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Bonheur d’occasion

Montreal, QC

A bean salad from Bonheur d’occasion in Montreal
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Bonheur d’occasion in Montreal takes the number six spot on the Top 10 list of Canada’s Best New Restaurants 2023.

Food & Drink, Canada’s Best New Restaurants, Montreal
By Amy Rosen
Photos by Virginie Gosselin
November 1, 2023

Street Address

4001 Notre-Dame St. W.

City + Province

Montreal, QC

Reservations

Yes

Website

instagram.com/bonheur.doccasion

Montreal does this type of restaurant like no other. You walk into what looks like an unassuming neighbourhood spot and then pow! Right in the kisser!

In a spare whitewashed room with 40-odd seats, long-time friends came together to create a collective dream. Chef Philippe Gauthier, who cut his teeth at the excellent Bouillon Bilk, is joined by Angélique Custeau, along with pastry chef Victor Adnet. They create one of the most generous meals of the year with a level of hospitality best described as kindness.

The interior of Bonheur d'occasion features a chalkboard menu, wine bottles and vinyls
Fish ceviche from Bonheur d'occasion
The ever-changing chalkboard menu; crudo with fennel and strawberries.    

It starts with a Romario Gin Fizz: rosemary-infused gin, lime and a thoughtfully vegan foam. Then a gorgeous fan of fried enoki mushrooms is plated with meaty steamed asparagus, cucumber and lettuce for a crispy-crunchy, two-temperature salad. “Do you like it?” asks our smiling server. “We love it!” Softshell crabs on homemade buns with special sauce taste like a succulent Filet o’ Quebec Maritimes. “Do you like it?” “We love it!” Chef Gauthier drops off a platter of juicy duck, straight from the open kitchen, strewn with crushed olives and served with shiso leaves to use like fragrant lettuce cups. “I hope you like it.” (Oui!)

Animated photos from Bonheur d'occasion of lemon being squeezed onto a meal and a woman enjoying a glass of white wine with her appetizers
Juicy details: The hot seafood platter, spotlighting scallops, shrimp and octopus, gets a bright squeeze.    

The mille feuille is all shattering chards of phyllo dough, deeply caramelized with maple sugar and layered with gently whipped sweet clover cream.

The Tin Flute (Bonheur d’occasion) is a classic Quebec novel focused on a family searching for love and understanding in this Saint-Henri neighbourhood. I found all of that and more in dessert.