Whither the Pool Room steamé?
The Montreal Pool Room has served steamés for a century although they haven’t had pool tables for decades. The new owner wants to start franchising. I’m not sure this is the way to keep the place alive, but then, I don’t run a fast food joint.
This piece says the Pool Room is the second oldest restaurant in town (1912), and Wilensky’s is the fourth (1928). What do we think are #1 and #3? Some links suggest the Auberge St‑Gabriel is the oldest, although I don’t know anything about its continuity.
Nicholas 19:31 on 2023-12-30 Permalink
Schwartz’s opened in 1928, and has been at that location the whole time. Since Wilensky’s is 1932, that must make it #3. Looking it up, they’re probably using this list. It does surprise me there’s nothing else older.
carswell 20:41 on 2023-12-30 Permalink
The “this list” link’s not working, Nicholas.
Nicholas 11:55 on 2023-12-31 Permalink
Sorry, let’s try again. It’s from Tourism Montreal, so probably treated as official.
carswell 13:26 on 2023-12-31 Permalink
Thanks. Surprised Snowdon Deli (1946) receives not a mention.
Jake 12:12 on 2024-01-01 Permalink
Auberge St‑Gabriel certainly trades on the notion that it’s the oldest restaurant in the city, but that claim seems pretty spurious, at least if we’re talking about continuity. Histories of the restaurant claim it was the first place to get a liquor license after the British conquest, but they also say it was converted back into a private home in the 1800s. It’s not clear when exactly it reopened to the public, but the current incarnation appears to date from 1987.
Kate 16:09 on 2024-01-01 Permalink
I vaguely remembered that, Jake, thank you.
Snowdon Deli does seem to deserve to belong on the list. (I’ve never been to the Deli, although I lived very close to it for some years, as a kid.)
Ian 18:38 on 2024-01-01 Permalink
Best in town and not just a restaurant but also an actual deli. I find them way superior to Schwartz’s but then again Schwartz’s doesn’t even use a real smoker anymore, let alone all the sides and a full coldcut counter.