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Holder

4.2 (418 reviews)
PriceyFrench, Bars
Open • 11:30 am - 10:00 pm

Holder Photos

HOLDER ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Good for groups

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Salmon tartare
Jill W.

How many times will I review this restaurant... maybe every single time I go there! Ohhh the chicken liver mousse was the best and our meal was fantastic again! Service is top notch, this is my go-to when in need of a classic French fix in a cool but comfortable environment.

Alex M.

My partner and I were excited to visit Montreal and indulge in some fine French food, and Holder came in our radar. We were walk-ins on a Saturday around 6:30pm and we're lucky enough to snag a seat in the bar area. The ambiance was very chic and spacious with plenty of varying sized tables in the main room, with a few tables and bar seats in the bar area. Our server was fantastic - attentive and friendly. We were concerned we were going to order too much food (which we did), but she at least helped us narrow down to some of the house favorites ha. What we indulged in was a true feast starting with French onion soup (which was good, but probably our list fav item) and liver pate (top 3 I've ever had - and couldn't believe I finished it), then moved on to our "tartare course" with the app size of beef and salmon (both delicious), then split the veal cheek for our main (delicious but had to take some home). We also ended up getting some drinks (couple of beers and glass of wine), and there was a good selection for many different types of palates. Overall - it was a really great date night with a fantastic menu. Would definitely return!

Halibut
Harrell B.

This resturant offers fine French cuisine with an upscale and fashionable atmosphere. White table cloths, and a beautiful interior combine nicely with professional wait staff and epicurean dishes to provide an exceptional dining experience. The food presentation is excellent.

French toast so good that I forgot to take a photo before I started to dig in!
Phil W.

Went for a brunch with friends. They were able to accommodate a group of 8 with advance notice. Got the French Toast and honestly the best I have ever had. I still think about it and dream about it till this day. Service was amazing and the food was of quality. The drink assortments were of high quality also.

Beef Cheeks
david l.

What a fantastic meal. Its a spacious beautiful restaurant and mostly locals who dine there. The service was phenomenal as well. The chicken liver pate was smooth and creamy, the octopus was beyond tender, the shrimp had a great sauce and the beef cheeks was melt in your mouth. Great meal.

Chicken liver pate
Ann L.

We had a wonderful dinner here and were happy to be able to get a same-day reservation. They were booked solid when we tried earlier. I would definitely recommend making a reservation at least a few days ahead. We started with the chicken liver pate which was delicious. This is something I only order in nice restaurants as it really has to be done right to be good. For my entree I had the duck confit and it was amazing.The duck was so flavorful, rich and tender and the smashed potatoes, arugula and truffle dressing went with it perfectly. We shared a bottle of a Canadian dry Riesling and then shared a chocolate cake for dessert as we were pretty full but still wanted something sweet to end the meal. It was delicious and the accompanying sauces and ice cream made ir even better. Service was excellent and the atmosphere is classy but relaxed if that makes sense. I'll definitely be back next time I'm in the area.

Bar area
Atul P.

Good food with prompt and attentive service in an upscale buzzy atmosphere. We went in for an early dinner and had no reservations. However, we were seated promptly. I had the grilled salmon which was done just right, crisp on the outside and rare on the inside. My side salad was dressed simply with oil and vinegar and complemented the dinner just so. My wife had the mussels a la mariniere which was a huge dish that could have fed four people! The mussels were delicious. There's a full bar service and a good wine list. Our martinis were chilled and crisp!

duck confit
Naomi T.

I had a really memorable meal here during my visit to Montreal! We started off with some complimentary bread and then we had the beef tartare, duck confit, braised beef cheeks, and veal steak. The portions here were much bigger than I expected! The beef cheeks was my fave dish and it was so tender and came with piles of mashed potato. We still made room for dessert which was a butterscotch lava cake with salted caramel ice cream and we devoured it because it was so good! Our server was also excellent!

Marsha J.

4.25 stars Pro: - Service -Atmosphere -excellent drink selection - desserts (crème brûlée was standard, butterscotch and profiterole were amazing. Had ice cream and the cream sauce in the profiterole was top notch) - Warm goat cheese, paella and beets were our favorite dishes The duck confit was good but not great. Calamari was standard

Stephanie B.

Had a lovely dinner here for our first night in Montreal. Very cute restaurant with extremely friendly and attentive service. Kid friendly in the sense that kids are welcome though there's no "kids' menu" but there are some kid friendly options. Food was delicious and I thought the price was fair. I would highly recommend for a nice dinner.

Alaleh P.

We came here on a Tuesday night for a group gathering and the staff put a few plates together behind the bar for us to sit together. I was surprised by how busy the restaurant was in the middle of the week and it's not a small one! Maybe it's because of the great service and amazing food! ;) We ordered a few appetizers to share for the tables; Fried Calamari, Mussels, and Fries. Mussel were generously portioned and the calamari was delicious. For entrée, we ordered "Grilled salmon filet, lemon beurre blanc, potato puree", "Grilled hanger steak with shallots, house fries", "Duck confit, roasted potatoes, arugula, white truffle dressing" and "Grilled veal T-bon steak". Salmon was medium rare and very tasty. Steaks were perfectly cooked to everyone's preferences and we all enjoyed our drinks and food.

Adam C.

Holder is a solid traditional French cafe dining experience. Staff were accommodating and the food was very good. The bartender paired my steaks with a full body red. The beef was tender and the accompanying French fries worth the calories. The salad was delicious. For dessert the crème brûlée was a nice way to end the meal. The top was nicely charred. This is good place to bring a date who is paying because you will experience NYC prices.

This is a bowl of coffee and a croissant with raspberry jam
Allison N.

With any group of females, it's always hard to please everyone, my experience at Holder was very nice I enjoyed my meal. The mushroom casserole was absolutely delicious and everything was presented beautifully. As a tourist I don't think they're very friendly. I'm not sure I'd want to go there again because they were not very welcoming given that we could not speak French. But I would go back to eat something else off that menu because it was delicious. They seated us fairly fast. We did have a reservation however it wasn't that crowded, but the tables seemed crowded because they were all very close to each other. Watching a server try to figure out how to get around a table to get to the other table seems uncomfortable for anyone.

Steak frites

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Reviews are largely positive. Diners praise the flavorful French dishes, attentive and friendly service, and the chic, lively ambiance. Many also enjoy the quality drinks and desserts.

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Excellent food and service. Super nice and attentive staff. Beautiful decor. Slightly noisy, but in a fun way. Food was exactly right.

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A perfectly authentic brasserie with wonderful and efficient service, in a large room that feels tres Parisienne, and well-prepared dishes.

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L'Express - Got cheese salad 5/5

L'Express

4.3(754 reviews)
2.6 km•Plateau-Mont-Royal
•$$$

This is the kind of neighborhood bistro you'd expect to find in Paris--only cleaner and friendlier…read more The service was exceptional: attentive, welcoming, and perfectly paced without being overbearing. The food was excellent. We enjoyed the steak frites, duck confit, fish soup, and the complimentary cornichons, which were a lovely touch. By the time we were ready for dessert, they had sold out of the île flottante, which was disappointing, but the crème brûlée and tarte au citron more than made up for it. Both were outstanding. A wonderful meal from start to finish, and a place we'd happily return to.

Reservations are highly recommended if you would like a table at L'Express. This is a rich dining…read moreexperience with comfortable French bistro vibes, professional bartenders and staff, and classic French options such as oeufs mayonnaise, saumon rillete, quiche, such confit, and on and on... I did not make a reservation but asked for the waitlist and hung around the neighbourhood for a bit before a spot at the bar was available. The whole restaurant is just buzzing with people enjoying conversation, spirits, and delicious food of course! The place was filled from 8pm to midnight with a waitlist and full house during my visit (on a Saturday night). Being a solo diner I enjoyed conversations with others at the bar while we waited for food, with intermissions of people watching. It has been added to my list for future visits - I'll bring a friend next time for a different experience!

Photos
L'Express
L'Express - Rillette l'Express - tender, shredded pork shoulder mixed with duck fat and herbs, served with toasted bread, pickles, and mustard

Rillette l'Express - tender, shredded pork shoulder mixed with duck fat and herbs, served with toasted bread, pickles, and mustard

L'Express - Latte

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Restaurant Bonaparte - Blueberry mocktail

Restaurant Bonaparte

4.5(462 reviews)
0.3 km•Vieux Montréal, Ville-Marie
•$$$

From the start to the finish, we felt like we were honored guests. A beautiful restaurant in the…read moreold section of the city near the Notre Dame cathedral. We were greeted by a friendly maître d' and seated in a spacious dining room where several other tables were already full of diners. Our server was excellent and made recommendations when we asked. Each dish was timed perfectly, and we never felt rushed. Each was prepared perfectly and we would easily order them again. We ordered the Rabbit Confit in a Phyllo Dough in Red Wine Sauce; Mixed Green Salad with Balsamic Dressing, Pine Nuts and Shaved Parmesan; Bœuf à la bourguignonne; and a fruit tarte with ice cream. We would easily return the next time we are in the city.

Walking into the restaurant, we were greeted by simple yet elegant décor. The thoughtful lighting,…read moreespecially the spotlight highlighting a beautiful orchid in a glass bowl, immediately caught my attention. I always appreciate these special little details! I started with the soup du jour, a potato leek soup with a perfectly smooth texture and a wonderfully delicate flavor. The duck foie gras was the absolute favorite of the evening for both of us! My husband's rack of lamb was delicious, although the portion was disappointingly smaller than expected. My lobster salad, unfortunately, came with a vinaigrette dressing that was far too sour--and that's coming from someone who loves vinegar! What ultimately elevated this dining experience to four stars was the Grand Marnier soufflé we enjoyed for dessert. It was the perfect finale to our evening and left us with a wonderful last impression!

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Restaurant Bonaparte
Restaurant Bonaparte - Beef tartare

Beef tartare

Restaurant Bonaparte - Lamb chops

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Les Oiseaux de Passage

Les Oiseaux de Passage

4.4(7 reviews)
2.8 km•Plateau-Mont-Royal

Quaint and unassuming neighborhood place that is hiding a highly sophisticated dining experience…read more The food was remarkable and on par with some of the better spots I've eaten lately. Did the 5 course chef's tasting menu with wine pairing --which is an incredible value for the money--and it was such an unexpectedly wonderful surprise. Inventive ingredient pairings, artful presentation, and a genuine commitment to the details. The service gets 5 stars as well, knowledgeable, attentive in just the right way. I am absolutely coming back.

This is the first time we are at a BYOW restaurant. It's…read morebrilliant! There is no corking fee and there are 2 liquor stores within walking distance. This restaurant is so cute, we feel like we are in a romcom movie. Looks like it's family run restaurant with a lot of love. Service is very friendly. You sit down they set up your wine and brought you Handmade bread with Parmesan & Cumin (house made) Quail egg cassolette with roasted tomatoes and spinach, Mornay sauce, and Parmesan crumble Reminded you of Cheez it / goldfish / white cheddar /topping Good texture combo. Crunchy cheesy cracker on top with gooey spinach quail egg mornay sauce Cream of cauliflower, confit lemon oil, and shallots *Very smooth. Taste a bit tapioca Very good piping hot! with smokey paprika and touch of Lemon zest Salmon Linguini with onion and parmigiano cream *Cheesy but light and spring-y Again the lemon zest at work. Love it Braised lamb shank, red wine lamb glaze, sautéed potatoes, and Nantaises carrots. *Nice seasoning that respects the ingredients Potato perfectly cooked with crispy edges. Everything you ate here reminded you or some past memories that are very familiar.

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Les Oiseaux de Passage - Inside

Inside

Les Oiseaux de Passage
Les Oiseaux de Passage

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Place Carmin - Tartlet

Place Carmin

4.6(79 reviews)
0.3 km•Griffintown, Vieux Montréal, Ville-Marie

This place was so good! It wasn't too busy on a Saturday night on race week. Atmosphere was high…read moreend but not in a stuffy way. Service was prompt and attentive. Our waitresses recommendations were fire. We enjoyed: Complementary bread: it was soft on inside and appropriately crunchy but not overly so on the outside. Plus two huge pieces cut into 4 pieces individually. Beef tartare: at 20 cad it was a little pricy for how much you got but the taste was great and I'm a fan of comte cheese. Plus it didn't have capers which imo overwhelms tartares. Duck with carrot: as a Chinese person I've had my share of duck but this might be the best duck I've ever had in my life. The texture and cook on it was awesome! First it came with three pieces of breast. It was the perfect cook, not over like most of the places I've had duck. Then the leg had the perfect crispy fatty skin to meat ratio. Yum yum this is a can't miss dish here Burger: husband got this. I took a bite. It had a nice smoke to it and was perfectly medium rare. I was too distracted by my duck to analyze it further. Raspberry jelly for dessert: as the waitress had mentioned, it was light and a perfect sweet but tart bite. Was great! Would come here again, we had l'express earlier in this trip and place carmin blows that place out of the water.

Came here for a wedding dinner and really enjoyed the ambiance. The venue was beautiful, the…read moreatmosphere was great. Unfortunately, the food did not live up to the same standard. I chose the seafood entrée, which turned out to be a mistake. After speaking with several others who ordered the same dish, it seemed that we all had a similar experience. The clams and mussels did not taste particularly fresh, and some even contained sand. I wish I had ordered the duck instead, as it appeared to be a much better choice. I ended up eating not much of my main course because of the seafood quality.

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Place Carmin - Chicken in a fur coat at Place Carmin restaurant in Montreal

Chicken in a fur coat at Place Carmin restaurant in Montreal

Place Carmin - Crime brûlée ok

Crime brûlée ok

Place Carmin - Choux fleur rôtis, œuf au plat amandes et truffe

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Choux fleur rôtis, œuf au plat amandes et truffe

Pégase

Pégase

4.6(86 reviews)
4.2 km•Plateau-Mont-Royal
•$$$

A charming little neighborhood restaurant with a prix fixe menu, but with a targeted selection…read moremeans they specialize highly in the items that they do serve. I had the rack of lamb, which was one of the most generous servings I've ever had in a French restaurant and the chocolate dessert was absolutely fantastic for anyone who enjoys chocolate. The soup or the salad was very simple but again it's to start the pallet, not compete with the appetizer or the main dish. The owner was always present as very hands-on with running of the restaurant. All the waitstaff was absolutely friendly to everybody Francophones and Anglophones were well served on our night with delightful French cuisine. Now that said we were there in a busy Friday night and there were some loud tables, but that's not the restaurants fault for being popular. I would pick this place mid week or at a quieter hour but I will be back

BEST "BYOB" FRENCH BISTRO DURING RECENT TRIP…read more This is the best dining experience in our recent Montreal trip. I'm glad we made reservation since the place was quite packed when we arrived. To be honest, our first impression wasn't too great. We were seated in their main indoor dining area which was a bit too warm. We asked if we can be moved to their fully covered / heated patio area, but unfortunately the restaurant was full. Fast forward 15 minutes, we have placed our order and were enjoying our bottle of wine and a basket of bread. Our server came over and offered to move us to the patio area since a table had opened up. We were pleasantly surprised because (1) we didn't ask again and (2) most restaurants wouldn't change tables once customers started eating/drinking. The restaurant setting is unpretentious with a casual and cozy vibes. The staff are so friendly that we feel like having a family dinner! They offer a pre-fixe menu in which we thoroughly enjoyed! For appetizers, the escargot dish gave us a pleasant surprise. They wrapped the escargots and blue cheese sauce in a thin crispy crust! It's hard to describe, but it's sort of like having an escargot "crepe"! The few main courses we chose were excellent, and the rack of lamb was probably our favorite - tender, juicy, and perfectly cooked. As for dessert, their creme brulee was one of the best I've had - creamy custard topped with a perfect, crisp caramel top. I'd highly recommend this place, and will certainly visit again when I'm in town next time!

Photos
Pégase
Pégase - Tuna, mango, coconut tataki

Tuna, mango, coconut tataki

Pégase

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Modavie - Gambas pasta

Modavie

4.2(1.1k reviews)
0.6 km•Vieux Montréal, Ville-Marie
•$$$

My husband and I had a very lovely date night at Modavie. We are glad we had a reservation because…read moreit was packed on a Sunday evening! We were seated at a lovely table for two by a window. The service at first was a bit slow, but that was understandable given how busy the restaurant was. Our server, Yan, was incredibly personable. He had excellent suggestions for dinner. We each started with cocktails, and enjoyed the ambiance. There was a live band, but we were in a different room. It wasn't loud like you would expect. 5/5 service. Beef Tartare: 5/5. This was an excellent start. The appetizer sizing was a little small for two people. If you want a little more, I'd recommend the entree size. It comes with fries. But it was delicious. The crostini's that came with it were a little overpowering, but the tartare itself was delicious. Duck Confit: 5/5. This duck was INCREDIBLE. Perfectly cooked, crispy skin, tender and juicy flavor. An incredible sauce. Delicious veggies and potatoes. The only thing I did not like about this dish was how quickly we ate it! Dessert (not pictured): 5/5. We had a chocolate pyramid with hazelnuts and chocolate mousse. Delicious. Be sure to put Modavie on your Montreal dining list!

A beautiful spot for wine lovers and foodies alike. Set in beautiful old Montreal, this place gets…read morejammed with folks looking for a nice night out. Super romantic but really loud so it would be hard to hear your date. I only came in for wine and cheese to escape the rain after a big supper, but was pleasantly surprised to happen upon a live jazz duo playing at dinner. Reservations are highly recommended but I walked in solo and got one of the few seats left at the bar. The server was incredible, friendly and very attentive to everyone at the bar. While all of the food coming out looked amazing, I give 3 stars for the lack of presentation/selection of the cheese platter (which I forgot to take a picture of). The menu said selection of 4 cheeses. What I got was 4 pieces of only two types of cheese cut by a four year old. I was expecting four different cheeses, not two pieces of two types. It definitely didn't look like everyone else's plates coming out. For how beautiful all of the other plates came out, $30 for this was a definite rip off. I'm glad I opted for a bit of a cheaper glass of wine because anything more expensive would have really ruined the experience. Skip the cheese platter and get yourself a different appetizer if you don't want to be disappointed.

Photos
Modavie - Beautiful interior...mood lighting was 11/10

Beautiful interior...mood lighting was 11/10

Modavie - Onion Soup

Onion Soup

Modavie - Basquaise Chicken

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Basquaise Chicken

Holder - french - Updated October 2026

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