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Queue De Cheval
Category: Restaurants Steakhouses Steakhouses [Edit]
1221 Boulevard René-Lévesque OuestMontreal, QC H3G 1T1
(514) 390-0090
- Hours:
Mon-Wed 11:30 am - 10:30 pm
Thu-Fri 11:30 am - 12 am
Sat 5:30 pm - 12 am
Sun 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Valet
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy, Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
57 reviews for Queue De Cheval
Review Highlights
"I opted for the baseball cut Filet Mignon."
(in 2 reviews)
"Their wine list was very extensive and overly priced."
(in 12 reviews)
"We had the White Chocolate Cheesecake."
(in 3 reviews)
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56 reviews in English
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Review from Kevin W.
12/21/2011
Amazing.
The bartender handed me a cut cigar and lit it while asking my girl what she wanted to drink while we wait for our table. Enough said.Comment from Adam C. of Queue De Cheval 1/5/2012
Kevin, We are glad you enjoyed your time at the Q and our… More » -
Review from Damian S.
1/7/2012
Quelle dommage... as the French would say. Like watching a gorgeous souffle collapse before your eyes, this was the experience at Queue De Cheval. Brace yourselves.
A business partner in Montreal wanted to take some colleagues and me to dinner after a particularly successful event we co-sponsored. He was quite proud to take us to this steakhouse proclaiming it to be the best steak in the city. We walked in hungry and wide-eyed, the smell of the cigar bar pleasantly (really) entering the lobby/butcher shop in the front of the restaurant.
The first thing I took note of was the meat case that sold filet mignon for $79/lb. Outback steakhouse this is not.
We were seated upstairs. The restaurant seemed relatively empty for 9pm on a Friday night, so we got a very nice table by the front window overlooking the bronze horse statue (queue de cheval is French for The Horse's Tail after all). The decor and ambiance is beautifully done. Acres of rich woods. 'Bookcases' piled to the ceiling with wine bottles. Artwork adorned the walls that befit the restaurant's name. The centerpiece is a huge stainless steel funnel that encompasses the cast-iron grill on the main floor. A spiral staircase encircles this chimney to get you to the dimly lit, warm and rustic second floor.
Our pleasant waiter handed us our menus and then brought our first round of drinks. He went on to explain the steaks on the menu like any other high end steakhouse. They have corn fed beef from Colorado, grass fed beef from Nebraska and 'kobe' beef from Australia. Kobe can only be from Japan, so I was a little suspicious. He showed us several cuts of beef on a platter as well as what can only be described as a mermaid tail. Jamaican lobster tails that were 2lbs on their own. They also have Maine lobsters starting at 3.5lbs and going up to 6. Price of entry for these? $65/lb.
Enjoying our beers, our garcon came back and took our orders. The table ordered 3 Canadian filet mignons ($38) while I ordered a grass fed, bone on NY Strip ($53). At the waiter's behest, we ordered 3 sides for the table - Asparagus, garlic mashed potatoes and sauteed mushrooms. The sides were from $12 to $15 each.
Standing on ceremony, Pablo brought us our uncooked steaks to look at, telling us they would be served to us in about 30 minutes. Yep, they were steaks. Thanks bro.
Finally, our food arrived. A steak on a plate, adorned with nothing but a split bulb of roasted garlic. Nothing more. Here is where things went horribly, horribly wrong (well, relatively - no one died). I cut, nay, SAWED into my steak. I was not entirely impressed with how difficult it was to get through this meat. At first I thought it was overcooked, but it just turned out to be tough. More shocking were when the sides arrived. The asparagus plate held 8 small spears. The garlic mashed came in a small cast-iron urn holding perhaps two small servings and lastly a cup of wet looking mushrooms.
I took my two allotted spears of asparagus and meager tablespoons of potatoes. The asparagus was simply grilled. TOO simply grilled. Unseasoned, bland, and shockingly overcooked. At $2 a spear, pretty ridiculous. The potatoes were genuinely good. The best thing on my plate. And that's sad. I didn't have any mushrooms as they just didn't appeal to me.
I continued to fight through my steak. The flavor was fine having been cooked to my requested medium-rare. However, It was woefully underseasoned and I added salt. But overall, it was tough, gristly and disappointing. If I were paying for the meal, I would have sent it back. I probably would have sent this steak back at a diner. I bit my tongue and smiled as I did not want to embarrass my host and his restaurant choice.
We left after coffee and this morning, my colleagues and I had breakfast and discussed the previous night's meal. I was glad to find I was not the only one wholly dissatisfied with their food.
I live in NY and have been to many a high end steak house there and elsewhere. They're all better. Hell, The Keg in Old Montreal was much better. I can fire a much more mouth watering steak from Whole Foods in my own backyard. Queue de Cheval seems to rest on pomp and circumstance, and sky high prices. It lacked substance entirely. I think some people will brainwash themselves to think they are eating amazing food just because the price is inflated. They should rename it The Horse's Ass. I've given them a single star. A reasonably priced restaurant with the same quality food, I would have given two. If you want to feel like a rock star, get a steak dinner at The Keg and then spend the money you would have squandered getting bottle service at one of the swank clubs nearby. -
Review from Dean A.
Montréal, QC
11/16/2011
IF you have to have steak, do it here. This place ticks all the right boxes and is popular for a reason.
The decor is very busy - a sweeping two-story layout with wood panels, paintings with huge elaborate framings everywhere, and display cases with aged beef and wine all over the place. There's so much visually going on here it's like being in the attic of a an art-dealer/hoarder, and I mean that in a good way.
The food is excellent - just about anything you order will taste fantastic and they obviously take extreme care with steak preparation and presentation. The waitstaff are professional and well-informed.
The only thing to watch for in here is the mobs of businessmen doing power lunches and 5-7 meetings - it can get totally corporate in there, and I mean navy suits and garish Breitling Navitimers galore, although most Americans will probably feel at home in this type of steakhouse.
Overall, highly recommended. -
Review from Shadow M.
Montréal, QC
2/10/2012
Elitism and ageism at its finest. Service was somewhat lacking. Steak was a little overdone, even got one of their most expensive cuts. Surprisingly before ever going to the resto we took some steaks home to cook on the wood fire grill and they were great. Heads up, the plate is literally just the meat. Expect to cough up $10 or more for a "side" (i.e. a plate of cooked onions). Which the wait staff will conveniently omit and you will find the fine print if you stare at the menu long enough in the dimly lit room. I believe it to be overhyped. May give it another shot in the future.
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Review from Christian L.
Ottawa, ON
1/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
Queue de cheval has great steaks, but although being a great restaurant, i cant give it more than 3 stars for the fact that the servers are really pushing for you to buy a bottle of wine to rack up a bill. Sometimes i feel like they expect a bill for two to be 400$ (i.e. more tip for waiter). For that reason only, i cant give it more stars.
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Review from Li K.
North York, ON
12/20/2011
Went for lunch with a colleague... we skipped the $27 table d'hote... it used to be very good but is overrated now (in my opinion).
We each decided to have the 'bavette de filet mignon' with mashed potatoes... An awesome lunch for $27 each! -
Review from Jando S.
10/2/2011 17 photos
One of the Montreal's most well known steakhouses became the site of our most epic dinner during my friend's bachelor party weekend. In the midst of planning for the dinner, there was a tossup decision between this place and cross town rival Gibby's (http://www.yelp.ca/biz...). The deliberation ended with Queue de Cheval for one thing: amazing service. From the phone reservation to greeting us at the door to the end of the meal, they did one heck of a job in accommodating our party of 12 hungry men.
From the outside into the lobby, it's easy to see how beautiful this restaurant really is. In true steakhouse fashion, there are various cuts of meat from all parts of the world on display, something a true meat connoisseur can surely appreciate. We were able to get a spot on the second floor facing the street and the restaurant was like many other upscale steakhouses: trendy decor, well dressed patrons and wait staff, a lively ambiance just buzzing with activity.
Generally speaking, the food always takes precedence in any restaurant but in places like this, service is of the utmost importance. The wait staff was quick and handled everything with ease, we almost never had to ask for anything as water was filled quickly, bread was refilled automatically, and there was never any attitude. Our main waiter was sharp, humorous, and extremely knowledgeable about virtually every item on the menu and was able to make some killer recommendations for drinks and food. We decided to pass on their appetizers, a majority of which would sully our carnivorous appetite for the one thing we came for - steak. Almost all of us were sold on the 20oz Lou's Cut ($54), which is the place's most popular steak.
Along with the steak we ordered multiple sides of creamed corn ($12), truffle and parmesan fries ($7), garlic mashed potatoes ($5), along with a heaping of steak sauces: veal and truffle reduction ($6), cognac peppercorn ($6), and a cabernet sauvignon demi glace ($6) and staring at us was a hell of a meal.
Everything was fantastic. The creaminess of the garlic mash, coupled by the delicious sauteed garlic spinach was melt in your mouth good. There were multiple foodgasms galore over the Lou's Cut, a hearty Colorado imported hunk of steak heaven in it's medium rare glory, juicy and went great with everything. The steak sauces weren't even all that necessary, but once added, there was no going back. Every bite was enhanced, the flavors were so rich, it was just the perfect amount of food; life was suddenly perfect.
Along with the Australian red and whites we sipped throughout the night, including 4 orders every side and a Lou's cut, the price we paid (sans the bachelor of course) was a very reasonable $82 per person. The conversation was as excellent as the food which was stellar as the service. Steakhouses might feel a tad more expensive in Montreal, mainly due to the importing of all of the meat, but when in town, this is one of the best places for steak period.
Here's a parting thought for everyone: http://www.yelp.ca/biz... -
Review from Robert C.
8/30/2011
Was here for a bachelor party about 2 months ago. Must say I was really disappointed. There was a lot of hype behind this place and it's steak. I did enjoy the ambiance with the very open cooking space but other than that it was a let down. Service was good but not spectacular.
The steak was really nothing special, I've had better steak for much less at a variety of steakhouses. The flavor just was not there and they mask this with a lot talk about the dry ageing etc. The seafood was actually the highlight of the meal. The lobster and the shrimp were very tasty but wasn't enough to raise my review.
We spent about $275/person so it was overall unsettling to leave here not satisfied.
Save your money, try another place in this great city. -
Review from Bryan F.
8/25/2011
Looking at this from a perspective of where the experience ranked when compared to expectations, this was the worst dining experience of my life, hands down.
My guess? The place has gotten very popular and is now resting on its laurels. The steaks were bad- cooked poorly and very fatty; the sides were bad- small, some overcooked, some flavorless; the service was bad- waiting like 30-45 minutes for our reservation and then seating our large group at two separate tables despite our res which had existed for two months, forgetting dishes from our order, not remembering who ordered what, things missing from the menu, not knowledgeable about the menu or steak in general.
This experience was garbage from start to finish. An utter disappointment.
STAY AWAY. -
Review from Lesley T.
7/28/2011
I'd heard great things about Queue de Cheval over the years. Overall, however, I was disappointed.
First off, a disclosure: I am not a huge steak person. I like it, but I don't crave it. I don't eat it often. So you might wonder what I was doing at Queue de Cheval in the first place. It was a birthday dinner, and the birthday girl chose the restaurant. But my rating is for other reasons. The service was just kind of off. For the very high price you pay here, I would have expected much better.
On the positive side, we started off with a huge and succulent lobster tail. I have never seen a lobster that big. But the steak tasted fairly average - good, but my mouth wasn't watering. The broccoli was ok, but very plain. The creamed spinach was good.
They have a wine list that leans very heavily on the very expensive, designed-to-impress side. However, we managed to find a very tasty, somewhat reasonably priced Italian red that we really enjoyed. But I was savouring my last glass when the server accidentally poured another table's wine in my glass (mixing the two wines together). Ok, accidents happen, and at least they apologized and brought me a new glass of wine. But the replacement wine wasn't in the same league as our original bottle and so I lamented that lost glass.
All in all, for the price you pay here I think you could find better food and have a more enjoyable experience elsewhere. -
Review from Michael M.
11/2/2011
Food was above average (cream of corn was excellent) but the service at the bar was pretty subpar. Definitely not the same level of service as is given at the tables. 25+ minutes for a ceasar salad, and the place wasn't even busy. So, I'd recommend this place, but don't sit at the bar.
Comment from Adam C. of Queue De Cheval 11/2/2011
Thanks for your comments Michael. I will look into the bar… More » -
Review from Donlee B.
9/26/2011
The best steak I've ever had in my life was here. I had the kobe filet mignon, which was the most tender steak I'd ever tried in my life. Seasoned only with sea salt and held together by string because it would've melted otherwise, I have never had a piece of meat as perfect as this one.
I had the kobe at Nassau Casino a week later and the difference was like night and day, and even after the porterhouse at Peter Luger's, this was still my #1 by a damn sight.
The seafood here is alright, the wine overpriced, but all that matters is the steak. -
Review from eric h.
11/14/2011 1 photo
Went here on April 25, 2011 while on tour, and had one of the best steaks I have ever had which was the 14 oz. 'Baseball Cut' Filet Mignon. I also had the lobster cakes which were pretty good too. I was on Psychedelic mushrooms so the whole experience was kinda out of this world sitting on the 2nd level with my touring mates. :)
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Review from Karine K.
8/2/2011
La Queue used to be good... Unfortunately, the last time was really the last time for me. I will start with the service. Servers seemed off. I would expect the best service at a restaurant of this scale, but it lacked.
After the speech about the meat, I kindly asked our server if the cattle was grain-fed in the last part of life, before being processed, and the only answer I got was that they do the aging on site. Sorry, what? If you don't know, say you don't know, don't give me some stupid answer about a subject that has nothing to do with the question.
Anyway, on to the food. We were four, and decided to each get something different so that we can try more. Being a huge red meat fan, I went ahead and ordered the bone-in New York, rare. Not only was it not rare at all, it was also flavorless, except for the pepper crust on top, which was lacking salt quite frankly. But the meat itself was tasteless.
We also had the Chilean Sea Bass, the Salmon, and the Tuna Tartare. The Sea Bass was good, however, it was served with some sautéed mushrooms that were so offensive, we had to tell the server to tell the kitchen to never serve this to anybody else. It tasted of manure.
I don't like salmon, so I did not try that dish, but the three others said it was too cooked and tasteless. The Tuna Tartare was in fact a tuna steak seared in a sesame crust, so rare inside. But isn't that how you're supposed to cook a tuna steak. That's not tartare in my book. The dessert was quite good, thank God! We had the White Chocolate Cheesecake.
The wine list is not that impressive, unless you're looking at the special list from the manager's cellar, which are obviously more expensive.
All in all, La Queue used to be the in place for food and scene. The scene was missing, and so was the food. -
Review from David J.
Richmond, BC
11/2/2011
This place is not that great as it told like. We were told this was the best steak house in the town by the Shearton guy.
FOOD: they have all kinds of steak, T-BONE, Alberta beef etc. Me and my girlfriend chose the most expensive ones in the store since it was my birthday. However, the food was really not that good. It would say it so so, because the meat itself if really good, cuz of the source, and the part from the cow, but I dont really think the cheif knows how to cook it well !
Service:3/5, not bad, but in the middle.
PRICE: Cost us $800 includ tips. I dont even remember we ordered app or dessert, so this is just two main course of beef itself.
ENVIORMENT: not bad, very antique old fashion,i can taste the Montreal style. -
Review from Jeremy C.
5/23/2011
Where do i begin? Well, I had set up the reservation 2 months in advance for our group of 15. Having read the reviews, I was really looking forward to this meal, as this was one of the main events of our trip. Now it takes a lot for a steak house to really impress me, but it takes an equally bad experience for me to absolutely regret going....and this was that experience.
They were running a little behind when we arrived, so we had a cocktail at the bar. Every 10 minutes or so, i would check in with the hostess, who perpetually informed me it would be 2 more minutes. After 40 patient and polite minutes on my end, I finally demanded to speak to the manager. He could not have cared less about our wait, was quite rude, and made it clear that he didn't have time to speak with me. Within 10 minutes, they seated us in the 2nd private room upstairs. It was a nice gesture, but thats where the pleasantness ended. They had two different sized round tables, which totally ruined our ability to enjoy dinner as a group. We were told there would be bread waiting for us since we were all starving. LIE.
It took 15 minutes for the waiter to get our drink orders. Then a few minutes later, his assistant came by and asked us for a drinks, we told him that we'd already ordered our drinks, but would like to order some appetizers. He simply walked away from us. They then left us for about 25 minutes while they tended to the other private party. Apparently we were not worth their time.
After an hour, we finally received our appetizers, and soon after that, got our dinner. The steaks were ok. Whole Foods quality beef at best, and the char on them held the flavor of the fuel(gas??) that cooked the steaks. The ribeye simply wasn't cooked properly, as the fat was not melted enough, making the mouthfeel terribly unpleasant. The sides came slowly after the steaks. The "family style" fries were large enough to feed a family of 1. And they also missed a side as well.
For dessert, many of us simply opted for a coffee. Safe bet for a quick ending, right? Wrong. Half of us asked for regular coffee, the other half ordered coffee with liquor. The regular coffees came up about 10 minutes before the other ones. When they were brought up, the waiter goes "who ordered the regular coffee?" Our response was simply "The ones who ordered the regular coffee". As the Captain of a Waitstaff of a "high quality" steakhouse, how do you not know that? Thats what you get asked in applebees.
Bottom line: The food was not dreadful at best, considering the $2500 tab. The service was probably the worst i've ever experienced at a restaurant of that caliber. From start to finish, our experience was one i don't wish on any diner. Their treatment of us gave the impression that they didn't care because we were Americans. The sad part is we were all looking forward to this meal. I don't regret trying the place, but i do regret tipping them at all. They didn't deserve anything. There's a difference between having an off night, and simply being bad. There are plenty of steak houses in Montreal, so if you're gonna spend the money, DON'T GO TO QUEUE DE CHEVAL! -
Review from Jason R.
7/21/2011
Just about everyone loved the steaks - but mine was disappointing. The Porterhouse i ordered lacked any seasoning, and had some chewy bites. But my friend's Porterhouse was melt in your mouth goodness.
We also ordered sides: creamed spinach (awesome), mac n cheese (delicious), asparagus (great), mashed potatoes (nice).
Some kind of chocolate dessert was also out of this world...great place, i think i just got unlucky. -
Review from Denise R.
9/9/2011
Where to start? With my undercooked steak? With the fact that 45 minutes after returning it to the kitchen I was advised it had been dropped on the floor? With the fact that everyone at the table had finished their meal by then so I declined their offer to replace it? With the fact they then forgot to bring the coffe for my desert? With the fact they never bought the cream for my coffee? With the fact I was asked how dare I complain when they were " giving" me a free desert which in reality was to compensate for not even eating a morsel of the steak I paid for? With the fact the waiters practically ignore you? I will never go back to this restaurant again.
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Review from jim d.
Sydney, NS
9/21/2011
I can't even count the number of times I've been here.. I am lucky that I travel a lot and have eaten a number of great steaks in many steakhouses around the world. This is by far the best in terms of food and atmosphere hands down. If you want a GREAT streak you must try here!
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Review from Al A.
4/8/2011
You feel like a real man when eating here. Steaks, cigars, and grotesque macho decor. *chest thump*
Expensive sides. Good wine pairings. Terrific service. Prompt valet service. One of very few cigar room in Montreal. Nice washrooms. Tasty steaks.
Embarrassingly, they cannot cook the meat to the requested done-ness. I order rare but got medium-rare. My friend ordered medium-rare but got rare. Another friend ordered rare but got blue. Like wtf? Aren't steaks pretty much the only thing you guys cook there? -
Review from Scott B.
5/19/2011
The setup and atmosphere of the place is really cool!! It is very upscale but I felt very relaxed and the place was not stuffy.
The service was fantastic, we made reservations and were seated immediately. Our waiter was great, he was attentive, entertaining, and took time to explain everything and answer all of our questions.
The food came and was pretty good, I had the ribeye medium rare, but should have ordered rare as it was a bit overdone for my personal taste. We also ordered the lobster tail which was also tasty. The sides were enormous, complimented the meat well and otherwise were unremarkable.
We had heard the place was pricey and were prepared for a large bill. The ribeye, lobster tail, two sides, a dessert, and two drinks came to about $250. Even though the place was quite good, I sit on the fence as to whether it was worth that much money. I guess I would put it this way: I think the meal was well above average, but I can still think of several restaurants that will serve an above average meal at half the price. If you've never been and want a cool experience, go and enjoy, just be prepared to pay quite a bit for it at the end. -
Review from Daniel C.
5/7/2011
I walked by many times and looked at the aging meat at the corner window and never came in. Finally I decided to try it on this last trip.
The place is really the in place to go for a steak in Montreal. We had a half dozen oysters, steaks, sides, a bottle of wine shared a dessert and it all came to $330 or so with tip. So it was expensive.
Curious that there are no soup on the menu. My medium rare fillet was a bit tough to cut. It was pretty thick. The mushrooms are really nice. We had a bottle of Barbera d'Alba that cost $7o, one of of a few choices below $100. The chocolate cakes at the end was nice. The table close to the kitchen was a vantage point to see the cooks tending the grill, hostess seating tables, waiters working the tables.
All in all not a bad experience.
p.s. Manager Adam C. sent a message after the review. That's a man watching over his operation.Comment from Adam C. of Queue De Cheval 5/19/2011
Thank you Daniel. We have the utmost concern for our… More » -
Review from Hugh P.
9/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
Top class steakhouse
Comment from Adam C. of Queue De Cheval 9/15/2011
I agree Hugh, thanks for your comment! More » -
Review from Anthony C.
10/14/2010
Daaanks! I'll mention the only loss of points up front: in the middle of our waiter taking our order, he interrupted me mid-sentence in order to help another server with another table. Not cool - when I'm paying $$$$ for a meal, I expect to be treated with respect and courtesy, and this was simply unacceptable. He tended to the other table for a good five minutes while we sat there and watched, menus still open. Aside from that gross oversight in etiquette (and possibly adequate staffing) my experience at Queue de Cheval was excellent. This is a classic gentleman's steakhouse.
The steak was delicious. I had the Lou's Cut bone-in ribeye, rare-medium-rare. Cooked perfectly, marbled and tender, this steak was worth the $52. On the side, classics: creamed spinach, French fries, mushrooms, and a cognac au-jus sauce. F*ckin scrumptious. Paired with a Brunello di Montalcino (Casanuova '04 for $165), damn that was good.
Beware the wine list - they have some serious, and seriously (over?)priced bottles here, including '82 Petrus for a clean $9,900. There are, however, more accessible options starting probably in the $50 range.
After the meal, enjoying a cigar and cognac in the cigar lounge? Now that was the kicker. A perfect end to a man's meal. Once again, pricey - Hennessey XO and a Bolivar ran us $100+ each, but what an experience. Sitting in an OG bar - oak, red velvet lamps, and bombshell waitresses - watching the end of a hockey game with a cigar and digestif... the way a gentleman's meal should end.
All in all, I can't wait to go back. Bidding farewell to the hostess (dressed in pseudo-lingerie, of course) and departing to confront a lineup of Ferraris and Porsches; such an evening can properly inspire a man such as me to pursue greater heights - always nice to get a little intrinsic value out of an evening of masculine-delicacy indulgence, even though it can (and will) likewise inspire a man to immediately pursue additional unnamed venues, such as those I'll review next ;)Listed in: Anthony in Montreal
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Review from Seisei T.
9/22/2010
A bit overpriced, but the service is excellent and the food very good. We went a bit overboard when we ordered and walked out with leftovers (I should say, my partner went overboard while I looked on in shock). I won't list what we ate because it offends even me, but it involved a range of menu items and so I say with some certainty that you can pick whatever you want and it'll be good. However, it is a bit disappointing that it's billed as a steakhouse and the steak isn't the best you've ever had in your life (the oysters, on the other hand, were fabulous).
It is a bit dark in the restaurant, giving it a very intimate atmosphere. I wouldn't come here with a huge boisterous group, but this is definitely a good date spot.
My favorite part was when the sommelier came by, told us he didn't have the bottle we had ordered, and gave us a different (more expensive) bottle for the same price as the one we had ordered. Service in Montreal? I had thought this was a thing of fantasy, but obviously something has changed in the last few years. -
Review from Megan S.
11/19/2010
This restaurant was very overpriced, but the food was sensational. Fresh oysters, perfectly prepared steak, and mouthwatering desserts left me wanting to go back the next time I am in Montreal. We were even celebrating a birthday and the staff brought out a special cake that looked like a gourmet piece of art rather than something that was meant to be consumed.
The atmosphere was very lux and inviting, as well. Wine selection and wine knowledge by the staff was also great.
Definitely the place to go if you're looking for a higher class restaurant and a good steak. BUT, expect to pay a pretty penny for it. -
Review from Andrew A.
Montréal, QC
8/9/2008
This is the type of place that you go to for an experience, as well as great food. The decor is very dark with wood and leather, you have very personal service, the waiters take care of very few tables at a time. You get to see and choose your meal not only from the menu, but by the presentation given to you from your waiter, showing you the specials of the day (special as in special cuts, not as in cheap). You get beautiful steaks, yummy and huge shrimps ( really shouldn't be called shrimp when they are this big) and scallops. End your meal by choosing one of the decadent dessert, you first time though you should really try the cheesecake, you might not be able to move or want to eat for a week afterwards.
When you come and check the best steakhouse you've ever been to out, make sure to bring your wallet, this is one meal/experience you are not going to want to skimp on. -
Review from Steve S.
6/25/2010
This is supposedly regarded as the best steakhouse in Montreal. It would come in second place to McDonald's in terms of the quality of their meat.
First, the good stuff. The restaurant itself is beautiful, especially the second floor with its stone walls and brick ceiling. There was also nothing to complain about regarding service. Also, the seafood they served us was fine.
Now the bad. They bill themselves as a steakhouse, so it does not seem unfair to judge them on the quality of their steaks. We were a party of seven, four of whom ordered steak, a ribeye,a filet mignon and two New York cuts. The ribeye and New York cuts were inedible and the filet was mediocre at best. They were not giving this stuff away. All the steaks were in the $50-70 range, ala carte. They also had a wine list that was a joke. I know wine in Canada is priced higher than the US but there were wines that were 2 to 3 times more expensive than they would be in an overpriced American restaurant.Comment from Adam C. of Queue De Cheval 1/31/2011
Hi Steve, Thank you for your comments and feedback. I regret… More » -
Review from Dan H.
2/6/2011
I was told that this was the best steak house in Quebec a province that is home to many wonderful restaurants. If this is the best that Montreal can do for steak, then one should probably leave the p
Let's start with the positives. The atmosphere is fantastic. I loved the setting.
Now on to the rest of the reality...
The food was mediocre at best. This is a steak house, I really expected high quality when it came to their cuts of beef. The filet was better than average. The New York Strip was also good. Given the reputation of the restaurant and the prices they are charging, there is no room for less than outstanding.
The real disappointment here is the wine selection. They really need to find a new sommelier. We love wine and had a very difficult time choosing an appropriate selection from the list. The list is quite limited.
When it comes to service, staff started off weak. When we were first seated, we were asked if we wanted our menus in English or in French. We chose English as my French is rather inadequate. Our waiter seemed to have a rather indifferent attitude toward us and provided a minimum level of service. At these prices, a higher level is expected. As we were presented the wine list, I sensed how things were going to go and made a request to my wife that she switch to French and be less friendly to the waiter. She switched to French, was quite frank with him about our opinion of the wine list and suddenly he was eating out of her hand and couldn't do enough for her. He even escorted her to the washroom and held the door for her.
Overall, we did enjoy the experience and the meal and we have another story to tell. Perhaps I am spoiled from my experiences at E.B. Green's and the Buffalo Chop House and have set my expectations too high. -
Review from Andrew C.
3/11/2010
First time to Montreal. Was there as part of a conference that was going on there during the week, but was able to convince my friends to join me there for a weekend of debauchery and mayhem...alright, I'm not that young anymore, but it was supposed to be a good guys trip. So what do guys eat on a guy's trip...steak.....
I actually wanted to go to Au pied de Cochon, but they were booked for days. So this was the next best place, well at least accordingly to Yelp. I wasn't quite sure about this place so asked everyone I met about this place to get an opinion. One person I talked to was telling me that the steaks are so great, that when you drive up, they park your car for you. ????? That is called valet service and what the heck does that have to do with steak?
So there are four of us. We get there at 9pm. Busy, but most people finishing. The place reminded me of the Brooklyn in Seattle. Pretty neat how they have the meat locker on the side and a grand staircase going up to the next level just in the back.
The first thing I notice is that the dry aged steaks are hung up in a locker and seem to be cut when ordered.
The service upon sitting was fantastic. We had three waiters buzzing around us at any one time. So can't ding them on service.
As we prepared to order, they went through the standard spiel on how meat is aged, wagyu beef, marbling, blah blah blah. I really hate hearing this, but I guess that is what you get when you go to steakhouses these days. (Well, you don't get this at the Met. They seem to assume you're there because you know your meat else you would ask. YES...I'm biased). All the beef was American less the Wagyu which was from Australia for some reason.
I honestly can't remember the sides being too extravagant. I know we had some roasted garlic mashed potatoes and some other green vegetables, but by the fact that I don't remember is probably an indicator that I was either too drunk or didn't think they were worth remembering. I'm sure it was the latter.
Two buddies ordered the Porterhouse and myself and the fourth ordered the Kansas rib-eye. Yes, Medium rare.
The steaks came. Presentation was standard. Grilled to order. Nothing different. Took the first bite....nothing. Just a chunk of rib-eye grilled to medium rare. I believe I had to add some salt to it because it didn't have any flavor.
The porterhouses were just okay too according to my carnivorous friends. One really liked it, but he isn't too discerning about food, so will have to toss out his judgement.
The prices were pretty high too, so not sure why the high prices for such low quality preparation. The cuts sounded great, but again, anyone can buy the meat, not everyone can cook it.
We were rather disappointed by the food, but fortunately, the only reason they got two stars is that they have a cigar room for you to wash away the taste of the bland steak with a nice Cohiba Siglo VI and a single malt neat.
If you have to eat here, then ask for a spot upstairs. It is more happening. When you order, ask if they could send the valet to Schwartz's to pick up some real cuts of meat or just share a couple appetizers and then head straight for the cigar room. -
Review from Peter R.
7/13/2010
Okay, take the guy on the website with a grain of salt and you'll be fine. Yeah, he comes off as douchy and way over-the-top but I'm pretty sure it's all tongue-in-cheek and if you are "in on the joke" rather than put-off by it you're in for a good time along with your great meal.
I had the bone-in rib-eye and was very pleased with it. Some of the fellas at my table seamed to really enjoy their oyster appetizers.
Everything we had was very tasty and the atmosphere really is all it's sold as. You can pick out your own cut but the steaks were downstairs and my friends and I had been seated upstairs so we didn't bother. We just said "get us the big ones pal."
Go in, live the good life, and be sure and tell them Peter Rollins sent you. -
Review from Tolga E.
8/20/2008
I can't believe they launched Yelp Canada and did not tell me! My first Canadian review deservedly must go to Queue De Cheval. While it wasn't the #1 tasting steak of my life (it was in, say, the top 5), this restaurant ranks #1 for "Coolest Steakhouse Experience".
The restaurant itself is two stories and is completely beautiful. The staircase and art alone is worth the trip. The bar tucked into the side corner is full of dark wood accents that you would expect at a premiere steak place like this. There are large windows on both stories that open up towards downtown Montreal and Centre Bell (that's "The Bell Center" in American).
The service was also fantastic. I was living a hockey's fan's dream of going to see the Leafs/Habs game across the street right after dinner, so the place was impossible packed. However, this place was prepared. I've never been served so quickly and efficiently but without being pushed or hurried in my life. The waitstaff and busboys were literally jogging through the aisles of tables trying to get to everyone at once but they did so with style and...grace? If that's possible - they did it. The big highlight is of course that, either before you order (on request) or right after you order (always), they will actually come by your table and show you the raw slab of beef they are about to cook and you are about to ingest. This is for several reasons:
1. Showmanship
2. Class
3. So you can pretend to be a true connoisseur and make either affable or snide comments as to the cut and marbleization of the meat and approve/reject their selection.
In any case, it's always fun. They also do this with the Jumbo Lobsters they have on the menu. Lastly, as far as service, you are offered "sparking or still" but it is actually "Pellegrino or Evian". I asked for plain tap water but they insisted on this choice. They didn't bother to mention that both were completely free and included in the meal in unlimited quantities! This is an awesome, perfect, and brilliant idea I've yet to see replicated anywhere.
As for the food, the steaks were prepared in simple-but-true steakhouse styles without the fuss of a billion rubs/sauces or other distractions. The sides were huge and delicious - particularly the asparagus. You must get the asparagus. As other mentioned, they also specialize in lobster. The old man sitting next to me ordered a lobster that was about equal in size to my torso. I'm not kidding - it was hanging off the table. Awesome.
I'll leave analyzing their wine list to people who know more than I do on that, but they did have ample selection of both local and national Canadian brews, including of course everything from Unibroue in Quebec, which you might expect.
Other cool things: They are very accommodating if you tell them you are going to see Les Habitants across the street (that's "I'm going to see the Ice Hockey Game featuring the Montreal Canadiens" in American). They are aware of the game's start times and modify the speed of service accordingly. They are also completely understanding if you walk in wearing your Hockey sweater (that's a "jersey" in American) and blue jeans. They even managed to protect a couple wearing Maple Leafs gear from the excessive heckling of everyone around them.
I can't praise this place highly enough. When in Montreal, you must go to a hockey game, and you MUST go to Queue De Cheval for dinner. -
Review from lee s.
6/4/2011
Everything about this place looks great. The ambiance, the robust menus, even the waitstaff is very friendly and knowledgeable about the various cuts of beef. I am from NYC, and routinely eat at mouthwatering steakhouses such as Del Friscos and Wolfgang's where you will never have a bad meal...ever. Have been to Gibby's a few times, which is solid and Moishe's once, which was also inedible. I truly don't consider myself a snob when it comes to steakhouses and genuinely wanted to enjoy this place. We were visiting with friends and upon arrival,, we honestly couldn't wait to order and chow down.
Unfortunately, the simple fact is that the food was not good. There is no other way to say it. Ceasar salad was probably the best part of the meal. Everyone I was with that ordered steak, were all incredibly disappointed. Nobody finished their meals. The Kansas cut was over seasoned and cooked incorrectly; it was almost chewy and just did not get it done. Even the filet mignon was lacking serious flavor and texture and oddly, the waiters push the side sauces on you...which is a red flag at any steakhouse. Even doused in peppercorn, the steaks were simply not good. The side dishes were all sub par...sauteed mushrooms and mashed potatoes lacked flavor, and the creamed spinach was just OK.
The prices, which are consistent with a great steakhouse, made it more of a bitter pill to swallow. Place does not live up to the hype. -
Review from Rejean L.
Longueuil, QC
3/7/2009
I just read the first 3 reviews and all I can say is that they are all true and I support them. So I'll talk about the lounge since I cannot add to those nice reviews. This is one of the only places in Montreal where people can smoke. Even though I'm not a smoker, it's a fun place to meet interesting people. BTW, they got this waiver because they were a cigar lounge selling more than $XX,XXX of cigar the year before the law changed (welcome to La Belle Province where the government thinks it's more intelligent than it's subjects...).
So the lounge is comfy and has an external terrasse in Summer. Defintely a nice place to take a good Scotch after a 'Habs' game.
By reading the other reviews, you probably infer that what will be proposed by your waiter will not be the cheapest, so keep with your known choices if you don't want to get a tab for 4 drinks that can look like a meal on your expense account...
Enjoy
R. -
Review from STEIJA S.
Candiac, QC
5/25/2011
I had the Porterhouse with Montreal spice and it was really good. Perfectly grilled medium rare but it was overpriced.
Would go back after you have saved up some cash -
Review from Michael Y.
8/1/2011
I was just here this past weekend with a large group. At first, the place was great. Nice ambiance, friendly hostess and helpful waiters. We ordered the Neptune seafood tower which consist of lobster, oysters, scallops and prawns, they were all spectacular . We also got a few regular appetizers like mac n' cheese, Caesar salad, and dungeness crab cakes which were very good. Their wine list was very extensive and overly priced. So after putting in our steaks and sides orders that is when things started to go downhill. The wait for it lasted 45mins and when it finally arrived, the quality was not there. I ordered the Nebraskan porterhouse medium rare which I shared with a buddy and it was charred, lukewarm and overall bad. Another guy had a strip steak that was ordered to be medium rare but came out well done. The meat itself was definitely good quality but the preparation was not good and obviously cooked without much care. I am very particular with my steaks and being from NYC, Queue de Cheval would not last long here. I honestly would not recommend this restaurant to anyone that wants to have a good steak dining experience.
-
Review from Bryce B.
5/4/2009
Quite possibly the most overrated restaurant in all of Montreal. I was told by several people that I *had* to eat here. So, on my first trip to Montreal, I made it a point to visit Queue de Cheval (The Horse's Tail) the day I landed. One should beware of any restaurant that does not list prices for anything...anywhere, because as the saying goes "If you have to ask, you can't afford it." The highly personable, white-jacketed waiters are the strength of this establishment. In traditional steakhouse style, they bring out the raw cuts of meat for your perusal and selection. Steaks are grilled on an large open fire pit, in clear view of the seating area. Now, perhaps it was the cut that I selected (bone-in NY strip), but the end product was just so-so. It was certainly not worth the $90 I ended up spending on it.
If, however, you find yourself in Montreal, and you want a good steak at an affordable price, try Restaurant du Vieux-Port in old town or even Canadian mainstay The Keg -
Review from Ariel L.
9/15/2009
This is a large, expensive, steak house that is excellent for groups. If you want to impress people, bring them here. They have an extensive wine list, a massive open grill where the meat is cooked, and a second floor with nice views of the city. Be prepared to shell out some serious money. Nothing here is cheap. The food is very good, but it's good steakhouse food. If you are looking for something more intimate, or local fare, this is not the place.
I went for my bachelor party. We had a large table on the second floor. They thoughtfully put us in the corner where our slightly loud group didn't bother anyone. We had a magnum bottle of wine with dinner (there were 12 of us), and we probably ordered half the side dishes. I ordered the Rib Eye, which while tasty, was also the most heavily marbled Rib Eye I had ever had. I would order the Lou's cut next time. That looked like the best cut at the table. -
Review from David G.
3/2/2011
Great cut of meat. Great ambiance. Yes pricey. But perfect for a special occasion. This is what LA is missing.
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Review from Lauren W.
2/1/2010
I went to this wonderful steakhouse twice in college. Both times were forever ago but both dinners were memorable meals. Great service and fantastic food! My mom and sister just went there again this weekend and said it was just as good as we all remembered! Someday soon I'm going to make a trip back to Montreal and I will definitely be visiting this fantastic steakhouse again!
To be continued....
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