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Holder Restaurant Bar
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 11 pm
Sat-Sun 10 am - 3 pm
Sat 5:30 pm - 11 pm
Sun 5:30 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- 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:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy, Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
46 reviews for Holder Restaurant Bar
Review Highlights
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"Both the foie gras with gingerbread and beef tar-tare were..." In 3 reviews -
"my beef cheek bourguignon was phenomenal." In 4 reviews -
"It's not very often you find goat cheese that is not gamy." In 4 reviews
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45 reviews in English
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Review from Diego K.
3/25/2012
Holder has great atmosphere and a great menu, fantastic service. Definitely call ahead for reservations, ideally not the same day. We called earlier on a Saturday and the earliest available was 9:30pm.
The salad with parmesan flakes is great. For cold appetizers, highly recommend the gravlax with yellow beets. For a hot appetizer, try the warm goat cheese dish, or the calamari.
The tilapia entree was perfectly cooked and well seasoned.
For dessert, the Bulgarian yogurt with honey and nuts is different but a good choice of something new. -
Review from Christine L.
4/30/2012
I'm going to confess that I'm writing this review a bit late so I might be a bit hazy on my food. The atmosphere of Holder is incredibly classy but since it's located in the heart of downtown Montreal I expect nothing less. The first time I came in here it was spectacular, dragged in here by my friend's mother urging us to try the fried ravioli, a mixture of cheese blended with a bit of jalapeños. I am a huge jalapeno poppers fan so I couldn't stop reaching for more, despite the heaviness of the starter.
After, I decided to drag my friend back there so that we could get a better sense of the restaurant. We ordered my usual drink, a Jameson and ginger ale, then proceeded with the meal. At one point the waiter disappeared but for 9:00 pm at night it was relatively packed. I was craving seafood so I ordered a pan-seared tilapia in my pidgin French which came out relatively nicely. I'm not a big fan of tilapia as I often think it's a very cheap fish but this one was dressed nicely for the occasion. It was served on a bed of julienned carrots and other greens topped with almonds (I think, again forgive me my memory is hazy). Not bad, but not knock you off your feet amazing.
Overall, not a terrible dining experience, our waiter was a bit lack luster but hey he didn't ruin the meal. However this place is incredibly pricey and for the price I paid I expected much better quality food. But hey, you're on vacation splurge a little. It was a decent choice for the price but with no regrets now I leave the decision making up to you. -
Review from Kimberly S.
Ottawa, ON
2/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
We were visiting Montreal from and went to Holder for our belated Valentines day dinner on February 18/12.
We ordered a nice bottle of wine, a steak tartare appetizer, and salmon dish and a mahi mahi special for mains. The food was fresh. However, it was busy, so sometimes empty plates waited on our tables and wine glasses sat empty while our waiter was MIA... Not a deal breaker though.
However - partway through our meal a waiter that was refilling water glasses tipped a full glass over and it landed in my lap. Staff were quick to respond and give us a new table cloth/chair etc... The waiter who spilled it, of course, sincerely apologized for the accident and directed me to the washroom where they had hand dryers so I could try and dry myself off. I was not impressed that they did not offer to comp us anything for this. Even a drink, dessert or the appetizer we had already enjoyed being deducted from our bill would have been an appreciative gesture. I instead had to spend the rest of the evening with wet jeans and we were left not feeling overly impressed.
We enjoyed the food, but we would probably try another restaurant before returning to Holder again. -
Review from Thao N.
Brossard, QC
5/16/2012
The food at Holder was definitely above par. I really enjoyed my beef cheek bourguignon and my friends enjoyed their tartare and steak. The atmosphere was exactly the type we were looking for, a relatively louder bistro.
Service was great and extremely helpful although it was very busy. -
Review from Robert T.
5/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
Really nice restaurant in old Montreal. This is a really nice place to take a date. The wine selection is wonderful. For me, the beer selection is pretty weak, but that's pretty much what I find all over Montreal, so it's hard to ding the place on that. Food was great, and I'd go back here any day. The free wifi was nice too.
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Review from Lara P.
3/22/2012
Beautiful place for brunch with a French bistro feel, like Balthazar in NYC. The servers are ethereally beautiful and the breakfast options are congruent with most brunch places. They serve soft boiled eggs on egg cups which add a novel and nostalgic touch. I had the Eggs Benny, which were textbook good and my boyfriend had eggs with bacon and he raved about how the bacon was wonderfully smoked. He also had cafe au lait, which he enjoyed so much that he was contemplating ordering a few more but he had the temerity to stop himself. All in all, it was a very nice and relaxing place to enjoy yourself and people-watch since there was a high number of very good-looking patrons while I was there.
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Review from Barry M.
10/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
This has to be one of my top fav meals ever.
Started with the french onion soup. (it's not just called onion soup in Montreal...?) Wasn't served scalding, which is good, who wants to stare at their food in front of them for 5 minutes so they don't burn themselves? Traditional serving with a top layer of bread below the cheese... cheeze wasn't super stringy, broth wasn't overly salty.
Salmon tartar was amazing. I could eat a bowlful of this. Could have included more croustini, but bread is included with service anyway.
Lobster ravioli as the main. So buttery and delicious, I felt guilty eating it. My stomach was fighting a battle of being full yet still wanting more. -
Review from Michael N.
Vancouver, BC
1/26/2012
Awesome brasserie with good value. Would eat here again. Good for a first date or on a romantic weekend to Montreal without being overly soppy.
It's certainly got that 'French' feel to it and the food was very nice too... -
Review from Sam E.
Montréal, QC
2/18/2012
Steak on a Sunday! Took our reservations and upon arrival we were seated promptly. Great appetizers, and we both ordered a steak each. Unfortunately they were overcooked, and the floor manager came over and apologized profusely, agreeing with the fact and didn't charge us for the meal. Based on the fact that I had been there in previous years and always had great food and service, I'll easily go back!
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Review from Merrill H.
1/3/2012
We popped in on a rainy night and were able to find a table. It appears they seat their customers by language-- French in one section, English in another. No big deal- just an observation. The food is good and is served quickly. The grilled vegetable couscous with merguez is delicious! Holder is very generous with the amount of merguez they serve. mmmmm!
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Review from Ana W.
8/15/2011
Good food, great service, and a nice ambiance.
I came here with my dragon boat team and they were very kind to accommodate a party of 30+.
My favourite dish of the day was dessert, Goat cheesecake with mango compote. It's not very often you find goat cheese that is not gamy. -
Review from S S.
Toronto, ON
8/2/2011
We were staying at the trendy Place d'Armes hotel in the Vieux Port/Old Montreal and only had one night in the city. We asked the concierge for recommendations for a semi-casual French cuisine restaurant in the area (we weren't in the mood for over-the-top dining at Club Chasse et Peche, Toque, etc). She recommended Holder. Absolutely fantastic! Food was delicious, all wait staff were very attentive, and price was extremely reasonable ($120 for 2, including $40 bottle of champagne, tax & tip).
We ordered cream of asparagus soup with crab and ham (great depth of flavor), beef cheek bourguinon (amazingly flavorful and tender), duck confit on a bed of arugula with potatoes, and fish soup (the only disappointment, since it was too fishy---think anchovy taste instead of a delicate fish soup). The waiter recommended a butterscotch tart/ice cream dessert---delicious combo of hot and cold!
We will definitely return on our next trip back Montreal. -
Review from Mike S.
8/14/2011
Very disappointed. I went several years ago and it was good. I went last night and it was nothing close to the same experience. Our waiter was useless. He wasn't present at all. I asked for rum & coke, he brings me apple juice. Tired of waiting for him I actually get up and walk over to the back for some coke. The food was fair. Nothing special. The owners were nowhere to be seen and it showed. There appeared to be some kind of a manager lurking around. But he clearly was not concerned about the professionalism and efficiency of his staff.
I gave a 2 star review because the first time I went it was 4. But last night was a 1.
Good luck. -
Review from Lucy G.
9/6/2011
Boring, uninspired decor.
The bad:
Steak tartare was covered in cheap sauce.
Salmon tartare was bleh.
Mussels were bland and the meat was tiny- like dime sized.
The good:
Duck gizzard salad was good, the foie gras was yummy.
Goat cheese app was good.
Overhyped. Not much of a personality.
Missing a lot of flavor! -
Review from Cynthia L.
8/5/2011
Nice ambience, good (not great) food. So the biggest caveat is that in its yelp posting, it says "Good for kids: Yes." I believe that I need to clarify that this is right only if your child is potty trained. There is no changing table in their bathroom. The hostess was kind enough and told us to use the banquette we were sitting on to change our daughter's poopie diaper. She was obviously being accomodating, and stated that she let people do that all the time. I'm not sure how many customers would like to smell poop during dinner, but we had to do it anyway. So I apologize to all of those who were there the night we ate there.
Another interesting note is that they seated those of us with kids in the back area. Every single table in our section had a child with them. It seemed odd but somewhat understandable. That way, the kidless could "enjoy' their meal without being interrupted, I suppose.
I ordered the braised short rib. It was ok. I probably ordered the "wrong" thing because I could have done it better myself at home. However the steak tartare was quite tasty and a good portion size! My daughter had the salmon which was perfectly cooked and the haricot verts were al dente!
Probably won't be back but it was a good meal, but not outstanding.
Thank you to the kind hostess who let us change her in the open... but this may not make your patrons happy. -
Review from Lawrence L.
6/30/2011
Holder Restaurant is an awesome bistro in Old Montreal. The menus come in either English or French and the server will determine by looking at you which menu to give you :p.
Our waiter was quite knowledgeable about the menu and the wine list but we balked at the expensive Burgundy and went with the Chateau de Cedres instead but the waitress gave us a pretty sour look about that.
Nonetheless, that didn't impact the quality of our food - awesome steak tartare, carpaccio, lobster ravioli and beef cheeks. Great dessert too - I had the Sucre a la creme, which is basically fudge and nuts.
I've heard it can get really noisy. I'd just say it was lively. I would definitely come back. -
Review from Matt R.
Montréal, QC
11/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Lobster ravioli and gnocchi (special) are great treats. They do beef tartar very well here. Great staff and service.
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Review from Stan L.
9/28/2011
my buddy and i came here for dinner recently since it was close by to our conference hotel..
we were seated promptly despite not having reservations and it was relatively packed house..
service was prompt and friendly.. my buddy got the duck confit and i got the beef cheek bourguignon.. the execution was spot.. the duck confit was crispy, ducky and beautifully prepared... my beef cheek bourguignon was phenomenal.. really a simple dish.. but the beef was ridiculously tender.. the braise was rich and hearty..
all this was washed down with beer..
if i'm back in montreal.. i'd definitely head back here.. it seems like it was packed with locals -
Review from Mr T.
8/30/2011
Food is good. Prices are ok. Ambiance is good. Service is good.What else can you ask for.
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Review from Karen C.
8/7/2010
Beautiful restaurant in an equally beautiful building.
Came with 3 coworkers on a Weds. night around 7 and was glad to have a reservation - the place was pretty crowded.
We all started off with some Canadian beer and decided to skip appetizers. 3 of us ordered the T-bone & pommefrites, another ordered tilapia.
No sooner had I sipped my beer, my entree was set down in front of me. A little too quick, I felt like there was no time to relax.
T-bone was so-so....cut very thin. Since I asked for mine rare, it was barely cooked (obviously) and not hot, the butter they put on top wouldn't really melt.
Pommefrites were also nothing special...flavor was there but they were more soggy than crispy.
Overall, fun/nice atmosphere with mediocre food; I think you can do better.Listed in: O Canada
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Review from Cheryl B.
2/16/2009
This was my second visit to Holder, but my first review. The temp outside was a wonderful 18 degrees as we strolled from our hotel to the restaurant only a block up the street (thank goodness). The dining room was warm and inviting as we hung our parkas in the coat room. There is a good variety of banket, center table and bar seating. There are wonderful copper accents in the room and the lighting is an interesting pattern of iridescent glass and metal.
My choices from the menu were simple and rustic which fit my desire for comfort food due to the cold weather. I started with a Grey Goose dirty martini, and my normal 3 olives...the olives were not the usual gigantor ones served locally here in NOVA, these were quite petite and as I bit into my first one off the skewer I realized it was not pitted! I don't mind, but it helps to know ahead...and let's face it spitting those out in your hand isn't too graceful in public. But the bartender did my drink justice...dry and oh so dirty, and the glass was full...yummm.
My starter was a vegetable soup with a great beefy tomato broth as the base, nice touch of sage in the background, salted and peppered to perfection. The veggies were rough chopped including scallions, zucchini, chunks of tomato, petite lima beans and julienne mushrooms. The steaming bowl was topped with fresh shaved parmesean.
Main course consisted of beef cheeks (no, not the ones you sit on silly) bourguignon style. This is classic French cooking...this method slowly simmers the beef in wine which tenderizes cuts of meat that would have been too tough to cook any other way. The flavor of carrots, garlic and onions came shining through in the wonderful sauce that draped over the mashed potatoes like a velvet sheath. Simply paired with the beef and mashers were haricovert....green beans folks! I tried to figure out if the chef had actually used a burgundy, as the rich sauce could have been done with a good cabernet instead.
All in all the meal was everything I wanted that evening and since I'm headed to Montreal on a regular basis I will probably go again. The nice thing here is that the staff instantly recognizes us Americans and quickly opts out your French menu for one in English....Merci!Listed in: Dirty Martinis, done right!
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Review from Laura O.
Halifax, NS
1/25/2011
Restaurant Holder in Montreal (via http://www.halifood.com)
During my recent birthday weekend, spent in beautiful Montreal, I managed to have a somewhat impromptu celebratory dinner at one of the city's trendier bistros: Holder. Being one of the restaurants that I had stumbled upon during my pre-trip online research, I was excited to physically stumble upon it as well, while taking a snowy stroll through Old Montreal on the Saturday night of our long weekend. The frigid temperature and proximity of Holder to our accommodations, the W Montreal, might have also played a part in our quick decision to jump in and try Holder - that, and the fact that a customer just leaving the restaurant, who eyed us eyeing the menu, excitedly approached us to vouch for the bistro as a must-try. We were sold.
We entered Holder with cautious anticipation, it was eerily quiet on the streets of the city and it wasn't exactly tourist season, even in Montreal - we weren't sure what kind of atmosphere awaited us behind those doors. Once through the entrance, the loud bustle and conversations of an absolutely packed restaurant erupted in our ears. We walked into a full-on, middle-of-a-Saturday-night rush, in downtown Montreal - and there wasn't a seat in the house. Actually, there was ONE left... a high-top for two on the bar side that we happily accepted.
The menu was very French, which was absolutely fine because I had a desire to try salmon tartar for the first time on this trip, and Holder was one of several bistros I noticed had it on their menu in downtown Montreal. My mind was made up on that pretty quickly. To begin the meal, I chose the salad of new potatoes and marinated octopus. (Pardon the photos - all done on my trusty iPhone).
My dinner date started with Holder's take on insalata capresa, throwing in arugula and figs for good measure - a very nice addition. My potato and octopus salad featured a surprisingly nice grainy mustard vinaigrette with lots of tang; enough to balance the rich texture and flavour of the octopus, as well as the starchy potatoes.
The salmon tartar was done with yogurt and Mujjol caviar, and served with a lovely baguette crisp and micro greens. The flavour was decadent and rich, the perfect match for the crisp bread. I love the texture of raw fish and the essence of salmon, so I also had no troubles eating it straight from my fork with no accompaniment. My date opted for a very French beef cheek bourguignon with mashed potato and mini green beans. Our server had assured him the beef cheeks were actually a Holder specialty, a dish that had been helping them to earn their reputation. I don't think a bite was left on the plate when he was done.
As you know, I'm not easily sold on dessert. To be completely truthful, I couldn't even finish my tartar, however, it was my birthday dinner and so I was talked into splitting something sweet. We ordered the chocolate mousse with coffee ice cream, and were presented with a very cute dish - the perfect size in my opinion. The mousse actually wasn't a mousse at all, and after asking our server about this he explained that there isn't quite a direct translation from english to french for the word mousse. This was more of a ganache, the texture being much more dense than a real mousse, and the flavour very decadent. The house made coffee ice cream was very nice, and the tiny chocolate-covered coffee bean on top an adorable touch. I suppose I was happy after all that we finished off the meal with a little something sweet.
Back out into the frigid streets of Old Montreal, softened by wine consumption, full bellies and the sight of that beautiful drifting white snow against the frozen cobblestone sidewalks.
(photos on http://www.halifood.com) -
Review from Tae K.
12/3/2010
Came here on a Friday for lunch while on a business trip to Montreal. Given that it's in the financial district (Old Montreal), the crowd felt appropriately corporate. The ambiance was lively and the service was prompt and accurate.
I had the Beef Cheek, which was excellent. It was served on a bed of mashed potatoes and haricots. The sauce was a bit too savory, but didn't overpower the meat, which was so tender that I didn't even need to use my knife. Overall, my palate was pleased.
This is a good venue for business meetings and casual meals, but wouldn't be my first pick for a romantic night out. -
Review from Brent F.
10/24/2008
Went here on a Thursday night after walking past a lot of the restaurants along the port street. Holder was much bigger, busier, and had more life that many of the places (and was slightly recommended). My experience was a little bit mixed. They are obviously quite busy, so you aren't going to get the most personalized service here. The food is solid and everyone is running around busy, and the place has a bustle about it.
I had the buffalo mozzarella and tomato salad which was excellent. The main course, a "stew" dish was a little boring, but filling at least. Our desserts were pretty good. Nothing over-the-top impressive. Wasn't blown away or anything, but its a good place to go to be around a lot of people in a big open and modern warm space. -
Review from Emma B.
Toronto, ON
10/6/2009
Had lunch here yesterday and was really impressed.
Atmosphere: Really warm and welcoming...with slight illusions of grandeur without going nuts. Essentially, my kind of place!
Food: Everything on the menu looked amazing...so I decided to order based on, what I like to call, food window shopping. Aka...I'll have what that guy's having. I went with the daily soup to start - a tasty carrot and sweet potato bisque, then had the grilled salmon for main. That salmon was made to perfection...one of the best I'd ever had...the word scrumptious comes to mind. And the mashed potatoes and the citrusy butter drizzle was delish as well.
Service: We were seated promptly and out waiter was super attentive...he even took the time to explain each special in French and English - which I said wasn't necessary but he said he didn't mind since it would help me (since I can only catch every other word or so). It was a very busy lunch hour but he also took the time to come back and check on us more than I would've expected given the number of people there.
Verdict: Would definitely come back again! -
Review from Gabrielle J.
10/5/2009
Such a shame Yelp does not have Canadian presence yet... I'm sure the locals have lots to say about this gem amidst their city.
Knock. My. Socks. Off. That is what Holders did to me.
I started with a roast vegetable gazpacho topped with goat cheese- heaven! (Although my sister found it too similar to salsa)
Next up was lobster ravioli with a truffle oil sauce while my sister had her usual steak-frites.
A bottle of Brouilly and we walked out the door with a bill under $100!
How fantastic to be able to eat in such luxury without paying too much money!Listed in: MONTREAL
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Review from Eva T.
Toronto, ON
9/5/2011
Holder is a large Bistro style restaurant with great service and even better food. Not terribly expensive either. We had a $28 bottle of wine! I had the caprese salad and the steak tartar. Both were exceptional; the tomatoes delicious and flavorful, the tartar was traditionally seasoned but the egg was already mixed in (which is fine by me). A really nice variety of desserts too. I only tried the lemon tart and it was wonderful.
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Review from Jeff G.
12/6/2010 1 Check-in Here
Came out the snowy cold to the most delicious moule frites (mussels and fries). The mussels were delicious! Be sure to ask for some bread to help soak it up. Mmmm. The frites were perfectly cooked, but not quite crispy enough. Maybe cooked a little while ago? Served with mayonaise, of course. About $16. I also had a nice, but small, glass of semillion-chardonay for $6. I did not leave hungry. I only wich I had room for creme brulee.
The restaurant is very nice with colorful, subdued lighting. The bilingual staff was excellent and friendly. -
Review from Susanne J.
Hope, BC
Can't wait to go back to Montreal so I can spend another night at Holder. Love the place. Was a perfect night with perfect dish after dish. Especially loved the Salmon tartare with yogourt and Mujjol caviar, great to chase with the Lobster ravioli, beurre blanc and truffle oil.
Listed in: Finding My Happy Place
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Review from Faye C.
5/4/2011
Came here for brunch - the eggs benny are to die for (although I'll ask them to go a bit heavier on the hollandaise next time). Just delish! My friends ordered the omelettes and frittatas - both delish also. Can't go wrong!
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Review from Elle P.
4/23/2010
I ordered moules frites (mussels and fries), but unfortunately they were out, so I got the lobster ravioli. It tasted fine, but a forgettable dish. I had the creme brulee for dessert. Also tasted nice, but forgettable.
My dining companions really liked their dishes. I snagged a few fries from a friend and the fries were indeed very crispy, tender, and delicious. *sigh* It just made me wish I could have had my moules frites.
The restaurant has a lovely old-fashioned moneyed old boys' club feel. I think it's all the big heavy food and impressively large bar. The service was pretty good overall, especially considering how large our party was. -
Review from K M.
Toronto, ON
10/4/2010
Came here last Friday night around 8pm with a group of 10. Hopping with people and a great atmosphere. Not the place to go for a quiet dinner as it was quiet noisy but maybe that was our group making all the noise! Food was good although I found it pricey for what I got. I had the Lamb special which was great but not good enough for $30. Service was surprisingly attentive given how busy they were. We were settling in for a 20-30 minute wait at the bar (yes, we showed up w/o a reservation) when our table came up after only a 5 minute wait!
Tried my friends Talapia and it was quite nice and more reasonably priced that the Lamb special. Steaks were reportedly good as well.
I will definitely return next time I am in town. -
Review from Marc J.
London, ON
7/23/2010
Food and service were rock-solid the night we were there. Serves a big menu of bistro/brasserie fare. Prices are reasonable for what you get. More importantly, the food is expertly prepared and served.
Located in a huge space with lots of tables so it was a bit on the loud side. But it seems like a great place to meet friends. -
Review from willi p.
Markham, ON
12/16/2009 3 photos
Very brisk for Christmas lunch. I strongly recommend reservations. It is very humourous that they would turn us away when the place was empty when we walked in (see picture). But clearly a popular place and by the time we left every table in the place was full.
Without a reservation in busy Christmas lunch season I would recommend a reservation for anything more than 2 people. We sat at the bar.
Expensive lunch:
$10 soup
Lunch special $19 soup and pasta
Food was ok.... one of my colleagues had to send the lunch special back and the meat was raw. To their their credit they did check shortly after the first bite and were quick to bring a new plate out.
I have great respect for restaurants that have staff that can recognize a problem quickly. I think this was reflected in the tip. -
Review from Michael L.
3/19/2010
Great atmosphere, friendly staff, hot french canadian chicks littering the joint, and most of all, great food.
I wish I had something funny to say about this place, but I was pretty buzzed. The foie gras on gingerbread was super good though - which is all I can remember.
Would I eat here again, absolutely. -
Review from Stephen T.
Updated - 1/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
Fantastic! I enjoy visiting this place when I'm in Montreal!
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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3/22/2010
Second time here and it still ranks right up there! This is a really great experience for those of… Read more »
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Review from Nathalie L.
Edmonton, AB
9/11/2010
Went here for lunch and the food was absolutely great! The server was very nice and honest with his suggestions. The main courses were about $20 each. The taste, presentation and first class service were top notch for such a great price.
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Review from scott s.
8/30/2009
As Lisa N points out, the Foie Gras with gingerbread was executed well. Unfortunately, any sous chef should be able to execute this dish and the pairing is practically a standard.
The warm potato and octopus salad was meh. Tender octopus was muted by an ocean of mustard sauce.
The meal went downhill from there.
For main courses we ordered the Lobster ravioli and the Roasted Scallops.
The ravioli were edible though they tasted as though they were purchased from a distributor rather than made fresh.
The scallops were a complete disaster. Listed on the menu as "
Roasted scallops, saffron sauce, leek "confits", spinach" they were served wrapped in bacon. While that's not a crime in and of itself, it is problematic when patrons may not eat pork products and that is not listed on the menu.
We're not helpless or zealots - so we cut the bacon off and began to eat but the scallops were cooked past well done and rubbery. We left the plate practically untouched.
For dessert we ordered the fruit salad with sherbert and the runny butterscotch cake in order to hedge our bets and I'm glad we did.
The cake was fine if not good but the fruit salad was a disgrace to chefs everywhere.
A plate of day old cut fruit replete with the juice that had leaked out of them as they died a slow death. The plating was that of a school cafeteria - slopped on the plate. If one eats with their eyes first, my eyes were disgusted.
I would not recommend this place, nor trust the opinions of those who do. -
Review from Mary B.
8/11/2008
The location/ambiance: It's located somewhat between the financial district and the old port, so if you're there for sightseeing or business it's a decent choice for a nice meal out. The place is classy (lots of warm tones - brown, copper) without being too pretentious. It's not too cramped, but we were there on a Monday night so the crowd was sparse anyhow.
The food: I enjoyed the food for the most part, some dishes definitely were better than others and there were a few disappointments along the way. The warm potato salad with marinated octopus was out of this world. It was bursting with flavor and was more octopus than potato salad in the end. The goat cheese starter was also very nice, though quite rich. For entrees, we had the lobster ravioli and the fish & chips. The ravioli was fine, but nothing special. I didn't care for the presentation or the mass of onions in the dish. The fish was nicely done and melted in your mouth. Dessert was a brownie with chocolate ice cream and some sort of raspberry sauce. This was the worst part of the meal and it really lacked a deep chocolate flavor.
The service: This is where the whole experiences goes a bit awry. We're seated promptly by a stiff maitre d' and then wait for 20 minutes for anyone to come take a drink order or tell us about the specials. Finally the maitre d' comes over and says something off-putting like, "Looks like you're anxious to order" and takes our orders without telling us the specials. The food comes promptly and was true to the menu. We receive no other service until halfway through our entrees I finally flag down a waiter to order another drink. Apparently, he was our waiter but this was the first time he spoke to us, as he was busy flirting with other patrons. One of the drinks was delayed until our entrees were nearly completed. For dessert, he reeled off a long list instead of giving us a menu. Only during dessert were we ever asked how the food was. The waiter was jovial but he was not good at his job service wise.
This is hard to rate because the food was overall very good but the rest of the experience I would never want to re-live. Average. -
Review from JEFF S.
8/7/2011
Decent place for lunch. Lively environment. Friendly, professional staff.
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