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Icehouse
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
22 reviews for Icehouse
Review Highlights
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"We had a couple of pitchers of bourbon lemonade." In 7 reviews -
"And the lobster burrito was an amazing combination of..." In 3 reviews -
"Get their early since they don't take reservations." In 3 reviews
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20 reviews in English
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Review from Rowan U.
4/4/2012
I rolled in here the other night with Yelper Extraordinaire Matthew P. and was blown away by the food.
The nachos we had to start we're fresh and awesome with plenty of toppings and more than enough (but not too much!) cheese - no sloppy nachos here.
We (four of us) the shared a serving of fried chicken tacos, half a bucket of fried chicken, some jalapeño poppers, and we washed it all down with a pitcher of beer. Everything was great. Sure, almost everything was fried, but I would argue that's WHY it was GREAT.
Apparently they use a method of frying called "chicken frying", which (strangely enough) doesn't always involve chickens... Whatever. It tastes great. Especially the fried chicken taco, which basically re-defined the dish for me - I now know why I had to fight Matthew for one of them, and why he fought like a wild dog over a bone for it.
Same thing for the fried chicken - absolutely fantastic. If you can handle your friend food, then you need to try it. It's not even that fried, so don't worry about taking out extra life insurance.
The atmosphere and decore is spot on too; nothing too fancy, but keeps with the theme of the food, and is cool. They've got a nice outdoor section which I'm looking forward to try as soon as it's open this year! -
Review from Jo M.
Toronto, ON
3/20/2012 1 photo
I'm glad there was such a massive line at Schwartz's that I by-passed it and went to this little gem instead. I was seated promptly outside (Saturday, 7:30pm), it was warm out but they also had the patio heaters on, if I came not even 10mins later I would have ended up having to wait for a seat. I went alone, and the servers were very nice and attentive. I didn't know how the ordering process went though, so I made the mistake of getting my seat first then asking for a menu. There is no "menu" per se, it's written on the board inside, so you have to read there and then order. Also, it's only in French.
Ordered the fried chicken tacos and a beer ($17 for both). At first, it looked like there wasn't much chicken in the tacos, just pure lettuce, but underneath was a fair share of chicken. The chicken had a bit of a fishy taste to it, I'm assuming it was in the same batter or same oil as the chicken? Nonetheless, it was pretty good. Crispy outside, juicy inside. I didn't like the fact that there were tons of jalapeno chunks inside the taco though. Perhaps they should serve those on the side, or put less? Also, why don't places ever use corn tortillas?? I think they make tacos taste much better.
I wasn't super full from my meal, but full enough. Getting a dessert would have been nice, if I was able to read the menu from the outside. Maybe they need to print out their menu for the patio customers.
Overall, I'm glad I was able to try this place out. I'd eat here again next time I'm in Montreal. -
Review from Oleg R.
3/9/2012 ROTD 5/26/2012
Icehouse is a controversially good place. I've been postponing a visit there for a long time for one very annoying reason - they don't take reservations. And I don't go to places where I don't have a guaranteed table. Me and long lines are clearly not friends.
Anyways, Icehouse is an interesting take on a New American cuisine taqueria style:
Location: located one block from the St Laurent madness, it's very convenient to stop by for those awesome tacos
Reception: this place doesn't take reservations, and is a little too proud/arrogant about it. I understand that one of them has studied economics 101 and figured out that low supply (or impression of it) will result in higher demand. Food is not economics. You have influencers, who get pissed off at waiting and no reservations, and you have everyone else who will follow influencers. I personally know at least 20 foodies, who refuse to go to Icehouse just because they don't like the uncertainty and possibility of waiting.
Ambiance: it's a garage converted into a restaurant. Super simple design, good, crowded, loud ambiance. Slightly pretentious in its simplicity, but still interesting.
Food: food is great. I had all kinds of tacos, burrito, sides - it is all good. Sometimes a bit too much sauce or parsley, but guess what - tastes differ.
Drinks: they don't have coffee, tea, or anything non-alcoholic except water and lemonade. So if you don't drink, you are shit out of luck. And no espresso after your dinner. Suck it up and go to second cup around the corner. And then re-read my point about pretentiousness/arrogance above.
Conclusion: I will only go back there on weekdays around 6-7pm, since this is when they will likely have free tables. If they don't (and they don't take reservations), I will totally log back on here and change this review to a much worse one.
Note to owners: People, there is opentable, telephone, text messages, internet, mail pigeons for gods sake to take reservations. If you don't make enough money to install phone/computer to take reservations, I'm sure there will be plenty of Montreal yelpers who will donate enough money to buy you a netbook! I will be the first one! -
Review from pascal t.
Montréal, QC
4/28/2012
Great food. Simple and very well made. No pretentiousness just great flavors. I'll just quickly review the items I have tried so far:
The sweet potato tempura tacos are to die for. So much so that we had to go back the day after for seconds. They're messy to eat and addicting.
The lemonade with bourbon.. exquisite. Perfect balance and choice of ingredients. It just works so well.
Refried bean burrito is excellent and bursting with flavors!
In short.. go to Icehouse, the hype is not fluff! -
Review from Risa D.
1/14/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Come early to get a table, Icehouse takes no reservations and is tiny. Recently we mosied in at 6:30 on a Friday with a group of 4, sat down at the last available table and had a pitcher of bourbon lemonade within minutes. We watched 3 other groups come in right behind us and then leave.
Icehouse isn't fancy, it's just central, tiny, friendly and no fuss. Plastic trays, no plates, no menus but everything we tried was undeniably tasty. The prices could be better but the bill at the end of the night still seemed cheap to our Toronto friends, and the food is really filling and flavorful. The $20 lobster burrito got rave reviews, I loved the cheese stuffed jalapenos and my deep fried oyster po'boy.Listed in: Inexpensive Family Dinner…
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Review from Ben M.
2/27/2012
Bourbon lemonade was outta this world, as was the food. It's tiny, so expect a wait, especially if you're with a group.
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Review from Rannie B.
Montréal, QC
10/22/2011
Tiny, casual yet trendy place close to St-Laurent with some great food and drinks at an acceptable price.
They have 6 piknik style tables inside, seating approx. 24, and about 6 seats at the bar along the wall. The outside terrace, that is partially heated, seats about 16-20 people.
As others mentioned, they don't take reservations so don't go there during prime time without expecting to be seated outside or, worse, wait on the street (no room to wait inside) for a long while.
For some, the food and drinks will be worth the wait & the cold.
Menu is on a chalk board inside.
The hits: Bourbon lemonade, fried chicken taco, pulled pork taco, lobster burrito, ribs, fried chicken and popcorn shrimps
The misses: Beef taco, vodka lemonade, crab stuffed jalapenos (they could have been stuffed with squirrel and one couldn't taste the difference the peppers are so overpowering).
Service was fast and friendly.
Not a bad idea to call ahead and see what the wait time is. 514.439.6691 -
Review from Jennifer M.
Montréal, QC
12/15/2011
Just came back from the Icehouse and it was amazing.
We had trouble finding it at first since its really small and not well indicated. Luckily, we found it and got a table.
The place is soooooo small! it has 4 large picnic tables, 3 small tables made for two people and counter space. Super quaint and super cute though.
To drink, i had a bourbon lemonade....... SO GOOD. went down the hatch pretty well. my friend had a normal gin and tonic.
To eat, we were recommended the crab cakes, lobster burrito, chicken wings, short rib tacos and bbq chicken tacos (new to the menu).
The crab cakes were the best i have ever tasted, Crispy outside, tender inside, and tasted only of crab.
We settled on two different kinds of tacos (comes 2 on a plate); the short rib and bbq chicken. The short rib taco was a bit dry to my liking but my friend thought it was awesome.... so varying opinions.
The BBQ chicken was amazing! it was topped with fried brussel sprouts..... really interesting.
On the side, we ordered a biscuit. it was really good and ginormous.
Next time, try a bucket. they just empty it out in front of you on the table. Cool concept.
Total bill: 53$ not bad for the amount of food we had and quality.
Tip: get there early since there is limited seating and don't expect to be there long. Service is quick and efficient. -
Review from Matthew P.
Montréal, QC
Don't Mess with Texas
Chef Nick Hodge and Chef Mike De ponte know what they are doing.
Of Houston origin, Hodge can chicken fry with the best of them and with a vast culinary background, the little extras put him a head above the rest. Chef De Ponte is a hard nosed, homegrown boy who can sling like a champ and his wing man Ocho is Mexican...nuff said. Ice house is the flagship for authentic Tex Mex cooking in Montreal and worth every penny. Everything, literally, everything is good to orgasm inducing (I am partial to the fried chicken taco and the crab stuffed Jalapenos). And mad props to Libros(it means books) the center piece of the front of the house, for whom without, it wouldn't be the same. Ice House, a Montreal Must.
I'll try Kitchenette soon enough...
Waka WakaListed in: Best Dark Corner
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Review from Lesley T.
You know that feeling when you went to a 5 à 7 that turned into more of a boisterous, flowing 5 à 9, and then you emerge back onto the street feeling a little tipsy and undernourished, wanting something substantial to fill your belly? Maybe you'd planned to go home and cook, but those plans are quickly being squashed by the urgent rumble in your tummy. Well, Icehouse is perfect for that moment.
They don't take reservations, so it can be difficult to get a seat. It was getting on toward 10PM on a Thursday when I went and the place was still full (the patio especially packed), but we managed to score seats at the bar lining the wall, conveniently close to the paper towel dispensers on the wall (these aren't the neatest eats).
I loved the bourbon lemonade and its mix of sweet and sour at just the right alcoholic strength (i.e. not too strong for me, a bit of a wimp that way, but you could definitely taste the bourbon). And the lobster burrito was an amazing combination of textures and flavors. Super satisfying and filling. Yum!
My only complaint is that our meal was quite pricey for what it was. Our bill for two lobster burritos and two tumblers of bourbon lemonade came to almost $75 after tax and tip. That said, it would have been more reasonable had we not chosen lobster - the other mains are less expensive.
I'll definitely return and try some other items on the menu (the tacos, for example). All in all, this is one of the most original places I've tried in Montreal in recent years. -
Review from Alexandra D.
Montréal, QC
5/11/2011
The fried chicken is amazing. Do yourself a favour and share a bucket with friends. Portobello tacos are delicious and my friends really enjoyed the fish tacos although I haven't had a chance to try them yet. Have also had the steak burrito, which was good, but next time I'd stick with tacos and friend chicken.
The lemonade with vodka is great.
This place is small, so be prepared to show up early or wait for a seat. You do feel rushed to leave, but that's understandable given that seats are at a premium. Once the patio is open that should help.
Both times I've eaten here I've been seated at the bar, along the wall. The napkin dispensers on the walls will remind you of school, but you'll soon see that they're really quite useful.
Great place for some kick ass tex mex eats, it's quickly become one of my favourites in Montreal.Listed in: What I love in Montreal
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Review from Seb L.
Montréal, QC
12/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
The steak burrito is delicious.
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Review from Concertina F.
Montréal, QC
8/2/2011
A friend and I passed by Icehouse last Tuesday. I had heard a lot of fairly positive things about it, as well as some grumbling about price... so it was high time that I made it over there to formulate my own opinion. We arrived before 8 o'clock and the place was almost completely full.
We managed to get seats at the counter on the terrasse, which turned out to be the most awkward restaurant seating I've experienced in a while. The counter is too shallow to comfortably sit straight, yet the chairs are too close together to be able to sit sideways without being forced to play footsie with your neighbor. Not to mention, on a beautiful summer day when you want to sit outside and do some people-watching, you've actually got your back turned to the action and you're facing a wall. Moral of the story: don't sit at the counter.
We started off with the bourbon lemonade, which was very tasty and generous on the booze. I had two of these over the course of the evening and I was definitely tipsy, even after all the food we ate. Yum.
Between the two of us, we shared the fish tacos, the lobster burrito and a side of the jalapenos stuffed with crab. The fish tacos were entirely forgettable - I can't even remember what they tasted like. Probably nothing. The lobster burrito on the other hand, was really really REALLY good. Wow, yum. I think the stuffed jalapenos were good too, but the lobster burrito was so tasty that I went into obsession mode and literally couldn't think of anything else while I was eating it.
We were still hungry, so we decided to order an oyster po boy to share. It was really tasty, but not much like the oyster po boys I've had in New Orleans. I was also thrown off by the fact that the waiter described a po boy as a "sandwich that basically has anything fried in it". Not quite, buddy. In any case, I definitely understand the appeal of this sandwich. Messy, saucy and tasty. I really wish there were more oysters though. We cut our sandwich in half and I only had one oyster in my half. (To be fair though, my friend had tons in his half). It was good, but the lobster burrito was better. Or... maybe I was just hungrier when I ate the burrito. Who knows.
The total with tax and tip was well over $100, which, yes, is way too expensive for what it is. But next time, I would just grab a lobster burrito at $20, and that's it. No $9 bourbon lemonade X 2 next time. Okay, so it's not exactly a "cheap eat", but cheap lobster is kind of an oxymoron.Service is... not fantastic, but it wasn't BAD either. This is a fun place with a casual vibe, so no, you won't be doted on, but you'll get your food with no problems.
Would I go back? Sure. I probably wouldn't order any fried chicken or ribs because I've spent time in the southern US and I'm not sure that Icehouse can hold a candle to the freakishly good side-of-the-road cheap wonders that I gobbled up down there.
But it's a fun place.
Just don't sit at the counter. -
Review from Kiera S.
8/2/2011
The pitchers of bourbon lemonade are enough to make anyone an instant fan of this place. The chicken and red fish tacos were good. The stuffed jalapenos were excellent (but don't bother if you can't handle some fire).
Good location for people watching, and the napkin dispensers on the wall are great idea since these can be some pretty messy eats. Perfect for a late evening meal before heading out on the town.
I'll be back. -
Review from Randa H.
Montréal, QC
5/2/2011
Was there this past weekend for a drink and some munchies. Love the atmosphere, awesome music, nicely surprised. Too bad the pation wasn't open :(
We had a couple of pitchers of bourbon lemonade. It was a beautiful day so this really quenched my thirst. We had the popcorn shrimp and frito-lay pie to nibble on. The pie was decent, and the shrimp were addictive! Almost had a sweet and sour taste to them.
I was checking out other folks and their dishes, the fried chicken and ribs looked awesome. Nice and messy! Will definitely be back for a meal.
Was a little on the pricey side, but worth it if you want a little treat. -
Review from Sami A.
9/8/2011
Apparently Montreal has some sort of a misty-eyed exoticism about Texas. Being from Texas, I decided to see what America's beret did with beer house cuisine. Tacos, burritos, and sides are available and people kept raving about how "Texas sized" the portions were. (They were more of a Texas snack.) I recommend the popcorn shrimp. It was so good that I wanted to cry, which I did when I saw the $100 bill.
Listed in: Fast & Fun Reviews, Montreal
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Review from Grant R.
Montréal, QC
4/8/2011
First and foremost, come here for the eats. When one walks in to this fine little hidden gem amongst the rough of lower Plateau they are immediately confronted with a comfortable and relaxed décor, some punk music jamming on the stereo (as was the case tonight), and plenty of happy patrons enjoying delicious grub.
I tried all of the different tacos (chicken, ribs, porc, portobello, "red-fish") and was happily surprised at all the results. Everything was delicious and the waiter brought out some home-made tabasco and habanero sauces which were very much appreciated.
As far as the drinks go...not my cup of tequila. Don't get me wrong, the bar offers great options as far as unadulterated beverages (tequila, gentlemen jack, etc.) but the Micalada (not too certain on that pronoun nor its spelling) which is essentially a caesar with beer in lieu of vodka and mexican soy sauce and worcestershire in lieu of clamato (not really like a caesar...) was an underwhelming and underboozy beverage for my taste. I attempted to order a pitcher of margarita (hey, I'm from California) and was informed that it would a) cost $50 and b) be worth it. Overall, a) it did but b) it definitely was not. I don't know about you other yelpers, but when I drink a margarita i expect to taste tequila. If I wanted to drink candy, I could go drink at any crappy bar on the lower main. If I wanted to pay an insane amount of money for said candy beverage, I could ask some idiot first-year from McGill where Candy Bar is.
In any case, I can get a nice little drink at Else's down the street, and head over to Icehouse for a delicious little snack. After yoga at Moksha, of course. -
Review from Helen Adilia A.
Westmount, QC
6/16/2011
Fried Oyster Po-Boy! This little place serves ups some serious southern inspired food. Get their early since they don't take reservations. The patio out front is a great place to people watch.
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Review from Corey C.
8/22/2011
One of the best 'veggie' burritos I've ever had. The bourbon lemonade was really good, too.
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Review from Sara F.
Montréal, QC
7/13/2011
All I can say is WOW! We ordered the popcorn shrimp, clam stuffed jalapenos, pulled pork tacos and lobster burritos. Oh and of course, some bourbon lemonade. I would have licked the plate had their been anything left. Service was A+, everyone was quick and efficient. But be prepared to wait, we waited between 30-40 mins on a Wednesday night for a table for two.
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