‘Nosh’ draws the attention of Quebec’s French-language watchdog

Arthur's, a popular Jewish breakfast spot in Montreal, was targeted by the Quebec French-language watchdog for the word 'nosh.'

Quebec’s French-language watchdog has its eye on a popular brunch spot in Montreal’s Saint-Henri neighbourhood.

The controversy is over the word “nosh.”

Arthur’s Nosh Bar on Notre-Dame Street West is famous for its fluffy pancakes and Jewish comfort food.

However, recently, it caught the attention of the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) for the Yiddish word painting on the front window.

“‘Nosh’ is a Yiddish word for like grab a bite to eat like a nibble,” said Arthur’s owner, Raegan Steinberg.

On Tuesday, Steinberg says she received a letter saying the restaurant’s signage does not comply with Quebec’s language law.

“Bar is French or English, bilingual, and nosh, which is a yiddish word, is not compliant,” she said.

• READ MORE: Most Montreal-area businesses complying with French language rules, OQLF survey finds

The word also appears in English dictionaries with the same definition, and the OQLF clarified that French must occupy twice as much space as any other language visible on public signage.

While nosh is only written in small letters at the bottom of two of the windows, Steinberg says the OQLF doesn’t consider her main sign to be French either.

“Arthur’s doesn’t count as either way because it is a name,” she said.

Arthur’s Nosh Bar is a trademarked name.

In a statement, the OQLF wrote: “We do not require businesses to change their trademarks and do not impose solutions on them.

“Furthermore, the regulation allows for some flexibility. A business may retain its current signage and add elements that ensure the clear predominance of French, such as a description or a slogan, for example.”

Steinberg says she’s not ready to agree to that just yet.

“The beauty of Montreal is that we are this amazing multicultural city, and we’re so diverse, especially in the food and the culinary scene,” she said. “I think that there has to be a better way to encompass both preserving the French language and celebrating other cultures.”

While she’s willing to work with the inspectors, she says she resents the interruptions while she’s trying to run her business.