Le Halte-Urbaine
A small, chic place on the famous Bernard strip in Outremont, La Halte-Urbaine is the new refuge of highly praised chef, Yann Perreault, who previously worked at the Village's sadly-missed Area. The excellent risotto bar lures a very faithful crowd to this tiny restaurant, while the wonderfully colourful terrace encourages summer-day whiling away. 1248 Bernard Street. -M.O.

Helm
A new-ish brewpub at the frontier of Outremont and Mile-End, Helm is a dark wood joint with Viking roots. Taking over from the old Futenbulle, Helm's highly impressive modern cuisine, paired with a playfully eclectic atmosphere, is more than investigation-worthy. I believe the apropos term is greedy brasserie. 273 Bernard West -M.O.

Robin des Bois
Saving the world one dish at a time, Robin des Bois is staffed by a pro bono cast of Epicurean altruists. Located on the Main, near Mont-Royal Street, the profits from this saintly resto go to many local charities and, aside from the owner, as well as Chef Myriam Pelletier, everyone works for free! Best of all: the food is actually good.