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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:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
302 reviews for Au pied de cochon
Review Highlights
"My first time having foie gras and it was delicious."
(in 171 reviews)
"Bison tongue with tarragon is recommended."
(in 27 reviews)
"duck in a can - so moist and full of flavor."
(in 161 reviews)
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299 reviews in English
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Review from JM H.
Concord, ON
2/8/2012
deep fried fois gras
cod fritters
beet and goat cheese salad
guinea hen liver mousse
venison tongue with taragon
boudin(blood pudding)with mashed potatos
au pied du cochon
we had 2 beers and a bottle of cabernet sauvignon
we ate and drank so much we couldnt do the duck in a can but there'll be a next time.
this restaurant has the most amazing food i have ever had. -
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 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 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 Lauren B.
Montréal, QC
1/26/2012
This is easily one of Montreal's best restaurants.
APDC is tucked away in one of the most quaint parts of the city in a beautiful, modern, understated space. To-die-for food, amazing service - and yet somehow the whole thing remains casual - like you want to have a glass of wine with the staff after they're off work. Maybe it's the deep-fried foie gras seated next to a pigs foot and mountain of cheesy mashed potatoes, but I think they've struck a rare chord where you feel like you're having this fabulous, over-the-top dining experience while completely avoiding any kind of pretension. -
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 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 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 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 Danan R.
1/30/2012
If I could eat here every single day, I would. Fortunately for my cholesterol, home is in a different, albeit neighboring, country. The poutine au foie gras is amazing! And who doesn't love the duck in a can? The meat was just so tender, flavorful, and succulent with a rich, earthy flavor. And did I mention that it is served with a cauliflower puree? I love cauliflower and it is so rare to see it in restaurants. Anyhow, this was easily one of the best meals of the trip. Definitely make reservations here if you are in the area or visiting.
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Review from Laura D.
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 really want to make sure I haven't eaten lunch by dinnertime. This place is completely meat oriented where even vegetables are meaty.
I almost always choose to sit at the bar and order something with foie gras. Foie gras isn't something I eat often, but I always enjoy a well prepared piece and au Pied Cochon is one of the best places to experience this controversial product prepared to perfection.
Au Pied de Cochon offers much more than foie gras and one of my favorite is the canard en conserve. It is a duck. Cooked in a can. The can is opened in front of you and everything duck falls gently onto your plate. This is a huge meal. Easily can feed 2 people, but I rarely share. Unless my BF orders the pied de cochon a la PDC, he ain't getting a bite.
Another plate I would highly recommend is the boudin. It's beautiful! Martin Picard is the essence of nose to tail cooking here in Montreal, and I absolutely admire that about his restaurant and his cooking. It's one thing to love meat, it is another thing to truly respect everything about being a meat eater.Listed in: How my Boyfriend wins me Over
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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 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 Eric K.
1/21/2012 3 photos
Every once in awhile, you're lucky enough to come across a meal that you'll remember for the rest of your life. It's not necessarily because you would want to eat that meal again and again in the future. It's just that the meal was completely different from any previous meal you had ever eaten. In the case of Au Pied de Cochon, I don't think I've ever eaten a more decadent, rich, fatty, and hearty meal in my life.
You'll notice a certain common theme based on the list of key ingredients in the dishes that my friends and I shared: foie gras, bacon, boudin, and flaky crust. Having visited Montreal in late December when the weather is beyond frigid and the wind beyond bitter, I understand the genius and madness behind APDC: their food warms/insulates your body with the fattiest parts of other animals.
Let's begin with the cromesquis de foie gras, it's basically a small bite: 2 quarter-sized puff pastries with hot foie gras liquid in the center. Arguably, it was the best bite of the night. Decadent yet light and an amazing way to begin the meal. They come 2 to an order and among the 3 of us, we had 3 orders.
Then there's the much hyped foie gras poutine. It will be possibly the richest, fattiest, most decadent food you will ever eat in your life. One word describes it best: damn. Damn, it's good. Fries covered in an addictive foie gras based gravy, topped with cheese curds and 2 sizable slabs of foie gras. It sounds like suicide but amazingly, it works. Plus you can sop up the leftover gravy with multiple refills of crusty bread.
At this point, our stomachs were feeling it but we trucked on and split the also-hyped duck in a can and the boudin tart. As others have said, the duck in a can, presentation-wise, really does match the hype. It was awesome just watching the server open the can and extract a huge piece of duck breast with bacon, cabbage, and carrots in an earthy sauce onto a plate of cauliflower puree. The duck was cooked perfectly and was tender and juicy, and the vegetables gave it some much-needed flavor and textural contrast. The boudin tart was also a unique, over-the-top dish with the incredible, almost mineral-y flavor of the boudin and a flaky, buttery crust. However, at a certain point while eating these dishes, I crossed my threshold for excess. Perhaps it had something to do with the dishes naturally getting colder as the eating went on. But, once that threshold was crossed, I was DONE. I realized there was a limit to the madness.
Despite this overload, the saying "there's always room for dessert" rang true. We went against our best judgment and split the chocolate pot de creme. Served in a jar with a thick chocolate mousse on the bottom, whipped cream in the middle and little crunchies on top, the chocolatey dessert was irrationally a welcome break from the onslaught of duck and pork we had undergone. It was a fitting way to end a meal that will give me dreams/nightmares through the rest of my life.
For those coming from out of town, I'd highly recommend making a reservation as we made one 3 weeks prior for a wednesday night and it was packed. Also, plan some sort of physical activity for the next morning/afternoon: you will need it. -
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 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 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 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 Karine T.
Gatineau, QC
2/5/2012
greasy but so good!! The best poutine I ever had. Great ambiance also. Reserve week in advance.
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Review from Victoria J.
1/25/2012
I loved this place. Totally unpretentious, even if you don't speak French. I sat at the bar and watched the kitchen work it. I had the vinegar tongue as a starter, just to try it. It was okay; I've had my quota. Next I had the beet and goat cheese salad. I've had this salad at a few places, and I usually love it. No exception here, and it was a nice complement to the tongue. Then I had the foie gras terrine with black truffles. So good! If not for my greediness wanting dessert, I would have finished that last quarter. Dessert: oven baked apple. I did finish that. Add a glass of wine and some tea, and it was a nice dining experience where I could wear jeans and just enjoy myself.
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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 Ennie L.
Updated - 1/5/2012 6 photos
I went back this holiday, my husband says it will be a holiday tradition, this time we ordered an entire pig head, it was epic, my husband was in meat haven. And I forgot how amazing the pecan pie is, best pecan pie ever! Even after having an insanely heavy meal, I couldn't stop eating the pie. I think we needed to be rolled out to our car.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/14/2010
I'm from Montreal and oddly enough I had never heard of this resto until recently. So I went here… Read more »
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Review from anna marie c.
12/13/2011
if you had told me that one day, i would be sitting at a meal and saying 'no more foie gras, please' i would have taken my one white glove (because i tend to lose things), and slap you across the face, and said with my ridiculously fake french accent 'non non! but zat is rideec-u-lous, mon ami!'
as everyone has said, the place is fabulous. it's rustic meets forward. the Plogue à Champlain style of foie is a fabulous combination of sweet and savory. i could eat this for the rest of my life. or until i die from a massive heart attack or stroke. the duck in a can was wonderfully flavorful, but it was the presentation that made the dish so wonderful. and the poutine.... man, the poutine. there's something just so ridiculous and delicious about a dish that piles fat on top of fat on top of fat.
dessert was the least successful part of my meal... maybe i should have had another chunk of foie instead! -
Review from Scott T.
Dollard-des-Ormeaux, QC
1/16/2012
(Pause)... I'm trying not to swallow my own vomit. I mean... the Duck n' a can I ordered (watch the Youtube video, if u haven`t had the pleasure in person). Let me get this clear: the service, the resto, the novelty, everything is A-one! I seriously love the concept and it deserves all the hype it receives, 5 stars for creativity! But the main favourites like the poutine, Dn'C etc... my god... zero regard for flavour balance. So go ahead, bring it on APdC lovers, but if you have half a tasting palette in your mouth, you will O.D. on salt and creamy, fatty richness. Many people love it. So the novelty is cute and foie-gras vampires who are legally deprived of foie gras in NYC will flock to APdC (as would I), but I don't buy into this as a Montréalais. The desserts (not that they are important after eating a Pig Head) pulled down my rating, as well. Unfortunately for me, I was wearing my reality goggles through my courses and although I had an amazing time- cet endroit est une vraie inside-joke culinaire. And I could only laugh at the irony. Would I go back? No, I rather go to Juste pour rire. I rate it 2 stars, on the premise that this was my first and last time coming here. If this food came-off of a foodtruck for 18$ or less per plate... ahh... then 4 stars. Otherwise I believe this funky concept is misplaced as a restaurant. This kind of sinful, sloppy food belongs in styrofoam packaging, not fine glass plates... if you get my drift.
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Review from Tina C.
12/30/2011 2 photos
I'm torn between three (Blasphemous, I know) and four stars.
I reserved 2 weeks in advance, and the only available reservation for two was around 10 pm, which was fine - it gave us time to build our appetites for the much anticipated meal. :)
We were quickly seated, and ordered our wine. We had the tarte aux tomates as an entree, which was absolutely delicious. The pastry was crispy and buttery, the cheese was nicely broiled and tomato flavour really pops. I had the duck magret with mushrooms. The first bite was a burst of flavour. The broth/sauce was concentrated and rich. After a few bites though, it quickly became way too much fat and salt. I just couldn't eat any more (hence the three stars). My boyfriend had the foie gras poutine and loved every second of it. I'm a grease wimp, and don't care for foie gras.
Service was pleasant (the bus boy was very sorry to have dropped a dirty knife on my boyfriend.. oops! it happens).
The atmosphere is vibrant and lively. All in all, the food is good, just too rich and fatty for my taste. -
Review from Bill D.
Montréal, QC
10/8/2011
Au Pie 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 Numa P.
Montréal, QC
10/21/2011
The craziest thing that comes to my mind is my peaceful digestion after such a heavy meal. Now let's talk. I see PDC as a highly focused and high-end meat experience with no equivalent. The meat choice is impressively diverse and the risks taken by the cuisine are commendable. Indeed, I found some interesting combinations of French, Spanish and Northern American influences in the dishes and preparations. Above all, PDC also stands on its own as it reveals how complex and subtle heavier meats can be in terms of tastes and preparation.
It will take you more than a visit to get accustomed to the opulence of the menu. But so far and for two, I'd recommend:
- the Accra de morue: those of you who are familiar with these will understand how perfect they are;
- the Foie gras poutine (I actually came with this dish in mind as it sounds cleverly insolent ) as an appetizer;
- the Potee du PDC with its selection of different meat laying in an authentic Aligot (Southwestern French specialty made of cheese and puree).
Service is the main flaw I would highlight: the manager suffers from excessive pendanticivitis and the waiter have some surprising preconditions for Alzheimer's disease.Listed in: Sin City
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Review from Jennifer M.
Toronto, ON
10/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
Considering we could only get reviews at 11pm on Sunday evening.. Our evening was already going to be ..different. I work for Food Network and I could not pass up a chance to eat here. Plus, Derek Bocking of Top Chef Canada fame was sitting nearby. Martin, not there at the time.. alas.
The first thing to note is that they hoarded the English speakers to the front. This is understandable, so the waitress could speak to us all, but she chose to do so.. in an interesting way. She would address us, along with the two tables on either side simultaneously. Interesting approach. The washroom is unmarked, I needed help to find, and the floor was SLICK with grease. A friend we made in line wiped out the second he walked in. Oh, also the air reaks of rendering pig fat.. but if you can make it past all of this.. there is the food.
the SO and I, having waited to 11pm to eat dinner, were famished and over ordered. The smoked sausage starter was really outstanding. I am German and well versed on smoked sausage. It was sour, and perfect.
I enjoyed the French onion soup which was mostly bubbling cheese (yum) and a delicious rosemary infused broth. There were chunks fo pork in it which I found detracted from the soup. Still, really good.
Special tuna "handroll" with chopped tuna, nori, rice, fish eggs and quail egg. Ridiculous. Best handroll I have ever had.
My main was a special, a tuna with eggplant and tomato. It was really good, albiet slightly overcooked. The SO had a pot of various pig bits on mashed potato. he liked it other than the blood sausage which he found only ok (although just recently back from a Blood fueled fiesta in Germany) We were too full to finish and unable to at 1am. The two mains were amazing fresh form the hotel room fridge the next morning.
Wine was good, beer selection ok. We had a good meal. Kinda pricey, keep that in mind. And reservations... book early.Listed in: Montreal
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Review from Andrew D.
1/23/2012
HOLY COW!!... i mean pig! If you love any part of a pig including the head, make sure you make early reservation to this place. The foie gras poutine was so decadent but so good!! Pickled tongue...sounds strange but don't knock it til you try it. Worthy entrees include duck in a can, the pork shoulder and the stuffed pig's foot! No vegetables served at this establishment...
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Review from Jeff O.
9/16/2011
We came here because M. Wells is one of my favorite restaurants. Their owner was a big chef at PDC, and we wanted to see his roots. Our meal was great, even impeccable, everything a NYT writer would love. But there is great food everywhere, and the things that I appreciate are something else.
To me, it's too polished, too organized - not organic. The staff is nearly scripted, and I feel like I'm bustled in, told to relax, then when I leave, I'm said goodbye friendly enough, but the staff doesn't have any reflection on their diners' experiences. I'm trying not to be full of myself, but I guess it just feels too formulaic. I don't eat somewhere to have the greatest tastes I've ever had, I'm here for an experience. I'm swooned by other things than just veritably delectable food.
Part of why I loved Montreal so much was that they didn't have as much of a lower class of individuals in the kitchens. It seemed like many of the cooks were actually owners, or at least involved members of the restaurant as a community. I'm not the type of person to appreciate celebrity chefs, or feel lucky when they actually make an appearance to grace their plates with your hands, so maybe I'm not their intended clientele - but that's what it feels like here. And I have no idea if the famous owner actually graced our plates or not - that might be my gripe. We were rushed to our table, sat gazing in each others eyes, ate some delicious food, then rushed out. There is certainly something more, and I have a feeling they once had it, but the tourism and Television followers have a tendency to do this to a place.
There are many other restaurants way funkier, and have more fun with cooking, with just as much passion and pride. They probably don't use foie gras as much, but who really gives a fuck? You can read about them in my other reviews.Listed in: Canada!
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Review from Chris D.
9/8/2011 3 photos
Much like prom night as a teen boy, Au pied is one of those things you fantasize about long before you ever experience it. Also much like prom night, it ends up being a bit of a let down. Not because you built it up so much in your head that it couldn't possibly measure up, but because no matter how good an effort is made, it'll still end up awkward.
I wanted to love Au pied, I really did. The space was very cool, the setting intimate and service exemplary. The food, however, felt like it was trying hard... too hard... to be different. I can appreciate a chef taking chances, or making their own way, but dinner here was more like being a guinea pig in a mad scientist's experiment than it was being along for a culinary journey with a genius. Black bean sauce on a seafood platter? Ehh, not feeling it.
Make no mistake, everything was good. They are doing some interesting things with quality ingredients and for the most part, they're successful. What they aren't doing is blowing me away with every course... or even really convincing me that I have to go back. In a city that kicks most other cities' asses in the food department, there are better options.
As a side note, we did get to see what I'm convinced is the largest lobster to ever be captured. It was ordered by a table next to us, had to be carried by two men on a large wooden platter and was clearly inspiration for a few sci-fi flicks. Think I'm full of ish? Check the pic below. See? Massive! (That's what she said.)
Super mutant lobster: http://www.yelp.ca/biz...Listed in: Baby France, eh?
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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. -
Review from John Q.
8/22/2011
The day I arrived in Montreal; a Thursday, was the nastiest of the year. Until a monsoon-like downpour relieved the city from the oppressive heat and humidity. Of course, I got caught in the rain and completely soaked. Fortunately my hotel was merely a few blocks from Au Pied de Cochon, which is renowned in New York for spawning the avant-garde diner M Wells in Long Island City, Queens.
I dragged my drenched self inside, fortuitously discovering that the wretched conditions outside rendered the popular restaurant partially vacant. Eschewing an offer of a seat at the empty bar, I requested a table and ordered a MacAuslan cream ale. Which was unavailable, so I was stuck going with whatever pale ale was. I wanted to sample APdC's take on different animals and figured appetizers were the way to go - the piglet roast and the bison tongue. Duck fat fries beckoned and a green salad seemed compulsory to counter the debaucherous selections made otherwise. The waiter suggested starting with the piglet and salad, following that up with the tongue and fries. We had a plan and were ready to roll.
The piglet turned out to be thinly sliced deli-style meat. Which initially left me unimpressed. As I continued to devour slice after slice, however; which was well-complemented by a....chive? mayonnaise, I was almost left wanting for more piglet even having just devoured such a substantial portion size. Green salad was adequate; large leaves perhaps could've been chopped up a bit, and I missed the fresh herbs their scion back in New York includes in their version.
Previously I had not tasted fries cooked in duck fat. I had heard mixed reactions to such a preparation. I found the fries wonderful and hungrily scarfed down the substantial majority, leaving some behind for appearance's sake. A plain mayonnaise was provided, which at first was a disappointment, but I would soon realize the duck fat provides such a burst of flavor; a more complex accoutrement would only be overkill.
Bison tongue proved to be yet another highlight; enjoyed far more than a pig tongue I had earlier eaten at M Wells - the pupil has some catching up to do with its mentor. A curry-enriched mayo did not appeal, but the tender and delectable tongue along with its mustard would soon vanish completely. I was left longing to return to Au Pied de Cochon in particular to try their bison ribs. Lamentably, the restaurant is not open at all for lunch and closed for dinner Monday evenings so I was denied such an opportunity last month. Surely a return visit is warranted during a future trip to Montreal. For bison, duck and of course, cochon.
Oink! -
Review from Lauren M.
I'm not sure what else I can possibly add to the 250 other raving reviews.
Au Pied de Cochon is crazy amazing and worth a trip to Montreal just to eat here.
We waited nearly 30 mins for our table (even though we booked in advance) but the hostess explained they do not like to kick customers from their tables and they had people lingering long over coffee. No big deal because they comped us with free appetizers.
The food here is all AMAZING, I'm still having dreams about the giant lambshank I polished off. My friends tried out the steak & frites and a crab pie (daily special). The cod fish fritters and zucchini fritter starters were both delicious too and only $6 per order.
Dinner plus a beer came to only $40 including tax and tip.
Must return to Montreal! -
Review from Lilliane G.
Toronto, ON
8/22/2011 1 photo
We had been anticipating our visit to Au pied de cochon for weeks.
Our reservation was for 8pm, but we weren't seated until 8:30pm since the folks sitting at our table lingered over their coffee and dessert...can't say that I blame them. This place rocks!
Portion sizes are MASSIVE...if you come here, bring your appetite.
We were comped our cod fish fritters and deep fried zucchini flower appetizers. Both were delicious, but I personally thought the fritters were a little too salty. They did however some chilies in there so points for that.
I had the Crab tourties (one of their daily specials), while my table mates had the Lamb shank and Steak et frites.
Again, the portion sizes were HUGE and I couldn't finish my tourtiere, which was delcious. The pastry was flaky as hell, the bottom of the pie was lined with a tasty and thick layer of buttery scalloped potatoes, the creme fraiche was perfectly seasoned with dill and lemon...OMFG!
We skipped dessert. I can't even believe they even offer dessert given the portion sizes!
Loved it and can't wait to go back. Next time, I'm having the lamb shank...it was unlike any lamb shank I've ever tried before...and I will avoid eating for the 2 days preceeding my visit so that I can finish my meal this time!
Of note: RESERVATIONS ARE RECOMMENDED. We saw more than a few parties turned away because they walked in off the street. We made our reservations a month in advance. -
Review from Aaron M.
8/16/2011
A bizarre evening of big hits and misses that couldn't quite justify the high prices or tourist-inflicted hype.
We came in a group of six so we'd have a chance to share things and taste more of the famously foie gras* intensive menu. Things started off well enough with appetizers:
- Foie Gras Cromesquis: little fried blocks with a tad of foie gras inside, these were warm, savory, packed with flavor, and gone in an instant.
- Tarragon bison tongue: unbelievably tender, flavorful and a bit fatty as tongue tends to be. A nice small portion allowed a few of us to have a taste of it.
- Duck Carpaccio: this sounded like something that prudish US food safety inspectors would never allow, so we were sure to order it while in Canada. It was light and magical like a beef carpaccio. Again, a nice small portion.
Still not much foie gras action, but we ordered main courses with foie gras including one with a filet type serving from the "foie gras" section of the menu... we were the most excited about that one. These dished came out (pause for emphasis) about _70_ minutes after our appetizers were served, and the one with the foie gras filet (bigger pause) _never_ came at all. Anyway, these included:
- Their trademark "pied au cochon" (which we ordered without foie gras because we thought it was coming with the other dish). A little unusual in its gooey sinewy texture, this is the kind of thing that works as an appetizer but is just overwhelming as a main dish.... which is certainly was, and more than enough for two people. Share it family style if you must order it, but it's a miss otherwise.
- Their even more trademark "Duck in a can." This one was indeed a hit, and the biggest success of the evening. It included half a duck (with a nice chunk of duck fat that you probably don't want to finish) plus 100g of foie gras, and plenty of delicious sauce including butter, oil, something basalmic, and thyme. We shared it three ways but it would have been better split two ways or consumed as a large meal for one person.
- A special risotto ($80 plus $20 extra for foie gras) prepared in a parmesan cheese wheel bowl that infused (too much) parmesan flavor. It was nice for a few bites, but the rich, creamy and salty melted parmesan completely drowned out the more subtle (and expensive and even more delicious) foie gras which is a big culinary bummer at any price, let alone $100.
- Poutine which was about as good as that from Belle Provence but not as good as that from Frite Alors, because the fries weren't crunchy enough. Not sure why they offer it.
Service was very polite and attentive, when it existed. Fortunately we had a nice group with great conversation but waiting over 60 minutes for dinner after appetizers does funny things to your appetite... especially when they serve you unlimited french bread in the meantime. So, in the end we had great appetizers, no foie gras filet, and main dishes in all the wrong proportions for a pretty high price tag.
Given how great others' experiences seem to be here, I'd like to come back, maybe in a smaller group their staff could handle better, and maybe with more concrete info about what to order and not.
*Having heard rumors of epic cruelty in Foie Gras production, I checked out all free the well-written articles I could find online, as well as the first two YouTube videos on it (one pro and one con). I was insufficiently horrified by what I found especially versus beef production, but please message me if you have a better link. -
Review from Myles P.
8/28/2011
BEWARE AMERICANS!!!
I have never, ever in my life been treated as rudely as I was at Au Pied de cochon.
My friend and I cabbed all the way from our hotel in Vieux Port to try this raved about restaurant. Hurricane Irene hit hard while we were en route, so the rain was the definition of torrential. The time we arrived was 4:54, and when we tried the door in the pouring rain (=no coverage or overhang) the door was locked. The waitress pointed at her watch and gestured the number 5, to signal to us that no, she would not be opening the door for us to come in out of the rain for at least another 5 minutes. Wow.
We should have left then, but decided to give it a shot and wait under an overhang down the street. 4 minutes later when we came back, we walked in to what looked like a very nice restaurant. We asked for a table and the hostess asked us if we had a reservation.
The restaurant was literally empty, save for the staff whom were basically just watching us. She said: "oh, sorry we are booked tonight." Naturally, we laughed and looked around figuring she was joking. When her grimace failed to lighten we said "Seriously? There is no one here!" The manager then stepped over and confirmed that sorry, they were all booked for the night. Keep in mind there is literally no one in the restaurant, and it's Hurricane Irene outside. Is your blood pressure going up yet? Mine was....
But I maintained composure and tried again. I said, "oh man, we are so bummed - we just cabbed from Vieux Port all the way up here because it sounded so good (from YELP reviews, of course). He pursed his lips, shrugged his shoulders, and motioned for the door.
I felt like I was being kicked out as I opened the door and we stepped back out into the pouring rain. As we walked away he yelled as an afterthought that if we wanted to leave a phone number he would call us in the event of a cancellation. At this point he was just being snide, and all I wanted to do was give him the finger. I wish I had but we were already so wet that we put our tails between our legs and just kept going.
Now, the reason I started this post with Beware Americans, is because there is no doubt we were being discriminated against as Americans. I say this having lived in Montreal for 5 years while attending McGill University. I love Canada and actually believe it to be a far more well balanced and sound country (albeit a little conservative) than the US. While I lived here I came to realize that there are certain people who really can't stand Americans; mostly due to our foreign policies. So there is some discrimination in this town.
But discrimination like this I have never experienced before, so I write this warning so that hopefully no one will have to feel as demoralized as we felt leaving this restaurant.
We ended up at one of my old haunts, L'Entrecote St. Jean on Peel, which was delicious. Go there instead! -
Review from Kiera S.
Montréal, QC
8/11/2011
Truly unique dining experience. If you're on Weight Watchers, cancel your subscription right now, since this will probably blow through about a year's worth of points in one shot.
Duck in a can is great but not my favourite, though the presentation is cool. Absolutely get the fois gras poutine, but be sure to have your cardiologist on speed dial first. Try the blue cheese/apple/endive or the beet/goat cheese salad - ithey are delicious, and will make you feel slightly less guilty about everything else you've ordered. And make reservations in advance, especially if you plan on going on a weekend. -
Review from Jennifer M.
8/12/2011 4 photos
I live in NJ. Let me just say this - The Poutine is worth the 6 hour drive up Route 87.
Foie Gras doesn't get any better than this.
Skip the trotter.
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