Moishe's Steakhouse, in its original incarnation, was one of the oldest[1] restaurants in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1938 by Moishe Lighter, it ran in Montreal's The Main district for 83 years. The restaurant had been in its location at 3961 Saint Laurent Boulevard since its founding, in an area that was the historic Jewish quarter.
Identified as a "Jewish steakhouse," its menu was based on traditional Old World recipes, and it catered to the mainly Central European immigrant residents of The Main neighbourhood. The influence of Romanian cuisine has had a significant shaping influence on the culinary culture of Montreal, producing, among other staples, the Montreal-style steak spice, bagels and smoked meat for which the city has become known. The restaurant was a Montreal landmark.
History
The restaurant, initially called "Romanian Paradise", was founded in 1938 by Moishe Lighter, a Romanian immigrant. Legend has it that Lighter became the owner of the restaurant in a card game. The restaurant's name was changed to "Moishe's" at the outset of World War II.
For several decades, the restaurant had been a fixture of Montreal and "The Main" neighbourhood, whose residents were prominent in Montreal literature and culture, as most famously represented in the writing of Montreal's Mordecai Richler.