HAITI in MTL
As my crew gets older, it's harder and harder to find a night when everyone is free — relationships, work and kids always get in the way, plus the fact that all of us go to bed at like 9 pm now, makes it difficult to plan a night out. What better excuse to go out for drinks than someone's birthday? Asking the birthday girl where she wants to go, she suggests Agrikol — a Haitian resto/bar in Montreal.
How have we never heard of this place before? Opened recently on rue Amherst, close to Marché Saint-Jacques, this is the baby of Toronto restauranteurs Jen Agg and Roland Jean, as well as Arcade Fire's Win Butler and Régine Chassagne — this place is... awesome. From the moment you walk up to the white-painted brick exterior and step into the funky resto-bar, you sort of feel as if you're walking into local bar/house in Haiti. A super funky Creole interior awaits you (kind me of reminds of New Orleans!) and the sounds of kompa, zouk and reggae play in the background. We felt like we were on a mini-vacation in the middle of spring.
Cocktails are absolutely amazing (though a tad bit pricey). Menu is limited but everything on there is delicious — not quite authentic, but pretty darn close. Music selection was wonderful, it's very rare to get this type of music selection in any place in Montreal. Atmosphere was laid back and relaxed and we can't wait to come back again.... very, very soon!
Location: 1844 Rue Amherst, Montreal, QC H2L 3L6 Website: agrikol.ca
Bottle of Barbancourt Rum with all the fixings to make our very own Ti'Ponch
The Martiniquan making our ti'ponch, cuz let's face it..... Martiniquan's know how to make the perfect one
Ah, thank you, sir!
Agrikol's Dark & Stormy cocktail - a great mix of spiced rum, ginger beer, lime juice and fresh-pressed sugarcane syrup
Griot & Plantains - my absolute fave Haitian dish
Avocado Salad
Haitian Accra - or Malanga fritters, is an appetizer common thoughout Haiti
Rice & Peas - the staple dish of any Caribbean island
Macaroni au Gratin - mac & cheese Haitian style
Photos taken | written by JENNIFER MAHON
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