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Dominion Square Tavern
Categories: Restaurants Gastropubs Nightlife Gastropubs, Nightlife [Edit]
1243 Rue MetcalfeMontréal, QC H3B 2V5
(514) 564-5056
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 12 pm
Sat-Sun 4:30 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:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
27 reviews for Dominion Square Tavern
Review Highlights
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"...old school drink, the Tom Collins, the absolute best Tom..." In 3 reviews -
"...of cocktail like the Gin Julep, Tom Collins and the royal..." In 1 review -
"...and interesting like the home made tonic they make." In 2 reviews
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26 reviews in English
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Review from Belle D.
Montréal, QC
3/3/2012
Ever read some F. Scott Fitzgerald and wished you could experience the Roaring Twenties like Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan? Dominion Square Tavern welcomes you to the last years of La Belle Époque, where drinks are made with homemade tonic, coffee comes out of an enormous brass machine, and out-of-reach wine bottles are taken down with the help of an old, wooden, library-styled ladder.
I went for a drink with a friend. Here, cocktails are delicious and crafted with care - none of that sloppy pre-counted watered down stuff. The atmosphere is beyond pleasant, and the clientele mainly consists of young professionals with a dapper edge dispersed by a few supercute older couples enjoying their meals. An awesome scene that suits the venue.
Keep reading: http://belledenuitmont... -
Review from Dale D.
Mississauga, ON
5/13/2012
What a great hidden treasure in Montreal!
This place oozes ambiance with everything 100% genuine.
The bar is a great spot if you are dining alone and want to chitchat with the staff. This place has a unique old world charm vibe and has hired staff to make it authentic.
The meat dishes seem to be the specialty with a 'Sunday Roast" featured once a week.
The food is served hot and fresh, original recipes and presentation. The moules and frites looked really good.
Nice atmosphere, great staff and good food. This place is on my top 5 places to dine in Montreal! -
Review from lino c.
Montréal, QC
1/30/2012
i have to say i've only heard good things about this place and finally got the opportunity to try it out!
this place is so charming and old school chic i would for sure put it on my things to do in montreal in 48hours list!
the menu was a little small but everything sounded delicious. the service was great...lots of eye candy serving and being served!
i dont know what the summer menu looks like but what was on for January winters in Mtl was perfect! -
Review from Risa D.
5/19/2012
This place is classy and beautiful now, but I secretly loved it when it was just a dusty old man bar with tall boys and a murky jar of pigs knuckles on the counter. Friends threw an annual Christmas / NYE party here for a couple years that was the most relaxed un-sceney place to hug in the season. Still, the belle epoque is a lovely and most welcome addition to the otherwise mall-and-Peel-Pub dominated stretches of the downtown core.
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Review from Jackie S.
Mont-Royal, QC
5/19/2012
I love going to Dominion! The food is always fresh and delicious and the staff is knowledgeable and friendly. I love even going just for a drink after work (my favourites include the Pimm cup and the gin tonic with their homemade tonic). With regards to food I love the pulled pork sandwich. Oh and their desserts are to die for.
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Review from laura s.
4/23/2012
I arrived in Montreal early for a conference, and was staying about two blocks away at the Hilton. My hotel concierge recommended it as a good local establishment, and to be sure to have the Gin Fizz.
It was a safe and quick walk. The atmosphere was warm, inviting, and safe for a woman traveler alone. I sat at the bar, and it was truly an excellent experience, even though I just had a sweet potato soup and the famous gin fizz. The soup was excellent - creamy but enough of the potato came though, and there was an interesting fresh dill and cold finely chopped broccoli spooned sparingly on top. Good portion size, and hit the spot after a long day of travel.
You must try a gin-based drink here - they are truly and justifiably proud of their very old school cocktail offerings.
Friendly staff and good prices. -
Review from Jeanan A.
Toronto, ON
I am blown away... Our hotel concierge recommended this place stating "it's from the 30's and still has a lot of the 30's charm. In fact some stuff you will find there still exists from the 30's" And he was right. The ambiance was so inviting. The food was amazing! We had the braised beef which seriously melted in my mouth. It had a bunch of sauce you can chose to dip into or not. We also had the chicken salad which was good. We had something for dessert (first one on the menu) it was sooo yummy!
The service was good.
I just can't say enough good things about this place. Will definitely be back to this place when we come to Montreal. -
Review from J.F. H.
The Dominion Square Tavern knows how to take care of people. Last Friday my sister, mother and I were looking for a place to have dinner, which was proving to be difficult since Prince was playing at the Bell center and every restaurant was filled to capacity. Most places looked at us like we were crazy and said they had no room. The hostess at the Dominion Square Tavern told us the same thing but the manager stopped us before we hit the door and said he thought he might have a spot for us, 5 minutes later we were sitting at a table sipping cocktails.
The place was packed and our waitress was running left and right trying to get people out in time for the show, when she came by to take our drink order she asked us if we were going to the show, to which we said no, she then asked us if we were in a hurry, which we weren't that seem to take a little pressure off her, giving us some of the best service I've had in a long time. We were looked after by our waitress but also by another waiter who had noticed our section was very busy, so he jumped in to help without any prompting. What made our experience so nice was the fact that everyone at the Tavern was there to make sure we had a great evening which we did.
The decor is very nice, as soon as you walk in the door you feel like you're in an old french tavern. The lighting is (in my mind) just right not to bright but not so dark that you can't see the person sitting across from you. They play an interesting mix of music which I found to be great, they got the volume just right, I could hear my sister and mother without having to strain my hearing. everything seem to be just so, right down to the bar tender with a mustache and the slicked hair.
And now the food, we started with cocktail the Tavern has a nice selection of cocktail like the Gin Julep, Tom Collins and the royal Gin fizz, all of them taste great and contain a generous serving of alcohol. We then had our main course I had the fish and chips, it was very good there are better places but this was good. The fish was light and flaky it didn't taste heavy and greasy like fried fish sometimes can, the fries were also good but like I said this isn't their specialty. Everything we ordered was well prepared from high quality ingredients and served with a nice presentation.
The Dominion Square Tavern offers a great all around experience but their customer service from the time you walk in to the time you pay your bill is incredible, this is why I would recommend it to any one who asked me, try it you'll like it. Just remember to make a reservation.Listed in: My Happy Hour
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Review from Andrew M.
Dollard-des-Ormeaux, QC
5/5/2012
Fun atmosphere. Good food. Great drinks. Make sure to check out the menu before since it wasn't huge. Definitely recommended.
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Review from Dean A.
Montréal, QC
12/31/2011
I had no idea this little gem existed until I was dragged there after Christmas shopping with a few friends.
The decor is really original (for Montreal). If you've been to Paris, it's a dead-ringer for one of those bistros in the Marais or Monmartre. It's designed like a shotgun (long rectangle) and has a baroque edge to it. The lighting is low, and mainly from iron candelabras on the walls and ceilings. Details on the walls are everywhere, lending a sort-of medieval vibe to it as well.
The waitstaff is very friendly and pleasant, and the drinks/food were perfectly fine. It's clearly not gunning for culinary stardom, but it's definitely a cut above regular pub-fare.
I think this place is amazing, and totally out of place with the routine, tourist-trap schlock that's currently littering downtown. A must-see! -
Review from Russell H.
If in Montreal, this place is a must. They have great decor and a fun atmosphere. The drinks they serve are delicious and interesting like the home made tonic they make. Also their Tom Collins is superb even though I don't usually drink them - I saw it was suggested by another yelper and tried it.
My wife and I went on a Friday for lunch (our first meal in Montreal actually) and the special for Friday is Fish and Chips with soup or salad. I chose the soup because it sounded good and forgive me but I forget what it was called. What I don't forget is how it tasted. I couldn't help but recognize the french influences to this English style pub food. The creamy based soup was silky and nothing less than outstanding (man I wish I remembered what they called it). It had the essence of duck throughout and some bits of duck bacon as part of the garnish. The carrots and turnips in the soup were all cut into perfect microscopic cubes which must have been thrown in as a late addition as they still held consistency well. The fish and chips were coated and fried perfectly and the side of homemade tartar sauce was tart, briney and creamy.
My wife had the braised beef on top of cheddar mashed potatoes, dark and rich gravy and topped with a pickled carrots with hoarseradish. The meat was falling apart as soon as you touched it and I admit to dipping my fries (sorry, "chips") in the gravy more than once.
Please give this place a try if you love eating food that is made with an appreciation of how to do it right. You can see through the window to the kitchen that preparation is being done the right way.
...And FYI, our waitstaff was excellent and attentive. -
Review from Daniel H.
4/5/2012
Love the decor and ambiance. Inside, it is decorated with an old 20s motif and feels charming, yet edgy. The drinks were awesome. We had a couple bourbon drinks and a vodka soda. The soda didn't taste like it was from the bartender machine, but from a bottle. It was so delicious. The food was good too. We had the scotch egg, the meat dinner, and the corn fritters. The scotch egg was perfectly cooked, gooey and runny. The meat dinner came w/ a deviled egg, taurine, cured meat, and some veggies. All in all, this is a great spot and reminded me a lot of my home, DT LA.
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Review from Helen Adilia A.
Westmount, QC
4/26/2011
Dominion Square Tavern is by far the best option in the downtown core for a good meal accompanied by excellent and attentive service. I personally love how simple there menu is. There are few choices but they are all equally as good, which makes the process of selection easy. This is great when taking newbies to Dominion, since you can actually recommend what's on the menu having probably tried it yourself. Hint hint, good for business lunches though you should make reservations!
Dominion has now become a favorite place for my boyfriend and I.The ambiance is great and feels like you have been transported back to the 1920's.Every detail is perfect from the glassware to the coasters. We love to go after the noon/afternoon rush for a great cocktail. Personal favorite, the canuck!Listed in: Good Eats and Fine Drinks
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Review from Lesley T.
8/2/2011 3 Check-ins Here
It used to be that when I wanted to go for a drink or a bite before or after a movie downtown, I really had to rack my brain. Then, Dominion Square Tavern opened and solved this problem. Great minds think alike, though, and this makes reservations essential (I've been disappointed more than once when trying to drop in). The decor is suitable to a tavern, though more upscale and with great attention to detail - I love the old antique phone, the fonts used, and the wall art. I can see the touch of the people behind Baldwin Barmacie, another bar with great decor details.
They have an ok wine list, but I prefer their cocktails, especially their gin & tonic with homemade tonic water. The Royal Gin Fizz is also a good choice. Food wise, I really enjoyed the roasted cod with kale and carrot purée: very flavorful and satisfying. It's definitely one of if not the best option for drinking and dining in the downtown area. -
Review from Bobby A.
1/9/2011
Excellent food, great service, an attractive staff and beautifully redone digs makes me give this place a full Five Stars without any hesitation.
Good eats in the downtown core of Montreal is practically nonexistent, you either have the choice of astronomically high prices in hotel restaurants or the local food court and not many choices in between.
For years I walked by this place and it was a run-down pub which served pig knuckes from what I saw advertised on one of their signs, never walked in, never wanted to, it just looked too much of a dive and a dead one at that.
Then I started reading about how they had redone the place and was serving gastro-pub fare, a trend which has come over the Big Pond from Old Blighty, in no small part thanks to chefs like Gordon Ramsey and Jamie Oliver, and has set the East Coast on fire.
I finally checked the place out for dinner last night with a good friend and both of us were very impressed with the experience. We both had the steak, a cocktail and dessert, all of it excellent. We were seated at the bar in front of what must be the most amazing copper cappucino machine I've ever seen in my life and looks like it just plucked out out of some Art Deco film like Fritz Lang's "Metropolis".
While prices are a little on the high side, this is still a great place to come for eats either after a movie or before a game.
Really love the old school Anglo-Canadian decor and touches like the wooden coat-of-arm shields representing each province and territory and the wooden molding.
Come here for a drink, you'll like it. -
Review from DAVE I.
Montréal, QC
12/20/2010 3 Check-ins Here
An episode of The Simpsons once accused the British of being food-boilers which may have been accurate at some period in time. I even have childhood memories of complaints about British fare being crud and tasteless. But beware there's been some changes going on in the past decade or so.
You'll find proof of this at British spots like The Burgundy Lion and my new discovery, The Dominion Square Tavern which opened in the 1920s. It was once part of an adjacent hotel which was burned down, then became one of the first gay bars, with ehhh hmmm a back door (You can still see the sign in the alley) for discrete access. Eventually it dwindled down to a run of the mill pub, which as a passer avoided because it looked like a dump.
In 2009 it came back to life and I have been going there since. The menu is brilliant and enticing with so many delicious options, one has trouble deciding on where to begin. As an Entrée, the Deviled Eggs, a throwback itself to the 70s dining experience, are simply rich and delicious. The Scoth Egg, I've had better but not to be overlooked. The winner for me is the Corn Fritters with homemade catsup. Deep fried corn. Sweet and succulent.
As mains I've enjoyed a delicious Skirt Steak with sides. It's wasn't mindblowing but it was admirable and perfectly cooked. Also I've tried the Bison Short Rib. Awesome! Its short-rib and its bison; perfectly braised and oozing with flavour. The only thing that's amiss with the entire experience is the minimal amount of seasoning. Salt, butter and other such flavour enhancers are not to be dismissed. Without salt and butter, mashed potatoes are just boring. Same thing with meat. Salt & Fat should not be feared.
The deserts are sweet and a propos, but nothing to make my eyes roll in the back of my head; but then I'm not a great amateur of deserts so take this comment with a grain of salt.
What one shouldn't miss here is the bar, the mixed drinks. They make their own simple syrup and use freshly squeezed citrus. All this attention to details makes, my personal favourite and old school drink, the Tom Collins, the absolute best Tom Collins I've ever had. That bar is not to be dismissed by any mixed-drink geek.
The service is a bit dry but not unfriendly and always courteous and professional and the restored turn of the 20th century décor will keep your eyes busy for a while. So apart from some seasoning issues I don't see a reason not to love this restaurant and I know I'll keep heading back again and again.Listed in: The ORGASMATRON
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Review from Sarah C.
11/17/2011
This place was just ok. Not bad but not particularly good.
I was directed there by a Montreal guide book and the place was hopping. I managed to get a seat at the bar where I ordered a beer and my sister ordered a gin and tonic.
Good points: The entire wait staff is painfully attractive. The bartender waiting on us looked like Don Draper. No joke. They all speak English and are very nice. My sister loved her gin and tonic, apparently the tonic is made in-house. She thought it was fabulous.
But none of this made up for the underwhelming food. It was a little expensive for what I got.
If you are looking for an ok, slightly expensive for what you are getting meal where you can oggle waiters this is the place for you. But in Montreal there are far better options. -
Review from Ato Z.
12/31/2010
Popped in for a drink on the way back to my hotel. Lovely decor, attractive and pleasant servers, and they made a good cocktail (I had a sidecar).
Nice place to grab a drink or enjoy a gastropub bite if in Old Montreal. -
Review from Francois G.
Montréal, QC
11/26/2010
Really an amazing place!
This is an english style pub-restaurant.
Deco is amazing and everything seems to be out of a century ago but still very clean. Even the washrooms go into that concept.
Food is a reinvented version of english pub classics. With a great price for what you have.
Excellent cocktail selection too. Try the "Canadian Old Fashioned".
I truly enjoyed the atmosphere there. An instant classic! -
Review from Karine L.
11/30/2010 3 photos
OMG! Super Tavern! As of last year, it was the only remaining real tavern in downtown Mtl where you could still get "une grosse biere"! They did convert the Tavern to a more modern one but by keeping its old fashioned style. They replaced the small little tiny wood bar by a super long copper top bar. The best place according to me to sit is in the corner across the entrance.
LOVE the fact that all the kitchen chef and staff is wearing vintage hat!
The cod was fantastic as well as the special Pork.
Service was good and fast since they are very popular spot for the pre-hockey game.
You have to try it! -
Review from Laura O.
Montréal, QC
6/21/2011
Terrible managerial service, decent food, decent regular service.
After working as a restaurant manager, bartender, and server for many years, I give all restaurants some time before I write them off my list. After lunch today, Taverne Square Dominion is no longer on my list. The server, Anne-Claude, was just fine, although she could have warned us that the meal I ordered (the salad with roasted chicken) was going to take forever. We were sitting down, with menus in hand, at 11:50. We ordered before the lunch rush arrived. The table next to us (arriving a good 15 minutes afterwards) had their dessert in hand just after we received our meal. Note that we didn't receive our meal until 12:25. For a weekday, workday lunch this is ridiculous.
When I asked to speak to the manager to politely voice my concerns (I understand her name is Virginie, although she never bothered to introduce herself - I found out her name from our server after our ridiculous conversation) -- she came and told us that it was our fault: "ordering off the menu" (e.g., taking anything but the special) takes time, and the roasted chicken in particular. Fine. But this could have be explained by the server (a point she acknowledged), or by the menu. Or by anything. Maybe even by a tableside visit. Then, Virginie claimed that it had only taken 20 minutes "according to the computer." Well, in real time, it took at least 35. She didn't apologize (even after I had mentioned that the salad greens had some sand / grit in them ... no it wasn't the croutons and I found sand at least three times), all she said was that the chicken was one of their most popular items and wished us "bon appétit" and walked away.
I didn't expect a discount, I just expected some common courtesy, concern for customer experience, and maybe just a little bit of professionalism. Virginie failed on all fronts.
The succulent chicken unfortunately left a sour taste in our mouths, thanks to Virginie.
(And don't worry, Anne-Claude still got 15% ... but would've gotten more if Virgine wasn't so terrible) -
Review from Shaun E.
6/5/2011
Second stop on a Thursday night and one of the few good options near Rue St. Catherine. The atmosphere was that 20s gastropub feel with all the servers in white. We stopped here without any issue getting a table. Enjoyed the gazpacho though it was a creamy version. I then went with the cod that was a good choice as well. Nothing crazy memorable although I has a nice buzz on to be honest. It was still a good stop and if you need a place in that area you probably can't go wrong here
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Review from Jim G.
10/24/2011
I cannot recommend this restaurant. Negative stars. The food and ambiance are excellent, however the wait service (Alexander F.) was substandard and the bad attitude was intolerable. This is where the experience falls apart. I consulted with waiter, Alexander F. as to a good wine to pair with my dish. Our meal was served, my wine order was not, nor was there any follow up to see if the meal was satisfactory. Waiter disappeared and was not seen until we had finished our meals. When I brought this to the attention of another waiter, Alexander F. finally showed up with an apology. No attempt to make amends so I have to fault management as well. When I explained why I was dissatisfied, Alexander F. dismissed my complaints and acted curtly when presenting the bill. I've worked in numerous restaurants. I know what core service is and I know the management has flexibility to make things right. I am very forgiving and would have happily allowed them to make amends (like discount my meal)- any token to show my business was valued. I know how important tips are. I have never left a zero tip until now. Shame, they could have recovered easily but did not care enough to bother. Food was great service came with a bad attitude. Leaving a bad taste.
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Review from Ernie H.
5/19/2010 1 photo
Charmingly overlit. I don't think our server spoke English but it added to the experience. Definitely recommend.
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Review from Ursula J.
3/17/2010 1 photo
a quick stop for an afternoon beer found us at this bright and airy old timey
pub, huge whiskey selection, and an old time feel. great atmospere. great decor and music. -
Review from Renaud B.
Montréal, QC
10/30/2010
Excellent culinary experience! I tried their pan-seared salmon with a side dish of grilled vegetables. After the meal, I orgasmed so hard that I rolled my eyes back to the point of seizing. The service was pretty good considering it was rush hour lunch time. The waiter was friendly. I mean even I can't hold a grudge against a guy goes so far as to apologize for being a bit late with our order. The decor was pretty kick-ass. It really made me picture how classy British gentlemen would have taken their meals back in the day. If I remember correctly, they also have a vast selection of spirits, including some home-brewed ones. My only complaint was that the price-portion ratio was a bit upsetting. Since I am a poor student with a voracious appetite, it sucks when good food costs quite a bit. I could have easily ordered another meal if doing so would not have made me appear like a glutton before my friend. Alas, the price we pay for quality! All in all, it was a solid place to go for lunch.
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