Octopus carpaccio? Fresh charcoal grilled whole lobster, jerk butter, fried ginger, wild garlic, chives, pea sprouts? Empanadas with scotch bonnet jam?
Kwizinn takes modern Caribbean fusion to a whole new level.
Mixing fun island vibes, elegant decor and sophisticated fare, Kwizinn (which means “kitchen” in Creole) is one of our favourite Caribbean spots in Montreal's Old Port.
Having recently relocated from Verdun, launching their first food truck, and catering events like the Montreal Grand Prix, Chef Mike Lafaille’s star—the talented visually impaired chef at the Helm of Kwizinn—is on the rise.
Born in Haiti, Chef Mike immigrated to Canada after the 2010 earthquake. Initially in healthcare, he found his calling in the restaurant industry at O’noir, a restaurant serving meals in complete darkness, which was a perfect match for both his skills and his juvenile macular degeneration.
Working there until 2017, surrounded by colleagues who shared his visual impairment, provided him a supportive environment.
In 2016, Mike and his partner Claudia Fio opened their own restaurant on St-Hubert Street, transitioning from part-time to full-time by 2017.
Cooking, a childhood passion he developed with family in Haiti, led him to create Kwizinn, known for its rich Caribbean flavours. Moving to Verdun from Plaza St-Hubert due to logistical challenges in 2016, they took over Chez L’Épicier's former location, refining their cuisine with a modern, eclectic style.
His menu blends vibrant Caribbean taste with local artisanal products, enriching Montreal’s culinary landscape. Beyond cooking, Mike advocates for workers’ rights and disability inclusion in the restaurant industry.
Diners should expect dishes that represent Kwizinn’s fusion cuisine by blending Caribbean spices with other traditional dishes (hello, octopus carpaccio).
Plus a parade of other dishes we’re still thinking about: fresh oysters with coconut milk mignonette, calamansi, and bird's eye chilli; bao fall of di bone exploding with braised short rib; deliciously addictive djondjon rice; lip-smacking pork griots; saucy wings marinated to perfection in passion fruit and jerk sauce and beignets drizzled with a lime curd we are still drooling over.
And we haven’t even gotten to the cocktails.
Try the impossibly refreshing Casamigos Mule (think Casamigos tequila with Saint Germain and ginger beer spiked with lime).
Or our favourite drink of the summer, the Paloma (the sweet and sour combination of tequila, lime and grapefruit).
Don’t miss the Cuban nights every Sunday, spicy drag brunches and DJ sets featuring Afro beats and Amapiano.
Bonus: The breezy terrasse has one of the best views in town as the sun sets on the Bonsecour Market.
For more information about Kwizinn, click here.
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