For anyone who listened to my podcast episode with Time Out Market CEO Didier Souillat a couple weeks ago, you might have thought: “That’s cool that the market in Montreal is back open, but I really don’t want to be inside an enclosed space right now, even if the air circulation is top notch.
Fait enough, I’d have said, and apparently Didier and his team did too, because this week they announced that Time Out Market Montréal, in collaboration with XP_MTL, has opened a terrasse on Philips Square, two blocks east of the Eaton Centre, where you can enjoy your takeout from the food hall in the open air.
You still have to go inside to pick it up, but you don’t need to wait or order at any of the counters. Time Out already had an ordering app in place for all its open restaurants (search for “Time Out Market” on the app store, then select “Montreal from within the app for participating restaurants and menus), but now there’s seating to go with it. You order directly via the app (or at the counters directly). And you don’t have to pay a premium for delivery via DoorDash.
Here are some answers to questions that I had and you might have:
- Can you order from the bar to drink on the terrasse?
No, you can’t order wine, cocktails or beer from the bar, and the terrasse isn’t licensed, so if you want to drink, you have to drink inside the Time Out Market at the bar itself. You can order non-alcoholic drinks (including mocktails) on the app, to be picked up at the takeout point inside the Eaton Centre just like you’re food. - Does the terrasse belong to the Time Out Market?
No. It’s part of a series of events/things/activities from XP_MTL, a non-profit organization:
“whose mission is to offer an event and festive programming, supported by a strong online presence and which aims to contribute Montreal downtown economy, particularly on Sainte-Catherine Street…. The XP_MTL project … proposes to bet on the quality of the EXPERIENCE offered to people living, working, studying or having fun in the downtown core – consumers, workers, students, visitors and tourists – by deploying on a yearly basis a programming that will highlight the major lifestyle trends ‘fashion, design, music, beauty and shopping.'” - Is there table service on the terrasse?
No. - What restaurants are currently open in the Market and doing takeout and delivery?
Paul Toussaint and the Haitian/Caribbean food he got known for from Agrikol; Marusan and its curries and comforting noodles; Le Red Tiger and its Vietnamese street food; Il Miglio and its high end pasta at an affordable price; Moleskine and its crispy tipped pizza; and Romados and its famous Portuguese grilled chicken. - Why have only some of the restaurants reopened?
It’s easiest just to listen to the last 5à7 Podcast episode to find out. - Hey Amie, what are the other food halls doing in Montreal? Do they have terrasses, too? (Yes, sometimes I too ask myself questions that start with ‘Hey, Amie.’)
Well, I know Le Central is open again and has a new and nice-looking place to sit outside in the far-from-tourist-free Place des Festivals (see Instagram embed below). It seems that 22 of its restaurants are open, which might be all of them but I’m not 100% sure. I’ve also seen people sitting at the bar at Pinxto through the window on Ste-Catherine St., so interior seating is open, at least some of it. Le Cathcart also has an app and the beer garden and takeout counter has been open since July 6. If the website is up to date, 12 of its food stalls and 2 of its restaurants are open for takeout.
Le Central’s new terrasse
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