Little Italy restaurateur to get terrasse permit after eight-year dispute with city
One day after a call from The Gazette, the City of Montreal will grant a Little Italy restaurant owner a long-awaited permit to build a terrasse.
Roberto Stabile, the restaurateur behind the Italian fine-dining establishment Primo & Secondo, says he's been fighting to install a terrasse at his restaurant down the road from Jean-Talon Market since 2017. But because the street where the restaurant is located is zoned as residential, on St-Dominique St. near Mozart Ave., he has come up against roadblocks with the borough when applying for the permit.
'People want to eat outdoors. People would rather go somewhere they can sit outside than go indoors,' he said in an interview Wednesday, noting that dozens of other restaurants in the neighbourhood have terrasses and can seat more tables in the warmer months. 'It makes no sense to me. It's frustrating,' highlighting that the restaurant is a small family business that would benefit from the extra income.
On Thursday following the interview with Stabile, Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie borough mayor François Limoges called The Gazette saying they will offer Stabile a permit to build a terrasse outside Primo & Secondo.
'We are looking forward to being able to close the alley, to install it, and to authorize the terrasse in the alley,' he said. Limoges added that a terrace in the alley would be more spacious than a terrace on the street in front of the restaurant on St-Dominique St., which is where Stabile first came up against zoning issues.
'He's in a very special spot' in terms of zoning, said Limoges. The restaurant's location in front of the St-Dominique bike lane and next to a fire station poses certain safety issues. It also neighbours an apartment building, and Limoges said a terrasse in the parking lot behind the restaurant would disturb the building residents.
Stabile alleges he was informally told by the city in 2021 that he may be able to build behind the restaurant. After he spent $25,000 on wood and patio furniture, he was told that the back terrace wouldn't be possible because of the residential zoning. Applying for a permit costs $300, he added, and the fees have added up over the years.
The city confirmed that they had not sent a written agreement or given Stabile the go-ahead to start building before he bought the materials.
Every year since, Stabile says he's applied for a permit to no avail, even though he believed he was changing the application to be compliant with the city's rules about keeping a minimum distance from the bike lane and the fire station.
On Thursday afternoon, Stabile received an email from the city promising they will assess how Stabile can build a terrasse that complies with the multiple restrictions.
'Our team is currently looking at several factors in order to propose options by tomorrow afternoon. You'll be hearing from us shortly,' wrote Maude Lamarche, the permit manager for the borough.
Limoges said pressure from the media had nothing to do with the city's recent decision.
'We're in the headspace of finding solution. He's a business owner that we appreciate. We're aware of the specific situation and trying to be proactive,' he said.
When asked if he would be happy with a terrasse in the alley as a solution to bypass the zoning restrictions with the adjacent bike lane, apartment building, and fire station, Stabile responded: 'At this point, I'll do anything.'
'His restaurant is very good, by the way.'
This story was originally published June 19, 2025 at 4:49 PM.
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