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When I mentioned to all the locals that I was going to Au Pied De Cochon they gave me this really jealous look and demanded to know how I scored a reservation...The trick? Have a friend call 8 weeks in advance. It's so worth it.
Great food and fun atmosphere! I went here with 4 friends and we had a feast! The duck carpaccio really stole the spotlight, so make sure you order it. The duck in a can is phenomenal, so is the pied de cochon, don't even think about skipping these two stars. Leave the lamb alone, it's not their specialty. Here it's all about the pig.
Two rounds of beer, a bottle of wine, 3 appetizers, 5 entrees, and creme brule cost us about 70 bucks each. Can you get a better deal?
Au Pied De Cochon isn't for the faint or weak. Not for the faint of stomach (think duck fat and pork), faint of heart (think duck fat, pork and your arteries) nor the faint of wallet (think duck fat, pork and a reputable name that costs money to even utter).
Call in your reservation weeks, even a month or so in advance. This is no walk-in spot.
Please do not bring your squeamish friends here as they will not enjoy the experience, and you may not either. Also, do eat lightly the day of because this meal will consume and overtake your body, and also that part of your brain that controls food comas.
Our reservation was called in a couple of weeks in advance, and we got an 11pm block on a friday night. We arrived and were seated immediately. The restaurant itself isn't cabaret. No flashing lights or people in pig costumes. It blends with the surrounding establishments on its block, ninja-like if you aren't keeping a good look out. The ambiance is actually very casual, and upbeat.
Oh and their piggy icon is very symbolic of this spot, a little bit comical, a lot fatty.
We wanted to sample a lot of different things: two orders of the foie gras poutine, the infamous duck in a can, pied de cochon stuffed with foie gras, boudin maison, and côte de cochon heureux.
The foie gras poutine was heaven on a plate. With every bite, I could hear angels trumpeting behind me. I scooped up the last bit of it with our complimentary bread. Never knew I could fall in love with something so alien to me.
Duck in a can! Literally. It's quite a sight and very photo/vid worthy to catch them serving this up to you. Taste-wise, the amount of duck fat in there would make a roll of papertowels run away, but it ridiculously succulent.
Stuffed pied de cochon swims underneath a rich, glorious brown gravy, if you're lucky, you'll find some semi crispy skin under there. I know I did. Boudin maison was a delectable porky tenderness as well, probably the more conservative of the dishes.
Wasn't a fan the last dish on our list because there was just way too much blood sausage, which I have never been a fan of.
To cap this artery-clogging feast, and about 1:30 am, we got brazilian coffee. Hot, creamy and liquor-y.
Unforgettable experience best saved for the brave.
If you are a vegetarian do not come here. If you are a meatatarian, you will be in heaven!!
Not only does this place have an awesome pig mascot, this place is just a haven for unique meat dishes. Pork and duck and more pork and duck and a lot of foie gras, you can't really go wrong!
5 of us ate here with a bottle of wine and a couple rounds of beers for about $70 per persona and in spirit of the restaurant we definitely left here after pigging out on WAY WAY more food than any normal human should have eaten. We started with the foie gras with berries AMAZING AMAZING, bison tongue which was definitely a new experience, and this absolutely perfectly and wonderfully made Duck Carpaccio. I really wish we had ordered more of this appetizer because it is simply divine! Heaven on a plate for sure.
Then it was onto our 5 main dishes we all split: DUCK IN A CAN was definitely the winner. It was also the priciest canned food I have ever eaten which would bring canned food drives to a whole new level! They cook the duck and foie gras and sauce and onions before hand, seal it in a can and when you order it for $35 they heat up the whole can on the stove, bring it to your table with a can opener and open it and plop it on a plate! My tastebuds hadn't been happier. That sauce you literally wanted to mop up with anything else leftover on the table.
The pied du cochon or the pigs feet stuffed with foie gras was awesome too and I thought that one would have grossed me out for sure! Again that sauce was bangin! And the beef tartare was definitely refreshing and lighter in feeling than any of the other dishes we had especially when wrapped up as a lettuce wrap! Their happy stew is not for you if you don't like blood sausage because there is a huge healthy portion of that in here but it is pretty darn flavorful. And the loser of the entrees but still pretty good was the lamp and lentils dish. Just didn't quite excite our tastebuds like the other dishes.
And if that wasn't enough, we officially all had muffin tops over our pants when we ordered the creme brulee that was fire toasted with a brand of the restaurant on top! Amazing!!
Man we were all still full the next day, and we definitely had to waddle around like big fat pigs after this meal, but this was one of the best meals I've had in quite some time. The service was really good too! He tried warning us we were ordering too much, but we showed him!! Even though yes, we really should have never eaten that much, we always like a food challenge!!
Deer tartare! "Oh my God" good!! I had it the first time as an appetizer. I changed my entree' order to the large portion immediately following my first bite.
The atmosphere here is decidedly casual. Wood tabletops sans tablecloths. The food is french country fare. Yum is the only word fully applicable.
Do NOT miss the pudding chomere. White cake baked into a bread pudding with maple syrup. Yes it sounds simple but your taste buds will certainly sing a symphony. Watch out ... it comes out steaming hot. Do let it cool a little. Eat it slowly and savor each precious bite. It IS that good.
Listed in: Our Favorite Eating Haunts
I was intrigued when I heard that Au Pied de Cochon was one of Anthony Bourdain's favorite restaurants. Given that the restaurant's name means "At the Pig's Foot", I'm not surprised as Mr. Bourdain is known for his infatuation of all things pork. However, the restaurant is about more than pork; it's about indulging in all things rich and comforting. The main menu is filled with a meaty assortment of pork, beef, and duck dishes (vegetarians need not enter). Foie gras even has its own section as a "meat" with over 10 menu items...a foie gras lover's dream!
The restaurant has a lively yet laid-back feel. It is non-descript (no sign outside) but full of warmth as sunlight from the large windows and skylights cast a glow on the honey-colored wood throughout the dining room. The staff also provided excellent service in an easygoing manner. It was good to be in such a comfortable environment as I let go and ate myself senseless...
Foie Gras Poutine - poutine is to Canada as what chili-cheese fries are to the South. Up here, the Canadians top french fries with gravy and cheese curds...and Chef Picard then takes it one step further by adding a velvety slab of foie gras on top of it all. The gravy on this poutine was ABSOLUTELY MINDBLOWING! I don't know if I can adequately describe it...imagine a gravy that's thick, buttery, warm, creamy, and oh-so-savory, then multiply that goodness by 1,000. I cant' get over how good it was! Needless to say, I did not leave a single drop of gravy on the plate.
Plogue à Champlain - deliciously addictive! This dish consisted of a buckwheat pancake topped with cheese, potatoes, thick-cut bacon, and foie gras. And on top of that was Quebec maple syrup, chopped apples, and parsley. The contrasting sweet and savory flavors were in perfect harmony. It was like having dinner and dessert wrapped up in an exceptionally decadent bite! [I'm literally salivating as I write about this!]
Seafood Platter - the restaurant had a huge display of fresh/live seafood, so I thought it'd be a good idea to "balance" our heavy courses with a seafood platter...little did I know it'd be a gigantic mound of seafood! It was a heaping assortment of stuffed mussels, conch, razor clams, calamari, cherrystone clams, oysters, and even bowl of periwinkles sauteed in black bean sauce. Prepared with a number of different sauces and marinades, this was much more elaborate than the typical raw seafood platter. It's now clear why this dish wasn't served first. I did find all this seafood to be overwhelming though, and would have rather had the option to choose a few seafood items from the menu instead.
Dark Chocolate Pot de Crème - Luckily, I always have an extra stomach for dessert so I didn't miss out on this luscious chocolatey goodness. It was so scrumptious with the graham cracker crumbles
The restaurant also served this terrific spearmint green tea by Kusmi. I liked it so much that I found it online and ordered some afterwards. Too bad I can't have that orgasmic poutine and plogue shipped to me as well. For now, I guess I'll have to longingly count the days until my next visit to Au Pied de Cochon.
**For pics of each course, go to my blog linked under my profile. Enjoy!**
Listed in: Best Way to Eat Your Way…
Everyone kept talking about this place, good and bad, so decided I should try it out.
A lot of the locals told me it was okay, and the non-locals said it was a 5 star must go to because of A. Bourdain's strong highly recommended review.
Made a reservation, took a minute finding it, and wasn't sure if I liked the decor once inside. Its a very small, cramped restaurant, with not so friendly waiters. Don't even get me started on the Chef.
Had 3 other people with me and one who had special dietary requests for extreme health reasons, and I of course still "pescatarian." And yes, I knew this was the place for a carnivore, I read the Au Pied De Cochon Recipe book & did my research before hand, so I wasn't in shock or being difficult.
My guests ordered:
Foie Gras Hamburger
Stuffed Pied de Cochon with Foie Gras
Fries (in duck fat)
and I ordered the Salmon Pie (something like that, seasonal)
If you're wondering what the other person's order was, it was nothing, because of his special dietary requirements. The Chef was SOOOOOO NOT willing to make him anything plain without sauce. So he sat there, and stared, not a bite to eat, which ended up being better.
Yeah, I get it, its the Chef's kitchen, and menu, but still, really!??!
Anyway.
The food we did order came and stayed. None of us were pleased, everything was in Duck Fat, so everything was SOOOOOO salty and drenched in sauce. We had such high hopes, and were saddened by the lack of deliciousness. No one did any damage to their meals, and we all left hungry.
They didn't even do their burger right, according to the person who ordered it. My Salmon Pie was worse than a microwaveable, boxed Banquet pie.
This place encouraged me to learn how to make my own Salmon Pot Pie and non cooked in Duck Fat French Fries.
Listed in: Restaurants
A Montreal landmark (or soon to be one) PDC is one of the best comfort food restaurants where I have dined. We made reservations well in advance of our trip to Montreal but we saw folks who came in with a party of 4 and were seated an hour or so later. It depends on the day of the week I suppose.
As for the food, it is not for those who shy away from pork. These guys are big on swine. During the summers they have great seafood dishes as well (all fresh from the boat) but when you go to a place called the Pigs Feet, what else are you going to try?
Their french fries in duck fat are addictive and the flavors of the tart with cheese, onions and mushrooms still linger on my taste buds.
Outstanding but not fussy food in a cool, casual place that serves the best foie gras and pork -- what more do you need? I absolutely love this place!
I came here with some of my closest friends and we had an absolute blast. One of my friends is "usually" a vegetarian but made an exception for the incredible duck in a can -- you cannot miss this! They had just ran out of the last Pig's Head, so we also got the Happy Pork Chop (with a name like that, how could you not?) -- and needless to say, I was quite happy with my choice. The flavors of the mushrooms and onions paired quite well with the thick pork chop.
I didn't get to try the foie gras poutine, but I'll definitely be back! I will make a flight out to Montreal to have another phenomenal meal here!
It's a little difficult to be original when there are well over 100 prior reviews of the same restaurant, but I will say that this place is on my short list of favorite restaurants of all time. My one gripe about this restaurant, which I will get off my chest is that they give you an end time with your reservation. Although I didn't expect to go beyond my 2-hour block, I found it a little off-putting.
As for the food. My wife and I ordered three things. The tomato tartlet, ploque de Champlain, and duck in a can. Although the tartlet was nicely crisp, with juicy tomatoes, it wasn't worth the space in my stomach compared to the other two dishes.
The ploque de champlain was one of the best things I have ever eaten. It was sorta like a breakfast food but to the most extreme. It contained stack of a pancake, potatoes, bacon, seared foie gras, and overflowing with maple syrup. Truly memorable.
While gimmicky, the duck in a can, which comes with like a half a duck, a huge lobe of foie gras and other assorted bits in a rich brown sauce, and poured tableside over celery root puree is phenomenal. Perhaps it wasn't the smartest thing to order after the ploque de champlain because it was excessively rich.
And to top it off, we ordered the pudding chomeur, which had a seared caramelized top with an inside was served so scorching hot, it burned the roof of my mouth. Not surprisingly, it was very sweet and very rich.
Next time I make my way back to Montreal, I want to go for some of the raw bar, which looked extremely fresh.
This place caters to serious eaters that are open to trying new things. I wouldn't recommend taking someone who has any food phobias. I would also recommend eating something very light earlier in the day since your gall bladder will be working on overdrive after you've finished your meal.
Overall, the meal cost roughly $60/person, which I thought was pretty reasonable considering the amazing food experience.
Went there while vacationing in Montreal, heard so much about the place, so reserved it before leaving 3 weeks in advance. They did call back. When we arrived the restaurant was full, it's a little noisy atmosphere, but it only adds to the charm in my opinion. We ordered a pickled bison tongue for the appetizer, amazing. Main course: duck in a can, terrific, still don't understand how they make this dish and keep it warm serving at the table. The special that day they had a whole rabbit, that i shared with my daughter, very good. For desert we enjoyed chocolate pot and a pear with ice cream. Like I said, it seemed that everybody around in the restaurant enjoyed their meal and the atmosphere. They didn't rush anybody, like somebody wrote on this site, so go and enjoy. Will definitely go again.
A 4.5 star restaurant for sure!
Good thing i made a reservation. I was able to secure a seat by the bar at 9:30pm last Saturday night. Yes, that is normal dining time for the locals. I love being seated by the bar/kitchen because i get to watch all the actions and feel the energy. They have quite a few beers on tab and good wine selections.
We had this crab in puff pastry as an appetizer which is not on the menu, it's so amazing: fresh crab with a little bit marinated and fresh greens sitting between perfectly crisped pastry shells, yumm! we also had beef tartare. I'm not a beef person, and i hesitated when the young lady next to me recommended it. it turned out to be amazing as well. It was exemplary in taste, presentation and execution.
we had special risotto and duck in a can for entrees. Duck in a can is pretty good, a little salty for me, but it's pretty good. I loved the risotto they made in front of me: they mixed pre-made risotto and a pan of pre-made sliced mushrooms and some foie gras in a huge cheese bowl. It is very yummy, but really filling. we also ordered poached pear with ice cream, that was a little too sweet for me.
Come here when you are hankering for a truly decadent meal. Au Pied De Cochon is one of those places that lives up to all your expectations and then some. Right off the bat you can tell that it is all about the food. The atmosphere is bustling, cozy and nice, but no frills. It took a while to decide on which items we would get but eventually we decided on two special appetizers:
-A salad with a poached egg on top and the best bacon I've ever had
-A soft shell crab maki roll with foie gras (O.M.G. one of the best things I've ever eaten though it sounds crazy weird)
And the rest of this to split:
-PDC seafood platter $50 level? (SO worth it, highly recommended! So much work goes into their raw seafood platters, it's not just raw oysters and clams. In addition, it came with escargot in a black bean sauce, conch, mussels with a nice tomato broth, fancy mini melon balls in the raw oysters, sea jelly?!? in some fancy oysters, calamari with delicious aoli, a skewer of lightly fried white fish, some truly amazing scallops.)
-Lamb Shank (perfectly cooked, wanted more and more- huge portion!)
-Foie gras tart with blood sausage (SO SO GOOD. light puff pastry topped with caramelized onions, creamy melt in your mouth foie gras, with bites of sausage. big enough to share for two!)
The bill with beers ended up being way cheaper than I thought I was going to spend going in. The portions were generous and the quality of the food was tremendous. I encourage trying anything on the foie gras menu because you probably won't find better preparations then here. No wonder this is one of Anthony Bourdain's favorite spots. This will definitely be a part of any future trips to Montreal!
We dined here on 6/22 during our recent vacation in Montreal. Overall we had a wonderful experience that I'll never forget. The food was superb with artful presentations served in a warm, inviting and modern atmosphere. The stars of this menu are the Foie Gras & Pork dishes but everything we tried was atleast excellent with some plates reaching perfection.
The food:
Starters -
Fresh Warm Bread & Butter- A great start to our meal. The bread was thickly sliced with a crispy crust and soft interior. This ame with cold butter.
Beef Tartare - I loved this dish. The presentation was perfect as it was served in 2 Sushi-style "Temaki" nori hand rolls with crispy onion shoe strings, warm rice, lucious beef tartare topped with a quail egg in it's shell with sesame seeds on top. You poured the quail egg and sesame seed mix on top. I couldn't get over the marriage of flavors. It was devine.
Entrees:
Duck In Can - Medium rare Duck, Foie Gras, Thyme & Balsamic Jus served over Mashed Potatoes & Toast. The presentation was whimsical as our server used a can opener tableside and spun the contents of the cooked can over a plate of Mashed potatoes over toast. The flavors were nearly perfect. I loved everything about this plate with the only exception being that the duck skin was a little rubbery and gelatinous instead of crispy. Otherwise it was sublime.
Pork Chop with Red Cabbage & Onions - My wife ordered this and it didn;t disappoint. This dish was simple in presentation but big on flavor. I loved the balnce of red cabbage and onions with the moist chop. It really elevated thedistinct and smoky flavor of the pork.
Side:
Frites cooked in Duck Fat - These were without a doubt the best fries I've ever had. Simply amazing. Served in a paper cone with a side of mayonnaise. The fries were crisp on the outside and hot and soft in the center. We skipped the mayonnaise and dipped them in the jus from our entrees. These paired with the Duck In A Can beautifully.
Dessert:
Dark Chocolate Pot de Creme - I love dark chocolate and I love dessert. This was a warm chocolate pudding topped with whipped creme and buttery cake crumbs served in a jar. It was rich and decadent.
Vanilla Bean Ice Cream - We paired this with out Pot de Creme and it provided the perfect balance of flavor and temperature. It was the perfect end to our meal @ APDC.
Overall we had a wonderful time @ APDC. It was without a doubt the most relaxing, fun and enjoyable fine dining experience I've ever had. This is not light fare but certainly delicous, thoughtful and stellar food presented in a casual environment. Count me in as a now devoted fan of chef Martin Picard. Merci Beaucoup Chef.
BOOM! Place probably deserves 5 stars, but since I was dealing with a upset stomach I didn't get to fully enjoy it.
You have seen it on TV, read about in the NY Times and foodie (still hate that word) blogs. Now is your chance to try PDC, or at least mine.
I decided that for the grand prix weekend this year I forgo one case of beer and go and have a nice dinner. PDC had been on my radar for about 2 years. I knew I was going for fresh butchered Piggie and Fois Gras Poutine, but was going to play it by ear.
We arrived 10 minutes late for our 11pm reso, no problem and our party of 6 was sat promptly. Nice lay out open kitchen, it smelled if rich meats.
The seafood platter looked amazing but due to the groups stomach issues we decided to go with the roast piglet, cod fish fritters and smoked sausage. It was amazing. For entrees the some had the Pork Chop served on the bone( it looked amazing), another had the steak, which looked perfect. And I had the melting pot a bowled filled with yummy pig products, there was lion chop, rib chops, sausage and Blood Sausage (pig blood sausage) over I think cheesy potatoes!
There is reason that place has been called one of the best in Montreal they making good food for good prices! If you are traveling to Montreal or have lived there and not tried it, just go!
Oh and dont forget the Fois Gras Poutine :)
I first heard about this place through a friend who had invited me to his birthday dinner at this place. I hadn't heard too much about it prior to this but when I saw how packed the place was even at 11pm at night, I knew that there had to be something special about this place.
Decor wise, there was nothing particularly fancy: modern rustic - it felt like you wanted to be there to eat-- and eat we did.
Starters:
-the table (of 8) shared an entire foiegras that was pan fried and then doused in some cheese sauce and served with a baguette. Pretty amazing.
- french onion soup Au Pied De Cochon (APDC) style. Hands down the best french onion soup I've ever had. the reason: BACON/Pork Chunks.
- foie gras poutine. Sounds weird but it works. For those uneducated in Quebecois cuisine, Poutine is a dish comprised of french fries, cheese curds and gravy. APDC just added foie gras to the mix and BAM, heaven in your mouth and a punch to your arteries.
Main course:
- I got the Duck in a Can which is their take on a Duck confit but of course, with Foie gras (do you see an underlying theme at this restaurant?) which they somehow cook and then stuff it in a can and then open it at your table on top of a dish of celery root puree.
Needless to say i did not make it to dessert but I was feeling more than satisfied with every bit of my meal.
I've been back since and always tend to over eat. Their Foie Gras stuffed pig's foot is something to try too. I'd probably share some dishes next time i go but DEfinitely go if you enjoy food. It is not for the picky eater.
and if you are vegetarian, you shouldn't even be reading this review let alone have clicked on this link for the restaurant.
It's all about the foie, this place, although one shouldn't overlook the other parts of the menu. With all the reviews on yelp and otherwise, you pretty much get a sense that this place is popular, expensive, and appeals to foodies and bourgeois alike. I won't say too much more about it except what I had and what I thought about it:
Starter: battered and fried zucchini blossoms (served in a paper cone with homemade mayonnaise)--served hot, so greasy (ergo, the paper cone) the mayo doesn't stick to the batter! But tasty. Thumbs up up.
Appetizer: Seared scallops with some sauteed greens and a dijon aioli--a little firm, but not over-cooked. Thumbs wagging.
Main: duck in a can (ie, duck breast with a piece of foie and chopped celery and carrot slow cooked in a tin can and dumped on a piece of toast tableside)--this is a "classic" dish, and if classic meaning old, it sure is that. As in, overrated. Somewhat offputting is that the dish is served warm, not hot. I know because I watched my can sit on the server's rack waiting to be picked up for about twenty minutes (not heat lamp, mind you). Which made the piece of duck fat (larger than either the breast itself and the piece of foie) initmidating. Chewy too, which comes from not being rendered from being heated in a sealed can. But it's a classic, so order it by all means. I'm not a fan, thumbs down.
Dessert: fruit pudding (er, rather, diced pear and berries in a gratin dish baked with a piece of pastry)--yikes, talk about over-sweet. Thumbs down down.
Beer: six on tap, glasses chilled. Thumbs up.
Wines: by the glass, about six options for red and the same for white. Thumbs up.
Espesso: hey, it's an espresso, if you screw that up, you're not even on my radar. Thumbs up.
Two more points: singletons get to sit at the bar overlooking the kitchen, which was great. I wasn't bored for a second and the cooking crew genuinely seem to enjoy themselves. Also, I was a bit annoyed that the host was not so subtle in recommending the heaviest and most expensive item from each part of the menu. Now, as an economist would tell you, price is a valuable (ha) piece of information in conveying quality or demand relative to supply, but come on, a slight guy like me does not need to have seven courses (I didn't, obviously). Unless you want me sick, which hopefully wasn't the idea.
So, on average, a decent dining experience, but not transformative, not revelatory. I'd go back for some things on the menu and because the ambience is great, but the best restaurant in Montreal is too high a claim from me.
Perhaps the most well known restaurant in mtl...
My romance with au pied de cochon started in 2005. I went because i read in the gazette that their dish won the most original dish that year: duck in a can!!!
Duck in a can !?! WTH? ok let's try it...
Then I came ordered Duck in a can, couldn't finish the damn thing it was so huge... but it was good, no i mean, it was evil good, you know like pee in the pool good... you know you're being naughty but it feels nice :) definitely an impressive dish served at the table, they open it and dump it out in front of you, then you eat it and you're like damn it good too? on top of the mini show...what a cool dish
The thing with au pied de cochon is, the food looks like a mess and it looks like it could induce an instant heart attack. And the first few times i came here, i fell to the fat coma... you know when you've eaten too much fatty stuff, it's too rich, you get this feeling where you're about to hurl, yep i've been there. that's because I just ate too much...but it was just too good to stop.
Word to the wise, if you come here don't finish your food, doggy bag it.
Then i discovered the foie gras menu!!!
let me just say, "ploque de Champlain" is just the most original foie gras dish ever!!! pan cake, potato slices, bacon foie gras seared and maple syrup, yeah can't say i thought of that... but it makes a carzy evil dish, killer, really killer.
Then there's the foie gras burger, like a burger with seared foie gras sun dried tomatoes and balsamic vinegar, yummy.
And of course the Poutine au foie gras, not only is foie gras in the sauce, the whole thing is topped of with a piece of seared foie gras. i'm not a fan of poutine, but this I like.
Happy pork chop, another winner, bison ribs!!! the best. This place is famous for the foie gras, but it's a deep menu with many excellent dishes if you care to explore.
If you come here don't eat with your eyes, eat with your taste buds. the plating is very rustic, but the taste is always good. except a few times when the cook gets a little heavy handed with the salt.
You know you are already asking for trouble if you enter a small, fancy, restaurant with a stroller and a 7 month old. Yet I gave PDC the heads up before hand, and they didn't have a problem.
By my tone you might think a problem eventually developed. . .the answer is no!. We all sat comfortable, we had great service, and the staff seemed to love our child as much as we did. So our tip if you come with a young one, go for the 5pm sitting. It is worth it.
The food, as always, was so wrooong it was good. Tasty foi gras, great pig. and fish and bacon. . .you can't go wrong. Even the Food Network Star himself was there (though he spent all his time in the bar area. . .trying to fix the mixing/drink machine)
My kind of restaurant. This was the second time I went to PDC (the first was a 3 guys b-party). Well worth the trip, but if you ate here every weekend you would be dead by 40.
Rich, delicious, expensive, cozy. Au Pied De Cochon is all of these things.
This was our pick for the only fancy dinner we'd have in Montreal, and I have no regrets there. The great thing about this restaurant is that it feels very casual and cozy. No snobbiness here.
Things we ordered:
* Duck in a Can: Seems to be a popular dish, and yes it really comes in a can. The result is a big bowl of richness. Make sure you order some bread or something else on the side to give your taste buds a break.
* Lamb Shank: Way better than Duck in a Can in my opinion. Again, another rich dish but there's all sorts of other things (like some awesome tomatoes) to have fun with.
For appetizers we had the foie gras (excellent) and some beef carpaccio (OK). I could have skipped out on the latter to make more space for the entrees. Which reminds me... The entrees are very big, so don't get crazy ordering a bunch of appetizers.
Also note, the difference between appetizers and the starters... starters are one bite each.
Great place for a memorable dinner, but be prepared to splurge.
Absolutely amazing. This was a recommendation by two friends as I headed into Montreal for weekend getaway. We didn't realize the reservations were a must but were very lucky that the hostess was able to seat us for a table for 3 on a Saturday night. Total fluke. Great atmosphere and a gorgeous summer night in April. The resaurant's front was completely opened which allowed light breeze and created a lovely backdrop for dinner. It's a quality restaurant that could easily be pretentious but doesn't carry itself to be that way at all.
As recommended by bloggers and yelp reviews, foie gras poutine and duck in a can were a must. Sometimes you wonder if it's hype or buzz but truly this is so worth it. Foie gras poutine - thick cut fries, foie gras, cheese curds and gravy. Best poutine EVER! The flavour of each of these ingredients stands out on it's own but compliment each other well. I've been trying to go dairy free; it's moments like this where I realize how much I love cheese and where I kick myself for giving it up. It's an appetizer, so a smaller portion; great for sharing. Makes sense though given the generosity of the entree portions. My two girlfriends' ordered starter salads and were dismayed at how big they were.
DUCK-IN-A-CAN gets a paragraph for itself. Duck is my favourite and cooking it in a can was the best thing that could have happened to it. Picture a generous portion of duck breast with its fatty skin in a can. It keeps all of its flavour and fatty juices contained, also soaking up the flavours from cabbage, foie gras, thyme and sauces. They bring it out and open the can at your table, pouring it over toasted bread and mashed potatoes. It sounds simple, but it's anything but. I don't even think I participated in conversation for about 10-15 minutes. My friends were talking to me and I was in hazy bliss.
I cannot express how much I enjoyed this meal and how devasted I was when something so yummy had to end. As I stated that night, I could have gone for a second round of duck in a can.
Next time I go to Montreal, I will be making a reservation immediately after I book my plane ticket.
OMG, the best restauarant ever...
If you love foie gras, this place is it.... Our party was honestly getting sick of it by the end...
foie gras poutin was meh, as the cheese was still hard
foie gras stuffed pigs foot was great...
bison tongue: great
Best dish is the foie gras with bacon, maple syrup, egg, and something else... i dont even know the name of the dish, but this was the absolute best dish
great bang for buck appetizer is the guinea hen fowl liver spread...(cheap man's foie gras)
Nice atmosphere and great foie gras. We strolled over on a Saturday night and got a table right away (party of 2, do not try with a group: 6 people right behind us were told it was about a 2-month wait for group reservations...). We opted for the smallest seafood platter, followed by a "foie gras tout nu" ("bare naked foie gras", which actually comes on a bread and a balsamic vinegar reduction), and the must-have "canard en conserve" ("duck in a can"). Definitely too much food for the 2 of us, but it was hard not to want to order everything on the menu.
Good to know:
- for reservations, call the restaurant and leave a message with your reservation information; they will then call you back to confirm so plan ahead. We tried same-day and we didn't get a call back but walk-in worked. If you are a group, be sure to call a couple of months in advance.
- the cans of "canard en conserve" at the entrance of the restaurant are for display only.
So delicious. Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, was delicious here. I had a glass of bordeaux, and with a group of 5 other friends, split a meal of foie gras poutine, a bison rib, duck in a can, pig's feet, and probably more I'm forgetting. Even the fries were delicious -- crisp and savory.
The only down side is that everything was so filling (and fatty) not only did I not want to stay out and get my drink on on Saint-Laurent, when I got up in the morning I was still full, with that little reflux burp you get after a rich meal.
So I highly recommend it, but either eat light or don't make any plans for afterward.
Do you like foie gras? piggy? shellfish platters? If you answered no to these questions, don't go to PDC. If you said yes, then beg, borrow or steal yourself a reservation to this reasonably priced, extremely delicious, fun and casual restaurant.
We got insanely lucky, and our hotel was able to get us a same-day reservation... and then once we were there the sous-chef was nice enough to squeeze us in again the following night. PDC two nights in a row!
It's hard to pick the pinnacle of the meals... was it when we were served a pig's head, with a lobster in the pig's mouth? or perhaps it was one of the many astounding foie gras dishes... or maybe the two 'ducks in a can' that we got as takeaway food, to eat after we'd gone home from Montreal.
PDC is advertised as being a great place for lovers of pork, foie gras and shellfish, and it does what it says on the box.
In spite of email requesting reservations and phone calls back and forth, when we arrived, we were told they had nothing on us or for us. Zero is the the more accurate number of stars you get if you can't even do reservations right!
Thankfully Montreal is a treasure trove of great restaurants and we found many.
If you like food, you must come here. If you at all consider yourself a foodie, you must come here. If you like yourself as a person, you must come here. If you are alive, you must come here. Just come.
I don't know how much I can add to all of these other reviews, but this place seriously merits each of its five stars. From the cromesquis to the duck in a can to the special dish that's not on the menu (the plogue a champlain), everything is delicious at this place. Including dessert. Oh yeah, make sure to save room for dessert. The chomeur pudding was heavenly, as was the pot de creme. And both came in easily shareable portions. Too often are desserts neglected at good restaurants, but definitely not here.
So come here, sit down, and eat. Eat as much as you can, and then eat some more. Then revel in what you just ate and how life will never be the same.
Note: Reservations are crucial! In March, we were able to get a table a couple of days in advance.
Listed in: Deliciousness in Montreal
Warning... don't come near this place if you're on a diet or if you don't like very rich dishes. Definitely don't step foot in this place unless you LOVE foie gras. And make sure to make reservations in advance... I made reservations three weeks before my trip to Montreal and had to settle for a later seating because this place is just that popular.
I love that it's not pretentious and quite casual. The food gosh I don't know where to start... the only description for it is it's like having an orgasm in your mouth. The foie gras poutine, duck in a can and foie gras potato pancake with maple syrup were so unbelievably good that my boyfriend and I practically licked our plates clean. We were stuffed beyond belief but we ordered dessert anyways and lets just say we were speechless. The pot of chocolate was so good we once again wanted to lick the jar clean.
We tried to make reservations for another night while we were there since the food was so divine... unfortunately they were booked solid for the week.
I had a return visit. Things were still good as always, great beers on top including a house made stout that was more like a chocolate milkshake. Fish of the day was a spectacular fresh catch with homemade gnocchi. I never thought I could get full on eating fish but this one here you could. The duck carpaccio though is exquisite including a raw egg on top with some horseradish and mixed in hot sauces..
I will say though there poutine is kind of a disappointment. I found it too salty. As always the place is a monument to excess. I can't go back cause the food's just too much, but it is someplace everyone should see. However, I have had my fill... I am done!
Good friggin GRAVY!
This place is insane! I happened to venture to this place with luck in the…
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If you go to Montreal and you don't dine at this restaurant, you're totally missing out!
Hands down, this IS the best restaurant in Montreal for foie gras!!! You must try the foie gras with maple syrup...it sounded strange to me when the owner recommended it to us, but I have to say, I am now a huge fan of this dish!
Make sure you save room for dessert, then pass on the cab ride and walk home (if its summertime...you'll need time to digest and to burn off some calories).
Taste = out of this world!
Food Presentation = good
Bang for the buck = great
Would I go again = in a heartbeat :)
My sister Jess has been living in Montreal for the past three years and each year I have visited and together we have the made the pilgrimage to all things pig and duck - Au Pied De Cochon. The restaurant is quite small, narrow and long, an open plan kitchen and wood fired oven line one of the walls. Due to the proximity of patrons, pots and pigs it can be pretty hot, but in a hearty open fire type of way, it is immediately endearing.
During our first visit we had what was arguably the finest dish there, not pig or duck, but lamb confit. The shank had been braised slowly in goose fat, rosemary and thyme. It was served on a bed of light puy lentils, a touch of vinegar lifting them against the rich meat. The sauce, OMG, was a heavily reduced lamb juice and tomato concoction, the depth of flavour hard to articulate, I was blushing and I am not normally shy. I was so enamoured that I spent the next two days hunting down the cook book and one year later recreated the same dish for my mothers European birthday adventure, it didn't disappoint.
During my second visit we had the duck in a can, canned duck breast, foie gras, root vegetables and once again another incredible sauce. It may be a little gimmicky, they open the can at your table and throw it on a plate, but if it is good enough for Mr Bourdain (I am secretly developing a weird man crush) it is good enough for me. We also had a foie gras tart, which was devine, the richness of the foie gras offset buy the tart apple.
So I suppose it is unfortunate that my last memory there is my least favourite. After much deliberation we decided to opt for their speciality, the pigs foot stuffed with foie gras, this is not a decision to be taken lightly, literally. If like me you have ever stared eye to eye with a pigs foot then you will probably be a little terrified by the idea, hoofs are just plain scary, I would eat a hairy tattooed biker any day. The foot comes in a crumbed batter atop a bed of mash strewn with root vegetables, drowning in a rich sauce with a few pieces of foie gras on top. It is not pretty. I found the majority of it intimidating and rather gloopy, even my sisters frenchie BF lacked the means to tackle it properly.
For the next few days the pig took residence in my body like some dark poltergeist, I had both sweats and nightmares. You are warned.
To avoid finishing on such a dark pig demon note, if in the Monte, you must go there, just heed my advice.
We loved this place so much last year, so we planned another trip back just to go again. This time around, I ordered the Plogue a Champlain. What's a plogue? I had no idea, it's not a Celtic rock band, nor a disease spread by vermin, and the menu omits any description whatsoever. Turns out, it's Quebecois French slang, meaning "plug," as in this dish could clog Lake Champlain. It consists of a pancake bottom layer, topped with potatoes, bacon, melted cheddar, and seared foie gras with a maple syrup sauce. All of the richness just oozes and drips down, soaking into the pancake. Each bite was dense with delicious duck fat, bacon fat, and butter. Thankfully, the portion size was manageable, or else I would have had needed stat angioplasty in the dining room. I had it as my main course, but it could easily be shared as a starter for two. Now I can't wait to go back to try more of the menu. One tip: even if you can't get a reservation, you may have a chance getting a table if there's a no show, or just opt to sit at the bar and watch the cooks at work in the open kitchen.
Listed in: My Montreal Weekend
Just got back from a weekend in Montreal, and loved this place so much we ate there twice! The… Read more »
Please refer to my photographs. The most decadent meal of my life. We ate an absurd amount of food because we had to try as much as we could!
Onion soup gratinee. The PDC twist? Ham in the soup. So good.
Blue cheese, apple and lettuces salad. Very fresh and a wonderful blend of sweet and tart.
Two, count them, TWO foie gras dishes: foie gras poutine (glad I tried it but I learned there is such a thing as too much foie gras) and another foie gras masterpiece (cannot recall the name), a perfectly seared piece of foie gras on top of a piece of ham blanketed by melted cheese, doused with maple syrup. Sounds weird, tastes amazing.
PDC Melting Pot: two types of sausage and pork shoulder atop mashed potatoes and a couple other vegetables. Who really cares about the vegetables, this restaurant is called The Pig's Foot for God's sake! This dish was so tasty.
Dark chocolate pot de creme which arrived in a weird, very rustic jar. A perfect ending to an absurdly rich, delightful meal.
Loud, vibrant, unpretentious atmosphere, friendly service. Great fun, great food. Definitely coming back one day.
Listed in: The Fab Fives
It is expensive. So cheapoes go else where. That said...
Service is excellent. Food is excellent (the foie gras poutine isn't worth it). Reservations are a must weeks in advanced. The place is so beloved that everyone in the city knows "PDC" stands for "Au Pied de Cochon".
We hear the food is fabo. We'll never know. We made a reservation one week ahead for a party of 6. We watched a party of 7 be seated in front of us (assume they had a res, too). We were repeatedly lied to by the hostess. She even told us our table was about to free up because the folks eating there "just paid their check." Turns out no one was paying. She was lying to everyone there. We've eaten all over the world and never seen anything like this. Quite weird. We took our $ elsewhere.
Heard about this place through many channels, most currently through word of mouth, but as far back as the episode of Bourdain's travels.
I travel to Montreal a lot and this is the first time with my fiance, so I had to go somewhere nice... Now on to the good stuff.
The only reason why its not a perfect 5 star is because of the missed delivery of my appetizer, its more 4.5 stars, but yelp doesnt have a 4.5... so I rounded up :)
Ratings & Review
- Food - (5 Star)
- Service - (4.5 star) Just because of the missed appetizer, my beers came flowing perfectly
- Decor - (5 star)
- Cost - (5 star) its French people.. come on
Food Had:
- Foie Gras Cromesquis - This was weird, I never had foie gras, but this stuff is amazing, its foie gras cubes battered and deep fried, when you pop it in your mouth, it bursts with the best flavor I've ever experienced, is this foie gras? I am in love then!
- Piglet Roast - Sliced pork, nothing much else to say, I was not too fond of this, pretty bland
- Fries (in duck fat) - They actually have a guy devoted to just making fries, he throws how the cold ones and make them to order, tastes amazing
- Duck in a can - WOW amazing, it took a while to arrive because it needs to cool down, but when you bite into it... OMG amazing!, I just can't see myself eating the duck skin... it was pretty thick...
Tip: (1) Reservation is a must (2) Sit at the bar, the first 4 seats are awesome, you see all the action in the kitchen! (3) If you sit at the bar, wear something you don't mind at the end of the night smelling like the kitchen!
If "Au Pied de Cochon" were a rock band, it would be Queen circa 1979. And if Chef Marc Picard were a rockstar, he would be a latex-clad, cocaine-snorting, sex-crazed Freddie Mercury. This restaurant is pure rock 'n roll on a plate. Uncompromising, unhealthy, and unlike anything you've ever tasted.
I had heard about it from my friend in Montreal, and like many others, had drooled in delight at the Bourdain "No Reservations" segment filmed at the restaurant. For a serious gourmand, foie gras is up there with caviar, truffles and oysters in the "leave your pre-conceptions behind" department. It is also one of the most delectable things on the planet, and Monsieur Picard simply knows how to do it. Right.
There is simply no point in coming to this restaurant if you are not willing to put yourself, and your health, at risk. In all honesty, I would recommend three things:
1) A group of friends who love food, and by love I mean ADORE it. They must also love foie gras, specifically.
2) A full de-tox the day prior, with perhaps a few pieces of celery to keep the body going. But for God's sake, do not eat a regular meal within the 24 hour window period preceding the pig-out. This is a religious experience, and as such it must be treated with reverence, discipline, and a little fear.
3) Start smoking and/or go to the gym on a regular basis, because the only thing that can tame the foie gras coma you will be in is half-a-pack of smokes, or a swift 15-minute walk around the block right before dessert.
With that in mind, we arrived prepared and loaded with cash. The place is expensive, but I am not even going to get into a financial dissection. How much would you pay to see Freddie Mercury live? Exactly. Some things exist beyond crumpled pieces of cash, or faded plastic credit cards. Some things are immortal- like Freddie, or foie gras. The clientele is generally quite youthful- between 25-40. Nobody in their right mind would eat here past 40 without a cardiologist by their side. It's a good space, not huge, with so-so acoustics. Realistically though, you won't have time to talk much since your mouths will be occupied 80-85% of the time. Think of it as a foie gras bordello, with you as the old hooker.
So we began. We ordered a Foie Gras burger; pan-seared Foie Gras; the infamous Duck-in-a-can; the pig's foot; an assortment of vegetables; and an absolutely out-of-this-world bottle of Cotes de Provence. So good, in fact, that we went for the same bottle twice. Of course, we shared everything.
The burger was "monstrous". The waiter had warned me, but I was on a suicidal mission and decided to order it as my appetizer. It's basically a lean beef burger doused in a balsamic reduction, with a slab of foie gras on top. The burger buns were crunchy and firm (presumably to hold the whole structure together), and though it needed some serious scaffolding work half-way through, it held together nicely. The whole thing was a knock-out punch to the senses. Strong, aromatic, but surprisingly well thought-out, with the foie gras giving a creamy after taste to each beefy bite.
It is often the simplest dishes that reveal the true artistry in the kitchen, and the quality of ingredients. Please welcome dish numero deux, the pan-seared foie gras- possibly the simplest dish on the menu. Served with garlic crostini and a mild balsamic reduction (notice the trend), the foie gras was crispy on the outside but revealed a molten, sweet center. This is not the kind of foie gras we are often accustomed to- the mousse-like paste to be spread onto bread or toast. This is the liver itself, unprocessed and untainted. Beautiful.
By this point we were starting to feel the calorific after-burn, but the best was yet to come.
The duck-in-a-can is a mechanical marvel. A waiter comes over with a tin can labelled "canard en conserve". A deep plate is placed in front of you, and in it is a bed of pillowy mashed potatoes. The waiter then cracks the can open, and pours its content over the mashed potatoes. Magically, the mashed potatoes are joined by half a mallard duck, jus, foie gras, garlic, balsamic demi-glaze and other heavenly ingredients. There are literally are no words to describe the richness and exquisite taste. Comparing it to anything I'd previously eaten would border on criminal.
Similarly, the pied de cochon is a delicate oven-roasted miracle stuffed with foie gras. It was at this point that my friend and I looked at each other and realized that we were born in the wrong century. In our food-fuelled daze, we saw each other as feudal lords, or kings, feasting on pig, engorged liver and wine, loving every second of it. The restaurant is essentially a time-warp to the land of gluttony. If Henry VIII were alive, he would have a permanent reservation in the back.
Life is short, cholesterol is over-rated, and ducks are generally unimpressive creatures with little-to-no personality. Raise your glass to Monsieur Picard, and rock 'n roll.
One of the great meals you can get in Montreal. It is a must visit and truely one of the unique experiences of Montreal.
One thing I loved about it is, its not so uppity about itself, in fact it's almost casual. It truly is the temple of foie gras, duck and pork that all the Bourdain's have made it out to be. Which is in fact a wonderful thing.
When I went recently I shared the pigs head with someone else, just cause, where and when else are you going to get to order a pigs head? It was awesome but next time I would prob stick to the smaller plates to get more of a sampling. The chicharron and the fries are fried in duck fat. You must get these. They are magnificent.
By the way the portions here are huge so keep that in mind when ordering.
The foie gras poutine is worth the visit alone. I love the fact that this place isn't pretentious -- it's egalitarian in the sense that you don't have to be some sort of snobby foodie to enjoy yourself. I was comfortable in jeans and sneakers. (Granted, I had to wear jeans with a loose waistband, because by the time I left, I was practically popping out).
We started with the foie gras poutine and a salad, which seems odd given the rest of the menu. But the salad was topped with rabbit and a deep fried soft egg. Very good.
I had the Duck in a Can, which arrived around twenty minutes after our appetizer plates were taken away. Included a giant chunk of duck breast, foie gras, and fat. Love the fat. Only weakness was the puree and bread the canned duck was emptied out onto -- I was hoping for more of a mashed potato, it tasted more like sunchoke or parsnip with cabbage.
My husband had the beef rib, which looked like something Fred Flintstone ordered in the opening credits of the Flintstones (y'know, at the drive in movie theatre, where the server places it on the car tray and the car tips over?). You'd think a hunk of rib that gigantic would be tough and sinewy, but quite the opposite -- it was so tender and nom-tastic.
I wish I'd left room for dessert, but after all that foie gras and fat, I felt like I was going to keel over and die. (From happiness as well as fullness.)
The only crappy thing was that we had a 9pm reservation and we weren't seated until 9:40. The hostess was really nice about it, though - she offered us something to drink and was very apologetic. Once we were seated, it wasn't that long until we received our appetizers. Despite this bump in the road, the experience was still amazing from start to finish.
Listed in: Oh, the Places I Went!
First of all, I have to say I've been using yelp for a long time and have never really been compelled to write a review until now. My friends took me here as part of my bachelor party weekend in Montreal, and this was easily the highlight of the trip for all of us. While we had some issues with our reservation in the beginning, and the hostess was extremely rude, this was more than offset by the service at the table, which was friendly and very quick. I'm not going to go into too much detail about the food because I think the other reviews speak for themselves, but I'm just going to say flat-out that this was the best meal of my life (and all of my friends felt the same way). I had the Poutine au foie gras and the classic Canard en conserve (Duck in a can), followed by the Pouding chômeur for dessert. Most of us ordered different entrees, but we were all in agreement that the Duck in a can was second to none. Very indulgent and fatty food but an unforgettable experience. All in all, this meal was an epic win, and I would come back to Montreal just for this.
Went here on a Thursday night on a summer night. Fantastic to be in Montreal (I grew up here) during this time of year when everyone's out enjoying the evenings and nightlife that Montreal has to offer. Was clued into this restaurant by my brother, who still lives here, so decided to give it a try with my SO.
I'm a big poutine lover so when I heard about the Foie Gras poutine dish they served as a starter here, hell, if you're a foodie you should be able to appreciate and love Foie Gras. And it being poutine, hey, why not? When it came to the table, I was underwhelmed. It was just a plate of poutine with a piece of Foie Gras laid on top of it. There was no originality to it other than the fact that the head chef must have thought it would be cool just to lay a piece of duck liver on top of a dish of poutine just for kicks, charge an arm and a finger for it and reap the rewards of all Montrealers & Quebecois that enjoy the artery-choking, gut-busting nature of poutine, and add some delicacy on top of it for good measure. Taste was good but otherwise, the Foie Gras itself was not done in a typical French way that actually preserves and brings out the nature, flavor and richness of the Foie Gras itself.
Next was Duck-in-a-Can and the PDC Melting Pot. My SO and I have stomachs the size of...a can, not a beer barrel. The servings of both of these were for very healthy (and hearty) appetites so you definitely get what you pay for here.
The Duck-in-a-Can is served, literally, from a can that's opened up in front of you with a can opener, and served on top of a piece of toast and puree. You could see the oil from the duck fat just drip out of that can too (the serving piece is the duck breast with the skin on it). This is realllllly rich food and not to be messed with if you have gastrointestinal problems. Bring your Pepto-Bismal with you if you're faint of heart for these kinds of foods! The taste? Pretty darn good but a little convoluted and mixed up with all the other ingredients mixed into the can. It can be compared with "Mom's pile of mess baked in the oven".
The PDC Melting Pot had a bunch of stuff in a little clay pot (similar to a little Le Creuset pot). It was filled with stewed pork, seaweed wrapped blood sausage, pork sausage, mashed potatoes and shallots (could have been something else). It was, again, a mish-mash of stuff put together as an experiment but it definitely didn't highlight any individual ingredient particularly well. Again, there seemed to have been no imagination put into this as it felt like someone just decided to shove a bunch of varieties of meat in there, throw some mash in for a base and broil it up for a sure fire, artery-choking experience. (You get the theme of this restaurant now.)
Nothing about these dishes were "bland" at all. But nothing about these dishes also spoke to the uniqueness of why PDC is sooooo popular. I think the roasted pig's head and leg of pig should have been selected.
My 3 star rating is for the promise of the other entrees that we should have selected and the hint of madness in the head chef's experimentations. I grew up in Montreal but I didn't remember ever having been knocked over the head with anything so rich and heavy as PDC.
Montreal, QC
Montreal, QC
Montreal, QC
Montreal, QC
Montréal, QC
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