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Lawrence Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants French Restaurants Canadian (New) French, Canadian (New) [Edit]
5201, boul. Saint-LaurentMontréal, QC H2T 2L9
(514) 503-1070
- Hours:
Wed-Fri 11:30 am - 3 pm
Wed-Sat 5:30 pm - 11 pm
Sat-Sun 10 am - 3 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Brunch
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
14 reviews for Lawrence Restaurant
Review Highlights
14 reviews in English
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Review from Grant R.
Montréal, QC
2/1/2012
I'm just going to go ahead and forego the supposedly hipster-ish-ness of the Mile End and its denizens (WOW!! THERE ARE HIPSTERS IN MONTRÉAL!!! HOLY SHIT!!!!) and just cut to how spectacular this restaurant is.
After making a reservation earlier in the day, I biked over in the freezing rain with my girlfriend for a nice little mid-december date night. The server that took the reservation earlier in the afternoon was still there to seat us and get us started with the menu and some drinks.
I had a nice little manhattan made by the classy barman and my girlfriend had a martini. Both drinks were at least as good as any that could be found by my favorite watering hole down the street. Afterwards, the server explained the menu and specials to us; it's nice to have a server that knows what they will be serving.
We had an opener of deliciously-salted smoked mackerel with endives, bacon, and a poached egg (I hate eggs) which was very dificult to not inhale. Well-balanced flavours and easily enough to start off two non-obese people.
After mulling over the mains (the beef offal with mashed potatoes was given very serious consideration) I went ahead and go the pork chop served with braised radicchio, and mustard fruits (who even serves these!?!?). It was perfectly succulent and went along swimmingly with its plate mate. My date ordered the celery-root tortellini with parsley, walnuts, and sheep's cheese. She seemed pleased enough and the morsels that I managed to steal away from her were mouthgasmic.
Finally, we decided to close off the evening with a baked alaska which was (not surprisingly) quickly consumed and savoured joyfully with our wine (I forget which, but it was red and French and hit the spot).
As for the décor and ambiance; it was perfect. There were some curtains up at the door to a) keep out the draft (I mentioned freezing rain, right?) and b) provide entertainment to the diners as they watch the guests fumble about to find the entrance.
I certainly hope to be back soon. I hear that the brunch is phenomenal. -
Review from Kay I.
12/31/2011 1 photo
I felt like I was walking through Brooklyn when I came upon this section of St Laurent. Usually, I get really turned off by the hipster scene, but Lawrence is just so damn.....cool. You can't deny it, they're cooler than you are and you're lucky to be the little brother they allow to tag along.
The food is perfect. The service is exceptional. The menu is ahead of the curve.
Lawrence is a must when visiting Montreal. -
Review from Katherine B.
Montréal, QC
4/18/2012
Lawrence is ont of Montreal's finest restaurants. With a chef, sommelière and staff that are warm and welcoming, they also have a delicious british inspired menu that oozes comfort. Their weekday 5@7 1$ oysters is a bargain for the area and their weekend brunch menu is outstanding. Should you be craving a traditional butter and sausage filled british breakfast or a fine poached trout, Lawrence is the place.
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Review from Nadia C.
Montréal, QC
10/2/2011 1 photo
Pink rosettes peak out from under inventive appetizers and gold trim around the plates accentuates the richness of the main course. Lawrence is modern, fresh, perfectly cooked cuisine served on your grandmother's china.
The sophisticated clean space is transformed into warmth by one-of-a-kind plates, mason jar candle holders, a scattering of unique lamps, black and white photos on the wall, a beautiful polished wood bar.
The service is flawless. The bread is amazing.
A simple dinner menu that changes with the season will have you coming back for more. I have eaten several fantastic appetizers, but my husband's main course was always better than mine. His duck confit and wild mushroom pasta dishes were both outstanding. My arctic char with dill, potatoes and horseradish had pickles as a secret ingredient, and pickles for me are a lunchtime thing.
Watch out for the cocktails - unabashedly strong and delicious. I want to dive right into the Pimms lemonade.
Can't wait to try it for brunch!
Dinner for 2 (2 appetizers, 2 mains, 3 Pimms lemonades, 1 pinot noir and no dessert) was $145 (tax included). -
Review from Dean A.
Montréal, QC
11/16/2011
The Mile End hipster scene has gone off the deep end and Lawrence is the proverbial Pied Piper leading the pack. Between the plastic wayfarer glasses, bouffant Elvis cuts, and faux-rustic military watches on NATO straps, you'd think you'd died and gone to hell - until you try one mouthful of the baked sunnyside up eggs with celeriac and mushrooms, in which case you'll think you died and went to heaven
The breakfast is absolutely outstanding from what everyone else tells me. I wouldn't know because I can't stop ordering that Baked Eggs/Celeriac dish over and over and over again. It's like the Mona Lisa of breakfast recipes, absolutely perfect. The coffee is pretty good, too.
The waitstaff is really friendly and give off that neighborly vibe, and the patrons are easygoing and patient, which is important because space is at a premium and the lineups can get heavy on weekends. Otherwise the decor is nothing to write home about - mix-n-match vintage vibe with a touch of industrial chic thrown in.
450-ers, read 'em and weep - this is what a breakfast place should be. -
Review from Shirley D.
Montréal, QC
2/2/2012
Now, writing this would mean exposing a good deal...for oyster lovers....Why? Lawrence has THE best deals for oysters, only 1$ per oyster from 5:30-7. That's extremely cheap. Their oysters are huge, sometimes small, and are so fresh. I give this resto 5 stars for their great oyster prices and quality. But i would give it 3 for its regular dinner menu. Their portions were too small, and I didn't find it that special to be honest. My boyfriend had some sort of pasta dish, my friend and I had a fish dish. Don't get me wrong, it was good...but a bit too overpriced for what it was worth. I would go there for oysters, and oysters only.
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Review from Anabel L.
Toronto, ON
8/31/2011
My sister and I love brunch. And she sometimes turns to Montreal Brunch and Breakfast to get the intel on newer places (P.S. I, too, enjoy this site). A month before my visit, she told me about Lawrence.
I wanted to try it for dinner but we were so slow to move this weekend and just couldn't get it together for a "night out". Or maybe it was just me. I was a bit of a mess this weekend. I think it started with the Pinot Grigio I pounded back on Friday night as soon as I got in. After that I was so sloppy - dropping things, lots of things, many times. *sheepish grin*
We woke up late Sunday morning and Bixi-ed over to find a crowd. Luckily I was still half-asleep and could use the time to fully wake up. The host took our name and number and said he'd call when a table opened. It was about a 20 minute wait so we decided to get some bagels and enjoy the sun and spring breeze.
Once inside, the place reminded me of Sunday lunch by the sea. Do you know what I mean? Picturesque and lively, kinda like a sweet song. I don't know how else to explain it. The staff seemed to love their jobs which means flawless service. In fact, in keeping with comparisons that make no sense, our server was like daisies in a milk jug. I know, these metaphors are so left field...anyway...
Something to take note of is the fact that Lawrence changes both its menus via twitter - so 21st century. I love it.
Okay seriously, aren't you dying to take a fork and pop that benny ball???
It's so plump.
I had the Eggs Benedict ($15) and my sister had the Fiddleheads, bacon, soda bread and fried eggs ($16); the only caveat being that they ran out of fiddleheads and substituted asparagus. Score! We don't like fiddleheads, but love asparagus.
My sister's dish was delicious. Everything was seasoned well and put together made for yummy breakfast bites. My Benny was equally yummy - decadent hollandaise over perfectly poached eggs and lean, smoky ham - not like deli ham or bacon, but like porky pork.
Lawrence's brunch was definitely Top 10 for me, but one particular menu item catapulted them to the top of the list. The beigne au chocolat ou au citron aka homemade doughnuts. Yes, doughnuts. It's no secret I love doughnuts, but my sister who doesn't enjoy them as much as I do loved them. Something tells me I'll find her there next weekend eating a plate on her own. Ha.
These little beignets are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside with a filling of either chocolate or lemon. The lemon curd-custard was tangy and sweet and oh so heavenly. At only three per order for $5, don't share. Sharing sucks, here's half of the third that I had to give my sister. You'd think she would have let me have it, considering I'm younger. It would have been the big sister thing to do, non? Vous vous engagez? -
Review from Tara F.
Montréal, QC
8/14/2011
Lawrence is somewhat of a crossbreed between a French restaurant and a Mile End bar: A professional, organized bustle with a relaxed attitude. Elegant, meticulously prepared foods are served on faux ebony striped tables lit by candles in mini-mason jars. A Rococo-style sofa, on which we enjoyed cocktails while waiting for our table, sits in the corner of what is otherwise cosmopolitan industrial décor: Strings of hanging light bulbs run haphazardly across the dimly lit room and all the ventilation pipes are exposed.
The trendy candor of the atmosphere here is much like the food. We started with the beef tartare, which was exceptional and impeccably spiced, and braised squid and aioli, which tasted overwhelmingly like the sea and not much else.
The main courses were outstanding. The confit de canard, served with red cabbage and onionized potatoes, was a crazy tender piece of duck meat underneath a nicely crisped outer skin. The artic char, flawlessly moist and flaky, arrived on a bed of samphire and buttery dill potatoes. The dish was organized in a way that blended all the foods on the plate, and each ingredient seemed to have been carefully selected to achieve a perfect amalgamation of tastes and flavours.
For dessert, the marbled chocolate cheesecake was satisfying and not too sweet. The Paris-Brest, a praline cream-filled pastry topped with almonds, was superb.
The menu at Lawrence changes slightly every day, and is posted on Twitter only an hour or so before the restaurant opens. Perfect for those who enjoy gastronomic suspense. The dishes are straightforward, yet delicately detailed. The freshness of the ingredients is palpable, and the food is delicious. I recommend this place. -
Review from Ais C.
Montréal, QC
10/30/2011
Mile End's best restaurant for fine dining with a casual but sophisticated environment. Predominantly local produce, the food is tasty, savoury, well proportioned and decadent. You can get anything from a delicious classic burger cooked to med rare perfection, to a skewer of duck livers and beef heart on toast. Its a fun environment, their wine list is dangerously delicious, and the service is warm and efficient. I'm drooling now thinking of those burgers...
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Review from Risa D.
10/17/2011 1 photo
We had a delicious meal seated in the big windows of Lawrence this weekend. Everyone raved over their plates. Maybe a little expensive, but refined subtle flavours and portion sizes that make it all feel relatively affordable and worthwhile for nice night out with birthday-celebrating friends. For myself the charcuteries and cocktails were the standout. I don't love a sweet drink, but I love blackberries and the blackberry martini was sweetsour, strong, perfection. The risotto was light, comforting, friendly. The decor - simple red communal table, dangling lights of different shapes and sizes, mismatched rose china - all suited the kindly company and thoughtful service to a T.
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Review from Alexandra D.
Montréal, QC
5/17/2011
I've only been for their brunch, but it doesn't disappoint.
Not much has changed from Sparrow's old rotating brunch menu, and that's definitely not a bad thing. If anything, I prefer the light, airy atmosphere of Lawrence. Check out the funky wallpaper in the restroom if you get a chance. And of course, check out the hip, beautiful people who flock here for brunch.
Service is friendly and professional, and the food is fantastic. I keep ordering eggs benedict at other brunch spots and being disappointed because nothing quite matches what I've had at Sparrow/Lawrence.
Be prepared for a bit of a wait for brunch, although they do take reservations for larger parties. Brunch will run you upwards of $20, but it's worth it. -
Review from Aubrey L.
8/17/2011
We were recommended this place for brunch and it did not disappoint. The french toast was amazing and so was the English breakfast, but I would go back for the divine chocolate and lemon doughnuts. They were heaven in my mouth.
The staff was so helpful and nice and I absolutely loved the simple, yet cool design of the restaurant. The bathroom wallpaper is cool and the lights above the bar are awesome.
This is a must in Montreal. I would also be interested in going there for dinner. -
Review from Ryan J.
7/17/2011
This place was great. 5 of us went here for a nice dinner out during my friend's bachelor party weekend. Everyone ordered different things and everyone was extremely happy with their meals and the service was top notch.
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Review from Anthony K.
Montréal, QC
4/25/2011
"Chef Marc Cohen and a few of his colleagues from Sparrow have struck out on their own, just a block or two from their former home, and it means that this stretch of St-Laurent (between St-Joseph and Bernard) now has an even deeper roster. It also means that Cohen has an opportunity to show off his chops a little more, and that's exactly what he's done. His menu is short and sweet, but it still manages to display scope and daring, and it's loaded with tempting options (especially if you're open to all things offal). Standouts include succulent morsels of squid with samphire, skewered duck hearts with a celeriac remoulade (my pick for best appetizer in the city, at the moment), a hefty pork chop au jus with wilted radicchio and sautéed apples, and an offal "salad" (including kidneys, tongue, and some lovely pickled walnuts). All that plus a top-notch service team, a charming, extremely knowledgeable sommelière, and a positively killer wine list."
Since I wrote the above, things just keep getting better. A recent visit was absolutely note-perfect, from the oysters, to the delicate bay scallops and potato galette appetizer, to the mains, which included a heaven-sent (and wonderfully herbal) pork chop and a hearty, immensely satisfying marrow bone and beef pie, to the wine (Métras Fleurie!).
