- Moishes Steakhouse
-
MOISHES Steakhouse is one of the oldest and most respected restaurants in Montreal, Canada. Founded in 1938 by Moishe Lighter, it was initially called "Romanian Paradise." Legend has it that Lighter, an immigrant from Romania to Canada, became the owner of the restaurant in a card game. The restaurant's name was changed to "Moishes" at the outset of World War II.
The restaurant has been in its location at 3961 Saint-Laurent Boulevard since its founding. Identified as a "Jewish steakhouse," its menu was based on traditional Old World recipes, and it catered to the mainly Central European immigrant residents of its neighbourhood, called "The Main." The influence of Romanian cuisine has had a tremendous shaping influence on the culinary culture of Montreal, producing, among other staples, the bagels and smoked meat for which the city is known.
The Main and its colourful characters are prominent in Montreal literature and culture, as most famously represented in the writing of Montreal's Mordecai Richler. (Richler himself was a long-time Moishes client, and the restaurant features prominently in much of his work.)
Over the decades, Moishes became a draw for Montrealers of all backgrounds and walks of life. In addition to "regular" Montrealers, it has been frequented by a long list of celebrities, politicians and athletes who have included: The Honourable Prime Ministers Pierre Trudeau, Kim Campbell, Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin; Paul Desmarais, Charles Bronfman, Danny Kaye, Frank Sinatra, Leonard Cohen, Corey Hart, Bruce Boxleitner, Celine Dion, Marlon Brando, Jerry Springer, Mandy Moore, Angelina Jolie, Billy Bob Thrton, Samuel L. Jackson, Johnny Depp, Ray Liotta, The Rock, David Hyde Pierce, Howie Mandell, Rob Lowe, John Laroquette, Robert Downey Jr., Kelsey Grammer, Don Rickles, Jim Belushi, Robert Duvall, Carl Reiner, Kelly Ripa, and the rock group U2. Sports celebrities have included Andy Roddick, Maurice Richard, Patrick Roy, Felipe Alou, Moises Alou, Pedro Martinez, Jean Beliveau, Jose Theodore, Mike Rebeiro, Martin Haular, Darcy Tucker, Mike Komisaref, Shayne Corson, Mike Bossy, Guy Lafleur, Yvon Cournoyer, Jacques Laperriere, Vladimir Guerrero, Barry Bonds, Mark MacGuire, Ozzie Smith, Mikeal Schumacher, Ralf Schumacher, Hulk Hogan, Annie DeMontigny, and Wilt Chamberlain. Karol Wojtyla, who would later become Pope John Paul II, ate there while still a Cardinal.
The restaurant is still a fixture of Montreal's Main today, catering to business people, families, and visitors to Montreal. It is a winner of Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence, and was named one of the Top 10 Steakhouses in the World by Forbes Magazine.
References
- Richler, Mordecai, Barney's Version
- Weintraub, William, City Unique: Montreal Days and Nights in the 1940s and 50s
External links
Categories:- Restaurants in Montreal
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
