For almost seven years now, Le Petit Sao has charmed the hearts of the residents of the neighbourhoods where they settle. Now it is the turn of Old Montreal's foodies to enjoy the delights of this little Vietnamese restaurant. On the menu, the essentials of Le Petit Sao, the brand-new island bowl with mango sauce and picnic boxes, all in a relaxed atmosphere, always in a pastel-coloured décor with tropical accents.
Located on Notre-Dame Street West, this new addition to Le Petit Sao family opened its doors amid the pandemic. "This project was already well underway before COVID. This 4th branch meant a lot to us. We have always dreamed of being in the Old Montreal, so when the opportunity arose, we proposed to Jonathan Ly Dang, one of the members of the SAO SAO family restaurant team for the past twelve years, to join us in growing the adventure of Le Petit Sao. It's a double dream come true; to welcome a person who has grown up with us and who believes in us, in our family, is more than a success as entrepreneurs. ", confides Lise Dang, co-owner.
Like Le Petit Sao in Pointe-St-Charles, the design of the latter premises is the work of Jean-Paul Belmont, co-owner and passionate about design and former head of an architectural software firm. The design of the Old Montreal branch takes its inspiration from the coastal town of Hoi An in Vietnam. "For the restaurant, the idea was to create a warm and gourmet atmosphere by creating rounded shapes, warm and soft colours, as well as dynamic lighting during the day and warm lighting in the evening for an Asian after-work. For our entrance wall, we brought in a local craftsman to get an aged pink like in the city of Hoi An, our inspiration", says Jean-Paul Belmont. With a semi-open kitchen and the festive atmosphere that comes with its location, it will be a must for the last days of the summer and after-work outings among colleagues.
On the menu, you'll find the famous recipes that have been seducing Montrealers since the opening of the first branch on Nun's Island. A fresh, homemade menu based on the original recipes of Mama Thi and creations that have emerged over the years. Among them: the delicious NEMS rolled by Lise's "Mama Thi" the famous and colourful salad bowls of grilled meat buns, the classic chicken Pho soup or satay, fresh spring salads, and rolls and the irresistible Banh Mi. To drink, they offer delicious fresh lemonades, chè Thai, and Vietnamese coffee (Nuocs) at the moment, as well as Asian and local beers, cocktails, and a small privately imported wine list soon to come. For the past five years, the owners decided to remove beef for ecological reasons from their menus and replace them with more gourmet and comforting vegetarian dishes. Delicious healthy options are available to satisfy customers, including the alternative to replace regular noodles with "zoodles" (zucchini noodles) in their famous Pho's and bowls.
Finally, Le Petit Sao continues to innovate by making life easier for its customers with its brand-new online ordering platform, both for on-site customers and corporate catering services.
Whether you're in Old Montreal for a day with friends, for work, or tourism, the menu of the new PETIT SAO will conquer the stomachs of the gourmet. Le Petit Sao team awaits you in large numbers today to inaugurate its dining room. Come and support this local business!
