For the record, I have gathered a recap of all my reviews here (this is an easier way to get to them rather than scrolling the entire xanga web page).
Food rating: Exceptional (10), Excellent (9), Very good (8), Good (7), just Ok (6)
Yeah, we all can cook chicken.
But for those occasions when you happen to be out and are dying for a roasted chicken,
this could worth your attention. As what I did with this city’s sushi-yas, I went touring almost all Mtl’s roasted chicken spots. Same old method: I am reporting only about those that stood out during this tour.
I found this round up a bit frustrating. Among those I liked the most (ones that I am listing
below), I wished there would have been some kind of considerable difference that could make my choice
of going back a bit challenging. Something like ‘hmmm…this one is stellar to this respect … and that
one as stunning but in a totally different way’. Instead, as you’ll realize … my favourite roasted chicken places in Montreal are virtually of same appreciation (oddly enough, all places of this top 5of mine have performed to the exact same rating-level of 8 over 10, which is “very good” on my rating scale. I haven’t yet sampled a roasted chicken in Montreal that I could rate with a 9 over 10 (excellent) or a 10 over 10 (exceptional). In comparison, most roasted chicken I’ve tasted in March in San Sebastian were 9/10, and most grilled and roasted chicken I sampled in some parts of Africa, Mumbai and Bangkok came close to what I’d personally consider as a 10/10 for a roasted chicken (I’ve never visited Portugal though, so I’m excited at the idea to try — one day — theirs.
My top 5 best roasted chicken places in Montreal (all those places sell their chicken at a decent price,
varying in between $11 to $12):
–Romados 115 Rue Rachel E Montreal, (514) 849-1803
Their charcoal-grilled chicken is moist and flavorful, a very good one indeed but the star is their spicy sauce,
one of the best chicken’s sauces I ever sampled in Montreal. The cooks are friendly, the service pleasant,
the grilling space is shared with a bakery counter. You have only 2,3 seats next to the entrance
(it is mostly a place for take out). 8/10
–Piri Piri on Mont Royal street, not far from the corner of St Denis
I’ve read that they are not that great in comparison to Romados, but I disagree: once in my mouth, it’s the exact same chicken the exact same tasty piri piri sauce. To me, this is as great as Romados! They have several tables where you can sit, and the service is generally friendly when I go there (I always go there around 7pm on weekends). 8/10
–Coco Rico 3907, boulevard Saint-Laurent Montreal, (514) 849-5554
I was leaving for years at a stone throw of CR. I went there on numerous occasions, a proof that I loved this place. I think that both Romados and Coco Rico are considered as the top contenders of most Mtlers when it comes to roasted chickens, and indeed they are among the tastier ones you’ll find in town. And yet, I find both as equally enjoyable. Both would be an 8 over 10 of my assessment. A very good chicken indeed, but not excellent (9) or spectacular (10). Service here is good enough (nothing to complain about). PS: CR is the only place of this top 5 that roasts its chicken. The four others offer charcoal-grilled chickens.
–Chez Doval 50 Rue Marie-Anne Est Montreal, QC (514) 843-3390
It’s a cute rustic looking Portuguese restaurant at 2 street corners from Romados. The service on this evening was a mix affair, and I can’t refrain myself from dropping couple of words on my experience here on this Aug 23rd evening. It was laughable: I passed the small dining room, went at the back to order my charcoal-grilled chicken for take out. A dude, standing behind the counter, welcomed me with a facial expression that could be translated into something like ‘wtf do you want?’. It’s the facial expression. Not what he said, but you should see the ‘killer-face’. Perhaps an ex mercenary in Angola and certainly one of the few occurences when I happened to be in a restaurant and felt the urge to surrender . The dude was really determined to wipe away all the basics of the hospitality business (one fascinating act was when I was sitting there, waiting for the chicken to be grilled, with him right in my face gloriously pouring water in his own glass, not one single ‘would you like a glass of water’. That’s class redefined, hospitality re-invented, the best way to impress your diner — easy to detect the sarcasm, does it?). The rest of the 50ish all-male restaurant team seemed fortunately better informed about the basics of the hospitality business: smiling does not seem to be their forte from what I’ve sensed, but they were all polite and the cook was a true gentleman. The roasted chicken, you ask? It’s cooked on a tiny charcoal grill facing their small bar. Mine was slighlty drier than those I had at Romados and Piri Piri (also: the sauce is less daring, here – tasty enough but not stunning) and could have been a 7.5 over 10, but it had a more memorable charcoal-flavored kick that easily made this chicken as great as my previous duo. Bottom line, an 8/10 (A no repeat for me. It’s really the depth of charcoal-grilled taste —- I know, imparting a depth of charcoal-grilled flavor is no rocket science, but during this round up, they are the one that did it — that made it for me, making this grilled meat as interesting as what is listed in this top 5, the rest was ordinary as I explained earlier on).
–Braseiro 8261, boul. St-Laurent Villeray-Saint-Michel
It’s a laidback place with a cool service. I felt good everytime I went there, it’s the type of hospitality
I expect from portuguese: their warmth, their down to eath charm. I found the chicken here as good as at any of the previous mentioned places. Certainly an 8 over 10 for taste and cooking. It’s a restaurant but you can also order for take out. I see nothing to complain about here. It is what is it: a down to earth, cozy, fun little place where food is well cooked.
PS: keep sending me your votes for your favourite Montreal roasted chicken. I’ll try them as much as I can and will add to this current list — any new finding I’d estimate as standing out (to my palate) as those already mentioned here. Thanks, Aromes!
Montreal Bistrots and Gourmet restaurant by Aromes 