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.

L'Express is my go-to foolproof French restaurant perfect for dining with friends who came to…read morevisit me in Montreal . You get a casual yet elegant fine French dining vibe effortlessly. No reservation needed for parties under two, plus it stays open till 1 AM, super convenient for flexible travelers. A local staple with countless loyal regulars, famous for its signature bone marrow and homemade pickles. Warm welcoming atmosphere, friendly seasoned staff, free bread and pickles right after seating. Must-try picks: rich bone marrow, smooth chicken liver mousse, tender duck confit and fresh beef tartare. Classic authentic French classics served in genuine local style. They have an amazing affordable wine list with massive collections.

Adding a review of their new location on Papineau!…read more Beautiful restaurant with very high ceilings and good lighting. Their food menu is short, but they have an extensive wine list. As a table of 4, we started by sharing the Charcuterie platter Plein Sud. Unfortunately, we dug in too fast for me to take a picture, but it was very beautiful. Came with several varieties of cured meats, cheeses, grapes, fig jam, and nuts. The only complaint is that the pieces of cheese were so incredibly small, like the size of a piece of cheese you'd cut at home to eat yourself. But these tiny pieces were meant for sharing. We asked the waitress for a wine recommendation, but she didn't seem well versed in wine and kept telling us all the wine was good. We were looking for a more specific recommendation then that. Fortunately her colleague was more helpful and had a better handle on the wine menu. For entrees, we each had our own dish. I had the gnocchi with veal (reading from my previous review, it was good but I didn't see these gnocchis as potato clouds like before). The other guests had the steak tartare with fries (fries were so good!), seafood ravioli (looked generous and creamy), and the porc Jarrett. All the entrees were nicely plated and delicious! We ended the evening with the Brioche pain perdu with caramel salé. I thought this was going to be just okay, but it was super good and decadent! For a Tuesday evening, the restaurant was medium busy. But service was a little slow, we were told there was only one chef and she was working alone. So given that context, she was working as quickly and well as she could!

The duck with two sauces was amazing ! The chef is from Nice France ànd had a nice underlying…read moreFrench "accent" to his cooking! I could tell he was very proud of his duck dish, rightfully so I especially enjoyed the one with the tomatoes that were roasted and had a sweet undertone. Will definitely go again!

Came on a Friday morning around 11AM and the place was busy, but we were able to get seated right…read moreaway. We ordered off the breakfast menu and it was a good call. My bride ordered the Mexicaine Omelet but swapped the cheese for feta and loved it. I went with the Smoked Salmon Omelet and it was excellent. The serving is so generous with all the sides like sausage, ham, potatoes, baguette and fruit. We both loved the baguette and the fruit bowl had 8 different varieties of fruit. Who does that? We really enjoyed it and left very satisfied. If breakfast is your thing, you need to try this place.

One of my favorite things to do after a long Europe or international trip is to have a good…read moretraditional breakfast. I came here on my last morning in Montreal, and even though it was a holiday and there was a long wait, including for solo diners at the counter, it was absolutely worth it. The service was friendly, and honestly, this was one of the best breakfasts of my life. The French toast was incredible, the sausage was great, and the eggs were cooked perfectly. They also give you a lot of food for the price. It did take multiple attempts to ask them for me to get more syrup, which was frustrating. But outside of that, everything was excellent. I hope to come back one day to enjoy it again.

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.

Entry: you arrive and are asked if you want your coat to be held (which is nice due to the Space…read morewithin the restaurant during the winter. Server was nice even though at some point he was just standing there and we were waiting for him to come back to order dessert to the point where u actually had to call him but this was nothing truly. Lamb with sweet garlic sauce Filet mignon with five peppercorn and cognac sauce Key lime pie The meat was great, truly. The sauces? a total disgrace / turn off considering the price of each plate. Sweet garlic, had nothing I could say I feel the garlic in at all. Flavorless. Five pepercorn with cognac non existent ! The only time i taste the peppercorn was if I BIT the actual peppercorn. The dessert ? I ate 2 bites and left the entire thing. The "crust" was nowhere to be found it was watered down carton... and the lime layer felt like I was biting into fake jelly. I have nothing else to say but you can decide how you spend your money. The "fancy" restaurant leaves a lot to desire.

The food was excellent. The bone marrow was a must to try. The food had a nice presentation The…read morestaff was great and provided a welcoming environment. I made my reservation for the brassiere vs the main dining.

First meal in Montreal and what an experience! We dined in the brasserie side of the restaurant…read more Even though more casual dining, still experienced elevated food and service. We started with oysters from PEI and New Brunswick. Loved that they let you choose the units so we only ordered 4 (2 each). We also had as appetizer their foie gras parfait and tomatoes from our garden. Both we wonderful choices. The tomatoes were perfect for the season with a beautiful balance of tomatoes, stracciatella and focaccia. Foie is a classic and loved the grilled bread and pickled vegetables to accompany it. Our entrees were the lamb rump, braised shoulder and butcher cut steak and frites which was the hangar steak. The lamb was delicious and very hearty in a good way. The steak was perfectly prepared and the frites stayed warm the entire meal with their presentation. We ended with their house fav passion fruit pavlova. Light and airy texture with lovely flavor. Nice way to compete the meal!

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.

This is hearty Québécois cuisine, perhaps so hearty it's exactly what the pioneers needed to…read moresurvive the early harsh Montréal winters! Indeed the signature move of the chef, Martin Picard, is to elevate traditional, rustic Québécois "peasant food" into world-class fine dining. With the philosophy of unapologetic excess in every dish comes a line up of starters and mains packed with foie gras, butters, and oils in every corner. While the flavors in each dish by themselves are delicious, the onslaught of richness may not be for everybody, and it seemed deliberately without a palate cleanser or lighter counterbalance. In fact, knowing what we were getting into, we ordered an accompanying green salad, and the wait staff forgot to bring it out! We were outright denied anything but sheer gluttony. Our meal consisted of the foie gras poutine, duck in a can, and green tagliatelle. The mantra of excess here meant foie gras melding with cheese curds and gravy on the poutine. Their unique "duck in a can" involved packing quite literally a can with fatty duck breast, foie gras, buttered cabbage, herbs, and gravy, and blasting it all together with heat for 27 minutes. The result is a delicious stew of decadence, for which I wish I had more bread to dip and devour. Even the tagliatelle was bathing in a rich, oily pesto that provided no reprieve from the onslaught. We didn't try the namesake dish of the restaurant, the stuffed pig's foot (le pied de cochon), but seeing it served was an experience and nicely highlighted the elevated "peasant food" aspect of the entire affair. Very unique! Overall I had an excellent experience trying the local cuisine and this more decadent approach to dining. While it's fun sometimes to break culinary rules, I did overall find myself missing a more balanced meal that could feel more sustainable and less coronary artery disease-inducing. I think as long as you know what you're getting into, it's worth a visit, but probably not several!

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!

This is a spot for good food without the frills of a fancy restaurant. The server was so nice and…read morehelped explain the menu to us as they only have French ones and we tried to order different things to get a taste of each item. The appetizers were very different from each other but the bison and lamb had similar construction/sauces. Overall a wonderful experience! As tourists, it was fun to try some local wines during the day and buying a bottle to enjoy with dinner here. There was a range of drinks that people brought. We stuck with a light red wine that we got from SAQ down the street that offered a tasting of some local wines.

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!

It's a pretty good restaurant in the middle of Old Montreal. Decor is nice and services is…read moreattentive. I can't speak French so I appreciate the Englishmen menu. I do recommend making a reservation on open table prior to coming. Here is what I think of the food: Seasoning is generally saltier but not too overly. Escargot or the snails is yummy. It comes with the option of cheese on top. Dressed heavy with olive oil and garlic. They remove the shell so it makes it approachable if you were nervous about trying. Cheese & Charcuterie board is as what you imagined. It can't go wrong. Rack of Lamb was good. I do recommend highly. It comes with our 4-5 bones worth of protein with potatoes & veggies. Lost track of how many bones because it was eaten so fast. Duck confit was average. Let me explain, duck was average but the amount of spinach I gotten and how potatoes on the plate was good. Sides out shine the protein here. Side of Foie Gras was perfect because I was worried about having too much food. It did come on a small plate because it's a side dish and it was fatty and salty. Intermission was the best cocktail of the night. Fruity with a star anise on top so you smell it while drinking it because it was so close to your nose. Jazz District was okay. Overall, I do think this restaurant site fairly between 4&5 stars. Do try it. I would come back for special occasions and it's not an every night meal.

This is a curious place. In a nutshell, excellent eats, but quite rough off the plates. I'll…read morestart with the maitre'd/host, who was sufficiently surly that you might actually mistake him for being a French caricature out of central casting. Our seating was really great, nice and spacious. Our server was simply... the best. She was attentive, gave us excellent recos -- we elected for a smattering of shareable à la carte small plates rather than the three course tasting menu (there seemed to be so much overlap between the two menus anyway, so we elected for the flexibility of à la carte). The boudin with small prawns was fantastic -- the boudin itself held up in flavor yet was delicate in texture. Excellent burrata that came dressed with really fresh accompaniments and mad points for the rustic bread that came nicely toasted. The octopus was generous enough for four of us to have a good taste and move on -- it came with a lovely red sauce that I wanted to mop up with bread. The tuna tartare was brilliant, the french fries that came with it seemed a tad unconventional. And a big win for the lobster risotto, absolute perfection. I wish I could remember the names of the cocktails we ordered but suffice to say, they were all delicious, never harsh in any way. So one thing I wanted to point out was how this one server -- not our main server who was, again, THE BEST -- kept clearing out plates in the middle of eating. Literally, we're in the middle of enjoying a dish and he'd just swoop in, swipe our plates, and dash off. WTF is that about. This lack of awareness definitely took points off an otherwise rather enjoyable meal. Just watch out for the surly host at the front of house and be prepared to fan off the guy trying to take your plate and you just may have yourself a delightful meal here!

We throughly enjoyed Chez Victoire. It was the waiter who made the difference. Very professional…read more Recommended cocktails and wine. The young woman who actually brought the dishes to the table explained each one as she delivered it. We started with a tomato salad with a kind of whipped burrata. Then wonderful grilled octopus. We finished with magret de canard (duck breast) -- prepared medium rare but not as tasty as I would have hoped.

Ah ces restos de quartier, ils ont un charme que les chaînes de restaurants et les restaurants du…read morecentre-ville ne pourront jamais égaler ! Je me suis laissé tenter par ce restaurant français, qui m'a vraiment surpris. Le tartare de saumon en entrée était un des meilleur que j'ai mangé. Et que dire de mon plat principal : Filet de morue de l'islande et son pesto de tomates séchées, c'était digne de bien des tables de grand restaurant, et ce à un prix raisonnable. Ma femme as bien aimée son assiette de pétoncles poélée avec légumes. Pour résumé : un trés bon rapport qualité/prix pour la qualité de la nourriture. Je vais sûrement y retourner, je le recommande grandement. Ah these small restaurant in non touristic area, sometimes you can find neighborghood gem. And it was the case of this restaurant La menthe Poivrée. I succombed to this excellent french restaurant, and i was pleasently surprised. The salmon tartar appetiser was one of the best one i tasted. My main meal was Island cod filet with pesto sauce and it was veryvery good. It was as good as some expensive restaurants i tried before. My wife like her scallops plate with veggies a lot. To resume an excellent quality at a reasonable price. I highly recommend this restaurant.

This cozy, family-owned bistro is located in Rosemont, kind of in an unexpected spot and behind a…read morerather unassuming storefront. However, it was worth the detour, as it feels wonderfully unpretentious and has some nicely done classic French dishes. Everything was priced reasonably, and all the main dishes include the choice of either a soup or salad, plus coffee or tea/herbal tea at the end of the meal. The food and service was great, and it's clear that it's a neighbourhood favourite, as most of the tables were full when we came for our reservation. Definitely recommend. // Ce bistrot familial et chaleureux est situé dans le quartier de Rosemont, dans un endroit plutôt inattendu et derrière une façade plutôt discrète. Cependant, le détour en valait la peine, car il est merveilleusement sans prétention et propose des plats français classiques bien préparés. Tout était à un prix raisonnable et tous les plats principaux comprennent le choix entre une soupe ou une salade, ainsi qu'un café ou un thé/une tisane à la fin du repas. La nourriture et le service étaient excellents, et il est clair que c'est un favori du quartier, car la plupart des tables étaient pleines lorsque nous sommes venus pour notre réservation. Je le recommande vivement.