The pandemic has hit everyone in different ways but has especially hurt the local businesses that have remained closed since Montreal’s red zone status was announced in early October. Amongst these local businesses, black owners have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Here is a collection of ten local Black-owned restaurants which will satisfy your take-out cravings while also supporting some of these businesses through these tough times.
#1 Kwizinn
https://www.kwizinn.ca/?lang=en
#2 6 Green Banana
With such a catchphrase as “Done the way mama did it”, you can expect the Jamaican food at 6 Green Banana to be comforting and tropical. The restaurant also has student deals and specials to keep an eye out for!
http://www.6greenbanana.com/?fbclid=lwAR21z7Pr0faYHTfajjulY2IK-sBQW3yEUN10BBdmoT4PwzDd3zNJSux20uQ
#3 Bistro Nolah
Southern cuisine is rare in Montreal, but Bistro Nolah’s popularity isn’t only based on its novelty. The chef, Richard Taitt, has a skillful hand with classic New Orleans flavours in seafood and meat, like gumbo and jambalaya.
#4 Mango Bay
Close to McGill University, Mango Bay serves a variety of Jamaican dishes in the heart of Montreal. Try their special oxtail, ackee, and cod dishes for an authentic Jamaican plate, or their Jerk chicken burger combo for a fast food dish with Jamaican flavours.
https://www.mangobay.ca/?lang=en
#5 Caribbean Food Factory
Let Caribbean Food Factory transport your palate to a delicious experience with divine Caribbean meals that are rich in flavours. Their menu features delicious meals like Fried Snapper with rich and peas, goat curry, jerk chicken, and stew chicken, which are all prepared hot and fresh every day.
https://caribbeanfoodfactory.restaurant/
#6 Queen Sheba
Restaurant Queen Sheba is a vegan and gluten-free friendly restaurant located in The Plateau Mont-Royal. They will offer you some of the best authentic Ethiopian cuisine.
https://www.facebook.com/restaurantqueensheba/
#7 Maquis Yasolo
Maquis Yasolo is a new Afro-Quebecois restaurant in Saint-Henri in Montreal. Here, let yourself experience the flavours of African cuisine and all of its culinary diversity.
https://www.facebook.com/MaquisYasolo/
#8 Local Legend
At the Plateau’s Local Legend, experience funky cocktails and fusion food in a casual setting. With dollar wing days and pub-style comfort food, ordering take-out from Local Legend sounds like a great idea for that home bar experience.
https://www.facebook.com/locallegendmtl/photos/?ref=page_internal
#9 Paradis BBQ
The Paradis BBQ offers cuisine at the crossroads of classic comforting dishes and the distinctive know-how of its chefs. You will find tasty rotisserie chicken with crispy skin, slowly cooked in its homemade spice rub. Carefully roasted or fried, these ingredients are sourced from a family farm located less than 250km from the restaurant, their freshness clearly represented in its menu of local products.
#10 Mama J’s Cakes
Ending on a sweet note, Mama J’s Cakes is a bakery providing peanut-free signature cakes baked from scratch. These include cheesecakes, red velvet cake, cupcakes, and cornbread, just to name a few. Mama J’s Cakes is owned by Jacqueline, a single mother who immigrated to Montreal with her two children, so your support during your next sweet craving would mean so much.
How else can you help?
When possible, order directly from the restaurants as much as possible, in order for them to receive as much financial support as possible.
You are also welcome to browse through the Google Sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1E70joYuC0FQgOhEMETbM-yRmyOzWOqjJ_QPlg8Dc1GM/edit#gid=1295046823 curated by allies to view more local black-owned restaurants, grocery stores, and services.