MtlRestoRap
For this month’s column I thought I’d share my experiences recently at four dining establishments.
Kirkland Souvlaki: The Arahova brand has been around since 1971, originally established by Christos Kalogrias. While he still remains active in the business, his three children have taken the business to a new level. Most recently, Arahova opened its 13th location on the Trans Canada in Kirkland just next door to the Provigo. In March another new franchise will debut on Ontario Street and St. Denis in the Latin Quarter. It is George Kalogrias, with sisters Tina and Bia, who oversee the operations these days. Besides the restaurants, many of their popular items can be found at grocery stores.
A few years back the first Arahova franchise opened in Hallandale, Florida. Another is on the way in Fort Lauderdale. Mike Jean and Christopher Dunk are the very happy franchisees. Spiro Korzis, the brand ambassador from corporate head office, is weaving his usual magic by ensuring that the new location succeeds without a hitch. Tables can accommodate about 20 people inside. A seasonal patio will hold another 15. This place will do very well for take-out and delivery. There is plenty of free parking in the strip mall. Jean’s wife Stephanie Dede runs DK Bakery in Montreal North and she has established a small pop up dessert display next to the counter.
My friend Tony and I started off with some warm and fresh pita, with taramosalata. Both of us were in a “loose meat” kind of mood. I had the chicken gyro plate, with rice and fries and of course the famous tzatziki sauce; Tony went for the doner 100 percent beef with rice and salad; and George joined us, showcasing one of the healthy bowls with vegetables, chicken gyro and potatoes with a topping of honey mustard dressing. Arahova Kirkland is located at 16948 Trans Canada Highway. Delivery in the immediate area is available via Skip, Uber Eats and DoorDash. For more information call 514-694-2222 or log on to www.arahova-souvlaki.ca
Jake Greenberg prepares a squished knish
Photo: Ezra Soiferman
Chez Greenberg: There is a trendy new eatery in town. Chez Greenberg opened in January at 5159 du Parc in the Mile End with the simplest of menus: homemade smoked salmon, the squished knish, latkes and coffee. Homemade pickles are on the way. Owners Jake Greenberg and Daniel Feinglos have created a concept which is already resonating with the population. It is still very much a work in progress. There is no sign outside yet and the small dining room, which seats about 40 people, will be reconfigured and spiced up. When I dropped by, Snowdon Deli co-owner Hart Fishman was among those checking the place out and giving it a big thumbs up.
Upon entering the premises you can scan the QR code for the menu or access it from the website. I thoroughly enjoyed my smoked salmon sandwich, served on a white seed bagel with all of the fixings. The squished knish is loaded up with caramelized onions and steamy mashed potatoes. Finally along came the potato latke, with hand-whipped lemon and herb cream cheese. Chez Greenberg is located at 5159 du Parc, just south of Fairmount, and open Wednesday to Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm. Log on to www.chezgreenberg.com or call 514-348-0000.
Pizzeria Angry Paesano: I really thought I had experienced all of the unique pizza restaurants in Montreal over the years. Then I discovered Pizzeria Angry Paesano in Griffintown, located at the corner of Notre Dame W. and Guy streets. During the Covid-19 pandemic, owner Johnny Toia began, manufacturing handmade Neapolitan-style frozen pizzas with fresh produce and premium ingredients. The products quickly gained a reputation for exceptional quality, leading to the opening of this first café in Griffintown. Marco Esposito and Alexandra Ouaknine came aboard as co-owners.
The Pizza Portafoglio at Pizzeria Angry Paesano
This place’s calling card is authentic Italian street food, featuring savory cuisine, excellent coffee and pastries! Their Neapolitan style pizza is a culinary icon born in the streets of Naples, Italy. The Pizza Portafoglio, which I savored, is the classic street food born in the gritty alleyways of Naples, and is like a pizza sandwich, but way cooler. What makes it so special? While it’s crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, it’s all about the way it’s folded! You’ve got a portable pizza pocket that’s perfect for eating on the go. I had one of their sandwiches for lunch the following the day and also took home two of their frozen pizzas which only require five minutes in the oven at 500 degrees.
Make sure to try the carboncini. This is their own invention similar to Sicilian arancini, but with a twist. Instead of being stuffed with rice, these golden balls of goodness are packed with creamy carbonara pasta. While crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, the carboncini are bursting with the rich flavors of pancetta, eggs and pecorino romano. I enjoyed it immensely. For dessert I loved the decadent Milky Way cake and also took home their bombolinis, filled with pistachio cream and nutella.
Pizzeria Angry Paesano Café Griffintown is located at 1600 rue Notre-Dame Ouest. Opening hours are 8am to 10pm Monday to Thursday; 8am to 11pm Saturday and 10am to 10pm Sunday. You can call 438-375-3015 or log on to https://angrypaesano.com for more information.
Owners William Dahan, Heidi Chenoy and manager Elana Marnie at Red Chopstix
Red Chopstix: After much anticipation, Red Chopstix Restaurant, Sports Bar & Lounge has opened at Decarie Square and the wait for the return of a kosher Chinese dining establishment appears to have been worth it. This indeed appears to be a true successor to the once iconic Ernie and Ellies. I was invited for lunch by owners Heidi Chenoy and William Dahan. The seating capacity is 112 in the main dining room. There is also a sports bar that can accommodate 95 more people. It has a bar, tables and some large flat screen televisions to watch the big games. As for the chefs, Chenoy and Dahan were able to recruit a team of four experienced Chinese chefs, some of whom have shared family recipes that go back generations. They also had to hire a full-time mashgiach (a Jew who supervises the kashrut status of a kosher establishment).
My friend Warren and I started off by sharing some delicious and crispy chicken egg rolls, followed by perfectly prepared chicken peanut butter dumplings and piping hot bowls of wonton soup. Next came a plate of General Tao chicken, accompanied by rice and vegetables. From the grill we also shared a chicken schnitzel sandwich with French fries on the side. You can also order burgers, lamb chops, a smoked meat sandwich and stir fried meals. Red Chopstix is located near the main side entrance to Decarie Square, on Vezina on the ground floor before the escalators. You can call 514-903-STIX(7849) or log on to Kosherredchopstix.com
Mike Cohen can be reached at info@mikecohen.ca. Follow his dining adventures at www.mtlrestorap.com and on Instagram @mikecohencsl
