Montreal – The new Italian restaurant concept Piazza Sociale is set to open September 22 under the magnificent PVM Glass Pavilion at Le Cathcart Restaurants et Biergarten.
Le Cathcart Restaurants et Biergarten is part of the broader Esplanade PVM revitalization project, which stands as the central component of Projet Nouveau Centre, a $1 billion+ investment from Ivanhoé Cambridge aimed at creating a new beat at the heart of Montreal.
Piazza Sociale draws its inspiration from animated Italian courtyards where people get together to socialize and grab a bite at any time of day. This temporary concept, in place for the next 12 months, is a major addition to the already extensive Le Cathcart offering.
Montrealers will get to meet and discover Italian market cuisine in a luminous, lush and safe environment, where renowned chef Riccardo Bertolino (Maison Boulud), in collaboration with Cathcart chefs Nicholas Giambattisto (Un Po’ Di Piu) and Federico Bianchi (Pizzeria Bottega), will recreate traditional flavours from his native Italy. The Piazza Sociale concept will include business lunches, traditional aperitivi under the golden rays of the late afternoon sun, and unforgettable dinners under the stars.
“Seeing Piazza Sociale at night, under a starlit sky, is what inspired us to develop this simple and hearty menu that evokes the pure pleasure of sharing a delicious meal between friends on an outdoor terrace in a local piazza,” explains chef Riccardo Bertolino. “The precision of our cuisine comes from the authentic traditions of Italy. It’s the kind of food that brings people together and keeps them coming back for more. There’s no artifice – it’s all real.”
Concept developers Alexandre Besnard, Patrick Hétu, Nicolas Urli, Jean-François Gervais, Marc O. Benattar and Thomas H. worked in partnership with the A5 Hospitality group to focus on simplicity and sharing. Piazza Sociale is a relaxed, open space with no reservations required. Located in the heart of the city, Piazza Sociale will be Montreal’s go-to 4-season terrace to share great food and drinks.
“The concept was developed to draw people to the downtown core by offering a major culinary experience in a safe environment,” adds Alexandre Besnard, Co-founder, A5 Hospitality. “Originally designed to accommodate thousands of guests, the space has been reconfigured to create a worm ambiance, while allowing patrons to follow recommend distancing guidelines. This is, by far, the safest restaurant in Montreal.”
In these times of sanitary restrictions, the venue is equipped with glass dividers, which contribute to the warm ambiance while promoting social distancing, as well as a state-of-the-art ventilation system and disinfection stations at all entrances. Le Cathcart is also deploying a sanitary team to ensure extensive cleaning of common surfaces, in order to make the premises safe for everyone. Furthermore, all staff members strictly apply all recommended measures, including essential precautions like mandatory face masks or face coverings, and frequent hand-washing.
Designed by Sid Lee Architecture in collaboration with Menkès Shooner Dagenais Letourneux Architectes, Le Cathcart Restaurants et Biergarten is set in a vast and airy public space where natural light pierces through the PVM Glass Pavilion, contributing to the venue’s unique effervescence.
About Chef Riccardo Bertolino
From the age of 14, Riccardo Bertolino was already at home in the kitchen. Born in Bologna, Italy, he has worked at renowned restaurants all over the world, including in Paris, New York and Singapore. From 2012 to 2020, he was executive chef at Maison Boulud at the Montreal Ritz-Carlton. He describes his cuisine as gourmet, authentic and refined.
About Le Cathcart Restaurants et Biergarten
As a stimulating space for business lunches, relaxing after-work happy hours and animated weekend dinners, Le Cathcart Restaurants et Biergarten stands out with its wide-ranging offering and authentic Montreal atmosphere. Le Cathcart is a new concept created by A5 Hospitality (a Montreal-based restaurant & bar designer and operator) and designed by Sid Lee Architecture (responsible for the major Place Ville Marie public space revitalization project), in consortium with Menkès Shooner Dagenais LeTourneux Architectes.
Piazza Sociale Opening Hours:
Tuesday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Brunches coming in October – stay tuned!
Reservations: www.libroreserve.com