A popular kosher restaurant in Montreal was burned to the ground early Saturday morning in what police are now investigating as a suspected arson. Nöam, a dairy restaurant on Décarie Boulevard in the heart of Côte-des-Neiges, was gutted by a two-alarm fire that broke out around 3:15 a.m. Someone was seen leaving the premises shortly after the blaze started, and the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal transferred the case to its arson squad within hours.
For the thousands of kosher diners who fill the Décarie strip on any given weeknight, this one lands hard. Nöam sat in the middle of the densest kosher dining corridor in Montreal, surrounded by Pizza Pita, Al Ha’esh, California Pizza, and Broadway Pizza. It was one of the newer additions to that block and had built a loyal following fast.
What Happened Overnight
Firefighters responded to the two-storey multi-commercial building at Nöam’s Décarie address, between Plamondon Avenue and Vézina Street, at approximately 3:15 a.m. The fire spread to the restaurant and an adjacent garage, causing extensive structural damage. Crews brought it under control after a significant response. No injuries were reported.
Police spokesperson Raphaël Bergeron confirmed that someone was observed leaving the scene shortly after the fire began, which prompted the transfer to the arson unit. According to accounts circulating within the Montreal Jewish community and reported by The Suburban, surveillance footage reportedly captured an individual pouring an accelerant and igniting it. Investigators are reviewing the video evidence and examining the scene. As of the initial statements, police had not publicly established a motive and said they were keeping an open mind, while not excluding antisemitic motivation.
A Direct Hit on the Community
Nöam was Jewish-owned and served Mediterranean, Italian, and international kosher fare, known for its wood-fired pizzas, pastas, fresh salads, and a well-liked lineup of specials. It carried MK certification as a dairy restaurant and had operated since roughly 2024, seating around 60 guests with reservations strongly recommended for evening service. In under two years it earned a 4.7 rating across dozens of reviews and a reputation as one of the more polished kosher rooms in the city.
The reaction from political and community figures was immediate. Mount Royal MP Anthony Housefather called the fire a horrific tragedy for the owners, who had invested heavily in the business, along with its employees, customers, and the surrounding community. He said the attack on a Jewish-owned business must be investigated as a hate crime and that those responsible must be caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
The Israeli Consulate in Montreal said it was following the events with great concern and described the fire as a direct attack on a Jewish-owned business, calling on authorities for a quick and serious investigation. Quebec Senator Leo Housakos called the suspected arson deeply disturbing and noted that so many Jews feel increasingly unsafe in the very city they helped build. Montreal city councillor and columnist Mike Cohen was among the first to report the fire, describing a major hate crime and confirming the restaurant had been burnt to the ground.
Part of a Wider Pattern in Canada
The Nöam fire does not stand alone. It arrives during the most violent stretch for Canadian Jewry in recent memory. B’nai Brith Canada documented 27 violent antisemitic incidents in the country between January 1 and mid-July of 2026, more than double the 10 recorded across all of 2025. The tally already trails only 2023, when 77 violent incidents followed the October 7 Hamas massacre. Kosher and Jewish-owned food businesses have been repeatedly targeted, and the pattern stretches across both Montreal and Toronto.
Recent Fires and Attacks on Kosher and Jewish-Owned Food Businesses in Canada
The following incidents illustrate how frequently kosher restaurants, bakeries, groceries, and delis have been hit in recent years. Not all were fires, but the through-line is clear: Jewish food businesses have become recurring targets.
Nöam, Montreal (August 2026)
The subject of this report. A suspected arson destroyed the MK-certified dairy restaurant on Décarie Boulevard in Côte-des-Neiges. Surveillance reportedly showed an individual using an accelerant. The SPVM arson squad took over the case, and no injuries were reported.
Kiva’s Bagel Bar, Toronto (July 2026)
Two locations of Kiva’s Bagel Bar, a Jewish-owned bakery chain and a Toronto fixture since 1979, were attacked within about an hour of each other. One storefront near Yonge and St. Clair was struck by gunfire, and a second location near Bathurst and Steeles had its window smashed. No one was injured. Toronto police investigated whether the same vehicle was involved at both scenes and assigned the case to the hate crime unit and gun and gang task force. Locals lined up outside the shops the following day in a show of support.
Jewish Activist’s Restaurant, Toronto (April 2026)
A man fired multiple rounds into a Toronto restaurant owned by a Jewish family. It was the second time one of the family’s restaurants had been shot up. CTV News footage showed shattered windows and bullet holes through the back door. No injuries were reported. The shooting was cited as roughly the 12th incident in that wave of antisemitic violence against the Canadian Jewish community.
La Briut, Greater Toronto Area (January 2025)
The Jewish-owned kosher restaurant and caterer La Briut was targeted in two separate break-ins within days. Its Markham office near Yonge Street and Doncaster Avenue was broken into, vandalized, and sprayed with antisemitic graffiti. Its Toronto restaurant on Alness Street near Dufferin and Steeles had its front door shattered and money stolen. The Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center and UJA Federation of Greater Toronto condemned the attacks.
International Delicatessen Foods, North Toronto (January 2024)
A suspected hate-motivated arson and vandalism struck the Jewish-owned grocery and deli in north Toronto. Officers arrived to find the words “Free Palestine” written on the building. The owner told the local councillor he feared for his family’s safety and worried it could be months before the business reopened. Toronto’s deputy mayor called it a wakeup call about the spike in antisemitism across the city.
Restaurant Shalom, Montreal (2013)
Owner Sylvain Hazan arrived to find a dud Molotov cocktail, one of three thrown into his Montreal kosher restaurant, on the floor. His sprinkler system extinguished the fire before it could spread. Restaurant Shalom was one of three Jewish-owned properties, including two kosher restaurants, attacked over three days. The incident stoked fears of antisemitism in the community even as some leaders urged caution about the motive.
What This Means for Kosher Diners
Kosher restaurants operate on thin margins and deep community trust. When one is destroyed overnight, the loss is not only a business. It is a gathering place, a source of livelihood for staff, and one of a limited number of certified options in a city. Montreal’s kosher dining scene is smaller and more concentrated than New York or South Florida, which makes the loss of any single certified establishment felt across the entire community.
The investigation into Nöam is ongoing. Police have not confirmed a motive, and the arson squad continues to review surveillance footage and physical evidence. What is already clear is that a certified kosher restaurant that served the community for nearly two years is gone, and that it fits a documented and escalating pattern of attacks on Jewish food businesses across Canada. We will update this report as the investigation develops.
This is a sensitive and developing story. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the SPVM.
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