Montreal icon, Momesso’s restaurant, shuts its doors in NDG

“As of today, we will officially close our doors,” said a simple post on Facebook from the iconic Momesso’s restaurant in NDG on January 22.

The restaurant had announced earlier this month that their last day would be January 27, but they closed unexpectedly a few days earlier than planned.

Many people we spoke to had planned to visit the restaurant this week, coming from different areas of Montreal and Laval just to get one last Italian sub – and were surprised to find a sign on the door that read: “We would like to thank you for your support all these years. Sadly as of today, we will officially close our doors. Thank you.”

“We were hoping to get one last sub, one last good sub from Momesso’s,” said one man on Wednesday outside the restaurant, who came from the West Island. “Used to come quite often, loved it.”

“Disappointed. We made this special trip, we said we’d get this one last sub, but didn’t make it,” said another woman.

One of the owners – Paolo Momesso – is almost 70 and retiring, closing a restaurant that’s been part of Montreal’s food scene for 46 years.

“We came from Laval. So I used to come here with my daughter way back in the 90s regularly. So I’m really going to miss it,” added another woman. “The food was excellent. It’s too bad one of the family members didn’t take it over or someone else.”

“We thought we’d make it before the [27th.] I guess not, so we’ve got to go back.”

“It’s been here for longer than I’ve been alive. I grew up in the neighbourhood and this is where I came to eat,” said another man.

Many people calling Momesso’s a “landmark in Montreal.”

“It’s unfortunate that they closed, but that’s life. A lot of things are closing in Montreal. I’m actually from another area, but you know, everybody knew Momesso’s in NDG, so that’s why a lot of people came,” said one former customer.

“A real Montreal institutions. Tons of people, you come down here. We’re West Island people. When we come down here, we’d see tons of people all the time. Nice folk, real shame, real loss for the community. And now no more good Momesso’s subs. What are we going to do?”

We tried to contact the owners of Momesso’s for comment, but were unable to reach them.