Le Méchant Mangeur

Watching the hockey game in Montreal is a special endeavour. Picking the perfect venue, getting the best seats and chowing down on some good food with friends is not always easy to organize. If you do have your regular spot for the face-off, I’m sure changing up your plans is not too far off your mind. I’m not only talking about spots to watch the game, I’m talking about watching & eating.
 
In no particular order, below are some spots I like to watch & eat. I didn’t put addresses because Google is really popular these days. If you’re really having trouble, you can tweet me.

These are all places I’ve frequented; I’m not saying that they are the best or anything, just that you can expect some good watching and some good fooding.

La Cage au Sports (Bell Center)
- Your typical commercialized sports bar with 74 TVs and 4 giant screens to catch the action on every angle. It’s impossible to miss a play at The Cage. The food is standard, but fun to eat. Massive burgers, chicken wings and even salads! I wouldn’t go here as a regular, but it can be perfect for some matches. The one next to the Bell Center is obviously the best; the venue is usually pumping on a hockey night.
Watching Experience: 3/3
Eating Experience: 1.5/3
 
Champs Bar and Restaurant
- If you haven’t been –or worse- never heard of the place, I would go. It’s a close to perfect place to watch & eat. They have a nice, easy menu and I have not been disappointed yet. Not the best, but good enough for steaks and burgers. Over 3 floors they have more screens than you can count. The food is pub style, but I have a feeling they add a tad of love to each order. But be ready to wait for your plate a little longer than you might expect on game nights.
Watching Experience: 3/3
Eating Experience: 2/3
 
Chez Serge
- Minus all the drama it’s one of the favourites to watch the match outside of the Center! I don’t mean Gossip Girl drama; I mean the getting inside drama. The place gets packed quickly! I remember when I last went I had to buy Chez Serge money upon entry. The makeshift money goes fast, but it’s kind of lame. I don’t know if this is still going on, but it was not really inviting. Once you’re in, it’s a whole new world. It’s a one of a kind venue with Habs gear everywhere. If you have to go to the washroom before the period ends, go for it! They have TVs on the ceilings over the urinals. The food is not good, but they have hot dogs. Oh and coyote ugly inspired bartenders dance on the bar in-between periods.
Watching Experience: 3/3
Eating Experience: .5/3
 
Reggies
-You can’t omit it on any list! I spent a lot of time in this place during my years as an undergrad over at the ConU. It’s a good enough university bar to watch your bleu, blanc et rouge. I used to run down during evening class breaks to catch the matches –I never ran back up. They have a projector and a few TVs to catch the action. You feel like you’re sitting in the EX section of the Center during intermissions with the giveaways sponsored by Molson. Call or stop by with a plan B before you settle. I’ve walked in a few times and nothing was playing. It isn’t their top priority. They don’t have food, but JavaU does (next door). I like their grilled chicken panini dressed with caramelized onions, spiced apples with cinnamon and curry on a pita.
Watching Experience: 2/3
Eating Experience: 2/3 
 
Benelux
- Another cool hockey-minded student-filled microbrewery. The place was a bank back in the day, so they have a cool vault room that you can reserve to watch the hockey games. It’s a small section in the back. Obviously, call early enough to reserve it. Aside from that, they have nice big screens to watch. I did see a projector in their a few times, but it had a delay – I don’t know what the story is with that anymore. If you like beer, once again this is a good venue for you. They have great sandwiches and these must try Euro style hot dogs like you’ve never seen. It gets nice and rowdy too. You’ll catch me here more than a few times this season.
Watching Experience: 2.5/3
Eating Experience: 2/3
 
Station des Sports
- I’ve never been disappointed. It’s another difficult to get into sports bar on game nights and afternoons, but they have a sister venue next door (Karaoke Box) that offers a similar, but not as authentic feel. The Station gets pumping! They have a menu with food that’s well worth your money. Massive burgers, fries, amazing salads, 20 plus TVs and a few projectors –BOOM!  Do you need further convincing? I’ll be catching the afternoon games here this season. A good burger lunch or salad with a side of an afternoon match! Perfect.
Watching Experience: 3/3
Eating Experience: 2.5/3
 
Ye Olde Orchard Pub and Grill
-How many games did I watched here last season? A lot of them! They have a few locations, but for some reason the kitchen is a lot better on Prince Arthur than at the other two locations. Don’t ask why. I have no idea. They have amazing sound, great HD screens and the crowd is cool. The food I love. Burgers are my thing, I always eat them and I’m constantly looking for the best ones. This place holds one of my top grilled burgers in town. Chowing down on the 8oz Boss burger with sweet potato fries as I watch the Habs unit kick ass – ideal!
Watching Experience: 3/3
Eating Experience: 3/3
 
Les 3 Brasseurs
- If you’re in a jam because all your other plans fell through and you want some decent food, L3B is a perfect plan B. It’s a microbrewery restaurant downtown with tons of screens and seats. Do not be fooled by the packed house on home game nights, a lot them leave for the Center just before the game starts. You might wait a little, but it’s never that bad. I usually call and reserve under an alias (Gino Odjick) just in case my initial plans fall through. I personally liked the Bruno burger, but they don’t have it anymore unless you ask the waitress really nicely for it (it works if she thinks you’re Gino O). They like to prepare their burgers with blonde beer and have a great homemade mayonnaise. The game ambiance is also really nice as the whole place gets well into it and free peanut shells go flying everywhere. I’ll be here on lazy nights after the gym for some grilled protein and some hot ice hockey action.
Watching Experience: 2/3
Eating Experience: 2.5/3
 
Resto-Bar La Maisonnée
- In the heart of a hood I hold close to my heart; Cote-des-Neiges and near HEC. La Maisonnée is a cool locale in a different neighbourhood. It’s nice to slightly get out of downtown Montreal or the Plateau sometimes to watch. It’s a resto-bar with karaoke that promptly starts after the game is over. So even if we lose, you’re quickly reminded that worst things are out there. They have some good pizza, hamburgers, poutine and even a respectable after hour’s menu. I personally like their chicken panini with brie and grilled red peppers.
Watching Experience: 2/3
Eating Experience: 2/3
 
Burgundy Lion
- How cool is this place? Seriously, this place is cool. If you haven’t been yet, it simply means you haven’t had the best and freshest ‘Fish n Chips’ in town. At this place you can get a confit, a curry, a mushroom risotto, these fries that really look like chips, roast chicken, a bisque…I can keep going. They have Guinness Braised Lamb Shank with mash and veggies. They have Angus Select Roast Beef, gravy, roasted veggies & Yorkshire pudding. Simply put, this place has some good grub. They boast about showing all the games, so the setup is good, but not the best. If I had friends from out of town who wanted to watch the game and have a good meal, I’d bring them to the Lion.
Watching Experience: 2/3
Eating Experience: 3/3

McGibbins
-If you’re into hockey at all, you’ve been to McKibbins on the ‘Main’ to watch. It’s a not so authentic old school looking Irish pub in the heart of ‘I’m too hot for you’ St. Laurent Street. I went there a few times with a couple of friends last season. They have this cool contest where you pick a player and if that player scores, your table gets free shots – but we didn’t win cause I was being too picky with the our selection (I was expecting SK to have his night). Take a look at their website. It makes me dizzy. They have a great number of flat screen TVs and a decent menu to read over. Not the greatest spot, but a solid venue if you’re looking to party one evening with your crew. When I went I had floured boneless chicken breast served with a savoury mushroom and vermouth cream sauce, market fresh vegetables and some hand cut chips.
Watching Experience: 2/3
Eating Experience: 2/3
 
Tabasco Bar
- Looking for a new place to go? I suggest checking this place out. It reminds me of something you find on Grande Allée in Quebec City. The Bar is right by Le Maisonnée too. They have cool names for their menu items, like ‘Le Depeche Mode’ or the one I tried ‘Le Camaro 67’ which is a pita wrap with Cajun chicken, Swiss cheese and avocado. Their menu is also 2 for 1 between 4 and 7 on weekdays; you can save some money for the 3rd period. They have a great viewing area for the games with various flat screens highly mounted all around the place. You can order drinks in mason jars if you’re looking for some novelty.
Watching Experience: 1.5/3
Eating Experience: 2/3
 
Café Via Dante
-You have a date and the Habs are playing for a playoff spot on the same night? If you’re stressing, she/he ain’t cool enough already, but that’s just me. Café Via Dante has some excellent Italian food. It’s no bar or gasto pub, “it’s a real restaurant” the host told me when I was chatting with him. They have one TV. But if you call for the best seat, you can get the perfect view for keeping up without checking your phone. I ordered stuffed homemade pasta with butternut squash, parmesan and sage sauce and get this, for 10 bucks! Lots of better places for a date place, but this one is gem!
Watching Experience: 1/3
Eating Experience: 3/3

Baton Rouge
- Some say this place has great food. I’m personally not a fan (yet). But I’m definitely willing to retest the menu, especially if they have a TV playing the game. Others will jump all over the menu, so don’t take my word for it. Better for the food than the viewing experience, they only have 4 TVs by the bar. If you’re stuck on a date on a hockey night or someone’s birthday dinner, call in advance to get the perfect spot. Not only will she/he be impressed you made a reservation, you’ll get the chance to keep up with the score.
Watching Experience: 1.5/3
Eating Experience: 3/3

Le Massillia
- Another cool place. It’s apparently the only pub Marseille in town. The menu is standard and simple, but you can get an authentic croque monsieur. They boast about their Ricard and huge flat screens. They have 3 well arranged screens to watch the games. It’s a great venue to watch soccer, but they play hockey as well. To change things up, I’ll go here once in a while this season. Especially early on so I can play on their petanque court in the back.
Watching Experience: 2.5/3
Eating Experience: 1.5/3

Le Pub Rosemont
- I like this place because of the food. They don’t serve any! You can bring in anything you like. You can bring take-away from DNA or even McDonalds if you wanted! You can bring anything from anywhere really. They have 3 amazing screens with HD display, but be warned, they only have the volume on for Saturday and playoff games.
Watching Experience: 1.5/3
Eating Experience: 3/3

Irish Embassy
- I like to watch the games at the Embassy and I will be doing that a bit more this season. Why? Clam chowder, curried chips, flatbread, burgers, rib-eye sandwiches, pan seared tuna, tikka masala, lamb, maple glazed salmon and 7 giant screens. It’s at a great location with a cool crowd. You might have to haggle a bit here and there to get the better spots, but generally speaking you’ll be fine.  They placed the TVs strategically so that you can see from anywhere. But for busier nights, it gets harder to find the screen. They also have consistent problems with putting the volume on as each period starts up again. It takes them a minute or two.
Watching Experience: 2/3
Eating Experience: 2/3

McLean’s Pub
- As popular as it is, I almost forgot this place! The list was getting too long. I’m sure I forgot a few places. It goes to show you that Montreal is truly a hockey devoted city. I have to mention (unrelated) they have free wifi! McLeans has 6 or 7 good screens and a giant projection. Typical menu like the other Irish pubs on the list, but they do have a special beer battered fish ‘n chips. Cod fillets in their homemade Alexander Keith’s Beer Batter with French Fries, Fresh Tartar Sauce and a wedge of Lemon.
Watching Experience: 2.5/3
Eating Experience: 2.5/3

Vieux-Port Steakhouse
- They’re organizing some great hockey nights this season. You can check their website for more details, but it’s basically steak and hockey (STEAK ♥ HOCKEY) you can’t go wrong with the Vieux by adding a side of hockey to the dish. Although our food came out cold, I may go back to give it another chance. The waiters are obviously Habs fans, so getting their attention is not always easy as the game plays. Call in early to get a good seat with a good view, not all the seats have a nice view of the game.  http://www.vpsteak.com/
Watching Experience: 2/3
Eating Experience: 2/3

Other places I’m going to try this season

- Chez Roger
They have foie gras, beef tartar, truffles and flat screens showing the games.
- Brasseurs De Montréal
Missing a few details, but I know the food is amazing and they have TVs.
- Cafe international
À la minute dishes and a few screens to watch & eat.
- Edgar Hypertaverne
Simple and good tapas, excellent drinks, 3 giant screens.
- Bar Normand
Food (unknown) Hockey (YES!)
- Rachel Rachel
Bob Le Chef and Flat screens! I can not wait to try this new place.

Mentionable locations:

Dundees Bar and Grill
Cherry Bar
Cheers!
Méchant Boeuf Bar-Brasserie
Spanish Club
Bar&Boeuf
Copacabana Scratch Kitchen
Barfly
Sharx
Le Vieux Dublin
Sherazade