity to 200.

The menu features many classic favorites such as their trademark smoked meat, a braised beef to die for, pizzas, burgers, AAA steak, paninis, salads and great desserts. They are open for lunch and dinner every day. Breakfast service will resume soon. If you need a catering job, Johnny is waiting for your call. The bar has a relaxed, fun atmosphere, with plenty of sporting events being played on multiple flat screen televisions. A seasonal outdoor patio remains popular. Oh yes, there is a kid’s menu. Last summer Cripotos organized an outdoor concert in the parking lot to bring some life to the area during the pandemic.

The trademark Moe’s smoked meat sandwich.

For my order, I started off with a grilled karnatzel on toasted rye bread and some garlic cheese bread. I had the jumbo smoked meat sandwich on my mind, with fries on the side, and this selection did not disappoint me. When I got home, I enjoyed a decadent piece of chocolate cake. The following day I could not wait for lunch, and I heated up my container of Moe’s spaghetti with smoked meat (there was enough left over for an additional lunch). That night I sampled the braised beef, accompanied by mashed potatoes and a potato latke. Even though it was a day old, once heated up it cut like butter. And Cripotos had included a slice of strawberry cheesecake, something he himself makes each day.

“The braised beef has become a real favorite,” Cripotos said of the item that is not so easy to find on restaurant menus. “We make it fresh every day, cooking it for 4 to 4 ½ hours.”

Cripotos is proud of the fact Moe’s has been able to survive the pandemic. “At the very start we closed for four weeks,” he recalls. “Then my wife had enough of me being home each day, so we reopened for take-out and delivery. It started off very slowly, but as time went on more people realized what a good option this was. There were many repeat orders. We reopened for dining twice and closed twice due to government regulations. But all the way the community supported us. The West Island has a lot of family activities. People do not have enough time always to prepare dinner. They are always on the run and that is where we come in. Take-out for these families has become very important and convenient.”

Of course, restaurants have reopened and Cripotos could not be happier!

For the complete menu log on to http://www.moeswestisland.com/en/. Moe’s Bar & Grill West Island is located at 940 boul. Saint-Jean. The place opens for lunch at 11:30 am each day. You can call 514-426-8247 for reservations or take-out. Home delivery is available via the standard apps.