Already that the purchase of tickets to attend a festival is an expense that many take into account when establishing their budget, once the arrival of the event, it is also necessary to think of having a small lousse to feed and water, without leaving the site. Although the food is part of the experience, you can sometimes be surprised at the prices displayed for the dishes of the various stands or foodtrucks that are present.
With the Osheaga festivities from August 4 to 6 in Montreal, I went there to discover not only what the event has in store for its festival-goers, but also to find out if it is possible to eat well. , while enjoying a drink, for $30 or less.
With the hot summer temperatures and the large crowds that come to these major festivities, it is essential to stay hydrated and to eat well so as not to get heat stroke or be caught not feeling well during a concert. Fortunately for Osheaga, these are far from the options that are missing!
The food sold at the festival
Food at Osheaga 2023.
@laurieforget_ | Narcity Quebec
Year after year, this festival, which is recognized as one of the biggest musical events in the metropolis, pushes the note even further, both in terms of the activities scattered all over the place and in terms of food. For the 2023 edition, we can almost say that it is a weekend of music AND food. As soon as you enter the site, you can order something to eat, from a classic poutine or a burger, to a poke bowl. As for drinks, you can quickly gaze at the huge bar of the Absolut brand, the Bacardi terrace or even the lemonade kiosks, alcoholic or not.
No matter which direction you look, there is either a bar, a restaurant banner or even a tent where you can order food and drink. Just opposite the Ferris wheel are several Montreal restaurants in a garden area with tables and platforms called the YUL EAT zone. There is a selection of dishes from Kwizinn, Babacool, Le Red Tiger, Pan Américan as well as Mexican cuisine from El Gordo. If you’re looking to eat a plate worthy of a good restaurant, that’s where it’s at.
I was still surprised to find that several other well-known banners and restaurateurs have set up on the site. I am thinking, among others, of Queues de Castor, pizzéria NO.900, Saint-Houblon, Lucille’s, Apérol Spritz, La Boîte à crêpes and Mr. Puffs, to name a few. There’s even a huge covered central bar with a ton of tables near the Green and Valley stages. In short, the festival organization team went all out!
In a single day, I didn’t even have time to see everything hidden on the site to satisfy all possible cravings. One thing is certain, there are as many options for people who are vegan, vegetarian and/or gluten intolerant, as there are for meat lovers and people with a sweet tooth.
Is it possible to eat and drink well in Osheaga for $30 and less?
While walking through Parc Jean-Drapeau, I wanted to find the best options for eating well and having a drink if you don’t want to eat a classic burger or poutine, but without breaking the bank. We agree that no one wants to start their week over with an empty wallet.
I must say that I found the prices of drinks and alcoholic beverages standard. For example, a glass of lemonade with Jack Daniel’s was $11.69, beer and ready-to-drink are $11.09, wine and bubbles $10.44 per glass, and spirits or aperitifs from $10.22 to $12.61, taxes excluded. There are also several non-alcoholic options like bottled water for $3.26, energy drinks for $5.22 as well as other options ranging from soft drinks to bubble teas for $10 and under, always before the taxes. On the other hand, drinking troughs are placed in a few places so that you can drag yourself a water bottle and fill it up a few times during the day.
For food, I sampled a few different options that came in at around $20 and under including tax. I started with the eight pieces of fried pork and shrimp wontons from Red Tiger sold for $10 ($11.50 with tax) which were delicious. With the mayonnaise and the small salad below, it’s perfect to satisfy a little craving. This restaurant located in the YUL EAT zone also offers several affordable dishes such as green papaya salad at $15 or vegetarian fried rice at $16.
I then stayed in this gourmet garden to try the Veganosaurus half pan pizza covered with artichokes, spinach, ricotta made from cauliflower and crispy onions. This vegetarian option is $16 ($18.40 with tax) and it melts in your mouth. Although it’s a half pizza, the thick crust and generous toppings are likely to satisfy more than one. For the same price, you can also order the version filled with pepperonis or all dressed with jalapeños.
I quite honestly came close to being tempted by the $11 fish taco or the $10 cheeseburger at Lucille’s, but that was when I saw a little bánh mì sandwich stand in the grass, right next to the Ferris wheel. , that I succumbed. There’s a version with tofu for $17.74 and another made with BBQ pulled pork for $18. It was the latter that I tried. The sandwich comes in two big pieces so I took one half without the spicy mayonnaise and the other with the spicy coulis.
The first portion was delectable with the sweet side and the soft bread. The second definitely surprised me as the spicy sauce was definitely more intense than I would have hoped. If you’re not a fan of spicy, I don’t recommend it at all, just ask for no mayonnaise on top.
If I couldn’t taste everything since I was very full, I still salivated seeing the many sweet options that can be ordered. In addition to the kiosks of Mr. Puffs and La Boîte à crêpes, there were also Billio frozen desserts as well as mangoes cut in flower. It was clearly the fruit that won it as it came on a stick and cost $7.61 before taxes. The stand is very close to the Apérol Spritz terrace, at the edge of the water, and the mango was fresh, juicy and perfectly cut so that I could bite into it.
With a budget of $30, you can therefore easily have a small savory appetizer, such as fried wontons, followed by a sweet dish, such as mango blossom or a $7.39 Billio sundae, before top it all off with a cocktail or beer. You might not end up driving home if you don’t want to spend too much, but clearly there’s something for you to enjoy, no matter what your tastes. On the other hand, you can still bring you a reusable water bottle, just to use the drinkers as you see fit, without spending money to quench your thirst.
If I had one last piece of advice to give you, it would be to eat a good full meal before you leave for Île Sainte-Hélène, because that can quickly become expensive if you plan to dine and dine on the site during three days. By eating well before, you will be able to stick to your budget much more easily.
Note that inclusive writing is used for writing our articles. To learn more on the subject, you can consult the Government of Canada page.
