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Au pied de cochon
- Hours:
Tue-Sun 5 pm - 12 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
323 reviews for Au pied de cochon
Review Highlights
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"My first time having foie gras and it was delicious." In 168 reviews -
"Bison tongue with tarragon is recommended." In 27 reviews -
"duck in a can - so moist and full of flavor." In 158 reviews
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320 reviews in English
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Review from Michael C.
5/14/2012
I wasn't sure if I could be gluttonous enough to fully enjoy everything I wanted to try. I was, and it was good. Now, 2 days later, the lingering effects are still there, reminders of a great night but cautioning against a repeat performance.
Started with some great pickled tongue. Really, really phenomenal. My wife had foie gras and loved it not only for the taste, but the presentation.
Next up was the beet/goat cheese salad. Very rich and a large portion. Stacked neopolitan style.
I had waited to try the duck in a can for some time. After ordering, I started to regret it after seeing it served to someone else. But I decided to eat it all and the rest is history. Moist duck with foie gras. I really can't remember being that full. Obviously, dessert was skipped. The size of the pork chop my wife was given was 2" thick and the size of my outstretched hand. She was smart enough to get the leftover packaged up to take back to the hotel.
What made me go with 5/5 rather than 4/5 was the fact that Martin Picard thanked me and let me take a picture with him. He seemed genuine and took the time to talk to folks. You don't see that alot. -
Review from Billy F.
Kitchener, ON
5/4/2012
Definitely worth a visit if you're ever in Montreal. It's a nice looking restaurant, with a very busy feel to it. Made dinner reservations 2 weeks in advance, just to be safe.
For appetizers, started out with the Cromesquis de foie gras, pork rinds, and a bone marrow dish.
The cromesquis were absolutely amazing, and a great way to start off the dinner. Small cubes of deep fried foie gras that just melts in your mouth, washing your mouth over with fatty deliciousness. The pork rinds were fried deliciously, but isn't hard to mess up pork rinds. The bone marrow dish was probably my favorite, as I am a big fan of bone marrow, and this dish was crafted perfectly. It wasn't overwhelmingly rich, but the perfect amount of flavor and sauce that I soaked up with some bread.
The entrees were the PDC pork cut, and the namesake stuffed pied de cochon. The pied de cochon was quite a large dish, and I would recommend not ordering it for one (unless you plan on taking it home). The PDC cut of pork was the thickest cut of pork I've ever had, and it was cooked perfectly all the way through, which I thought was an amazing feat. In terms of how it looked, it was pretty much a large cut of pork surrounded by various vegetables and rich sauce. The stuffed pied de cochon was another matter, it looked almost menacing to eat. The foie gras on top, inviting you to try and even attempt conquering the meal. It was indeed a very very rich dish, with mashed potatoes on the bottom that felt like a meal on it's own.
Unfortunately my companion and I were too stuffed to even attempt desserts, so I can't comment on that. All in all though, it was a very enjoyable meal and I will definitely return to try desserts. It's not a restaurant you eat at often, only once in awhile when you get that craving for some delicious foie gras. -
Review from Michael N.
4/27/2012
Just not worth it. There are so many better restaurants in Montreal.
Nothing went well.
We were told that No table available at reserved time, even though there were several obviously empty. We were offer seats at the bar. I suspect that we were given these as we were from out of town. The hostess thought that I could not understand French.
The waiter ignored us for 15 minutes before taking our order. She delayed entering the order so our food was further delayed. The head chef who was working the line directly in front of us apologized for the delay.
Then there is the food. Read the other reviews carefully. Heavy flavors that are totally unbalanced.
1-star is awarded for the excellent wine list.
Go elsewhere. -
Review from Cristina J.
Whitby, ON
5/15/2012
You either love it or hate it :) We love it...
If you're looking for fantastic French decadence in food, you've come to right place.
The Look and The Feel
Don't expect a quiet, subdued fine-dining experience. The ambiance is lively and jovial, especially on Saturday nights. Even though this restaurant is surprisingly small, it maintains its appeal by providing customers a warm cozy feel. The decor is mostly wooden with touches of an old cellar charm with wine bottles and recipe books lined up. On warm nights, like many restaurants in Montreal, the glass front door is stays open allowing customers a completely unobstructed view of the charming Avenue Deluth Est.
The Menu
The menu filled is filled with duck, pork, fois gras, duck, pork, and more fois gras :) But don't let the omnipresence of meat fool you. Yes, it is a carnivorous dream to be dining here, but they also offer a great selection of fresh Nova Scotia seafood. For those customers who are on a diet or complain of food being too rich tasting---stop reading now.....
Our Order
App: Foie Gras Cromesquis---It comes in two small balls filled with Bordeaux wine and fois gras, slightly fried and made to perfection. You just pop them in your mouth and they melt away leaving your tongue dancing for more.
App: Duck carppacio--who knew raw duck with some spices and chives would taste so delicious. This dish is served with a raw egg yolk which adds a creamy richness flavors. The french bread went perfect with this.
App: Blue Cheese, Apple & Endive Salad- I told you this place is not just for carnivores. The salad was crisp, fresh, and truly memorable.
Main: We ordered the signature dish--Pig's feet--and the lobster. Both were cooked to perfection and simply delicious. I personally recommend the lobster not the signature dish and I'll tell you why later. The lobster was succulent and cooked to perfection. I loved the fact that there was huge pieces of lobster, no shells all meat! The pork was simply good, nothing to write home about. From start to finish, my husband and I felt guilty eating food that was so tasty.
The Service
Service was friendly. The greeter was super friendly. Our waiter, on the other hand, was mediocre. He explained to us that he used to be a master chef and seemed a little bitter to be a waiter, but overall he tried his best to be pleasant and he did a descent job at following up with us for drinks and to check on how the meal was going.
Lost a Point
So here's where Au Pied de Couchon loses points for me....The waiter recommended numerous dishes but did not mention the signature dish, so we asked if the signature dish is popular. He said yes, oh yes, it's popular. What he failed to mention to us is that the signature dish is big enough to feed at least four people. We were really disappointed that this ex-master chef/server did not mention the size of the dish. I wish he would have said something along the lines of "Yes, this is our signature dish and it is very famous, but it's not very popular due to its size. There are other dishes on the menu I'm sure you would enjoy such as...." I also wished that he mentioned that the flavours are not really unique. Although the meat was tender, to me it was just a great roasted diner, no unusual flavors or presentation. It was literally a log of meat on a bed of mash potatoes with gravy--
Overall Experience
Overall we were happy with the food and dining experience. The location was great. The ambiance was cozy. The food was unique and uniquely prepared. The service was pretty good. Overall, we had a great adventure indulging in French cuisine. -
Review from Diane Z.
4/22/2012
I was expecting a lot after hearing so much about this place, but it did not quite deliver. We had to wait even though we had a reservation, which was a bit annoying. But they gave us croquettes to make up for it. Everything was fatty and good, but nothing outstanding.
Note: There was one busser who had rashes and scabs all over her arms, that was disgusting and probably not safe for her to be around food!!! -
Review from Laura D.
Updated - 4/3/2012 6 photos
As if to prove the point of my first review, the menu tonight was full on decadent done right! At first, I was thinking, because I often order many of the same items here, that I wanted us to order several appetizers instead, sharing it all and maybe, just maybe, allowing me enough tummy space to have a dessert. Alas, my BF got fixated on the ribs and my plans was shot down, sort of.
Somehow, my BF convinced me, and himself, that ordering 3 appetizers and 2 mains was totally doable. It isn't. And I'm no light-weight.
We ordered the Cod Fritters, the Beef Tartare and a special item for the night, Bone Marrow.
The Bone Marrow was a large enough to feed a greedy pig like me, sitting in a bath of leek and potato soup, drizzle with duck fat and topped with a slice of toast, soaked in duck fat. You know, that's the idea, cut the heaviness of the cream and marrow with duck fat.
The cod fritters were salty delicious, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Dipped in house-made mayonnaise, it was pure heaven. The Tartare is something I always order, I just love it. I love the presentation and everything about it.
My main was the Monte Cristo, but I couldn't eat it, so I am having it for breakfast tomorrow morning.
This, kind of, makes up for the fact that I won't be going to the PDC cabane a sucre this week as was planned. :(Listed in: How my Boyfriend wins me Over
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/18/2011
This place is not for the faint of heart. I don't come here to grab a bite, it is a place where I… Read more »
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Review from Elton R.
Vancouver, BC
4/5/2012
I have spent 4.5 years in Montreal. That works out to approximately 1,642 days there. How I wish I had the metabolism and the money to spend each and every one of the 1,642 nights dining here...
My absolute favourite is their namesake dish: pied de cochon farci au foie gras. I get to have the two of my favourite ingredients in one dish: pork and foie! How amazing is that!? Even better is that Martin Picard being the insane man that he is; debones the hock and stuffs it with foie gras. Not only that, but he somehow masters the texture to make the trotter crispy on the outside and moist and juicy on the inside. Pure. Genius. I think I ordered it twice - one for myself and once to share. I've never finished it even when I ordered it to share. I think this could easily feed 4 people.
Next time I'm in town I will be ordering the tête de cochon. Also am very curious about their pintade (guineafowl).Listed in: La Belle Province
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Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
Au pied de cochon is one of those "I need to go at least once" restaurants, at least on my long list... But after my experience it is not on my "done it..so?" list.
Maybe it is just my luck.. or people love playing phone/email tag with me. Emails never got a phone back... Left message on their answering machine and got called back when I could not pick up phone... called back and left messages again..... When I finally spoke to a real human being, I kind of felt relieved.... as I got to go to APDC!!!
We arrived on a weekday for an early dinner. I directed my friend to park right in front of the restaurant... but without any visible signage... he didn't realize this plain looking place is THE ONE.
Our waiter is pleasant, really pleasant. But I got really lost and so was he when he tried to go over the "Daily Special Menu"... he kept coming back and gave us an update on the specials he has... He really believed I remembered?
We ended up drinking: Griffon Rousse ($5)/Cheval Blanc ($5.75)
We ended up eating:
Cromesquis de Foie Gras ($3.50)
- maybe I have too much expectation... I didn't get that exposing or orgasmic sensation I expect.
- more like oh that it? .
Cerveau de Veau + Boulettes de Viande de Veau ($14)
- veal brain.. has this smooth creamy texture..
- a lot better than what I expect and though fried was not greasy at all
Pied de Cochon($22.00)
- this dish makes me Not a fan of pork.. portion is massive but the pork is dry and jerky like.. chewy..
- not much taste to it but if you are a fan of Rosemary then at least you will enjoy the sauce that came with it
Poutine au Foie Gras($23.00)
- Tons of Foie Gras but just a shame to have foie gras prepared that way...
- the gravy being that salty imho is not complimenting the foie dedicate texture and taste...
- But it is a dish to try at least once
At least I can say I finally been to APDC. If my friends ask me if it is worth a visit, I say go at least once, experience yourself.. and you decide if it is worth your while! -
Review from Tapan G.
5/1/2012
Let me preface this by saying that I am usually highly dissapointed by these Bourdain-hyped restaurants. Au pied de cochon is the rare exception that did not fail.
The beers, especially their namesake are awesome and very reasonably priced. The ambiance is very casual but still nice enough to take the wife.
We started with the cromesquis which were two small balls of fried foie. Totally awesome as an amuse bouche. We then shared the foie gras poutine which was ungodly good and the best poutine we had our entire stay in Quebec. However, I do wish there were more fries to go along with the large portions of foie, curds, and gravy. We ended up dipping our bread in the foie/curds/gravy to finish it off.
We ordered the pied de cochon and PDC's melting pot. The pied de cochon (pigs foot) was fantastic and was served with extremely rich and cheesy mashed potatoes. The meat was crisp and covered in this oniony thick sauce which was a delight. The PDC melting pot had blood sausage, regular sausage, pork chop, pork belly and was also quite nice. Nothing to write home about, but the blood sausage and mashed potatoes were great in this dish.
I remain curious about the duck in a can, but after a horrible duck experience the day before at another restaurant, we were not willing to fork out $45 for something that could be a bust.
Will definitely be back to try to other menu items! -
Review from Richard M.
First course was similar to a Monte Cristi sandwich, except on brioche bread coated in maple syrup that caramelized it OMG. Next followed the whole cochon appetizer plate, four pates, head cheese, sausages, with crustinis. Fabulous is the only way to explain it. I started to feel my stomach getting full but knew I had to persevere, the main entree hadn't arrived yet. So on to the poutine, french fries, gravy, cheese and buttery foie gras. And for the final dish duck in a can. Sounds strange but it was wonderful.
The service was great. Next visit to Montreal I'm ordering the pig head confit. Yes an entire head brought to the table to enjoy. Can't wait to go back. -
Review from WaYnE c.
Maple, ON
2/25/2012
Early arrival due to my Friend's efforted reservations, a story best left for her to tell.
Even with plentiful choices of Quebecois dining, APdC is on everyone's Travel Guide.
Start
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Early on, the tables were evenly spaced comfortable as we arrived to the table.
A staff balanced the table as another came to offer the Menu. So far so good.
We chose our bevs of choice as the server explained the Off-Menu Daily Offers.
Fast & Furious did he shoot out the long listing. Also what's not on Menu tonight.
My Friend looks as blank as a cloud. Huh?
Cromesquis de Foie Gras($3.50)
When the plate was served, we were given instructions for the minute wait.
Hot greasy explosions in ones mouth is a lawsuit waiting to happen I bet.
Little did our server factor-in my background of near-boiling point consumption.
One-minute on the GSHOCK and the Cromesquis was lukewarm.
Flavour and Texture of breading... lukewarm grease coats the Tongue.
Cerveau de Veau + Boulettes de Viande de Veau [Daily Offer]
Floured, fried and seasoned(lightly) on the delicate smooth Tofu-like Veal Brain.
The lone Veal Meatball was done very nicely as your Italian Mama likes it.
I'm glad I had the opportunity to try Veal Brain for the first time. Merci APdC.
Intermission
----------------
Tables fill up around us with Families no less, quite obviously Tourists.
A couple guys get their Tete de Cochon pour 2 as everyone ooh aahs in amaze.
Where shall our Mains be? As I look out to see Martin Picard bringing Meats inside.
Maybe we should have ordered more Apps & Beers if we knew there was downtime.
Pied de Cochon($22.00)
A MASSIVE slab of roasted blubbery Pork Hock Skin dominates most of the plate.
Underneath lies Meat the likes of Chinese Soup Meat, flavourless bordering dry.
Magic is in the Onion/Rosemary Sauce which at least they're not afraid to season.
Fridge-time at home allowed the Meat/Sauce to consult for much better flavours.
Poutine au Foie Gras($23.00)
A Value-added Poutine that is meant for the experienced Foie Gras Eater.
Crispy Fries, thick rich but overly salty Gravy, Squeaky Curds and plenty of FOIE.
Reason why Foie Gras Rookies should avoid this dish as their First experience?
The Foie Gras and rich Gravy/Curd has similar consistency and flavours.
The Gravy/Curd covers up the Foie Gras and vice versa. Novelty Dish.
End
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By 2-hours, all Tables occupied and breath gets thin in a bustling APdC.
Maitre'd almost tackled me as I attempt to locate my Jacket at the rack.
My Friend awaits the Waiters to free up to notice our attempt to leave asap.
Conclusion - Worth a visit.
---------------
1. Unique Dishes 2. Good Value 3. Enough Cholesterol for a MonthListed in: En Français
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Review from Rozita N.
Montréal, QC
3/5/2012
I wasn't really impressed by the restaurant! The dishes are not balanced at all! a great chef knows how to balance the experience through multiple courses of different flavor and tones; that's the main reason of having more one course after all!
At Pied de cochon they serve monotonic fatty dishes from starter to desert. there is nothing in any dishes that balance the fat with a bit of acidity.
And I'm not gonna talk about health factor. Bottom line it's fancy junk food! -
Review from Clifford R.
4/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
This is one of those reviews where I wonder if I missed something, everyone seems head over heels in love with au pied de cochon, but I was not that impressed.
First, the service and décor. The service was pretty slow, we were there for about 3 and a half hours. There had to be at least a 45 minute wait between our apps and our entrees. Our waitress was polite and friendly, but wasn't around that often. She did help pick a great bottle of wine after my original choice was no longer available. My water glass was empty quite a few times, but that's a busboy issue. The décor and layout was a bit odd, they obviously made the conscientious decision to choose cramming as many people in as possible over comfort and style.
Second, the food. I'm really torn about how to describe the food. I think the best way is to say that each item was one of the most delicious things I've ever had - for the first 1 - 2 bites. After that, it got gross kinda quick. I am no stranger to rich foods, and I subscribe to the French (or Paula Deen) school of thought that cooking with butter makes everything better, but this food was just over the top. I started with a Duck Carpaccio. Carpaccio is usually light and fresh and this one was too, until I broke the egg yolk over the entire dish as instructed. Then it just got creamy and all the flavors got muddled and didn't really work well together. Someone else ordered the Foie Gras Poutine, and I really couldn't stomach much more than a few bites. Again, I have to think I'm missing something here because everyone raves about it. To me, it's taking something completely trashy like Disco Fries and trying to class it up by adding some Foie Gras and cheese curds. The duck in the can was undercooked and again, completely over the top with Foie (apparently the duck is supposed to come out under done according to the wait staff). The main entrée was the rabbit special for 2 - 3 people. It's a whole rabbit, with the head braised in red wine, two legs sous-vide (I believe), two legs roasted, and the remainder of the rabbit rolled and stuffed with foie and roasted / baked, all served over a creamy polenta. The roasted legs were amazing, but moving onto the torso sections, the meat was completely overpowered by the foie.
All in all it seems that the point of this restaurant is to eat as much Foie Gras as possible. It's not done in a classy way, where a little goes a long way, but an in your face Foie Gras fest. Maybe it's unfair for me to rate au pied de cochon based on not liking a specific type of food (i.e. Poutine) - especially without having any other point of reference, but I think the over the top ideology of throwing Foie Gras around like it's rosemary or salt and pepper is really the underlying issue here. I just don't get this place. -
Review from Tim H.
4/16/2012
I had my reservations with Au Pied de Cochon once I read the yelp! reviews. Why, you might ask? Well, when any restaurant has an army of cheerleaders behind it, it worries me. While I do like a good recommendation, I often take a pause when I hear "go here or else you will never be happy again!" Ok, I ad lib'd that part.
In regards to the restaurant, we found it quite nice, and the service friendly. However, I must agree with another reviewer that the balance of the dishes was, well, missing.
For instance, the menu, by first impressions, does not leave one saying "I have to have this, and this, and this." While an attractive menu, one does not need a fatty Entree, a fatty main, and a fatty dessert.
We did start with a course of foie gras. While it was creamy, the taste was rather stale, and as such, we wasted about $10.00 worth because we would not eat it. It wasn't spoiled, but it just wasn't good.
We moved on to the main courses, I had the duck in mushroom sauce. It was almost as if the chef said "no, I will not salt this dish, no matter how much it calls for salt." It was, in a word, bland. The duck itself was nice, but the flavors did not call out to me.
For dessert, I tried the poached pear, as it was the "lightest" offering. It was delicious, but not enough for me to remember my meal at apdc fondly.
Alas, I came, I ate, and I'm not returning. -
Review from Katherine B.
Montréal, QC
4/18/2012
I have yet to be disappointed by any of the dishes I have tried at this fine restaurant. Martin Picard knows his meats and loves to experiment with his foods in a way that is sure to delight your taste buds - provided you eat pork, duck and other game meats. Just be sure to call and reserve ahead of time.
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Review from Lydia B.
3/22/2012
Amazingly delicious and gluttonous.
We had reservations for 9 pm on a Saturday night, and we didn't have to wait at all.
Restaurant was still full and bustling. We sat along the wall by the bar, so we got to watch the kitchen in action, which was pretty cool.
Food is ridiculously good and bad for you. But its so good that you won't even care.
We ordered:
-Foie Gras Cromesquis (fried balls filled with liquified foie gras. Awesome)
-Plogue Au Champlain (foie gras appetizer that will blow your mind--pancake, slice of boiled potato, canadian bacon, and melted cheddar, all topped with a large patty of seared foie gras, surrounded by maple syrup. So. Delicious.)
-Tarragon Bison Tongue (amazing texture, cooked perfectly)
-Happy Pork Chop (big, simple, and delicious)
-PDC's Melting Pot (large pot filled with blood sausage, pork belly, and two other kinds of meat, sitting on top of a pile of mashed potatoes)
It was all really, really good. Go in with a ready-to-eat mindset and you won't be disappointed. Pants with an elastic waistband might be a good idea. Oh, also, their house beer is pretty good and refreshing with pounds and pounds of foie gras and pork.
Service is good, too! If it weren't for fears of clogged arteries we would've returned every night.
My only regret is not ordering the duck in a can. Next time! -
Review from Juliana H.
Toronto, ON
2/27/2012
My actual rating is 4.5.
I don't eat pork with a few natural exceptions such as bacon and proscuitto and I don't eat fois gras, no exceptions, so what the duck am I doing here at this restaurant?
Even though we had reservations at 9:30 pm, we still had a bit of a wait; it was just long enough to build anticipation but not long enough to piss us off. And when we were seated, they actually very politely APOLOGIZED for keeping us waiting. Take note, Toronto restaurants!
Despite my reservations about the menu, I quickly settled on a blue cheese, apple, and endive salad to start. It was delicious. For my main, I had the bison tartare. It was served wrapped like two handrolls, nori and all. It was the very last way I
expected my food to look at this quaint Quebecois restaurant, but it was awesome. I think it's fair to say that everyone at our table was completely impressed with their selections too.
Yes, I think this place IS worth the hype. -
Review from Hope C.
This was my second time to Au Pied de Cochon. The first time was nearly two years ago. Back then my interest was piqued after seeing Anthony Bourdain slink down onto the bar with overwhelmed gluttony at the whims of chef Martin Picard - surely the restaurant wasn't as ridiculous as it seemed in that episode?!
Tonight, I returned and it was better than I remembered the first time.
Two years ago, we got the bison tongue with tarragon, foie gras poutine and duck in a can. The bison tongue was thinly shaved, lightly seasoned and the perfect starter. It floated above the heavy foie gras poutine and dark syrupy balsamic reduction that drenched the tender duck. It was a mesmerizing meal (I do recommend trying all these dishes if you go!) but one that wasn't appreciated until a couple days later -- after some "rest and digest" and gripping gallbladder pain. Just kidding.
This time, Au Pied de Cochon was even better because I felt like I understood the place a little more. It's a farce on excess, a deliberate play on everything overwhelming -- a chance for Martin Picard, the crazy French chef who created the place, to laugh to himself and poke fun at all the people he's duped into eating something as ridiculous as foie gras on POUTINE!!! Seriously people, there's a joke in here somewhere, and as the meal progresses and your eyes glaze over, Picard has to be back there behind the cotton candy machine, cackling away. We started with the monte cristo -- ridiculous mounds of flavorful smoked ham and cabbage soaked in maple butter and maple mustard, cradled between two egg battered brioche slices drizzled in maple syrup. Sick, right? But just so good. This was followed by the foie gras poutine -- melt-in-your-mouth foie gras with a slightly crisp salty crust doused in cream, gravy, cheese curds and poured over fries cooked in duck fat. My arteries were hardening. My husband thought he wouldn't be able to make it. The final course -- the pied de cochon, literally the "foot of the pig" - was totally amazing and we had to take the rest of it in a bag with us because we couldn't eat more than a few bites of the tender pork and slightly sour sauce that complemented the salty skin of the pork with surprising harmony.
All in all, one of the best meals I've ever had and the value was astounding....around $22 each dish, so less than $70 for food total. Wine and beer were reasonably priced. I made reservations about 6 weeks in advance. If you are a foodie with a good sense of humor, you must make the trip to Montreal to eat at Au Pied de Cochon. -
Review from Johnson C.
Vancouver, BC
1/16/2012 6 photos
Alright - the only reason why I visited this joint was because the awesome segment Bourdain did on the restaurant. This place caters to the glutton and I most certainly am one. And hey, I just love absurd excess. This is 'Watch The Throne' in restaurant form -- Audemars, Maybachs, Margiela and au Pied de Cochon.
And I was prepared for this dinner - my tablemate is a nurse so that should increase my survivability in case of the likely heart attack. This joint is Epic Meal Time... in a fancy wrapper.
Being my only visit, I went for the marquee items -- the foie gras poutine and the duck-in-a-can. And in case it wasn't clear -- this place is not for vegetarians (which my dining partner was) -- so we also ordered the only non-meat items on the menu: beet & goat cheese salad, tomato tarlet, and... yea... that was it.
The foie gras poutine was sublime. And it's not a case of just dumping crazy-ass expensive foie gras on some fries and calling it a day. Duck fat fries and some impossibly rich and smooth gravy are what really makes this poutine stand out. Bar none - best poutine I've ever had. Must order.
The duck-in-a-can (1/2 duck, 100g of foie gras, balsamic demi glaze, buttered cabbage, 1/2 roasted garlic and thyme) is gimmicky as hell with a slick table presentation (http://www.youtube.com...). The duck was moist and again - rich and decadent beyond belief. But honestly, I was hitting the wall after downing the poutine. Even for a fat bastard like me - the fat and salt intake was starting to overwhelm me. I didn't get a heart attack - but I could sense the on set of gout.
The tomato tartlet and beet & goat cheese salad were pretty solid from what I sampled, but to be honest - I felt bad devouring down sinfully rich and delicious dead animals while my tablemate watched on tried to enjoy the salads. My shit-eating grin from ear-to-ear and my eyes rolling back probably reinforced the fact: "You don't make friends with salad".
Finally, the creme brulee is burned high so it's really charred - they did warn us about this beforehand but heed the warning as it's not to everyone's taste.
Service was flawless even though they did tease us with some of the specials: "[Naming off something that sounds light and vegetarian]... which we then stuff with bacon/foie gras/duck." And the washrooms are trippy - the little TVs showing slightly off-putting scenes of woodland hunting.
Hate to do it, but it falls just short of 5-stars for me due to lack of vegetarian options. I know, I know - this is not the point of the restaurant at all. But come on, this is the first time I've gone to a high-end restaurant that didn't at least *try* to offer some decent non-carnivore entrees. Some balance to the fat and salt-heavy items won't have hurt at all.
But overall - a great dining experience and I would recommend rolling in heavy with a deep group of carnivores to chop up the pig's head and stuffed pig's leg with foie gras (which looked amazing on the other tables). I would heavily recommend predialling "91" on your phone to save yourself those precious milliseconds for the inevitable cardiac arrest.Listed in: Un garçon de Vancouver à…
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Review from Evol A.
3/4/2012
Rich, Rich, Rich....Insanely Rich. But oh man is it good.
If you consider water fowl your friends, don't come here.
We had the classic foie gras which was delicious. I am kicking myself for not getting the poutine foie gras because this is probably the only place on earth you can get that combo. We saw a lot of people get it and they told us it was great.
For entree's my wife got the happy pork chop which looks like it came out of the flinstones with an enormous bone hanging off the plate. I tried a bite. I would have to say it was probably the best pork cup I ever tasted in my life. She agreed. A t the end the bone was all that was left.
I got the Veal steak special. It was good, I wasn't blown away because it was actually rather tough. I had expected it to be melt in your mouth tender. This isn't to say I didn't finish it.....next time I would probably get something different.
We had also ordered French Fires in Duck fat which the waiter thankfully forgot to bring because I don't think we would have had any room for them.
If you plan to kick off your evening here and then go out to a bar after for some more drinks, don't . There is no after. -
Review from Tiffany T.
1/16/2012
This place made going to Montreal during Winter totally worth it!
1. Make reservations! Even with reservations, it's still a 30 minute wait. It's small and people take their time enjoying the food and atmosphere
2. My favorite dish was the foie gras terrine...I am a sucker for some fatty spread on delicious bread!
3. Order any variety of tongue they have (pickled etc)...for a shocking $4 dollars it's a pretty big serving size and tastes absolutely delicious!
4. Duck in can...I was shocked when they literally brought the can out and poured out the duck and liver. This is a VERY rich dish and I suggest you splitting everything so you get a little bit of everything. This was so delicious I am drooling thinking about it!
5. Skip the desserts...totally not worth it but everything else was so good I'll forgive them for this mistake!
The person next to us ordered the pigs head...it was totally lord of the flies style with a knife through the pigs head. Served with oysters and mashed potatoes, I could not stop staring at the two guys tearing into this head. -
Review from Ehsan F.
Richmond Hill, ON
2/29/2012
Interesting uses of foie gras. Probably the only place in the world where you can get it on poutine!
I went to this restaurant because it was hyped up by Anthony Bourdain, so my expectations were too high and I was just short of impressed.
The food is extremely rich, that is what they're known for. So, if you are planing on finishing a whole plate, do write off the night!
The wait staff is very professional and friendly. Call and reserve in advance.
If you're against foie gras, this is the last place you want to be. -
Review from Jonathan W.
1/4/2012
Au Pied de Cochon was recommended to me by a friend and who must really like me because this place was amazing.
Let me begin by saying that I've never heard of APdC before my trip to Montreal and I attempted to "walk in" on a Sunday night. Don't do what I did, it was stupid. Make a reservation. The wait at 8:30 on a Sunday was 2 and a half hours, not knowing where else to eat, I put my name and number on the list and went for a drive. The Hostess called a half hour later and said some seats opened up at the bar and I hurried back.
The restaurant has a glass windowed front dinning area, seats at the bar/kitchen in the middle and more seating in the back. I'd suggest sitting at the bar if you can, that way you can watch the cooks at work.
The menu is in French but most, if not all, of the waitstaff can speak English and are very helpful. The menu is broken down between apps, foie gras, entrees, and an assortment of meat dishes by category (poultry, pig, bison or deer). Not knowing French, I opted for the dish named after the restaurant but we'll get back to that.
APdC is known for their foie gras as is the rest of Montreal but the thing to order is the Poutine au foie gras. It's like an order of cheesy fries, but the cheese is foie gras. It will blow your mind. Also good, are the Cromesquis de foie gras which are fried balls of foie gras that you eat in one bite and explode in your mouth.
Back to the entree - I ordered au pied de cochon and it was delicious. It tasted like the dark meat of a turkey but so moist and fatty and this review just got dirty. The fact is, I had no idea that what i was eating was pig's feet and had I known what it was, I might not of but it was damn good and would recommend it. It did come with mash potatoes as a side that were okay but the meat was the winner. They finish the feet in the oven so the succulent meat is encased in crispy, fatty skin. YUM!
No room for dessert but I did have the namesake's beer which was a nice and light beer to accompany the meal.
This is a must go, if you are in Montreal for any period of time. Parking is on the street and be sure to note the address. I drove past the simple facade twice before I noticed the Pig above the entrance.
Note: APdC is not open on Mondays as I found out when wanting to go back for seconds.
Enjoy! -
Review from Lily C.
North York, ON
12/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
SUMMARY: This place is a definite 4. The chefs are skillful and the flavours are rich.
Knowing that I might never visit this restaurant again, my companion and I ordered everything that piqued our interest based on numerous Yelp reviews, i.e., Foie Gras Poutine, Crispy Salad, Bison Tongue, Duck in a Can and Pied Du Cochon. That's a lot of food for only 2 people - but we paced ourselves and packed up part of our appetizers. As we were waiting for our mains, we glimpsed some bone marrow in the open kitchen and discovered it was not listed on the menu. My companion just had to try it, so we ordered it and it turned out to be a real highlight of the evening! There were some delicious mushrooms on top of the marrow, and I believe there was some sake in the marrow.
I hate to say it, but the appetizers were the best part of the meal. The Duck in a Can, though an interesting novelty, was rather salty and the meat seemed overly cured. Also, after eating Foie Gras with the poutine as well as eating the bone marrow, our stomachs were probably significantly dulled by the amount of fat we'd already ingested. The Pied Du Cochon had an interesting flavour, the meat was tender, the cabbage(?) was smoky and slightly sweet and sour. The skin really melted in my mouth, but by then I didn't want food that melted in my mouth.
The saving grace was the virgin mojito with fresh mint and raspberries that tempered the flavours of the meal.
We left with a significant amount of leftovers (I think we only took 5 bites of the Pied Du Cochon, which was huge)...and then gave it to a homeless person who seemed very appreciative to receive our leftovers (though he probably had no idea how much the meal inside the bag was worth!).
I think Foie Gras Poutine already has mythic status in foodie circles, hence, this visit was worth it for the experience. If I were to go there again (maybe after a few years of burning off these calories), I would probably stick with ordering a few appetizers with a mojito. There's only so much fat one can eat in one sitting... -
Review from Jennifer P.
12/29/2011
Most absurdly decadent meal I've ever eaten, and totally delicious. The beet salad (I know it's a really silly thing to focus on, considering) is beautiful and unique and looks like cake.
I was actually surprised to find that it's totally reasonably priced. The portions are huge and everything is so rich, you can easily share an appetizer and an entree between two people and still slip into contented food comas.
There is so much fat and grease and foie gras juice flying around this place that the floors are slippery and a little treacherous. It's totally glorious. -
Review from Eric V.
Pierrefonds, QC
4/6/2012
This restaurant is very cochon!
all they serve is pig meat which is good!
As several people said it before me the duck in a can is a MUST!!
Cheers
Eric Van Nguyen -
Review from Rex M.
2/6/2012
If you're on the deathbed and you get one final meal, then I recommend this place. If you don't like French food or foie gras then oh wellz.
Personal favorites:
1. foie gras poppers
2. roast pork glazed in honey and yummy goodness
3. steak with foie gras
4. foie gras milkshakes (jk)
Do the P90x workout before you come here because you will gain it all back.
Good luck -
Review from Corey O.
1/25/2012
Holy god.
Waited half an hour with our reservation. Annoying that we had to stand in the tiny hallway up against a whole lot of strangers and people trying to get in and out of the restaurant.
After that -
Duck in a Can!
Foie Gras on Poutine!
Pot o' Meat!
DAMN good. So rich. So delicious. SO MUCH FOOD!
Presentation was an awesome experience.
I ate one dinner in Montreal and was so glad it was this one? -
Review from Athena C.
11/26/2011
Even Alan Richman has good words for this place so I consider this a must-try restaurant in Montreal. Our friends here told us how heavenly it is but also warned us it could be overly rich. We however, went against the advice and ordered a whole table of entrees with great ambition to conquer them all.
We started with the cod fish fritters to share. It somehow tasted like Chinese fish paste deep fried. The cod fish is grounded up with seasoning so it is nothing like a fish n chip if that is what you were thinking. It is crispy and tasty.
Then we proceeded with PCD Crispy salad and it comes with a few lettuce but is laden with fried cartilage and crispy pork meat. The flavor and most importantly, fat makes the dish undeniable and delicious. We swept the whole dish within minutes. We also got an order of Bison Tongue and that is definitely the most delicious tongue I have ever encountered. I know tongue sounds frightening but in reality it is so tender and it soaked up all the sauces. We declared it a must try here.
Here, we arrived at the most important moment of our meal at PCD. We patiently awaited the duck in a can. Then, the waiter brought us the famous can with cooked duck, gravy and fois gras over bed of bread and cheese. We watched him open the can and pour the wonder over the plate and we were astonished in awe. It was truly a magic plate. The duck breast was so tender and flavorful. The bread was soaked in the gravy within seconds and cheese melted to add more flavor. I had one piece and then another.
Then, the 2nd entree arrived, the glorious "Pied De Cochon", aka pig knuckles or pig feet so to speak. Chinese love pig knuckles so I was excited to see how they prepare this dish. To my surprise, when the dish arrived I could not even see them. They were buried deeply underneath tons of cheese gravy sauce. The best part about pig knuckle is actually the skin and they cooked it right alright. It was chewy and tender at the same time. The meat is so tender and about to fall aprt. The sauce makes the dish so rich and delicious I think I reached my cholestrol capacity after two bites.
I started to regret there is another entree coming. My stomach is already protesting. So we still have the blood sausage boutin tart left. I know we won't even be able to finish them all. Then the dish arrived with pikes of cut blood sausage with again gravy on top of a buttery crust. I managed to try a small slice and declared I am done for the night. It was very good but I was not a big fan of blood sausage. But everyone really enjoyed the dish as well.
I think for 4 people, 2 entrees will be plenty to share along with the appetizers. I will not be able to return for a long while so my stomach could get detox.Listed in: Tourist To-Do List in Montreal
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Review from Huntting B.
11/29/2011
A) You need reservations here
B) You need to like Foie Gras
C) Portions are big...you need less food then you think
D) The Bison Ribs were tasty...but...not as tender as they should have been and ENORMOUSNESS -
Review from J.P. H.
1/27/2012
This place is paradise for anyone who enjoys pork.
Definitely one of my favorite restaurants in Montreal. -
Review from Gaurav P.
11/30/2011
OKAY, so you've arrived via the most un-necessarily large airport in North America and that is Montreal's Pierre Trudeau International Airport. Once you finally arrive downtown to the beautiful city of Montreal, it's a must to have French food. We were staying at the Westin Montreal which is my go to hotel and around the corner, was Au PDS. Here's how it went down...
Food:
+ Cromesquis de foie gras. $3.50. It was succulent, sauteed and done well. Paired fantastically with our Bordeaux.
+ Carpaccio de Canard. $13. Lovely, fantastic and amazing. That's all I have to tell you, order it. DUCK. YES.
+ Deer Ribs. $28. OMG YES!!!!! hahahah I love deer and all deer related products. GO FOR IT.
+ Chocolate Molten cake. $7. It was done in a ramekin, the way it should be and it was done very well. Firm yet moist on the outside, soft gooey and warm on the inside. Once you cut in to it, it kinda' fell apart. HAHHHAHA!!! LOVED IT!!!
Service:
- The service was a bit quirky. It's not the level of service I'd expect in a French restaurant and although it wasn't that busy, it was still tough to track servers down let alone our own.
Overall? I'd go back especially since it's walking distance from the hotel and it was a pretty good restaurant with ample seating and was cozy.
THIS has been a review by Gaurav -
Review from Paul L.
Montréal, QC
3/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Asked the waitress to surprise us and what a treat it was. Not sure of what was served but it was all delicious.
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Review from Linh N.
12/13/2011 5 photos
I was so excited to finally be able to step foot into this place. Coming in without a reservation was a huge mistake, the night was packed and the maitre'd asked us if we like to reserve a table for the next night. Disappointed, we made the reservations anyways.
The next night when we arrived, the restaurant was as packed as the night before. We got seated instantly. My boyfriend and I pretty knew what we would like and when we finally tried to place our order of the Pig's Head for Two, the waiter told us they were out. We were shocked and I can see from the boyfriend's eyes that he was disappointed. But the waiter made an effort to put "something" together for us in place of the Pig's Head.
We had an appetizer platter which was amazing since it consist of tongue, pate, terrine, sausage, pickled egg, and some toast. Next, I had ordered the Bison Tongue, which was absolutely phenominal (and I don't use that word often). The tongue was so tender and soft, literally just melts in your mouth without biting and usually tongue are a bit tougher. We were told to order the Foie Gras Cromesquis, little balls of goodness. You pop the entire ball in your mouth and just let the ooey goodness fill every crevis and corner of your mouth.
Our entree finally came, I thought we would have a problem finishing it since it did consist of a lot of thing, but once again the boyfriend proved me wrong. The dish that had quail, ribs, pork, belly, foie gras, duck, tongue and various vegetables made us content. A dish that was off the menu and clearly assemble out of the blue, but served its purpose.
I would love to come back for the Pig's Head sometime soon. Note to self: reserve the Pig's Head. -
Review from Rob B.
Updated - 2/6/2012
I have been here before and the food is off the hook. I emailed for a reservation a month ago. I got a response that said please call the restaurant or provide a number for your reservation. I replied with my cell number and hearing nothing assumed I was booked.
My usual trip to Montreal is a day one but as APC is dinner only I booked a hotel for overnight.
Day of, my date was sick so I thought rather than wait till the 6pm reservation, I would just arrive when they opened and sit at the bar.
When the restaurant opened I was 3rd in line 2 in front of me 2 behind. They could not find my reservation, and stated they do not do email reservations. Further, they stated they were completely booked and there are no walk-ins. A completely empty restaurant at 5pm and apparently no room for a lone customer who traveled 800 miles there for dinner with what I thought was a reservation.
Sometimes suceess breeds egoism, but when a restaurant looses focus on hospitality, they can easily leave you with a bad taste in your mouth.
FYI I am not neophite when it comes to dining out. Check my profile.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/13/2011
Going to be hard to add anything new, but this place is indeed "off the hook" That given, it is a… Read more »
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Review from L R.
11/30/2011
No! No! No! I though I was going to die after eating such rich food.
We had:
1) the poutine (just the right amount of sauce).
2) A PDC Pork Chop (truly with a huge, caveman-like bone) with a divine sliced red cabbage sauce.
3) Duck Magret heaped generously with mushrooms
Wine selection was a terrific cotes du rhone which was full-bodied and just a little bit of acidity to keep it tasting fresh.
This is not "fine dining" but rather a celebration of robust, complex flavors. Quite frankly I prefer it that way.
After leaving this restaurant my face started flushing, either of happiness or because my blood pressure rose from all the rich butter and gravy in my system--I'd like to think it was the former -
Review from Jim L.
11/28/2011 5 photos
Oh! shall I count the ways I love thee Au PDC.
1. The Foie gras poutine - yes we had to try it, yes it was perfect, yes, no other poutine will ever compare now.
2. The duck fat fried fries - yummy... why not add carbs to a caloric overloaded meal. Why not harp on about dieting for 2 weeks before coming to Montreal just to come to PDC. I love thee pomme frittes.
3. Pied De Cochon - of course we had to try the signature dish, or is that foe gras? Does it matter? The PDC had not only the pig foot but Foie gras as well. It was an experience and not bad at all.
4. The Duck in a Can - Ha!! We had to try it... the sauce was sublime, the duck tender and the Foie gras excellent. We overindulged, we sinned, and it was a beautiful thing. I wanted to walk back to the hotel many miles away, but could not.
I don't normally follow Bourdain, but I can empathize with him over Au pied de cochon. Chef Picard almost killed me, and it would have been the perfect way to go. -
Review from Ares X.
Toronto, ON
3/3/2012
This is one restaurant that I was really looking forward too and have been wanting to go to for a while now.
I noticed restaurants in Montreal are very hidden/in random areas of town. So dont be surprised if your in a residential area while your looking for the restaurant.
Anyways, first thing is first they take your coat, and seat you. After ordering from the menu they continuously supply you with bread and butter (amazing. but I stayed away knowing it would fill me up).
Apps were were good (nothing special).
It's the mains that killed me. On a good note the food portions are massive for what you pay. And very filling. So please only stick to 1 main dish if it's for yourself. That may even be enough for 2. I respect this.
The thing that killed me was the way they food was prepared. I ordered the pied de cochon, and while the inside was nice and tender, the outside was dry and crispy. Nearly uneatable.
The boudin was very dry as hell, and it could have used a little more of that sweet cabbage/Onion(?) to cut it a little.
We had other things on the menu that were also so so.
Honestly come here, but I wouldn't spend money to purposely go to Montreal just to eat here.
This is the only place Ive been to in which I might return to (just to try the foie items)
even though I had such a bad experience (foodwise) -
Review from Bill D.
Montréal, QC
10/8/2011
Au Pied de Cochon delivers great food and service. My wife made reservations two months before our trip to Montréal. We asked the hotel for directions. We watched for the name of the restaurant as we walked up the street from Parc de la Fontaine. We walked past three times. There is no name on the outside, but we finally found the menu on the window. We made our reservation time which was needed because there was not an empty table.
My wife noted reviews that cautioned about the large portions. We shared the fois gras, perfect to share. It was seared perfectly with a delicious balsamic butter sauce on the side (I had to ask it's composition.)
We ordered the duck breast and frites cooked in duck fat. Again, a perfect portion to share. The duck was perfectly cooked, moist and juicy inside and slightly crispy outside. The frites were wonderful and deemed excellent by my wife, the "Queen of Frites." She rules on the quality of fries around the world. We were full and noticed virtually every other diner with a take home bag.
The restaurant was full (Saturday night), even at the bar in front of the open kitchen. I am grateful my wife made reservations. While. The full house made it bustling with people and conversation, but we could easily hear each other.
The waiter took time to offer suggestions and understand we wanted to share courses recognizing the large portions. We had his recommended beer, a perfect palate cleansing companion to the fois gras and the duck.
Make a reservation, look for the menu on the window of a crowded restaurant, and include Au Pied du Cochon on your next trip to Montréal! -
Review from Rahul J.
8/31/2011
If money was less of a concern, and TSA promised not to fondle me at DCA, I'd fly to Montreal every weekend for this place. The French Canadians get some bad rep for being, well, the things they chose to be. But this one restaurant in itself, and everything yummy as fuck listed on their little paper menus, redeems every nasty slur, every pompous comment, and every smelly elevator ride.
The food here is some of the best I've ever had. It's not simple, it's rather complex, and loud. They have a way of making the flavours step out. Think about this for a second, large Montreal clams in a thick cheesy white beer sauce! It's clams + cheese + hoegaarden beer. The duck is great, and since you're at a restaurant called au pied du cochon, I'd recommend some pork for the main course. You will enjoy the dessert twice, once when you eat it and the second (reminiscing in bed.
Granted, they turned me away the last time I visited Montreal in an annoying French Canadian accent (Monsieur, no reservation -no entry), but this time around I made reservations well in advance, showed up on time in a nice shirt - still waiting, half an hour, but eventually got in.
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