Nouveau Palais Montreal

Pulled Pork Taco With Coriander, Radish, Cilantro, Tomato and a Wedge of Lime

Foregoing dinner for the legendary Grumann tacos, our stomachs were rumbling with hunger. As soon as we spotted the bright yellow Nouveau Palais sign on Bernard street, we promptly made our way inside and eagerly made our orders. While most places with shabby exteriors repel potential customers, the Nouveau Palais does the opposite, attracting people from all across the city (we made a special trip!). The layout and the furniture of the place resembles a diner, with worn leather banquettes and booths, dim lighting and a long bar, except it also has a DJ booth, out-of-this-world food and an unmistakable cool.

To drink, I had the pink lemonade mixed with vodka and my friend had a tall can of distinctively Mexican Tecate beer. We ordered the corn fritters to share – they were crispy, greasy and full of butter, deep fried to the core. Inside each piece were individual corn kernels and some herbs which gave texture and some color. Next, I had the vegetarian taco with refried beans, feta, coriander, radish, cilantro, tomato and a wedge of lime which I squeezed all over the two tacos that came in a paper box. It was ah-mazing. My two other friends both got the pulled pork tacos which were basically the same in terms of toppings minus the feta and instead of refried beans, there was pulled pork. Having voracious appetites, we devoured everything in literally seconds.

I will most definitely be back.