One of my best friends had organized her own birthday to be held in Grinder in a special private room on the second floor near the back of the facility. It's a completely separate room which used to be an apartment that the restaurant just bought out and added it to their own. It had about 6 large tables and could seat upwards of 40+ people if necessary but this party was going to be smaller than that. The party was going to be on the Saturday but we were able to come in on Friday evening and set up the place with all the decorations and set up the tables the way we wanted. I have to say the staff here was very accommodating and helpful which included the valet at the front to the individuals who allowed us access to the room and showed us the set up etc. We had a menu to choose from for this special event being held in the back and considering this place has their own boucherie (butcher shop) right across the street it's safe to say the quality of meats as well as other dishes served here would be as fresh as could be. In addition to the variety of starters which were being served the choices for the menu consisted of a variety of meats with fish choices as well. For starters we had had the beef tataki which was served with cashews and bacon while my wife had the candied salmon which were perfect as tasters. For our mains we had the skirt steak and tuna steak. While this was a still a private function the chef which was looking after the party had a very good variety of choices and the quality of the dishes were great. I enjoyed both desserts as well, one which was sort of a chocolate lava and the other was sort of a caramel crumble. read more

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Everything is great about this restaurant, the food and the drinks, all is amazing, the staff are also very good and extremely helpful and professional. I am giving 2 stars, because of one of the managers, he was awful, spoke very badly to me and my friend, I always see him there but never spoke with him and I wish I never did, very rude and not sure how he manages such a great place.. read more

Grinder is renowned for its beef meat; this steakhouse has its own butcher shop next to it. They have a nice setting, a cozy inner terrasse for the summer. We shared the famous Tomahawk rib steak, it's good, however the Burger 1855 is delicious!!! On the other side, service was really slow; food took some time, bills took an eternity, we had to order it several times!!! In addition we asked for bread and butter, they brought us 2 small buns for a big table of 12. Finally the waiter was a bit pushy, he wanted us to order the soonest!! read more

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If I could give zero stars i would. At first we were excited to dine here, we showed up for a 9pm reservation - only to be met with confusion and distraction tactics before being seated 45 mins later. We spent the first 45 mins being offered shots to wait for an undetermined amount of time for our reserved table. We were finally seated - only to be ignored for another 20 mins until we flagged down a bus boy who got us menus and drinks. Another 15 mins passed before we we managed to flag down another bus boy to inquire if we actually had a server. Finally, our waitress swung by our table. She was in between downing free shots she was giving her other tables experiencing horrible service. It seems that is what they do to make up for the incredible lack of management and service at this restaurant. Our waitress spent a total of 3 mins at our table all night - one min to take our orders, one minute to bring 1 drink to a table of 4 ( didn't bother to ask anyone for a drink) and 1 min to insult me for asking for a service spoon for our sides. I was given a demitasse small sugared spoon to serve our mashed potatoes and Mushrooms. Literally, this was the worst example of a service provider I have ever experienced. She should be fired on the spot. But judging for the lack of any managerial oversight - they will just raise another shot and forget that they are there to service paying customers. Save your money and your sanity and go down the street to Le bureau. Great drinks, atmosphere and food/drinks! read more

Such a great place to enjoy some good food with great friends! This new restaurant serves modern cuisine as well as classic French dishes with a nice twist! Such a nice environment when you walk in, it has a nice rustic yet home-y touch to it. We got a couple of orders from the appetizers to share amongst each other, as well as two entrees. For our shareable foods we chose the calamari, the French onion soup, and the garganelli penne pasta. The calamari tasted normal, nothing that fancy about it but it was still good! The penne pasta serving was quite small, it was still delicious but I feel like it could have been more saucier. The French onion soup was amazing! With the toasted bread in there as well, it gives it a perfect texture with the tasty broth-like soup and the melted cheese!!! For our entrees, I chose the fried Cornish hen and my wife got the beef short ribs. To be honest, the Cornish hen was alright, and it was more like a rotisserie chicken and "fried". I wasn't expecting that. Still juicy and flavorful but nothing spectacular. The beef short ribs were pretty good, very tender, maybe a little bit salty. All in all, I'll have to come back here to try some more dishes but I still loved the atmosphere of this place. I also really enjoyed the service here! read more

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Grinder was awesome. From the moment my gf and two friends walked in, we were taken care from start to finish. The little details in the experience were awesome like: the staff taking our coats, floor manager coming around to top off our wine, and of course, THE FOOD. Great portions, high quality and awesome taste. Very impressed. Will definitely be back! Recommendation: if you get a chance, check out Grinders butchery just a few stores down that supplies all the meat. It'll help you appreciate the food you're eating just a bit more :) We got the 40oz Porterhouse steak for 2 and my friends got the 40oz Rib Steak for 2. They came with 2 sides each as a combo. read more

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Dear god. I have never experienced such an exquisite meal. From the food to the atmosphere, and even the service, everything was a 10/10 must try again. Must get the surf and turf platter, it is to die for. read more

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I heard so much about this place, finally got to eat here with couple friends. The place is vibrant and trendy. The staff is cool. For appetizers we ordered : Calamari with a marinara sauce, kind of bleh, I wouldn't recommend it. The salmon tartare was descent but nothing out of ordinary. We also had sweet potato fries with a good mayo sauce. For the main dishes, I got the halibout, it was blend nothing exciting. My friends got beef short ribs with espresso sauce, and lamb shack, again it wasn't the best meat you could have. There was a lot of it. Make sure you are hungry. We had pudding chômeur with ice cream and a Sunday, they were both pretty good but that just sent us into a food coma and a sugar high. Not the best feeling when you try to get your dancing on read more

Grinder - Steakhouses Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Loved this place! Ambiance is fun & young. Very big restaurant with cool decor. Dining at the bar was a great experience. You see the bartender and oyster guy work their magic. Food was good as well with nice portions. Both the beef tartare and tuna tataki Were delish. I took the 1/2 lobster as the main meal. Well seasoned and served with a nice butter dip. Hubby took lamb shank which he loved as well. Will go there for lunch too! Enjoy! read more

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On a business trip to Montreal, my colleagues & I have now visited Grinder twice. Both times have been wonderful. Each time I must admit to grabbing the very tender short rib dish. This melt in your mouth sizeable chunk of beef is most satisfying on a cold winter's night. Paired with their delicious potato side or the garlicky rapini - you are guaranteed to have a delightful, fulfilling meal. My companions have had the burger and the salmon. All of which have raved about how wonderful they tasted. Highly recommended - will definitely revisit again on a return trip. read more

The meat was delicious, but the waitress ruined the whole experience. We were a group of 14 celebrating a birthday. Our reservation was at 6:30pm and we ordered relatively quickly, but the food was only served to us at 8:25pm, almost 2 hours after we sat down. The waitress then asked us to "eat efficiently" because another group was coming in at 9pm. "Yeah, that's not gonna happen." We objected, clearly it was the restaurant's fault to have taken so much time to serve our food. The waitress insisted but after a while she said they would try to find a solution. In the end they let us finish our meal, diving on the table to remove dish after dish as soon as the last bite had been taken, but the spell was broken and neither of us 14 ever want to come back here. There are a lot of quality steak houses in Montreal, why go to the one where you are yourself treated like meat? read more

So yes, as my companion and previous reviews suggested, the raw bar here did not disappoint. I remain confused about this place. Packed with reservations from 6-9 we had a meeting with a staff member so they fit us in and we got to watch the place fill up with business men and women with their day to evening outfits. Sexy crowd if you're into that scene and the layout is well setup for the all important sight lines. The gal at the bar was friendly, laid back and really professional (plus the patience of a saint when it came to helping out the solo guy next to me who wanted her thoughts on every wine on the list.) To be fair the list was extensive and had lots I'd like to try. The oysters were perfectly prepared, and perfectly fresh. I could have eaten a second dozen all on my own, but propriety and the budget prevailed.. This time.. read more

Grinder - Steakhouses Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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Grinder has always been such a pleasure - from date nights to birthdays, it is perfect for any occasions! Not only that, the food is amazing. We had the tartare to share to start (definitely recommend), drinks and the plate below that included meat + 2 sides. The staff is also extremely kind, patient and very welcoming. It's one of my favourite places in Montreal for sure! read more

Grinder - Steakhouses Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Grinder is really the type of restaurant that can divide a room--as illustrated by previous reviews, people seem to love it or hate it. I personally love the hustle and bustle of Grinder; this place is ALWAYS happening and the crowd is always beautiful. The interior is beautiful--especially the living wall on the open air side of the restaurant. Poor service is a common complaint about Grinder but after two visits I don't have anything particularly bad to say about the service--it was not exceptional but definitely satisfactory. It is definitely possible to eat at Grinder and keep the bill fairly reasonable, but it is also very easy to let it get out of hand. On my first visit I had the appetizer duck tartar (quite big) with a side of mashed potatoes and a side of mushrooms; this was more than enough portion-wise and I thoroughly enjoyed each dish. On my second visit I shared with a friend; we split the beef short rib and raw scallops. The scallop plate was so small I found it to be bad value for money, but the beef short rib was amazing--I would order it again in a heartbeat. We finished off the meal with the soft-serve ice cream sundae--very good and very big (split if you can). read more

Grinder - Mushrooms and scallops - Steakhouses Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

We stopped by Grinder for dinner on a Saturday night. Luckily, we were looking for an early meal around 5:30 pm; any later and I don't think they would have been able to accommodate us without a reservation (so definitely make a reservation!). We loved our experience from start to finish. The food was delicious and the ambiance was unique. Our waiter was clearly busy serving several parties / tables, but we liked that we didn't feel rushed or pushed out. We are out-of-towners who were just visiting Montreal and we are so lucky to have stumbled upon this gem. I've already recommended it to several people, and we will be back. read more

Grinder - Salmon and braised beef entrees with two sides of the daily vegetable. - Steakhouses Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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The food here was great, and the location is awesome, but sometimes when you start off on the wrong foot it's tough to give a great overall rating. I was in meetings separately from my team that afternoon and asked that the team pick a place and make the reservations. So they did. I was first to arrive and said I was there for a reservation under the two names that could have made the reservation. The fact that I mentioned 2 names got me an eye roll from the bearded guy at the door (who at a minimum I would guess is a Manager / GM). I attempted to clarify by stating the time....blank look....until I was asked "for how many?" I said "4 or 5" as I was not sure what the final numbers were because I was not with my team when they made the reservation. The response back was...."Well how am I supposed to know which reservation is yours? Anyways - I got seated. From then on the rest of the evening was great. Our waiter was very pleasant and helpful, the cocktails were reasonable (I am a bit of a snob on that area), the wine list was very good and the steaks, tartares, and carpaccios were excellent. As the evening went on, the music started to get a little louder and more people were around the bar, so it had a great fun atmosphere, very lively. Next time I will come a bit later and grab a spot with friends at the bar and I'm sure the rating will improve. read more

Grinder - NY strip - Steakhouses Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Great architecture and trendy ambiance. Fresh oysters served with vinegar were tasteful. When it arrived, the braised lamb shank was cold. Miso cod, which came half floating in an asian soup was good. They offer an exhaustive wine list which is interesting. I had a delicious IP (private importation) white Marsannay. Service and food were in general good, not the best though. Maybe a bit overrated? I'd say 3 1/2 stars. read more

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I absolutely love the Grinder this is my favourite steakhouse ever. I love that we can go eat there at laTe at night with no problem. The duck tartare is amazing I never tasted something that good. Everything else on the menu is great I tried everything read more

Grinder - Steakhouses Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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Since I'm from New York, I was told by my girlfriends brother that Yelp in Montreal is not accurate or representative having not really caught on yet as it has in New York - which I can confirm, because there's no way this place can possibly be 3 stars. Popped in here after perusing their butcher shop that's located just a block away and decided we needed to try something. Had the burger and couple glasses of wine...it was one of the best burgers I've ever had in my life: Canada AA rated American beef, cooked to perfection with amazing texture and construction. Staff very friendly and hospitable (minus the host, he was actually quite rude when we walked in at 5:30...the place was empty but he considered not seating us due to the incoming evening reservations - eventually he let us sit at the bar but said, "you need to be gone by 7:30"). Very cool space as well. Highly recommend this place for locals and anyone passing through. read more

Grinder - Butcher - Steakhouses Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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Went here for our Christmas party. Pretty upscale place. There is a table d'hôte menu that has as appetizer salad, soup. The main course is either burgers, ribs or salmon. The decor is really rustic and chic. Awesome and massive wine selection for anyone willing to try something different. I'd definitely recommend anyone who wants to have a romantic dinner to come here. read more

Grinder - Grinder 3 course lunch menu - Steakhouses Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

I don't usually give 5 stars and if I did you got to be very good!!! I went in on a New Year Eve! Before I walked in the very nice 2019 ice sculpture already there. Then I walked in and the atmosphere was so nice. The waitress was very professional. We order steak and chicken. It was amazing good. So if the place is nice and the service is good and the food is amazing then yes I can give it a 5 stars!!! read more

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Very nice resto-bar with amazing decor and music. The food was pretty good, we ordered the surf n' turf (lobster, shrimp, scallop and 40oz tomahawk steak to share) which was alright, but the meat was bland. The burger was pretty decent though, and the cocktails were amazing. Hip crowd, perfect for dinner before a night out. Definitely a place to try if you haven't yet. read more

Grinder - Steakhouses Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

My new Montreal favorite. We shared the Chateau Briand and it was fantastic. The mushrooms were ....no words. Just perfect. Can't wait to go back. Service was great read more

Grinder - My view to the bar from our table. Fun happy crowd - Steakhouses Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Ambiance is very hip and projects a mature resto/lounge vibe. I'm sure this place is even better in the summer when the windows are open on the terrase side. Waitress was nice and quite helpful when it came to ordering. We ordered the rib steak ( medium rare) with two sides - mashed potatoes and mushrooms. No complaints with the meat. It was more on the rare side but I couldn't care less because I love it rare. Just make sure to order it medium if you want it medium rare because it was very VERY pink Inside ordering it medium rare. The mashed potatoes were good and served very hot. Mushrooms were nothing special. Portions are very small and I found it overall pricey. I guess you can say your paying for the location and environment. The food overall... Not WOW, but acceptable. Loved the atmosphere, I'd come back solely for drinks and appetizers with my friends. read more

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I had lunch yesterday at Grinder; salmon with mushrooms and soup. The food was greasy. Four hours later I got a very bad diarrhea. read more

A night out to a steak house is a treat and usually a special occasion. I don't think that it should ever be just "ok". Do you? Disclaimer: I consider myself as a bit of a Steak aficionado. Well, who doesn't? Anyways... This place is overrated in my opinion. Service was good and the food was ok. Based on our waiter's recommendation, I had the Spencer rib-eye along with mashed potatoes. The potatoes were pretty extraordinary tbh. The disappointment was with the meat though. A touch overcooked and the cut itself was on the tough and chewy side. My wife had the filet mignon. I had a bite from her plate and also found it to be a bit on the dry side. We were with a group, and the feeling was shared: We expected better. I think that we are spoiled in Montreal when it comes to choosing a good steak house. So the bar is high... You can find a superior Steak House experience at Gibbys, Moïshes, or even at the Keg in the Old Port. read more

If this place has 3.5 stars then Le Bernardin in NYC deserves 2.0. And that's 100% five star restaurant. Let me start this by saying I've run steakhouses in NYC for 10 years. Tonight was the best experience I've had in a restaurant in as long as I can remember. From the moment I walked in the door, till we walked out almost 2 hours after closing Steve, the manager absolutely defined hospitality. Our table wasn't ready when we walked in and he apologized. It was 10 minutes before our reservation. In NYC, if you get sat less then 30 minutes after your rez time, consider yourself lucky. To make up for the wait, Steve bought us a round of drinks. It was totally unnecessary, but greatfully appreciated. The entire crew was amazing but hats off to Enrique for taking the best care of us. The food was on par with the top steakhouses in NYC. For dinner, we did the 40 oz Entrecote that was so tender and juicy with the mushrooms and mashed potatoes. Kicker was a monstrous birthday platter with sparklers. Thank you Grinder for an amazing birthday... Lance F. read more

we made reservations for saturday night dinner at Grinder and were seated immediately. The staff was friendly and welcoming , the overall customer service experience we had here was great! The restaurant itself is very beautiful , great place for a romantic dimly lit dinner in a lovely atmosphere. It is lively but not too loud which is nice, you can still easily hold a conversation. There is a ton of seating room yet you are not stuck to other tables so there is still some privacy. Their prices are a touch n the pricey side (although not outrageous), but definitely not a place to go weekly for dinner if you dont want to break the bank. We had oysters to start (they were nice and big & extremely fresh, I was very happy with them , my only regret is that I didnt order more them ! they also were reasonable on price). Then we shared the Tomawk Rib steak for 2 (it comes with 2 sides, we chose Rapini and french fries) , The steak was great , perfectly cooked and spiced and very filling ! The french fries were perfect :) The rapini however, wasnt so great , not much flavor. I also had a cocktail ( I cant remember the name but it definitely had Tequila in it ! I wish I could remember what it was called because it was great - generous on the tequila and also really well balanced flavors- not too sweet). I would recommend this place for a nice dinner when you want to spend a little and spoil yourself , really nice vibe , good food and friendly professional staff ! read more

Grinder - Steakhouses Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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The steak wasn't the best. I got the aged rib eye. 6.5/10. The elasticity of the steak was horrible, could hardly chew it. The Tartar was good. 8/10. Hans served us and his service was impeccable. I would go back because I liked the ambiance and the service. Got free desert and shots as well. Overall experience was 10/10 even though the food wasn't the best. The desert you see = 11/10. Warm vanilla cake soaked in caramel sauce with vanilla ice cream on the side. Thanks Hans. read more

Grinder - Steakhouses Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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I loved this place! Highly recommended for dinner. Great beer and cocktail selection. The steak was cooked perfectly and service was excellent even during busy hours. The vibe was buzzing (but not loud) definitely the spot to be. Make sure to make a reservation before going. read more

Grinder - Steakhouses Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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We were celebrating the birthday of a friend - 12 people. The food is delicious however our experience was not quite so. When we were done eating, we were asked if we would like desert "no" a waitress then came over with our coats, dumped them in the corner and said nothing. We got it, eat now get out. I understand that they wanted to clear the table for the next crowd but a bit more tact would be helpful . Like - would you like to finish up your evening with a drink at our bar. Wow! Rude after a crowd spends over 1000.00 I would expect a bit more. They are the latest and greatest but suggest they need to decide whether they want to be the fine dining experience they put forward or a fast food joint. Classy restaurants work around their customers not the other way around or at least communicate. That was my second round there and will never go back again. read more

Service was quick, and friendly. Steak was cooked perfectly, and the tuna tartare was excellent read more

Grinder - Food was outstanding - Steakhouses Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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OH MY GOD! The food here is incredible! Four of us visited from New York. We were not disappointed with anything we got! Everything was absolutely delicious. I recommend the porter house. This steak was just fantastic. The staff is very friendly. Our waiters were Nicholas and a new employee, Justin. They were both great and answered any of our annoying "tourist" questions. Would definitely come back to Montreal just to eat here. read more

Grinder - Porterhouse steak - Steakhouses Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Wow, that was disappointing! The owners of this new resto made a major investment in the decor and they did a great job as the restaurant has a wonderful and unique decor. Exposed beams, shinny stainless vents, beautiful wood floors and highlights of glass and copper. Unfortunately the service is not on par with the care and precision that went into the design and construction. The Maitre d' and our waiter's demeanour can best be described as surely and I immediately felt unwelcome. We were seated toward the rear of the restaurant near the kitchen and seemed to be directly in line with some sort of cooling fan that cast a chill on our entire evening. We were a group of 3 and ordered the Salmon Tartare, Beef Short Ribs & the Bavette. The Bavette was the clear winner. The food was good, but not mind blowing in any way. Throughout the entire evening we felt as if were causing some sort of inconvenience to our waiter who was extremely unattentive. In addition to being generally unfriendly the service we received was not on par with this level of restaurant. The bread was very slow to arrive at our table, 2 people at our table were served their plates and then we waited about 5 minutes for the 3rd dish to arrive. For my friend who ordered the Bavette the waiter did not think to bring her a steak knife so she was stuck trying to cut through it with a butter knife. When we completed our dinner we sat around for an extended period of time and no one asked us if we would like the check. After I flagged someone down the bill arrived quickly and then we were left sitting with my credit card on the table for another 15 minutes without anyone coming by to process our payment. Again I had to flag down one of the staff. Not once did someone say 'sorry for the delay' or apologize in any manner. The restaurant was reasonably busy, but well staffed so I can't blame any of the above on a shortage of staff or excessive stress on the staff. Our overall experience at Grinder was poor. Never did we feel that our presence in the restaurant was appreciated in any manner. There are a large number of terrific restaurants in Montreal where you can spend your money and thoroughly enjoy yourself so I would recommend spending your evening somewhere else. read more

Get your reservation and starve yourself. The food is fantastic and the steaks are out of this world. The service was spot on too! Great night out! read more

We tried this place a few weeks ago for appetizers and drinks just to check it out since we live in the neighborhood. I have to say the inside was amazing; trendy, clean, really cool light fixtures, interesting decor and open kitchen. We sat at the bar and our bartender was less than enthusiastic. Granted, we had a slight language barrier as our French is not perfect, but still, the bartenders could have at least smiled--after all, a smile is universal! It's like the staff thought they were the cool kids from high school and we should be appreciative they even let us come into their restaurant! Very weird... We tried the calamari and a side of mashed potatoes. The food was okay. The calamari had a really nice flavor, but the potatoes were below average. We had two beers, one glass of wine, calamari, and potatoes and the bill was over 50 dollars! Though the location is great and the ambiance is appealing; we will not be returning. The service was not friendly at all and it seemed our business was appreciated what-so-ever. read more

When you are ready to dish out $400 or more for dinner, you don't want to be told when to eat (7pm sharp ) and when you need to leave (9pm) If you are ready to put up with that..then you found the right place. Otherwise find yourself another restaurant that won't be having you look at your watch while you eat. Arrogance is not on my menu. read more

It had been a long day, had to say goodbye to my little shih the day before after a beautiful 15 years and I was feeling very sad. My sister and wife invited me out to dinner to lift my spirits and told me Grinder was supposed to be very tasty. It's in Griffintown on Notre Dame, beautiful place with a decor that stimulates an aesthetic eye. It was very busy, pretty people, attentive, smiling staff. We were seated outside and our waitress quickly came over to say hello. The table next to us was being served and everything looked delicious, always a good sign. The menu had all sorts of tasty, appealing choices, now I'm always an indecisive type and was trying to narrow it down between the tandoori halibut served with a tabouli couscous with cherry tomatoes and the lamb with eggplant and salsa verde. All dishes come with your choice of sides, fries and mayo, heavenly mashed potatoes with cream and sharp cheddar and some green veggies. I decided on the lamb rump with salsa verde and the mashed potatoes, my sister had the tandoori halibut and her other half had the steak with chimchuri. We decided to get some sangria to start and to toast the passing if my little furry beauty... There were 2 different kinds of sangria, we chose the one with rose wine, spiced rum, cassis, mint and mixed berries. Our sangria quickly arrived, it was more of a cocktail then a sangria, first taste, bitter and very alcoholic taste. I like my sangria light and fruity tasting. This one was all cassis flavor. Our waitress brought us some 7up to tone it down but we didn't end up drinking it. Our meals soon arrived, my lamb was tender and good but the highlights were definitely the halibut tandoori and chimchuri beef. Both were flavorful and perfectly cooked. My mashed potatoes were creamy, cheesy and decadent. The fries crispy and delicious so was the homemade mayo. Our waitress was sweet and took our drinks off the bill without us asking. All in all, I would come back. The food was tasty, nice presentation, filling portion size and a nice atmosphere. If you like to hear yourselves talk you should avoid Saturday night but it's a lively place and worth checking out! read more

I went here with a friend a couple of weeks back and overall nothing spectacular. Good: the atmosphere was pleasant, being that the place was filled with young professionals that were well dressed, the place was properly designed, the staff had great energy, etc. The drinks were well mixed but a little expensive. Due to the upbeat energy, I would pay a premium on the drinks. Great place for a 5 à 7. However: Bad. The overpriced food was far from the greatest. I had calamari and the sauce was, without exaggerating, ketchup. The well portion tartar was flavourful however the side I salad was very basic and boring. The salad was prepared as if the cook was in a rush and was late for work. Conclusion: The place would be better if it was just a bar that served food but their liquor permit would restrict them to do so. I would only go back if I was dragged there for a birthday/office/other party. Would not go back on my own free will. If this was a purely a bar, I would absolutely go back to enjoy its great energy. read more

I'm quite surprised Grinder only has 3 stars. Sure, the restaurant is a mix of hipster and business-casual, it's located in the hottest new area of Montreal, and the prices are a little higher than they should be. That's been the gossip about this restaurant for as long as it's been around, which is why I had never actively chosen to go there. Well, last week, a buddy of mine was in town and wanted to go to Grinder with a bunch of friends to catch up. It wouldn't have been my first choice, but figured I'd take the opportunity to see what all the fuss was about. At the table, people ordered burgers, lamb chops, salads, and a bunch of stuff from the raw bar. There were no negative comments from anyone. The burgers were thick and juicy, the fries were crispy and salted just right, the lamb chops were cooked to a perfect medium rare, the salads were fresh, and the drinks paired nicely. The kicker... the raw bar! My fiancée and I decided to go for an all raw dinner. We started with the beef tartare and shared the salmon and tuna tartares as the mains. Aside from being platted beautifully and being absolutely delicious, the three tartares had completely different flavors. It was really nice to see that some great creativity had gone into the prep. The portions were nice, making the entire meal a worthwhile expense. Our buddy broke some news that he received a promotion, so we arranged for the waiter to bring him a dessert. Not only did he bring a delicious pouding chomeur, but he also brought a round of hot shots for the 12 of us at the table... all on the house. To top it off, although I was full, the brownie on the dessert menu was calling my name. Unfortunately, it was bone dry and terribly disappointing. The waiter noticed we hadn't eaten it and, without hesitation, offered another dessert saying we wouldn't be charged for either. The service had been great all night, but these were small gestures that went a long way. (The brownie was replaced with a carrot cake that was delectable... definitely go for that one!) All in all, I'm really happy my buddy suggested we go there. I'll be back and I recommend you go too! read more