Over the years, as Quebec’s language laws have tightened, the province’s language watchdog has taken issue with all kinds of non-French words on storefronts and elsewhere, from “pasta” to “Burgundy.”
Now it is grappling with the Yiddish word “nosh.”
The Office québécois de la langue française has contacted Arthurs Nosh Bar, the popular St-Henri brunch spot known for its Jewish comfort food, after receiving a complaint about the word “nosh” displayed in the restaurant’s window, OQLF spokesperson François Laberge confirmed to The Gazette.
It marks the latest dispute stemming from the Coalition Avenir Québec government’s drive to bolster French in Quebec public life. Under rules that came in to effect last June, businesses must make French clearly predominant when trademarks containing words from another language appear on exterior signage.
But for Raegan Steinberg, who owns Arthurs with her husband, Alex Cohen, the complaint has been “frustrating.” She told The Gazette she is now trying to bring the restaurant into compliance but the agency “didn’t offer much of a solution.”
The brunch spot opened on Notre-Dame Street in 2016 and has since become one of Montreal’s best-known dining destinations. The couple have since expanded the business, opening other Arthurs locations as well as the American bistro Romies.
The name “Arthurs Nosh Bar” is trademarked, Steinberg explained.
“Nosh is the Yiddish word for ‘grab a bite’ or ‘have a nibble.’ We thought it was a perfect fit,” says co-owner Raegan Steinberg. Evan Buhler / Montreal Gazette
Walking into the Notre-Dame location, “Arthurs” appears prominently above the entrance while “Arthurs Nosh Bar” is displayed on both sides of the front window.
“Nosh is the Yiddish word for ‘grab a bite’ or ‘have a nibble.’ We thought it was a perfect fit,” she said.
On Tuesday, Steinberg said she received a letter regarding the complaint about the window signage.
“My colleague spoke to them, and what they said is that Arthurs, they don’t count it as French, even though there’s no apostrophe. Bar is bilingual,” she said, adding that the issue appeared to stem from the Yiddish word.
Last year, The Burgundy Lion Pub, just up the road, faced a similar encounter with the OQLF. Owner Toby Lyle told The Gazette the agency deemed “Pub” and “Lion” acceptable on the establishment’s sign but raised concerns about the word “Burgundy,” which refers to the neighbourhood’s name, Little Burgundy — or Petite-Bourgogne in French — a name he said has been used in English for generations. The agency later apologized and allowed the sign to remain unchanged.
“Given the difficulties of day-to-day life, that this is what we’re dealing with is frustrating,” Steinberg said.
“I’m super for preserving the French language. I’m a proud French-speaking Quebecer. My grandfather is from Joliette, Quebec. My grandmother is from Quebec City.”
On Tuesday evening, Steinberg posted a video about the complaint on social media that has since gone on to garner thousands of views.
“A lot of people are supportive, and I think feel the same way,” she said of the reaction. “I think it’s a really hard time for small businesses, and we’re just trying to do our best.”
Others accused her of undermining Quebec culture. It’s a criticism she rejects.
“I love Quebec. I love Montreal. I’m a proud Quebecer,” she said.
OQLF spokesperson Laberge said the complaint relates to regulations that came into force on June 1, 2025.
“The Office’s intervention therefore concerns the trademark display, since it contains a word in a language other than French — ‘nosh’ — and French does not clearly predominate within the same visual field,” he explained.
“The Office is currently assisting the company with corrective measures.”
Between April 2024 and March 2025, the OQLF received 10,371 complaints, with service in French accounting for about 40 per cent of them. The agency conducted 9,813 inspections during the same period, nearly triple the number carried out six years earlier.
Since taking office in 2018, the CAQ government has strengthened the Charter of the French Language and encouraged Quebecers to file language complaints. It has also doubled the OQLF’s annual budget to $49 million.
What do you think about Quebec’s language laws? Write to me at hnorth@postmedia.com
I’ve been writing for the Montreal Gazette since 2023. My favourite stories are ones that make you think and I’m always looking for new ways to tell them. At McGill, I studied economics and computer science. Now I live in the city’s Plateau, where I wear Doc Martens to try and blend in among the hipsters. Got a story? Email me.
hnorth@postmedia.com