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

Lisbon – A City on the Rise?

March 7, 2023

Lisbon’s seven hills and waterfront make it visually spectacular. The second oldest capital in Europe, the city has energy. Busy streets and squares, full restaurants, and vibrant night life – the city pulsates. And, the population seems young. All signs of a city on the rise? Earthquake A 1755 earthquake destroyed 85% of the city […]

Cities and Towns, The Affordable Housing Problem

February 8, 2023

People living on the street have come to symbolize the global housing crisis but they are only the tip of the iceberg. While the examples of Finland and Houston demonstrate a focussed plan pursued diligently can resolve the housing situation for the chronically homeless, addressing the affordable housing problem is much more complex.  Defining Affordability […]

I Love to Dance

January 29, 2023

I love to dance. This is not something new for me. I can’t remember when I didn’t like to move to the music. My first memories of watching others dance come from my childhood in Cape Breton where I would watch the adults square dance. Then, there were the step dancers who would often accompany […]

Cities and Towns 8, A City is About People

January 19, 2023

Kings Cross, once a thriving industrial and transport centre in London, was effectively closed  off  to the public by the end of the 20th century.   Then in 1996, the decision was made to move the British terminus for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link from Waterloo to St-Pancras. The landowner saw a re-development opportunity for […]

NEOM - the Wall

Cities and Towns 7, Cities and Towns Evolve

January 8, 2023

I have postulated that cities and towns evolve. That towns and villages first grow in areas where the basics to support life were plentiful. Typically, that means good agricultural land and good access to water. Other valuable considerations include safety, and resilience. The bonus – access to trade routes.  Walt Disney and the Fully Formed […]

Christmas Poem 2022

December 22, 2022

A Visit from Saint Nicholas A Poem by Jonathan Potter – December 2022 ‘Twas the first mask-free Christmas, when all through the stores  The vaccinated children were spewing their spores;The shoppers were eagerly starting to riotAs the introverts longed for some quarantine quiet. The public healthcare workers were tracing the pathOf the flu and RSV, […]