Canada’s best new restaurant for 2024 is this cozy 14-seat Montreal spot with afternoon tea

Montreal’s dining scene is in the national spotlight once again, with a local spot taking the crown as Canada’s best new restaurant for 2024.

Air Canada’s annual Best New Restaurants ranking has placed a cozy, 14-seat Montreal restaurant at number one this year, recognizing its intimate afternoon tea service and elegant dinners that showcase seasonal, locally sourced ingredients.

Sabayon, led by acclaimed pastry chef Patrice Demers and sommelier Marie-Josée Beaudoin, took the top spot on this prestigious list for 2024. This 14-seat gem is defined by its warm, personal ambiance — you’re greeted by the owners themselves, who double as the entire staff, according to Air Canada.

With Demers working magic in the kitchen and Beaudoin expertly guiding guests through wine pairings, every detail is carefully curated.

Air Canada highlighted the duo’s dedication to detail, from Sabayon’s intimate afternoon tea service to its innovative dinners. The menu features a seasonal six-course dinner that blurs the line between simplicity and sophistication. Plus, the restaurant’s namesake dish — featuring grilled oyster mushrooms, potato purée and a caramelized arlette wafer crowned with a cloud of sabayon sauce — was named Air Canada’s Dish of the Year.

Plus, don’t miss the afternoon tea service, available only on Fridays and Saturdays, where Quebec’s Camellia Sinensis teas pair with three courses of desserts ranging from brioche to intricate mignardises.

But Quebec didn’t stop there — another standout from the province, Mont-Tremblant’s Maison de Soma, claimed the third spot. Known for redefining farm-to-table dining, this restaurant operates from a 600-acre property in the Laurentian Mountains, using ingredients grown and harvested on site to create unforgettable dishes.

Montreal’s Parapluie also earned a spot on the list, landing in sixth place for its refined, playful take on French bistro dining in the Mile End.

Air Canada’s Best New Restaurants list, now in its 23rd year, is considered a definitive guide to Canada’s dynamic food scene. This year, it was compiled by award-winning cookbook author and culinary journalist Tara O’Brady, who visited all 30 restaurants in 16 cities from the longlist released in September to assess them on culinary vision, quality of ingredients and overall dining experience.

Here is the full list of Canada’s top 10 new restaurants for 2024:

1. Sabayon (Montreal)
2. Mhel (Toronto, ON)
3. Maison de Soma (Mont-Tremblant)
4. Takja BBQ House (Toronto, ON)
5. Café Malabar (Victoria, BC)
6. Parapluie (Montreal)
7. Bar Prima (Toronto, ON)
8. Fat Rabbit (St. Catharines, ON)
9. Gary’s (Vancouver, BC)
10. Crumb Queen/Andy’s Lunch (Winnipeg, MB)

This year’s list showcases standout dining from seven cities across four provinces, proving that Canada’s culinary excellence extends far beyond major hubs — although Sabayon’s top ranking proves Montreal might still be king in Canada’s food landscape.

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