Audacity + resilience + innovation : 3 inspiring restaurants that make their mark.
The world of foodservice is fascinating. If there's one sector that has mastered the art of combining audacity, resilience, innovation and creativity, it's this one. Just think of all the restaurants that have had to adapt and reinvent themselves in the midst of a pandemic: this is change management at its finest. Not surprisingly, the restaurant business is one of the most stressful.
But despite the uncertain financial climate, a number of establishments are doing well and, better still, standing out from the crowd as much for the quality of their offerings as for their ability to stand the test of time. There's a lot to be inspired by when you observe their practices, and that's why we're presenting three restaurants that caught our eye.
Annette wine bar
We love it when, right from the home page, the intentions are clear because it sets the tone.
Annette welcomes: "A quick aperitif / a carefully selected glass of wine / an evening that stretches out / a deliciously prepared dish / a rhythmic night / 100% well accompanied."
What's striking here is that Annette wine bar uses its vision and mission statement to rally creative minds, and demonstrate to its clientele how it's possible to combine rigor, simplicity and relevance. This same recipe can be found throughout the site, as the following examples demonstrate.
A unique vision of wine : "Pleasure + sharing + rigor / popularizing its subtlest details, fleshing out its simplicity / as we speak, Hugo is definitely talking wine."
Timeless minimalist cocktails : "Raw material + texture + season / passionate and thoughtful, Olivier creates tasty cocktails / conception / execution / refinement / kitchen + bar complicity."
A cuisine of sharing : "Reciprocal + delight + discipline / butter = culture / local / feminine / masculine / Anethum graveolens, is a species of herbaceous plant in the Apiaceae family."
Our team : "Sine qua non / state of mind characterized by desire / collaboration / camaraderie / cooperate closely to accomplish a mission."
We'd also like to point out that Annette bar à vin goes to the trouble of naming team members on its website, a thoughtful and sympathetic touch, just like the magnificent decor, which was awarded gold at the Grand Prix du Design 2023.
Photo credit: Annette bar à vin
Lov restaurant
In business since 2016, lov restaurant now has 3 branches: Laval, Montreal and Brossard. Lov presents itself as plant-based, tasty and responsible cuisine that allows you to make healthy choices for yourself and for the planet. A big plus when you consider that more and more people are looking for responsible cuisine as well as instagrammable restaurants.
Speaking of instagrammable, it's hard not to be a fan of the work Jean-Pierre Viau and Jacinthe Piotte have done in terms of layout and design. Although slightly different, the three restaurants are bright and enveloping, yet playful, especially with the use of swings, as shown in the images.
Photo credit: Lov
Lov's philosophy is simple: to serve well-being. What's even more telling is that they take the time to share with us the values that drive them, but above all, to contextualize them. "Needless to say, when it comes to managing the image of a commercial brand, product brand or employer brand, consistency between the philosophy named, the values stated and the brand experience lived is essential to building customer and employee loyalty. Speaking of values, here's what the brand has to say, and more importantly, how they come to life."
Balance: Vegan menus, first and foremost focused on pleasure, because they fundamentally believe in balance in everything.
Gratitude: Recognition that many of the good things that happen to us are not due to us, but to others or external elements. Gratitude towards all those who choose to embark on their adventure, be they customers, employees, suppliers or partners.
Surpassing ourselves: At Lov, we don't play to win, but to keep on playing for as long as possible, constantly improving and surpassing ourselves.
Special mention should be made of the job offers, which contain a statement in line with what Lov offers: teaching and coaching are an integral part of the values. Here, experience or not, the company is ready to welcome talent that fits in with the mission and vision.
We are keeping ourselves from applying!
India Rosa
When it comes to cultural integration, it's hard to find a better story than that of the Sandhu family. Settled in Quebec for 35 years, Mr. Amjer is a familiar face in Montreal's culinary world. A true lover of cooking, he has passed on his passion to his sons Goppy and Happy, who are now working to bring us the India Rosa experience.
India Rosa's intention is to recreate the Indian tradition of family sharing, adding a festive touch to honor a cherished Montreal tradition: 5 à 7. The cuisine is a happy blend of tapas, cocktails and shareable plates. Although the two Montreal branches are true masterpieces, and the food is well worth the detour, India Rosa stands out in many ways, but what really catches our attention is the way they communicate.
Photo credit: India Rosa
A newsletter that's anything but boring, inclusive writing (which we still don't see much of in the restaurant business), a well-stocked media section that speaks for itself, and a statement expressing what sets India Rosa apart and why you should join. The icing on the cake is that the owners are present, involved and accessible, as evidenced by this photo where the author of this article was able to meet Goppy, one of the owners at the Griffintown branch.
Photo credit: Vicky Marier
Want more? Go to their Instagram page, where scrolling becomes a real addiction.
What do these examples have in common? Each in their own way, these establishments have managed to combine clarity, communication and coherence, as much in terms of their values as the vision and dream they carry. Whether you're a restaurant, a bookshop, a general contractor or the CEO of a medium-sized or large company, Winston can help you achieve greater clarity.
