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Wilensky's Light Lunch
Wilensky.JPG
Wilensky's storefront
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Restaurant information
Established (1932-05-15) May 15, 1932 (age 93)
Food type Lunch counter and soda fountain
Dress code Casual
Street address 34 Fairmount Avenue West
City Montreal
State Quebec
Postal/ZIP code H2T 2M1
Country Canada
Coordinates 45°31′24″N 73°35′42″W / 45.523302°N 73.594932°W / 45.523302; -73.594932

Wilensky's Light Lunch, or just Wilensky for short, is a very famous old restaurant in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It's a special kind of place called a lunch counter. It first opened way back in 1932.

This restaurant became even more famous because it was in a book called The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz by Mordecai Richler. Later, parts of the movie based on the book were filmed right inside Wilensky's!

What's on the Menu?

Wilensky's is most famous for its "Special" sandwich. This sandwich has grilled beef salami and beef bologna. It's served on a kaiser roll with mustard. The sandwich is pressed flat on the grill. A sign in the restaurant even says that mustard is a must-have!

Even though it's a big part of Montreal's Jewish community, the restaurant is not strictly kosher. They also make their soft drinks by hand, which is pretty cool.

A Bit of History

Wilensky's Light Lunch first opened its doors in 1932. It was started by a man named Moe Wilensky. The restaurant was originally in a different spot in Montreal's Mile End area.

In 1952, Wilensky's moved to its current home. After Moe, his family kept the restaurant going. His wife, Ruth Wilensky, ran it for many years. Their son Asher, daughter Sharon, and granddaughter Alisa also helped keep the family tradition alive.

The Famous Wilensky's Special

The "Wilensky's Special" sandwich is super well-known. It's a grilled bologna sandwich that people love. This sandwich has even been featured in big magazines and TV shows.

For example, Travel + Leisure magazine wrote about it in 2012. They called it one of the 'Best Sandwiches From Around the World'. The sandwich also appeared on the TV show The Mind of a Chef. Famous chefs like Anthony Bourdain and David Chang visited Wilensky's on the show.

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