Primo & Secondo, Montréal

I can’t remember when I first ate at Primo & Secondo, but it was a memorable occasion. Probably, it was just before Canadian Open tennis matches at nearby Jarry Park. The tennis was nice but I thought dinner the highlight of the evening. I have gone back many times – before watching tennis matches; with my wife for dinner; and, I have hosted a business closing  dinner or two there. I have missed this restaurant throughout the lockdowns.

Located right next to the Jean Talon Market, the restaurant has an ever changing menu. Market proximity allows the chef / owner to select the best and freshest ingredients everyday and match them with best available Italian imports. Before opening Primo & Secondo, chef Robert Stabile had not only worked locally but also in Germany. His cuisine is heavily influenced by the traditional dishes of Campania that he watched his mother prepare. 

Our Evening Menu

On our most recent visit, the four of us shared veal-stuffed olives and  zucchini flowers stuffed with ricotta. Both had been deep fried and went well with tangy fennel and orange salads. The primi are all so good, I think we would have enjoyed a meal of nothing but – well maybe next time!

The secondi (mains) included a luxurious tortellini in a velvety cream sauce, cornish hen, and striped sea bass served on a beautiful fresh tomato ragu laced with olive oil. The cornish hen came with rapini – I love rapini. We didn’t need dessert but ended up sharing a sfogliatelle (“lobster tail” pastry) with the traditional sweet ricotta filling.

The wine cellar has over 2000 bottles of carefully selected wines. After before-dinner cocktails, we chose a versatile Friulano from the Veneto. It had all of the right flavours, aromas, and tones to enhance the secondi

All dishes are beautifully presented

Atmosphere and Service

Primo & Secondo is a small restaurant. I am not sure of its capacity but I recommend making a reservation. White table cloths, a blackboard menu, and tasteful decor create a lovely atmosphere. Service is friendly and knowledgeable, without any of that fawning over-familiarity that I find off putting. Oh, and it has fantastic bread sticks. 

Primo and Secondo is memorable! For all the right reasons!

Primo & Secondo, 7023 Saint-Dominique, Petite Italie, Montréal, QC H2S 3B6 Reservations by telephone only at  514-908-0838

Cities are in Crisis

March 7, 2024

Anastasia Mourogova Millin, March 5, 2024 Earth’s urban population will grow by 2.5 billion people over the next 30 years. Over the same time period, urban land expansion put at risk the survival of 855 different species and will threaten the homes of over 30,000 animal and plant species. Add in the impact of climate […]

The Co-working Concept, Issue 80

January 22, 2024

Co-working space came to mean the notorious We Work model. When I had been asked to opine on co-working I tried to steer the conversation away from the Adam Neumann / Softbank  flimflam growth model. Instead, I suggested that property owners look at usage and users. While I doubted We Work’s ability to survive I […]

The Affordable Housing Conundrum

October 3, 2023

Before I fall completely into the trap of opposition politics, I have decided to take a break from never-ending criticism and to start suggesting solutions to the affordable housing conundrum. Do I have a plan? No, more a collection of ideas To start with, I think there are three key issues: Home ownership is not […]

We Should Know Better

August 26, 2023

I know! I am going to sound like a grumpy old man. Maybe that is because I am. I have been scratching my head in wonderment at the Taylor Swift phenomena. Is she an Incredible song writer, composer, and performer? I really don’t know! A discussion for another time? But probably not. At my age […]

Not in My Back Yard

August 4, 2023

Don’t build it! At least, Not In My Back Yard ! I acted as an advisor  in the sale of a beautifully natural, 14-acre urban waterfront estate. Existing zoning allowed for the development of 30 to 35 single-family homes, which after road dedication would leave very little green space. I did not think that was […]

Glasgow – That Dear Green Place

July 31, 2023

We were visiting Glasgow (literally that Dear Green Place in Gaelic) to see where my father was born, grew up, and went to University. Fortunately for me, my cousin John from Australia had just visited and had met with historians, Bruce Downie  and Norry Wilson.  So,  we too arranged to meet them in the Govanhill […]