Broadway Pizza is the latest kosher restaurant to open in Montreal, directly across the street from the Hilton Gardens/Homewood Suites Midtown at the Westbury project.
My friend Julia (a.k.a noted mobile hairdresser JuJuChezVouz) and I recently enjoyed a splendid lunch at the new location, which made its debut last summer. Friends Avi Gardyn and Mordy Aisenstark are the owners. Avi recently resided in Monsey, New York, where he met his wife. Upon his return here he and Mordy thought that the city could use a kosher pizza parlor with a New York vibe.
Avi and Mordy display the macaroni and cheese pizza.
A large storefront across from the Hilton was available. They grabbed it. The place presently has tables that can seat 42 people. However, there is plenty of space to add more.
The menu features pizza pies and slices, pastas, salad, poutine, sides, calzones and drinks. You can have a seat in the dining room after making your selections at the counter, do take-out or order online. Ariel’s Ice Cream will become part of the operation soon.
JuJu strikes a pose as our poutine arrives at the table.
Julia and I shared what was among the most unique pizza pies, the thin-crust macaroni and cheese. This was indeed our first experience with such a topping and we liked it. We also tried the crispy mozarellla sticks with marinara sauce, some delicious penne pasta topped with cheese and a very generous portion of poutine. During the time we were there, I saw a number of people I know.
“I feel like we have filled a need,” Avi told me .
Mordy added that the outpouring of support from the community has already been overwhelming. “We are getting lots of positive feedback,” he said.
Broadway Pizza is located at 6965 Decarie. For more details and to order log on to Log on to www.broadwaypizza.ca or call (438) 814-7789. Opening Hours are Sunday to Thursday from 11 am to 9 pm , Fridays from 11 am to 3 pm and Saturdays one after Shabbat until 1 am.
See my interview with the owners from Instagram below.
In 1987 Howard Szalavetz and his late father Dave purchased a property at the corner of Decarie and Vezina which housed an auto mechanics garage and a car wash. Over the years Howard tried to add a culinary mix to the building, first with a coffee shop and then a REAL Bagel franchise. Neither succeeded.
Now, with a growing empire of some 100 buildings under his company’s wing it is safe to say that the food component on Decarie was hardly top of mind. Then last spring the telephone rang. Brothers-in-law Meir Azerad and Ynon Cohen wanted to open a polished sit-down kosher restaurant there. Howard had to think long and hard, trying to figure out how a business model like that could succeed in what was essentially the waiting room for people as their cars were being washed. Meyer and Ynon were convincing and he agreed to a lease. The duo proceeded to create a model from scratch, dubbing it Nöam Restaurant in the memory of a family member who had passed away a number of years ago, and undertaking significant renovations.
Partners Ynon and Meir.
Interestingly, a wood oven remained from the REAL Bagel experiment. Meir and Ynon were able to repurpose it to make pizza at up to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit in two minutes. The place opened last summer. I must admit I only found out about it recently while chatting with Howard, who encouraged me to come by. I did and what I found was one of the trendiest new spots in Montreal. Yes, this is a kosher restaurant. But the menu here is for everyone, regardless of whether you are kosher or even Jewish.
The busy restaurant.
The place is open every night except Friday, as well as Sunday for brunch. There are only 60 seats and reservations are strongly recommended. You can do so via Open Table, where Nöam Restaurant has already been listed on their top 100 list in Canada. The night I went there people were still coming in the door after 9 pm. This was a Wednesday and it was snowing heavily out. There are effectively three sittings here. Immediately upon opening and then two and four hours later.
If anything this place is overstaffed, so service is quick and excellent. You constantly have a server at your table. Since the garage and car wash are closed during most restaurant hours, there are some 30 parking spots available and plenty more on Decarie and side streets. Meir and Ynon are already in discussions with Howard to add a party room at the upstairs level of the building.
Delicious pasta.
The menu here has many options: soups, salads, appetizers, pasta, pizza, fish, decadent desserts and a full liquor and wine menu as well as smoothies and milkshakes. If it is your birthday be prepared to be serenaded as loud Israeli music plays and the servers bring over a yummy dessert with sparklers in it. There were three such occasions the night I was there.
Howard was my dining partner and we had an opportunity to share many items on the menu.
An appetizing pizza.
Ynon was particularly proud to showcase the Beet Carpaccio made from roasted beets with feta cheese, balsamic reduction and topped with glazed nut mix and the fried olives.
For the main course I went for the pan-seared tuna steak, beautifully cooked with side orders of potatoes and risotto. Howard ordered one of their amazing pasta dishes and a Napoletano pizza, piping hot out of their special oven. Of course I tried a few pieces and Howard insisted I take back what was left.
For dessert we shared their homemade chocolate lava cake, which came with some vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce.
Mozzarella sticks appetizer.
There are plenty of other selections I will have to try another time: cod tacos, grilled salmon, fish and chips, European bass, Baladi eggplant, mushroom hummus, soups, fresh salads and smoothies.
Ynon came into this venture with experience as the owner of Coco Pralin, a kosher bakery and caterer based in Dollard des Ormeaux. Meir meanwhile, has worked as a deejay and knows how to market a product. “We are working very hard the both of us to make something different in the city and a big, big vibe,” said Meir . “That is really what we are focusing on.”
Nöam Restaurant is open Monday to Thursday from 5 pm to 11:30 pm, Saturday from 9:30 pm to 2 pm and Sunday for brunch from Noon to 3 pm and then 5 pm to 11 pm. It is located at 6647 Blvd. Décarie. You can call 514-564-6626 or log on to www.noamrestaurant.com for the menu and delivery options.
The Jewish Standard Magazine 