by the Mirror
http://www.montrealmirror.com/2005/051205/bom05_1.html

City Life

Best Neighbourhood
1. Plateau Mont-Royal
2. NDG
3. Mile-End
4. West Island
5. St-Henri
6. Westmount
7. Downtown
8. Verdun
9. Gay Village
10. LaSalle
11. Outremont
12. Little Italy
13. Chomedy
14. Cote-des-Neiges
15. Parc-Ex
16. Ville St-Laurent
17. Lachine
18. McGill Ghetto
19. Old Montreal
20. Hochelaga-Maisonneuve

No big surprise here. With the media flurry over the anglo music scene, the Plateau is hotter than ever, with rent and home prices proving the point.

Best Minority
1. Italians
2. Anglophones
3. Blacks
4. Gays
5. Greeks
6. Chinese
7. Jews
8. West Indians
9. Irish
10. Portuguese
Honourable mentions: East Indians• Filipinos • Haitians • Lebanese • Vietnamese • Latinos • Asians• Africans • Arabs • All minorities!

Montreal's polyglot make-up is one of its most attractive aspects. And where would we be without the Italians? The coffee! The food! The soccer! Forza Italia!

Best Building
1. St. Joseph's Oratory
2. PVM
3. SunLife building
4. Olympic Stadium
5. Notre Dame Basilica
6. Bell Centre
7. Grande bibliothèque
8. Belgo Building
9. Hôtel de ville
10. IBM building
Honourable mentions: W Hotel • Hôtel Godin • Alfred Building

You can say one thing about the Catholic church: it sure builds impressive buildings. Two buildings here are houses of worship, and a third, cross-shaped Place Ville-Marie, can perhaps be attributed in some way to our pious past. The stately SunLife is a no-brainer, but the Big O?

Best Place to Spot Celebrities
1. St-Laurent Boulevard
2. Globe
3. Buona Notte
4. W Hotel
5. Time Supper Club
6. Crescent Street
7. Downtown
8. Plateau Mont-Royal
9. Ste-Catherine Street
10. Old Montreal

The Main is generally a good spot to see anyone, but to really witness lecherous and coked-out movie stars and models in all their glory, the high-end restaurants near Sherbrooke are the best bets. The newest hot spot in town, the W, is also attracting the well-heeled and the well-grooomed.

Best Place to Have Public Sex
1. Mount Royal
2. Parc Lafontaine
3. Any public park
4. Public/Bar bathroom
5. Old Port
6. Balcony/porch
7. Alleys
9. Movie theatre
10. Parking lots
Honourable mentions: Île Ste-Hélène • The metro • Foufounes Électriques • Lachine Canal • Car • La Ronde • Tam Tams

The great outdoors. Mount Royal has always been a good place for a tryst, and nothing gets juices flowing like getting it on under a cross. Looking for used condoms is a popular pastime for the adventurous, but dodging vigilant cops before, during and after coitus is at least as thrilling as the actual sex.

Sexiest French Pickup Line
1. Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?
2. Allo?
3. Bonjour
4. C'va
5. Voulez-vous me soucer?
6. Oh la la...
7. Bonjour je m'appelle...
8. Embrasse moi...
9. Enchanter!
10. Baise moi

Allo, mon... nom est... shit, forget it • Are you for a united Canada, like I am? • As tu lave tes pantalons dans les windex... parce que je peux me voir dedans • As tu une soeur? • Belle jambes, a quelle heure ouvrent-elles? • Belles fesses! Où tu reste? • Ca tente tu de faire un 20 ... vite • Ca t'tante tu de v'nir chez nous? • Chek mon nouveau char • Chere, moi je suis un matador dans le lit • Comment on traduise, "Je veux faire l'amour avec toi" en anglais? • Do you like petit l'ecolier biscuits? • Eh gal, je vais t'acheter un bus passe • Enlève ta culotte, c'est moi qui pilote • Est-ce que c'est un lapin dans ta poche? Ou une grosse bite bande? • Est-ce que mon accent te rend folle? • Frappe moi dure... dure...d ure • J'ai des vhs de Bleu Nuit • J'ai un peut de la misere avec mon francais, peut tu m'aider? • J'ai une langue comme une tamanoir • J'aime la separation aussi... de tes jambes! • Je deepthroatasse • Je suis un DJ • La vie, c'est une panique dans un théâtre en feu • Ma montre magique me dit que tu n'as pas de bobette? Oui, tu n'en portes? Désolé, c'est vrai, je suis une heure en avance! • Mademoiselle, vous avez de très jolies orteils • Pas dans le cheveux, sa colle • Salut mon chocolat • Svp mets ta main dans mon poche, j'en ai des bonbons pour toi, ma belle • T'es belle comme un camion. (Dixit Renaud) • T'es cute toé • Tes totons sont hots • Je suis brun, et je suis sexy • Ton cul me fait trembler, ma belle poupoune! • Toucher mes tits • Tséé euhh j'hairais pas ça t'fourrer • sibouclez-vous? • Veux-tu que je martele ta pointe G avec ma langue? • Viens mon cochon m'a t'sucer jusqu'à s'que tu viennes! • Voulez vous faire fucky? • Voulez-vous crochet avec moi ce soir? • Voulez-vouz des Skittles

What is the one thing Montreal could not afford to lose?
1. The mountain
2. The summer
3. The women
4. The Habs
5. The festivals
6. The English
7. The French
8. The Main
9. The culture
10. The strip clubs

A referendum • 99 cent pizza • Affordable housing • All the good restos • All the hip people • Anglo Montrealers who were actually born here • Another hockey season • Any more people to Toronto • Bagels • Baseball and it's gone • Bath houses • Bilingualism • Bill 101 • Buskers • BYOB Restaurants

Caribbean Festival • Cirque du Soleil • Bars open until 3 a.m. • Coco Rico chicken • Complete service massage parlours • Contact lap dances • Cultural diversity • Diversité (i.e. LGBT pride fest) • European charm • Grand Prix • Foufounes Électriques • Orange Julep • Green space • Heritage buildings • Illegal beer sales • Immigrants • Independent music • Nightlife • Artists • Relaxed and cool attitude • F.I.N.D - too late • Churches • Drug policies • Its eccentricity • Great alcohol-free afterhours scene • Its heart • Its humour • Keen fashion sense • Its keys • Metal/hardcore scene • Parks • Its spontaneity • Its style • Its underground ska punk bands • Its vibe

Jazz Fest • Jean-Talon Market • McGill • Concordia • Mitsou • Fringe Festival • Old Montreal • St-Joseph's Oratory • Outdoor terrasses • Panache • Poutine • Public smoking • Public transportation • The cross • Schwartz's • Sex shops • Shriner's hospital • Royal Vic • Sinfulness • Snow plows • Squeegie kids • St-Catherine street • Students • Tourists • Tam Tams • The aquatic world championships • The fleuve • The good-looking men • Lachine bike path • Old Port in the summer • The Parc-Pine interchange and its amazing graf-art • The Plateau - wince - but it's true • Swingers clubs • The Twins Parade • The Village • Thursday-night weekend mentality • Winter


Nightlife

Best Bartender
1. Bill at Saphir/Foufs
2. Gern F. at Grumpy's
3. Amir at Jet Club
4. Helen at Blue Dog
5. Jen at Cock 'n' Bull
6. Kim at Barfly
7. Heather at Jupiter Room
8. Karl at Parking
9. Stacey at Tokyo
10. Adalia Weinstein at Cheers Pointe-Claire
Honourable mentions: Nancy Ross at Biftek • Daniel at Blue Dog • Sylva at Foufs • Nick the Prick at Korova

Best Waiter/Waitress
1. Julie Young at La Cabane
2. Susan at Biftek
3. Felicity Hammer at Brutopia
4. Vicky at Jet Club
5. Catherine at Club Passeport
6. Laura Monetta at Wunderbar
7. Lisa at Parking
8. Anna at Bifteck
9. Caroline at Saphir
10. Marie-Claude at Copacabana
Honourable mentions: Reno at L'Île Noire • Sabrina at Green Room • Robin at Typhoon • Shelly at Else's

A category absent from last year's BOM, Best Waiter/Waitress differs a bit from Best Bartender in that a barkeep's job isn't just yanking pints, but also serving as a shrink/carny barker/temporary best friend. Not so the table-service types - combining diplomacy, memorizing skills and an element of acrobatics, it's their job to get you the vittles and libations you requested, promptly and without collisions or spills. It's a tough gig so tip well!

Best Watering Hole
1. Bar Bifteck
2. Brutopia
3. Peel Pub
4. Barfly
5. Cock 'n' Bull Pub
6. Foufounes Électriques
7. Madhatter
8. Le Pistol
9. Grumpy's
10. Hurleys

Best Sleazy Dive
1. Miami
2. Bifteck
3. Barfly
4. Cock 'n' Bull
5. Skala
6. Foufounes Électriques
7. Peel Pub
8. Roy Bar
9. Cleopatra's
10. Bar Diana

Best Happy Hour
1. Carlos & Pepes
2. Peel Pub
3. Vol de Nuit
4. McKibbin's
5. Cheers
6. Brutopia
7. Newtown
8. Foufounes Électriques
9. Sky Pub
10. Madhatter

Best Pickup Spot
1. Thursdays
2. Jet
3. Cheers
4. Foufounes Électriques
5. Le Parking
6. Jupiter Room
7. Café Campus
8. GoGo Lounge
9. St-Sulpice
10. Tokyo Bar

Best-Looking Clientele
1. Jet
2. Time Supper Club
3. Buona Notte
4. Wunderbar
5. Saphir
6. Globe
6. Foufounes Électriques
7. Newtown
8. Club Next
9. Tokyo
10. Club 737

Best Terrasse
1. Saint-Sulpice
2. Sainte-Elizabeth
3. 737 Altitude
4. Tokyo
5. Vol de Nuit
6. Foufounes Électriques
7. Winnie's
8. Miami
9. Madhatter
10. Thursdays

Best Live Venue
1. Metropolis
2. Spectrum
3. La Sala Rossa
4. Club Soda
5. Le Swimming
6. Café Campus
7. Foufounes Électriques
8. Cabaret
9. Bell Centre
10. Medley
Honourable mentions: Casa del Popolo • Dome • La Tulipe • Divan Orange • Corona

While Montreal has seen an explosion of live-music venues in the last year or two, it's the big old standbys that still finish on top in this category. The newcomers did get a little buzz, though - La Tulipe, Divan Orange and the newly revitalized Corona all earned tips of the hat.

Best Lounge
1. Luba Lounge
2. Jello Bar
3. Buddha Bar
4. GoGo
5. Kafein
6. Sofa
7. Kunta Lounge
8. Laïka
9. Blizzarts
10. Pub Quartier Latin

Not much change here, with Luba again taking top place, followed by the snazzy martini joint Jello, Buddha and GoGo. The upstarts here are Kafein, the groovy basement hangout on Bishop that gives Concordia students a sweet spot to chill, chat and generally avoid schoolwork, and the groove-oriented joint Kunta on St-Denis.

Best Jazz Bar
1. Upstairs
2. House of Jazz
3. Jello Bar
4. Le Swimming
5. Bily Kun
6. L'Escogriffe
7. Pub Quartier Latin
8. Le Bebop
9. Cobalt
10. Sofa

There would indeed be something wrong if Upstairs, the city's premier jazzbo joint, didn't take its usual number-one spot in this category. Venues like Jello, Swimming, Bily Kun, l'Esco and Quartier Latin don't necessarily constitute jazz bars, though they certainly have their fair share of jazz, or at least jazz-flavoured, bands play their stages. It's probably more a matter of providing the right ambience for a jazz session, and that they do.

Best Dance Club
1. Jet
2. Dome
3. Tokyo
4. Parking
5. Orchid
6. Saphir
7. Stereo
8. Le Loft
9. Time
10. 1234 de la Montagne

With the number-one DJ (Quest) and night (Flight Fridays, below), the swanky Jet remains aloft at No. 1 in this category. Dome, Tokyo and Parking maintain their respective positions, while the elegant Orchid and bat-cave-alicious Saphir clamber up a notch or two. Time, ostensibly an upscale eatery, seems to be pretty positive about clientele dancing off their dinners.

Best Club Night
1. Flight Fridays at Jet
2. Back 2 Basics at Blue Dog
3. Thursday nights at Parking
4. Hypnotic Thursdays at Club Next
5. Dark Wave Nights at Saphir
6. Diva at Jet
7. L'Eighties Night at Jupiter Room
8. Classic Saturdays at Exit
9. Fuego Fridays at Stereo
10. Funky Ass Tuesdays at Jello Bar

Flight night takes it again, with Blue Dog's Back 2 Basics barking at its heels - same as last year, and a direct parallel to the Best Local DJ category, topped by Jet's Quest and Blue Dog's DR One. The Dark Wave Nights go up a bit, L'Eighties Night slides a couple of notches, and Club Next's Hypnotic Thursdays have mesmerized the regulars into giving it an unusually high first-time ranking.

Best Afterhours
1. Circus
2. Stereo
3. Aria
4. Red-Lite
5. Sona
6. Gravity
7. Millennium

Millennium, the East End addition to this category, appears for the first time, joining the standbys of the big-room, dance-till-daybreak dens. Sona's still on there, which is wishful thinking since its out of commission.

Best Rave/Party
1. Bal en Blanc
2. Black & Blue
3. Cream
4. Celebration
5. Hard as Fuck 3
6. Underground Legacy
7. I Love Neon
8. Eclipse
9. Kops Crew New Year's Eve
10. Picnik Électronik

The top three slots over here remain constant, with Bal en Blanc and Black & Blue proving that when Montreal sees a circuit, we know how to work it (and for a good cause). The really hardcore techno, repped at Hard as Fuck, makes some noise, and the inclusion of Picnik Électronik, the Sunday-afternoon weeklies on Île Ste-Hélène, whets the appetite for summer days to come.

Best Strip Club
1. Wanda's
2. Chez Paree
3. Super Sexe
4. Amazons
5. Kamasutra
6. Solid Gold
7. 281
8. Club Downtown
9. Le Stock
10. Château du Sexe

Best Gay Bar
1. Parking
2. Unity 2
3. Sky
4. Cabaret Mado
5. Drugstore
6. Stereo Bar
7. Agora
8. Club Date
9. Café Cleopatra
10. Le Stud

Best Lesbian Bar
1. Drugstore
2. Magnolia
3. Femme Fridays at Parking
4. Sky
5. Meow Mix at Sala Rossa
6. Sisters
7. Unity II
8. Club Chez Mado
9. Station C
10. Super Sexe

Best Drag Queen
1. Mado
2. Plastik Patrik
3. Manny
4. Sheena Hershey
5. Kiki
6. Michel Dorion
7. Gina the Drag Piper
8. Popline
9. Verushka
10. Madame Simone

Best Pool Hall
1. Sharx
2. Le Swimming
3. Le Skratch
4. Fats
5. Boul Noir
6. Drugstore
7. Montreal Pool Room
8. Bacci
9. El Jumanji
10. Rack 'n' Roll

While the top four slots in this category remain the same as last year, the up-and-comers are new, with the ultra-hip Boul Noir making a definite splash in fifth place. Good to see the lower St-Laurent fixture Montreal Pool Room, which has been around forever, making the list again, although that may have more to do with their legendary hot dogs than anything else.

Best Comedy Bar
1. Comedy Nest
2. Comedyworks
3. Comedy Zone

Best Standup Comedian
1. Sugar Sammy
2. Joey Elias
3. Derick Lengwenus
4. Lydia Lockett
5. Martin Matte
6. Louis-José Houde
7. Mike Paterson
8. Jeff O'Brian
9. Massimo
10. Bowser and Blue

Best Drug
1. Marijuana
2. Ecstasy
3. Cocaine
4. Alcohol
5. Mushrooms
6. Speed
7. Hash
8. Beer
9. GHB
10. LSD
Honourable mentions: Heroin • Caffeine • Crack • Viagra • Ketamine • Salvia Divinorum

What, cough syrup and Lysol-in-a-cup not good enough for you fancypants, la-di-da aristocrats? Chuggaluggin' mouthwash for a minty morning buzz too "declassé," there, Little Lord Fauntleroy? Well, if you're not gonna finish that tube of plastic model cement (ah, Tamiya... the glue-huffer's champagne!), feel free to pass it on over here. Hey, I can't feel my feet...


Best Club DJ
1. DJ Quest
2. DR One
3. DJ Mana
4. DJ Simply Genius
5. DJ Frigid
6. Kwite Sane
7. DJ XL
8. DJ Mini
9. DJ Scott C
10. Andy Couchman

Jet's DJ Quest and Blue Dog's DR One, pretty much as always, take their well-worn first and second places. DJ Mana, who recently opened his own DJ school, climbs up to No. 3, from sixth place last year, just as Kwite Sane jumps up two spots. Frigid and Mini, figures from the Parking-Unity II axis, make a mark for the punky electro insurgency in this category.

Best Electronic Act
1. Kid Koala
2. Amon Tobin
3. Kobayashi
4. Quebec Connection
5. DJ Mana
6. Akufen
7. Tiga
8. Chromeo
9. Champion
10. Lesbians on Ecstasy

We weren't really sure just how "electronic" the "vinyl vaudeville" music of Kid Koala actually is (or Kobayashi's, for that matter), so we figured we'd ask him. But when we did, his eyes did this weird flashing thing and smoke came out of his neck and he started flailing his hands and going, "Does not compute! Does not compute!" That's when we realized that he's really a robot. So technically, yes, he is an electronic act.



FOOD

Best Cheap Eats
1. Al-Taïb (2125 Guy, 931-1999; 2002 Mackay)
2. McDonald's (various locations)
3. La Belle Province (various locations)
4. Soup and Noodles (1871 Ste-Catherine W., 933-0531)
5. L Corridor (3655 St-Laurent, 284-0740)

Thyme of your life (about Al-TAIB)

>> Pizza Al-Taïb serves up Middle Eastern magic, fast

Before you enter the semi-submerged Middle-Eastern microcosmos that is Pizza Al-Taïb, take a deep breath because they're probably going to yell at you in there. And it might be a good idea to decide what you want before you join the lined-up mob. Faster than you can say lahm bajin it's your turn and, oh shit, you're still deliberating - feta? zatar? veggie slice? - "NEXT! NEXT!"

A few trips back, though, and you learn not to take it personally. You might even get a warm feeling from being yelled at. And hot damn is that food good - a point made loud and clear by Mirror readers at the BOM polls. No. 1 Best Cheap Eats. NEXT! No. 2 Best Late-Night Eats. NEXT! No. 3 Best Pizza. NEXT! No. 4 Best Middle Eastern. ALL-DRESSED?! Indeed.

"In a Middle Eastern place, if you don't serve people fast, nobody comes back," explains owner Mohammad Farhat. "Or they get frustrated and start fighting." But aside from the odd drunken scuffle that's inevitable in a joint that (a) is open 24 hours and (b) serves pizza, Al-Taïb is a place of peace, and one to which people flock, as evidenced by the upstairs dining room Farhat added five years ago and a second location opened late last summer one block over on MacKay.

Their most popular request, says Farhat, is zatar, a pita-like bread coated in thyme and sesame seeds, rolled up and filled with flavours such as olives, tomatoes, onions and mint, by request. And as cheap pizza goes, the place also delivers. Their secret? An Italian granite oven that cooks the dough just so, not to mention three cheeses and a freshness guaranteed by the quick turnover. Says Farhat, "Even the Italians who come in, they say, ‘We invented pizza and you make it better than us.'"

Best Pricey Eats
1. Gibby's (298 Place d'Youville, 282-1837)
2. Globe (3455 St-Laurent, 284-3823)
3. La Queue de Cheval Steak House (1221 René-Lévesque W., 390-0090)
4. Toqué (900 Jean-Paul Riopelle, 499-2084)
5. Baton Rouge (various locations)

Best Late-Night Eats
1. Picasso Serre (6810 St-Jaques W., 484-2832)
2. Al-Taïb (2125 Guy, 931-1999; 2002 Mackay)
3. Moe's (various locations)
4. The Main (3864 St-Laurent, 843-8126)
5. Boustan (2020A Crescent, 843-3576)

Best Breakfast
1. Chez Cora (various locations)
2. Cosmos (5843 Sherbrooke W., 486-3814)
3. Eggspectations (various locations)
4. Tutti Frutti Déjeuner (various locations)
5. Picasso Serre (6810 St-Jaques W., 484-2832)

Best Buffet
1. Buffet Maharaja (1481 René-Lévesque W., 934-0655)
2. Buffet Vichy (various locations)
3. Buffet La Stanza (various locations)
4. Le Commensal (various locations)
5. Buffet Chinois Mandarin (2101 Dollard, Lasalle, 365-1234)

Best Delivery
1. Domino's (various locations)
2. À la Carte Express (4700 St-Ambroise, 933-7000)
3. St-Hubert BBQ (various locations)
4. Double Pizza (various locations)
5. Alto (3462 Parc, 844-9898)

Best African
1. Le Nil Bleu (3706 St-Denis, 285-4628)
2. Afro-Fusion (1159 Ontario E., 525-3999)
3. Abiata (3435 St-Denis, 281-0111)
4. Au Messob D'Or (5690 Monkland, 488-8260)
5. La Khaïma (142 Fairmount W., 948-9993)

Best Caribbean
1. L Corridor (3655 St-Laurent, 350-5320)
2. Ma's Place (5889 Sherbrooke W., 487-7488)
3. Caribbean Curry House (6892 Victoria, 733-0828)
4. Jamaicaway (4961B Queen Mary, 343-5375)
5. Mango Bay (1202 Bishop, 875-7082)

Best Chinese
1. Maison VIP (1077 Clark, 861-1943)
2. Beijing (92 de la Gauchetière W., 861-2003)
3. Soup and Noodles (1871 Ste-Catherine W., 933-0531)
4. Dragon Dynasty (8630 Sherbrooke E., 353-0909)
5. La Maison Kam Fung (1936 Thimens, 856-9288, St-Laurent; 1111 St-Urbain, 878-2888)

Best French
1. L'Express (3927 St-Denis, 845-5333)
2. Toqué (3842 St-Denis, 499-2084)
3. Le Paris (1812 Ste-Catherine W., 937-4898)
4. L'Académie (4051 St-Denis, 849-2249)
5. Au Petit Extra (1690 Ontario E., 527-5552)

Best Greek
1. Arahova (various Montreal locations)
2. Marathon Souvlaki (various locations)
3. Le Jardin de Panos (521 Duluth E., 521-4206)
4. Milos (5357 Parc, 272-3522)
5. Georges Souvlaki (6995 Monkland, 482-0040)

Best Indian
1. Buffet Maharaja (1481 René-Lévesque W., 934-0655)
2. Bombay Mahal (1001 Jean-Talon W., 273-3331)
3. Ganges (6079 Sherbrooke W., 488-8850)
4. Bombay Palace (2202 Ste-Catherine W., 932-7141)
5. Pushap (various locations)

Best Italian
1. Casa Napoli (6728 St-Laurent, 274-4531)
2. Rôtisserie Italienne (1933 Ste-Catherine W., 935-4436)
3. Eduardo's (404 Duluth E., 843-3330)
4. Da Emma (777 de la Commune W., 392-1568)
5. Guido & Angelina (2313 Ste-Catherine W., 228-5225)

Best Japanese
1. Kaizen Sushi Bar (4075 Ste-Catherine W., 932-5654)
2. Oishii Sushi (277 Bernard W., 271-8863; 6456 Beaubien E., 255-5546)
3. Katsura (2170 de la Montagne, 849-1172)
4. Mikado (various locations)
5. Le Petit Treehouse (3527 St-Laurent, 845-7557)

Best Korean
1. Hwang Kum (5908 Sherbrooke W., 487-1712)
2. Man-na (1421 Bishop, 288-1703)
3. Arirang (1858 Ste-Catherine, 846-0944)
4. Korea House (4950 Queen-Mary, 733-7823)
5. Seoul (5030 Sherbrooke W., 489-3686)

Best Mexican
1. Carlos & Pepes (1420 Peel, 288-3090)
2. 3 Amigos (1657 Ste-Catherine W., 939-3329)
3. Casa de Mateo (440 St-Francois Xavier, 844-7448)
4. Mesa 14 (1425 Bishop, 284-0344)
5. Cactus (4461 St-Denis, 849-0349)

Best Middle-Eastern
1. Amir (various locations)
2. Boustan (2020A Crescent, 843-3756)
3. Basha (various locations)
4. Al-Taïb (2125 Guy, 931-1999; 2002 Mackay)
5. Daou (2373 Marcel-Laurin, St-Laurent, 334-1199)

Best Portuguese
1. Jano (3883 St-Laurent, 849-0646)
2. Chez Doval (150 Marie-Anne E., 843-3390)
3. Coco Rico (3907 St-Laurent, 849-5554)
4. Casa Maison Minhota (3959 St-Laurent, 842-2661)
5. Le Roi Du Plateau (51 Rachel W., 844-8393)

Best Thai
1. Chu Chai (4088 St-Denis, 843-4194)
2. Restaurant Cuisine Bangkok (In the Faubourg, 1616 Ste-Catherine W., 935-2178)
3. Thai Grill (5101 St-Laurent, 270-5566)
4. Thai Express (various locations)
5. Chao Phraya (50 Laurier W., 272-5339)

Best Vietnamese
1. Pho Bang New York (970 St-Laurent, 954-2032)
2. Pho Lien (5703 Côte des Neiges, 735-6949)
3. Chez Lien (various locations)
4. Chez Tung (3593 Appleton, 735-1888)
5. La Merveille du Vietnam (4526 St-Denis, 844-9884)

Best Bagel
1. St-Viateur (263 St-Viateur W., 276-8044)
2. Fairmount (74 Fairmount W., 272-0067)
3. R.E.A.L Bagel (various locations)
4. DADs Bagel (5732 Sherbrooke W., 487-2454)
5. Faubourg's The Bagel Place (1616 Ste-Catherine W., 931-2827)

Best Barbecued Chicken
1. Coco Rico (3907 St-Laurent, 849-5554)
2. St-Hubert (various locations; delivery 385-5555)
3. Chalet BBQ (5456 Sherbrooke W., 489-7253; 6825 Décarie, 739-3226)
4. Côte-St-Luc BBQ (5403 Côte-St-Luc, 488-4011 and other locations)
5. Bar-B-Barn (1201 Guy, 931-3811; 3300 des Sources, Pte-Claire, 683-0225)

Best Burger
1. Wendy's (various locations)
2. Harvey's (various locations)
3. La Paryse (302 Ontario E., 842-2040)
4. Mister Steer (1198 Ste-Catherine W., 866-3233)
5. McDonald's (various locations)

Best Falafel
1. Amir (various locations)
2. Boustan (2020-A Crescent, 843-3576)
3. Basha (various locations)
4. Sara (1 Mont-Royal W., 845-7575)
5. Monsieur Falafel (415 Mont-Royal E., 499-0010)

Best Fries
1. Frites Alors (various locations)
2. McDonald's (various locations)
3. Lafleur (various locations)
4. La Belle Province (various locations)
5. Mondo Fritz (3899 St-Laurent, 281-6521)

Best Noodles
1. Just Noodles (various locations)
2. Soup and Noodles (1871 Ste-Catherine W., 933-0531)
3. Zyng (1748 St-Denis, 284-2016)
4. Wok Café (1845 Ste-Catherine W., 938-1882)
5. Noodles Express (1510 de Maisonneuve W., 939-0115)

Best Pizza
1. Domino's (various locations)
2. Pizza Hut (various locations)
3. Al-Taïb (2125 Guy, 931-1999; 2002 Mackay)
4. Double Pizza (various locations)
5. Mamma's Pizzeria (75 des Pins W., 288-1128)

Best Poutine
1. La Belle Province (various locations)
2. Lafleur (various locations)
3. Casse-Croûte La Banquise (994 Rachel E., 525-2415)
4. McDonald's (various locations)
5. Mondo Frites (3899 St-Laurent, 281-6521)

Best Ribs
1. Bâton Rouge (various locations)
2. Bar-B-Barn (1201 Guy, 931-3811; 3300 des Sources, Pte-Claire, 683-0225)
3. St-Hubert (various locations; delivery 385-5555)
4. Scores (various locations)
5. Cage-aux–Sports (various locations)

Best Sandwich
1. Santropol (3990 St-Urbain, 842-3110)
2. Subway (various locations)
3. Dagwoods (various locations)
4. Kafein (1429 Bishop, 904-6969)
5. Aux Vivres (4631 St-Laurent, 842-3479)

Best Seafood
1. Milos (5357 du Parc, 272-3522)
2. La Sirène de la Mer (1805 Sauvé W., 332-2255; 114 Dresden, TMR, 345-0345)
3. Maestro SVP (3615 St-Laurent, 842-6447)
4. La Mer (1065 Papineau, 522-2889)
5. Homard-Plus (various locations)

Best Smoked Meat
1. Schwartz's (3895 St-Laurent, 842-4813)
2. Ben's (990 de Maisonneuve W., 844-1000)
3. The Main (3864 St-Laurent, 843-8126)
4. Reuben's (1116 Ste-Catherine W., 866-1029)
5. Dunns Famous Steakhouse Delicatessen (1249 Metcalfe, 395-1927)

Best Souvlaki
1. Arahova (various Montreal locations)
2. Marathon Souvlaki (various locations)
3. Georges Souvlaki (6995 Monkland, 482-0040)
4. Kojax (various locations)
5. Villa Du Souvlaki (5347 Sherbrooke W., 489-2039)

Best Steak
1. Moishe's Steak House (3961 St-Laurent, 845-3509)
2. Le Bifthèque (6705 Côte-de-Liesse, 739-6336)
3. Gibby's (298 Place d'Youville, 282-1837)
4. La Queue de Cheval Steak House (1221 René-Lévesque W., 390-0090)
5. Bâton Rouge (various locations)

Best Vegetarian
1. Le Commensal (various locations)
2. Chu Chai (4088 St-Denis, 843-4194)
3. Aux Vivres (4631 St-Laurent, 842-3479)
4. Santropol (3990 St-Urbain, 842-3110)
5. Pushap (various locations)

Best Bakery
1. Première Moisson (various locations)
2. Au Pain Doré (various locations)
3. De Gascogne (various locations)
4. Pâtisserie Belge (1075 Laurier W., 279-5274; 3485 Parc, 845-1245)
5. Alati-Caserta (277 Dante, 271-3013)

Best Coffee
1. Tim Horton's (various locations)
2. Starbucks (various locations)
3. Second Cup (various locations)
4. Java U (various locations)
5. Kafein (1429 Bishop, 904-6969)

Best Locally Brewed Beer
1. Brutopia
2. Boréale
3. St. Ambroise
4. Dieu du Ciel
5. Cheval Blanc

Best Desserts/Sweets
1. Rockaberry (various locations)
2. Kilo Restaurant (various locations)
3. Calories (various locations)
4. Alati-Caserta (277 Dante, 271-3013)
5. Kaizen Sushi Bar (4075 Ste-Catherine W., 932-5654)

Best Ice Cream
1. Ben & Jerry's (various locations)
2. Bilboquet (1311 Bernard, 276-0414)
3. Dairy Queen (various locations)
4. Ripples (3880 St-Laurent, 842-1697)
5. Baskin Robbins (various locations)

Best Butcher
1. Boucherie Tranzo (6536 Somerled, 488-7907)
2. Atwater Market (134 Atwater, 932-4653)
3. Chez Vito (5180 St-Urbain, 277-1981)
4. J & R Kosher Meat and Delicatessen (5800 Cavendish, 369-2727)
5. Slovenia (6424 Clark, 279-8845)

Best Fishmonger
1. Waldman (76 Roy E., 285-8747)
2. Atwater Market (134 Atwater, 932-4653)
3. Falero (5726-A Parc, 274-5541)
4. Poisonnerie NDG (5611 Monkland, 481-3388; 1865 Notre-Dame, Lachine, 639-5565)
5. Shamrock (Jean-Talon Market)

This brand-new category sees Plateau institution Waldman's take top prize, but really, when you get to be called a fishmonger, everyone's a winner.



Consumer Madness

Best Clothing Store (New)
1. Simons (977 Ste-Catherine W.)
2. Vibes (970 Ste-Catherine)
3. Urban Outfitters (1250 Ste-Catherine W.)
4. Winners (various locations)
5. American Apparel (various locations)

Best Vintage Clothing Store
1. Village des Valeurs (various locations)
2. Salvation Army (various locations)
3. Eva B (2013 St-Laurent, 849-8246)
4. Local 23 (23 Bernard W., 270-9333)
5. Meow (74 Mont-Royal E., 843-3055)

Best Hair Salon
1. Mutt & Jeff (2135 Crescent, 288-7689)
2. Coupe Bizarre (3770 St-Laurent, 843-3433)
3. Tonic (3613 St-Laurent 499-9494)
4. Au Barbershop (356 Ontario E., 843-6676)
5. Funky Toque (3688 St-Laurent, 985-2999)

Best Hair Stylist
1. Brent, Au Barbershop (356 Ontario E., 843-6676)
2. Francis James, Blü Salon Spa Urbain (120 McGill, 866-2222)
3. Ingrid Bauer, Mod's (4201 Ste-Catherine W., 935-5608)
4. Stef W., Pure (1455 Peel, 871-4004)
5. Kenzo, Kenzo Kenzo (72 Duluth E., 286-2510)

Best Tattoo Parlour
1. Adrenaline (1541 Sherbrooke W., 938-8884)
2. Tattoomania (1615 Maisonneuve E., 525-2025)
3. Tatouage Artistique (823 Ontario E., 529-8288)
4. Slick Styled Steel (3804 St-Laurent, 842-8999)
5. Imago (158 Prince-Arthur E., 350-0015)

Best Tattoo Artist
1. Jeff Weit, Adrenaline (1541 Sherbrooke W., 938-8884)
2. Safwan, Imago (158 Prince-Arthur E., 350-0015)
3. Gil Crocker, Jolly Roger's (815 de l'Eglise, Verdun, 769-5720)
4. Dave Cummings, Tatouage Pointe St-Charles (1906 Centre, 931-2325)
5. Timer, Tattoomania (1615 Maisonneuve E., 525-2025)

Best Body Piercing Parlour
1. Adrenaline (1541 Sherbrooke W., 938-8884)
2. Black Sun (3939 St-Denis, 286-5259)
3. Slick Styled Steel (3804 St-Laurent, 842-8999)
4. Super Rock Salon (6185 Tashereau, Brossard, (450) 462-1450)
5. Jolly Roger's (815 de l'eglise, Verdun, 769-5720)

Best Record Store (New)
1. HMV (various locations)
2. Archambault (various locations)
3. CD Esoterik (1841-C St-Catherine W., 937-5192)
4. Inbeat Records (3814 St-Laurent, 499-2063)
5. Taboo (1021A Ste-Catherine W., 288-5609)

Best Record Store (Used)
1. Cheap Thrills (2044 Metcalfe, 844-8988)
2. L'Échange (713 Mont-Royal E., 523-6839)
3. C'Dement (388 Ste-Catherine W., 866-7616)
4. Beatnick (3770 St-Denis, 842-0664)
5. Taboo (1021A Ste-Catherine W., 288-5609)

Best Stereo Store
1. Future Shop (various locations)
2. Moog Audio (28 des Pins E.)
3. Centre Hi-Fi (various locations)
4. Dumoulin (various locations)
5. Audio Centre (9100 Cavendish, St-Laurent, 731-2772)

Best Musical Instrument Store
1. Steve's (51 St-Antoine W., 878-2261)
2. Italmelodie (274 Jean-Talon E., 272-3224)
3. Archambault (various locations)
4. Moog Audio (28 des Pins E.)
5. Jimi Music Store (5776 Sherbrooke E., 488-4207)

Best Computer Store
1. Future Shop (various locations)
2. Microbytes (various locations)
3. CompuSmart (1195 Place Phillips, 398-0782)
4. CompuService (295 Peel, 933-4455)
5. Coopsco UQÀM (280 Ste-Catherine W., 987-3333)

Best Internet Service Provider
1. Vidéotron (videotron.ca)
2. Bell Sympaticio (sympatico.ca)
3. VIF (vif.com)
4. Openface (openface.ca)
5. Île sans fil (ilesansfil.org)

The big guys hold the top two spots again (in reverse from 2004), but for the first time, free WIFI provider Île sans fil appears on the list, surely a reflection of their ever-growing network in cafés, bars and even parks around the Montreal.

Best Cinema (1st Run)

1. Paramount (977 Ste-Catherine W., 866-0111)
2. AMC (2323 Ste-Catherine W., 904-1250)
3. Cinema Guzzo (various locations)
4. Cinéma du Parc (3575 du Parc, 281-1900)
5. Ex-Centris (3536 St-Laurent, 847-3536)

Best Rep Cinema
1. Cinéma du Parc (3575 du Parc, 281-1900)
2. Dollar Cinema (6900 Decarie, 739-0536)
3. Ex-Centris (3536 St-Laurent, 847-3536)
4. Paramount (977 Ste-Catherine W., 866-0111)
5. Cinémathèque québécoise (335 de Maisonneuve E., 842-9763)

Best Video Store
1. Blockbuster (various locations)
2. La Boîte Noire (4450 St-Denis, 287-1429; 380 Laurier W., 277-6979)
3. Movieland (various locations)
4. Vidéotron (various locations)
5. Videoself (various locations)

It certainly isn't the selection that made you push Blockbuster over Boîte Noire this year, now that their no-late-fee policy has half their flicks on the fritz. Ah, no late fees... that's it. New on the list is 24-hour robot-renter Videoself. Rise of the machines?

Best Bookstore (New)
1. Chapters (various locations)
2. Indigo (various locations)
3. Renaud Bray (various locations)
4. Paragraphe (various locations)
5. Double Hook (1235 Greene, 932-5093)

Best Bookstore (Used)
1. The Word (469 Milton, 845-5640)
2. S.W. Welch (3878 St-Laurent, 848-9358)
3. Cheap Thrills (2044 Metcalfe, 844-8988)
4. Argo (1915 Ste-Catherine W. 931-3442)
5. Bookmarket (3393 des Sources, D.D.O., 683-9890; 2935 St-Charles, Kirkland, 694-1546)

Best Magazine Store
1. MultiMags (various locations)
2. Maison de la Presse Internationale (various locations)
3. Chapters (various locations)
4. Point Vert (4040 St-Laurent, 982-9195)
5. Mediaphile (1901 Ste-Catherine W., 939-3676)

Best Comics Store
1. Capitaine Québec (1837 Ste-Catherine W., 939-9970)
2. 1000000 Comix (3868 Jean-Talon E., 725-1355; 1418 Pierce, 989-9587)
3. Librairie Millénium (451 Marie-Anne E., 284-0358)
4. Fichtre (436 de Bienville, 844-9550)
5. Arts on Paper Society (old F52)

Best Bicycle Store
1. ABC (5584 Parc, 276-1305)
2. V-Low (93 Rachel W., 849-8659)
3. McWhinnie Cycle (6010 Sherbrooke W., 481-3113)
4. SOS Vélo (2085 Bennett, 251-8803)
5. Recycle Bicycle (5501 de Maisonneuve W., 486-2453)

Best Fitness Club/Gym
1. YMCA (various locations)
2. Energie Cardio (various locations)
3. Nautilus Plus (various locations)
4. Monster Gym (61-D Brunswick, 421-0014)
5. La Cité (3575 du Parc, 288-8221)

Best Swimming Pool
1. YMCA (various locations)
2. Olympic Stadium pool (4549 Pierre-de-Coubertin)
3. La Cité (3575 du Parc, 288-8221)
4. Piscine Schubert (3950 St-Laurent, 872-2587)
5. Pointe-Claire Community Pool (98 Douglas Shand, 630-1202)

Best Skate/Snowboard Shop
1. Diz (48 Westminister, Mtl W., 486-9123)
2. Underworld (289 Ste-Catherine E., 284-0667; 10738 Millen, 383-9999)
3. Empire Sports (365 St-Antoine, Lachine, 390-1212)
4. Surf 66 (1000 St-Jean, #40, Pointe-Claire, 697-0366)
5. Spin (2041 St-Denis, 288-7746)

Best Sports Store
1. Sports Experts (various locations)
2. Foot Locker (various locations)
3. Mountain Equipment Co-op (8989 de l'Acadie, 788-5878)
4. Play It Again Sports (various locations)
5. Super Monde Des Athlètes (various locations)

Sports Experts assert their authority again, while Mountain Equipment Co-op paddles onto the list for the first time since they opened their Montreal location. All aboard the fleece express!

Best Spa
1. Spa Diva (1455 Peel, 985-9859)
2. Tonic (3616 St-Laurent, 499-9494)
3. Ovarium (400 Beaubien E., 271-7515)
4. Blu Salon Spa Urbain (120 McGill, 866-2222)
5. St. James Spa (2190 Crescent, 844-4590)

Best Yoga Centre
1. Moksha Yoga (3863 St-Laurent, 288-3863)
2. Sivananda Yoga (5178 St-Laurent, 279-3545)
3. Ashtanga Yoga (372 St-Catherine W., 875-9642)
4. Studio Lynne St-Roch (4416 St-Laurent, 277-1586)
5. Centre Luna Yoga (231 St-Paul W., #200, 845-1881)

Best Florist
1. Fleuriste Pourquoi Pas (3629 St-Laurent, 844-3233)
2. Florateria (90 des Pins W., 288-4548)
3. Westmount Florist (360 Victoria, 488-9121)
4. Zen (1039 Mont-Royal E., 529-5365)
5. La Quenouille (1620-B Sherbrooke W., 846-2006)

Best Health Food Store
1. Rachelle-Bery (various locations)
2. Tau (4238 St-Denis 843-4420)
3. Frigo Vert (2130 Mackay, 848-7586)
4. Frenco (3985 St-Laurent, 285-1319)
5. Health Tree (7133 de la Cote-St-Luc, 484-5031; 3819 St-Jean, D.D.O., 624-2896)

Best Kitsch/Antique Store
1. Monastiraki (5478 St-Laurent, 278-4879)
2. Village des Valeurs (various locations)
3. Tango Martini (4500 Ste-Catherine W., 937-6034)
4. Kitsch (5365 Parc, 526-5050)
5. Botines (4567 St-Laurent)

Best Travel Agency
1. Travel Cuts/Voyages Campus (various locations)
2. Agence de Voyage Franair (various locations)
3. Expedia (expedia.ca)
4. Go travel direct (gotraveldirect.com)
5. Athens Travel Service (5914 Parc, 270-1123)

Best Veterinarian
1. Cats Montreal (1830 Sherbrooke W., 939-2287)
2. Animal Health Clinic (5601 Sherbrooke W., 369-9119)
3. Clinique Veterinaire Féline (4585 St-Denis, #200, 284-3178)
4. Chats Décarie (4180 Décarie, 484-3233)
5. Clinique Vétérinaire Pillet (910 Ogilvy,
273-4921)

Note to the hungry readers who voted for Commensal and Chu Chai: ve-te-ri-na-ri-an.

Best Sex Shop
1. Seduction (5220 Metropolitain E., 593-1169)
2. Sexe Cité (1821 Ste-Catherine W., 937-3678)
3. Priape (1311 Ste-Catherine E., 521-8451)
4. Venez tels quels (veneztelsquels.com)
5. Il Bolero (6842-46 St-Hubert, 270-6065)

Best Head Shop
1. Je L'ai (159 Duluth E., 284-5393)
2. High Times III (1208A Ste-Catherine W., 529-5666)
3. Boutique Rock (5522 Sherbrooke W., 481-6227)
4. Psychonaut (154 Prince Arthur, 844-8998)
5. D-Tox (4255 St-Rose, Laval, 450-962-6569)

___________________
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Last edited by malek on May-16-2005 at 05:45