This was my "nice" meal during my very short trip to Montreal last weekend, and it turned out to be…read morea great choice. There are 2 sides of the restaurant: the more casual order what you want brasserie side and then the fancier multi-course chef menu side. I chose the brasserie side, where I had a reservation for a bar seat - turns out that wasn't really that necessary as there were several individual bar seats open; A group would probably have a difficult time getting a seat on a Friday evening though. For drinks, I had a paper plane and a last word. Those are my two go to cocktails for nicer bars, and they pulled them off fantastically (they also knew what I was talking about which is kind of rare for the last word). For an extra nice touch, they clipped an actual paper plane to the paper plane drink. Fun! For food, I ordered the Duck Confit. It was super crispy on the outside, but the meat was super tender and juicy and melted off of the bone. My mouth is watering while thinking about it. It also came with bread service. For dessert I had the tiramisu. I would give it a 4/5 - it was a little more bland than others I've had - not bad at all, but not my favorite one of all time. They seem to be serious about their coffee (see pictures). Since I was sitting right in front of it I had to order one to go with the tiramisu. I had a basic americano, and it was a great addition. My only real complaint is the bar seating felt a little bit exposed as the main walkway through the restaurant goes along the bar seating. Drinks 5/5, Service 5/5, Food 5/5, Ambience 4/5

Monarque is one of those restaurants where the service leaves a stronger impression than the food…read moreitself. After discovering Monarque in the Michelin Guide, we made a reservation during our time in Old Montréal, excited for an elevated dining experience with some adventurous dishes. We started with the bone marrow and also ordered the schnitzel, duck, and swordfish. The clear standout of the evening was the swordfish. Beautifully light and flaky, paired with a delicious couscous that gave the dish just enough substance without taking away from the delicate fish. It was easily my favorite bite of the night. The schnitzel and duck, however, didn't quite live up to the same standard. While both were good, I felt the heavier citrus-forward sauces did much of the work in bringing the dishes together rather than allowing the proteins themselves to shine. I appreciate a kitchen willing to experiment with less conventional dishes and bold flavor combinations, but some of these felt more interesting in concept than execution. The duck in particular is something I could have done without. Where Monarque truly excels is hospitality. The service was easily the highlight of our evening. The staff was incredibly attentive, knowledgeable, and helpful in navigating the menu. This is the kind of establishment where if you drop your fork, someone is practically there with a replacement before you've had a chance to pick it up. The pacing was seamless, and the entire experience felt thoughtfully orchestrated. The atmosphere is elegant and formal, with dim lighting, white tablecloths, and an upscale setting that lends itself beautifully to an anniversary or special occasion dinner. My biggest hesitation comes down to the value. At this price point, I expect the food to be just as memorable as the service, and unfortunately, that wasn't quite the case for us. My verdict: 3/5 stars. Monarque is worth experiencing once, especially if you appreciate exceptional hospitality and an adventurous menu. But while I left impressed by the service, the food didn't earn a spot among my top-tier dining experiences. If you do visit, the swordfish would be my recommendation!

Gibby's in Montreal is an old-world steakhouse at its finest. Wood against stone creates a dark,…read moreintimate atmosphere, and the lighting is just right for dinner. The servers were great, the staff was friendly, and our server was exceptionally knowledgeable, answering every question we had with ease. The food was phenomenal. Our steaks were perfectly cut, expertly seasoned, and beautifully balanced. Dessert was the perfect finish: sweet, smooth, and silky, with a delicate crunch at the bottom that tied it all together. Everything was simply perfect, and it's one of our best steakhouse experiences overall. It was so worth it, and we'd gladly return on our next visit, maybe even for a back-to-back

I've been coming here for years and have always been well served and gotten a good steak. My go to…read moreis the rib steak with extra spices on the side. The sides are montecarlo potato or rice and fries. I've never been disappointed with my steak. In the winter if you come and reserve ask to be near the fireplace if you really want to make it special. The old barn decor is great in my opinion and makes this restaurant an any event place. Gibby's salad is the choice and they give you a little sorbet in between dishes to cleanse the palette. There is valet parking and well worth it to avoid looking for parking in old Montreal.

Food was fabulous! Prime rib cooked to perfection and huge! We definitely enjoyed this place and…read morewill return.

Came for the cozy winter vibes and left slightly traumatized by the food…read more The KeggNog drink is literally liquid gold, best eggnog cocktail I've had in years, full stop. The prime rib was also really good, and sitting near the fireplaces in the bar was so aesthetic. But the NY Strip was incredibly tough, and the burger was a total crime. It came out completely charred and burnt. Like, how do you serve that? 3 stars because the bar experience is elite, but skip the burger at all costs.

Joe Beef was on my bucket list for my Montreal visit. I made a 9:30 PM reservation for 1 at the bar…read moreon a Wednesday evening that I arrived in Montreal from Toronto, which worked out in my favor as street parking restrictions near the restaurant were no enforced. I arrived there around 8:30 PM and waited in my car until 9:00 PM before I walked over and the hostess informed me that they were ready for me. I was greeted by JJ and the rest of the crew at the seafood bar, shown the wine/cocktail/ciders & beer menu and the main. menu. They also explained clearly the 2 daily special. I decided since I'm in Quebec, that I would order the Scallop Royale Custard, Nantua Sauce (Royale de Pétoncle Sauce Nantua) for appetizer Roasted Duck "Aux Navets" (Canard Rôti Aux Petits Navets) and I was informed I can add seared foie gras to it. I also paired it with the Notre Nacre cocktail which is mezcal based from the cocktail menu. The Scallop Royale was like a chawanmushi so clean and light with a seafood stock but loaded with scallop and pieces of lobster and the Roasted Duck was executed fantastically (medium rare) and their au poivre sauce paired so well with the duck and seared foie gras . I finished with a marjolaine which is a cake made with almond flour, chocolate, coffee and repeated 24 times! It was a nice sweet way to end the dinner and a contrast to the savory of the duck and au poivre sauce. All around amazing experience service & food.

Great meal! My…read moreexperience was very similar to the thoughts of many, Joe Beef is one of the iconic restaurants in Montreal. The beef rib was perfect! Definitely devoured the slices quickly and gnawed on the rib bone before the server took the remains of this dish away. LOL. The Spaghetti with Lobster was delicious although the lobster was slightly undercooked. The tail was especially hard to pull away from the shell. I never thought I'd say white asparagus was decadent but it surely was when topped with the sauce. The 15 layer cake can honestly be skipped as it was the thinnest slice of cake I've ever seen. LOL. It was impressive that they could even slice cake that thinly!!! The waitstaff service was great with suggestions to round out the meal perfectly. The host was personable, even helped me with understanding the street parking rules in the area taking me on a stroll outside to check my spot on a really frigid evening.

Had high hopes for a delicious Reuben sandwich. We are from…read moreNew York so epectations were high. Although our server touted the sandwich, it left much to be desired. The meat was dried out, and not much sauerkraut, cheese or dressing. My companions were very satisifed with their meals, so would recommend, but stay away from the Reuben

We In Montreal on a girls trip. Absolutely amazing place and staff. We showed up around 6:00 and…read morethe restaurant was packed. The hostess worked her magic a found us a table for 5 with a very short wait. She continued to check on us throughout our meal. We did not get her name but she had long blonde wavy hair. She really made our experience memorable. We got potato pancakes, onion rings and Ruben, it was delicious.

Bar George is a stunning contemporary British restaurant located in Montreal's historic Le Mount…read moreStephen. While the restaurant is highly celebrated and located within a Michelin-recognized hotel building, it does not hold a Michelin star of its own. But it is extremely classy. We decided to do lunch instead of dinner and it was a little more our speed, but if very, very attentive waitstaff is not your thing and $200 for lunch I'd skip this spot. We went because it had reviews for amazing beef Wellington and my husband hadn't had any in decades. And we were on vacation so let's go! The food was beautifully plated and service was impeccable inside of an amazingly decorated dining room that looked like a library in a mansion. The meals themselves weren't obscenely expensive but add a glass a wine, bread (it was not included) and coffee and it put us close to $200. But it was a great experience and I had never had beef Wellington - it was melt in your mouth good. Might go again next time we come up from CT.

Ambiance is lovely with a cozy date night vibe. It is very dark inside with just the table lamps…read moreadding light and is not too loud. Staff is also lovely. This is inside a hotel and the lobby/bathrooms are very nice. Would recommend getting a reservation since there are limited tables and it was busy/full even on a Thursday evening. Came here on our first night in Montreal with 2 other girl friends. To start we all got cocktails and I had gotten the Right Word which has gin Tanqueray, liqueur St-Germain, Lillet, lime. It was a nice cocktail but nothing that special. I was a little disappointed that a fancy place like this did not have any unique cocktails. Most things on there were just basic cocktails you can find just with a different name. For our meal, my friend and I decided to get the beef Wellington and halibut and share as we both wanted the beef but also something lighter vs eating that much beef. Both dishes were very delicious but I didn't think they were amazing for the price you pay. Portions are on the smaller side too. To start, we had also ordered the focaccia bread. It comes out with a mound of butter with the Bar George logo on top and some sea salt crystals on a cute black slate board. The focaccia was fluffy and great, especially with the salted butter. It was nice that they cut up the beef Wellington into 2 parts already as we were sharing. Our other friend got the Lobster Risotto and I have to say hers was the best one of the 3. It has a curry flavor to the sauce and was just so flavorful and unique. The risotto soaks up all the flavor so that you have a delicious bit every time. The beef Wellington was recommended at Medium and it was perfect, Juicy and tender but it could have used a sauce on the side or a better side to bring in some more flavors. The halibut was a bit plain as well and needed a sauce. However, both dishes were still delicious. Our waiter was very friendly and attentive. He helped answer any questions we had and gave his recommendations. Overall, a very pleasant experience, but just lacking a bit for me due the upscale vibes and pricing. Would still make a lovely meal if you are visiting Toronto.

Wow! My friend and I came here to celebrate my birthday. We had heard great things and were not…read moredisappointed! We couldn't decide what to get so we both splurged on the tasting menu. It was one of only a few tasting menus I've tried. We weren't given a list of what to expect so each dish was a fun surprise. I will say, if you choose the tasting menu, come hungry! There is quite a bit of food and it definitely got harder to finish as the meal went on. You have the option to do a drink pairing with it as well. My friend did the mocktail pairing and she let me try some of her drinks. They were great! I found both of the cocktails I had weren't super balanced but I'm happy I tried them! One was super strong whereas the other tasted mostly of cilantro in a glass (bit was stunning!) I'll include photos of the food because it was excellent! After each dish we kept saying it was our favorite But if I had to pick three it would be the Fattouch Salad (so good!), the rack of lamb (incredibly tender), and the stat of the show and dessert of my dreams - the pistachio Ashra ice cream with Syrian Cotton Candy. Oh my goodness!! The service was a bit impersonal however we always had what we needed and they were very attentive and friendly albeit a tad rushed. The ambiance was lovely! Such a vibe in there! Highly recommend to anyone wanting a special and very delicious night out!

5:45 pm dinner on the patio, with nicholas as our server. the outdoor patio made for a relaxed…read moreearly evening setting, while the interior has a much more dramatic, intimate feel, with dark wood, ornate hanging lanterns, patterned tile floors, warm lighting, and rich middle eastern inspired details. it has a distinctly upscale and atmospheric feel that suits the restaurant's refined take on syrian cuisine. service was impeccable throughout the meal. nicholas and his team was attentive, professional, and genuinely on top of everything without being intrusive. the pacing was well handled, and we never felt neglected or rushed. the level of service definitely matched the upscale setting and was one of the stronger parts of the experience. we ordered the meat platter for two, which was $220. the meatballs were easily the standout for me, juicy, flavourful, and probably the best part of the platter. the beef was good, but the prime rib was overcooked and the chicken was quite dry. at $220, i honestly expected more, particularly from a restaurant with this level of reputation and positioning. the uneven cooking was disappointing and kept the platter from being the highlight it should have been. the fattoush salad was much more successful. it was light, fresh, and refreshing, with plenty of herbs and pops of pomegranate. this was actually my favourite dish of the meal. the freshness and acidity worked especially well alongside the richer grilled meats. the grilled octopus was another highlight. it was tender, nicely grilled, and had a good texture without being tough or chewy. overall, the experience was a mix of excellent service, a beautiful setting, and some genuinely memorable dishes. the fattoush, grilled octopus, and meatballs were all standouts, while the prime rib and chicken fell short of expectations. the impeccable service and atmosphere certainly elevated the evening, but given the $220 price tag for the meat platter, i was expecting a more consistently impressive meal.

I had wanted to treat a friend to a dinner and a show while I was in town ahead of her birthday…read morelater this month, and the original restaurant she had chosen fell through (we mistaken the genre of the restaurant). With 1.5 hours before our burlesque show down the street at the Wiggle Room, I remembered I had bookmarked Le Majestique and that it was 1.5 blocks from both Schwartz and the venue! We made it over from St Denis and were graciously seated in the window - perfect lighting for selfies and food photos! It was happy hour, so we indulged in oysters (NB and NS I believe), as well as their scallop on half shell; this was so delicious with the hazelnut oil and fermented beets and butter - we pretty much drank the liquid afterwards (unapologetically - I had it dripping down my chin I think). Next was their special of the day, ricotta and mushroom filled anglotti with ceps, smoked matsutake and another mushroom, garnished with shavings of truffle and Parmesan. This was earthy and warming and delicious. For me it was fall. I wished it was on the permanent menu! We also shared the prime NY steak with green sauce and baby heirloom turnips. To end the meal we shared a pudding chomeur aged Louis d'or cheese. This was a creamy bread pudding- like dessert with grated Louis d'or on top. We enjoyed this - I love restaurants that showcase stellar local ingredients and Le Majestique does this well! If I could spend a month eating my way through Plateau Mont Royal and Little Portugal I would gladly do it. Bookmarked for future visits. Thank you for a wonderful night Le Majestique!

Food: The food and drinks were 5/5 amazing! Ordered a dozen oysters, duck risotto, focaccia, and…read morepinot! I normally don't like risotto but it was super yum and flavorful from the duck. Service: Very accommodating with us wanting to sit outside. Ambiance: The weather was beautiful so sitting outside was so cute, I will say the space is a bit tight. I highly recommend!

I was a bit worried about making this my birthday meal with my friends who traveled to Montreal for…read moreme because I've read that it's overhyped, but it completely exceeded my expectations. If you love foie gras, rich foods, and creative twists, this is the place for you. If any of those sound gross, then you've been warned. I came in a group of 6 and I ordered everything I wanted (since it was my birthday). + Foie gras nigiri (8/10) - The rice left a little to be desired, but omg, foie gras and peanut butter? I LOVED how unexpected this was, and surprisingly delicious. + Foie gras with truffle maple butter (10/10) - Just a simple foie gras terrine and a simple truffle maple butter, but that maple butter was addicting. I practically licked that container clean. What a perfect pairing, and so Canadian! + Foie gras poutine (10/10) - Foie gras, poutine - need I say more? The fries could've been a little crispier (La Banquise is the pinnacle of poutine for me), but this still hit the spot. Absolutely fantastic. This was most of my friends' favorite. + Duck in a can (9.5/10) - Excellent duck, excellent foie gras, truly incredible that this was all ... made in a can. + Fries with maple sugar (3/10) - This was our only miss. I did not taste the maple sugar. These fries were fairly mid, especially compared to the poutine fries. + Tuna mapo tofu (7/10) - The French pun is delightful, and this was such a creative and fun dish. I especially appreciate it since I'm Asian. That said, I don't love canned tuna, and this was a bit too much canned tuna flavor for me. It was still great though! + Eggplant (9/10) - This was several people's favorite dish; this was so good that we actually finished the eggplant and deep fried tofu pieces before the pork belly. (It all got demolished, of course). + Greens (5/10) - I don't know what I expected, but these are literally just salad greens with minimal preparation. It's fine? I guess it's helpful to have since everything else is so rich, but I would not have gotten this if I had known. + Shepherd's pie (10/10) - Embarrassingly, I don't even remember what was in here (no foie gras, I believe), but this was one of my favorite dishes. + Sticky pudding with foie gras (8/10) - My friends were very not enthusiastic about adding cheddar and foie gras to this, but it would've been way too sweet for me by itself or with ice cream. We added ice cream, foie gras, and cheddar, and it was great. I just love how foie gras goes with everything so well here! All in all, definitely not for the faint of heart - we hiked Mont Royal the next day to sort of make up for it. I definitely will be back.

Honestly, one of the best food experiences I've had while up in Montreal. While it seems pretty…read morechill and laidback at a glance, this spot was busy and bustling (and sorta cute as a pseudo casual spot for a more memorable date night). The fois gras nigiri was pricey, but was definitely worth the try - especially with how the fois gras melting upon contact with the tongue and how the fats and flavors meld together through the rice, it was simply divine. Though my favorite would probably be the Duck in a Can, which was surprisingly tender and juicy. The flavor was pleasant and savory, and I didn't really feel much of a gamey taste at all when I tried it. As someone who normally doesn't enjoy duck, I thought this dish was really quite lovely. Anyway, would probably come back to this spot in the future if I was ever back in the area.

Classic French bistro, with an energetic buzz. Everything about this place was a classic--pepper…read moremill, plates, stemware, marble tables with paper on top, black and white checked tiles, mustard and cornichons delivered promptly to the table. A bottle of champagne, celery ramoulade, roast chicken, veal and starting with chicken liver mousse and bones. Loved it. Great service, great food, great ambiance.

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!