- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
The Burgundy Lion
Category: Restaurants British British [Edit]
2496, rue Notre-Dame OuestMontréal, QC H3J 1N5
(514) 934-0888
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 3 am
Sat-Sun 9 am - 3 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
26 reviews for The Burgundy Lion
Review Highlights
"Their pub fare is definitely a cut above most."
(in 13 reviews)
"...of downtown Montreal in Saint-Henri, this two-floor English..."
(in 2 reviews)
"I had never heard of a Scotch Egg before and shall never..."
(in 4 reviews)
Loading...
24 reviews in English
-
Review from Lawrence B.
Outremont, QC
1/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
This is one of my Montreal favourites folks.
It's a fabulous British pub just a few steps from Atwater market and the Lachine Canal. Fun food, fun atmosphere and great pub drinks with a very imaginative cocktail menu that changes to suit the occasion or season.
They got this place right! But it can be tough to find a seat if there is a special event or occasion to celebrate.
If you are antiquing in the ridiculously priced shops on Notre Dame, or perusing the Atwater market or hanging by the canal...this is a great spot for a casual lunch or dinner. -
Review from Wes N.
Montréal, QC
12/30/2011
The Burgundy Lion is one of those places, that you'll always be happy to go to. The best combination of atmosphere, service, and food.
I often fist for early breakfasts (and to catch a match of football) and the atmosphere at this time is great. A young crowd is often there (20-30ish) English and French and we have a great time watching and talking.
The service is top-notch - with the waiters and waitresses being genuinely ready to be of help. Love their attitude.
The food, especially breakfast, is definitely something to come back for. The menu is not extensive, but what is available is served in generous proportions and fresh (try the English porridge)
Go and enjoy -
Review from J.F. H.
12/22/2011 7 Check-ins Here
The lion is my living room away from home! I really like this place, it's a nice place to meet friends for a beer after work or to watch the game.
I like sitting upstairs, I find it a little less crowded and the downstairs bar has a tendency to feel like you're standing in a hallway but that being said it's still far and away the best place to have a beer in the neighborhood.
The lion is also one of my favorite places to grab a bite I would say everything on the menu is pretty good, other then the fish and chips and the burger which are awesome, everything else is good and I can assure you that you won't be disappointed.
The service has always been good the wait staff always very nice and ready with a suggestion on what's good to eat or what type of beer to drink. The system of waiters, waitresses and busboys ensures that you get good service even when they're packed on Friday and Saturday nights.
The decor has modern pub written all over it, with all sorts of faux British decorations all over the walls. The first floor layout is a little odd if you want to stand at the bar since you will be in the space that serves as the hallway that leads to the back of the pub but upstairs is great and if given a choice I enjoy sitting up there.
The only caution I would give, is that if you're looking to have a quiet dinner where you can have a conversation with your dinner companion this may not be the greatest place. It tends to get very noisy in the evening, making conversation difficult without yelling. Drop in on a game night for a beer I know you'll be sold too.Listed in: My Happy Hour
-
Review from Andreas D.
Montréal, QC
10/11/2011
The Burgundy Lion is one of my favourite hangouts/pubs in all of Montreal. It is a great place for any type of occasion, whether it's a night out with some friends, an intimate date, or just a place to enjoy a pint after work.
The menu can be hit or miss depending on your tastes. I have not tried everything, but the steak/frites is good as well as the fish and chips. Some of the starters are really good as well. If you're a fan of beer, their in house made burgundy lion beer is quite good as well.
If you're looking for a nice pub and are used to hanging out at places like McLaen's or McKibbons downtown, then this you will definitely enjoy this place as I consider it a step up from the "traditional" Montreal pub. -
Review from Everett M.
Montréal, QC
11/8/2011
The Burgundy Lion is my favourite pub in Montreal, and I go past many others to get to it (I live on the opposite side of downtown.) The beauty of a good pub is that it offers a cozy, authentic atmosphere and pulls together food from around the Commonwealth in a competent way. There are far too many "pubs" that think they can offer Newcastle and Guinness on tap along with 20 varieties of Molson/Bud and serve burgers and fries. The Lion says "piss on that" and has a great bar and food menu!
I have tried about 10 things (5 of my own, 5 or 6 friends' dishes) in the past 6 months, and the only mediocre item was the Colonel's Rabbit (the batter wasn't very special....although the accompanying Mac n Cheese was excellent.) Everything else, from the Toad in the Hole to the Colonial Chicken to Lancashire Pot is very nicely done (for a pub....this is not haute cuisine, of course.) The Fish & Chips are very good, although I'd visit Brit & Chips (owned by the same company) if you want the best I've found in town. The Yorkies are excellent (and my personal favourite at any decent pub.)
The service at the BL is great, too. Everyone is friendly, has a number of tailored food/drink recommendations, and unlike so many places in Montreal, they clear your dishes and quickly and top up your water regularly, even if that's all you order to drink. Even the security guards (weekend evenings) are nice and will strike up conversations as they watch over the crowds.
This place has weekly events and a very clear schedule on their website of when everything is happening. They are also involved in the community. I went to a really great costume party the Saturday before Halloween 2011 that was raising money for breast cancer, and they are also celebrating/fundraising for "Movember" for men's cancers.
I am not sure if I would frequent this place on a busy Friday or Saturday night, as it turns into a crowded, loud stand-up meat market, but were I 5 years younger and single, I might like that, too.
The Burgundy Lions does everything it can to get a 3 or 4 star rating relative to its Montreal counterparts, and gets a 5th star for all the extra effort, the "don't quite know what" (the Briton's translation of what we say here, "je ne sais quoi") that puts it kings' heads and lions' tails above its competition. -
Review from Clare L.
6/27/2011
Being a resident of St-Henri, this pub is definitely different from some of the local pubs in this area: it's vibrant, has 20-30 somethings that enjoy a brew here, and it's packed on friday and saturday nights. That being said, sometimes I do find it too overcrowded and difficult to find a place to sit or stand and for that, I have to give it a 3 star rating.
Many of my friends who also live in the area like to come here after a hockey game, or birthdays are often celebrated here. It has a definite casual feel to it, and everyone tends to give off a good vibe. The staff is super friendly, but on busy nights, it's easy to feel a tiny bit neglected.
I've tried many different types of food here, but by far I recommend the Portabella Mushroom Burger. It's filling, not soggy and tons of mushroom goodness! I'd even go as far as to say that it is the best portabella mushroom burger I've ever had (and I have had plenty!) Another favourite of mine is the stilton pear and walnut salad. Their pub fare is definitely a cut above most. -
Review from Kim B.
Montréal, QC
4/5/2011
The thing I love most about brunching in Montreal is the variety you'll find in the restaurants and the unique offerings of places like the Burgundy Lion.
Admittedly, I'm a little biased towards anything that'll give me a nice cut of beef before noon, but their bubble & squeak is just one of the awesome offerings on their menu. Ranging from about $7 to $15, the prices are really reasonable and the food is well worth it.
If you're heading there during the week, the English-inspired lunches and dinners (including Indian curry dishes that add some extra English authenticity) are also a treat, with extra points to the chocolate-chip bread pudding for being CRAZY DELICIOUS (in all caps).
Adorned with posters for London events, cricket and football gear and photographs of Michael Caine and David Bowie to watch you while you eat, the decor is just as fabulous as the food. Service is great, too, but if there's a football game on, you might want to expect a wait or at least some very close quarters. -
Review from Ti G.
Montréal, QC
9/25/2011
Always packed. Suuuuuper straight. Very very very loud. Tasty food.
-
Review from Shawn K.
10/4/2011
Scotch eggs, yum!
-
Review from Tracey L.
Montréal, QC
7/26/2011
When the Burgundy Lion moved into my neighbourhood, I was thrilled to have a nice pub to go to for a pint, maybe watch the hockey game and grab some food. But since opening, the stretch of Notre-Dame the bar finds itself on has undergone a pretty radical transformation in terms of nightlife, and now the bar is always packed. Lots of non-St-Henri people flock to Burgundy Lion for the $8 pints and cedar-lined bathroom walls. It's still a comfortable, fun place to be--if it's not packed to the rafters. Otherwise, it's just a lot of standing around hoping to score a table. If you're going to go anyway, aim for earlier on in afternoon/evening. A victim of its own success, I'd say.
-
Review from Mathieu B.
Roxboro, QC
9/29/2010
Anne B is right. It's a solid 3 stars but it didn't make it to the 4th star.
I went there Saturday after seeing some great review at Canal Evasion (it's a french-canadian channel for travelling and local spots to visit, this program is VOIR. Voir has in my opinion one of the most accurate rating in Restoration, which is why I'm kind of disappointed to give such a low note - sorry long parenthesis)
I arrived there by 8 PM and it was quite pack. Not that it such be important but Waitresses that works there are SOLID! Well punk background kind of help me appreciate the style. Dress with a tank-top with braces and a jean. The manager looked like he was on the verge of losing control. I went with 2 friends and after drinking half of my pint we got a table. Once at the table, it took a solid 10 minutes to receive a menu and another 5 minutes before I had my second pint. Seeing the table beside me receiving loads of attention while we couldn't get serve increased my level of annoyance. The waiter / manager was competent but was so busy that it was quite difficult to get a hold of him.
I had a Fish N Chip, Classic, solid, really good and fresh. I'll return and I am hoping to get a better service and maybe then I will increase my review to 4 stars. -
Review from Jeremy K.
Located south of downtown Montreal in Saint-Henri, this two-floor English pub is a wonderful little establishment which serves microbrews and some pretty tasty food.
Let me just start by saying that to Quebec can brew some pretty tasty beer. I would know, I down three pints of this wonderful Blanche De Chambly, a wheat beer brewed locally. It was wonderful, I was in heaven. Add to that a very tasty bleu cheese poutine which I had along with an order of vegetarian samosa and I pretty downed about 10,000 calories in one sitting. Ok, maybe not that many but just don't tell my personal trainer at the gym. The poutine was wonderful and the blue cheese added a whole new array of flavors to this guilty, unhealthy but yet too-delicious to avoid dish that is poutine.
The prices were good, the service friendly although they weren't been very nice when we asked them if they could turn on the television on our floor so we could watch game six of the NHL playoffs. Eventually they did and EVERYONE was watching. I don't understand why they we not cooperating about it in the first place... A neat establishment, I had a good time.Listed in: Montreal & I
-
Review from Erica L.
2/21/2011
Oh my god the brunch here is so good! You can get an actual english breakfast here! The "full" comes with two eggs, blood sausage (perfect crumbly, melt-in-your-mouth goodness), thick cut bacon, bubble and squeak (like a cabbage hash brown), beans, a roasted tomato with mushrooms, and a choice of crumpets, english muffin, or toast. They also have kippers if you're into that kind of thing. You get so much food and it's so good that it always breaks my heart when I can't finish it. They kept the coffee coming (a MUST) and the service was fast and friendly. Bigger and better than Sparrow on St. Laurent (the other brunch place that does English Breaky) and, although it's always been busy, I've never had to wait more than 5-10 min for a table.
Plus little burgundy-- the SW Montreal area it's in-- is so cool right now, and it's only a few blocks away from the Atwater Market. Couldn't ask for a better way to spend a Sunday. It's just too bad that all the antique shops that neighbor this place are closed on Sundays, but they do make for great window shopping. Just always a great experience. -
Review from Matthew P.
Montréal, QC
7/30/2010 1 Check-in Here
The Lion, a Fish and a Dart Club
The Lion is a great spot to go for a good beer, a great scotch, a hot curry or some of the city's best Fish and Chips. I frequent the pub just about whenever I can and for the most part, the place always has a good crowd. For the day goers, there is a shady spot somewhere if you just want to have a pint and read a book or sit at the bar and watch a futball game.
They do a 'British plate of the week' which I have seen vary from salmon confit with hollandaise over mushroom risotto(British, really?) to braised beef cheek with roasted vegetable(ahhhh, British). Some of the best pub food I have ever had.
The quality of the food speaks volumes, I can confirm, having worked there as a cook, prior to my relocation to FLA. The chef is a great guy who runs a tight ship and the kitchen staff are very 'pirate like' in nature. Between the burley 'strong man,' Corey Cash, the scimitar wielding, beast carving, Marie Maude, Paul, the omnitasking grill man from Waterloo or the steadfast, starboard savvy sous-chef, Matt, the kitchen staff is top notch and pumps out food of equal, if not greater quality.
The staff, in general, is great. Nice, friendly people delivering quality food and sliding you good booze, down the bar. An awesome place to enjoy a Habs game, a local band or the Montreal flavour...you heard me, I said flavour.
wakawakaListed in: Best Dark Corner
-
Review from A b.
Montréal, QC
8/6/2010
Solid.
I had the salad with chicken and Stilton. Too much cheese though and not enough *fresh* greens. I never thought I would say that, as I love Stilton, but it was just too much. The salad was a little browned. But not completely unpalatable, just disappointing. The flavor was good though not incredible.
The Burgundy Lion brew was great, and my gin and tonic was perfection.
My partner's fish and chips were pretty close to perfect, and it came along with a spray vinegar bottle (neato!). I think this place focuses on more traditional pub grub, and thus I was mistaken to order the salad. It was disappointing, but overall the service and environment made up for it.
In short, The Burgundy Lion has a wonderful atmosphere, and good service. A solid bet for your all your pub needs in a great neighborhood. -
Review from Conrad B.
Montréal, QC
10/22/2008
We visited the Burgundy Lion for lunch on a Tuesday. We arrived at 12 noon and already the pub was filling up. Great interior, very similar to a British pub/bar in London. The choice of beers was excellent with Guinness, Boddingtons etc etc. Service was fast and the menu is slick and to the point. There wasn't pages and pages of dishes which is so off putting when you only have a short lunch break. Plenty of British traditions such as Fish and Chips, Bangers and Mash, Ploughmans, and good old indian curry.
We ordered the Highland burger with french fries and also the Tikka Masala curry with naan bread. I was asked how I liked my burger cooked which was a surprise to hear for a lunchtime pub so after this question I expected a great burger. Much to say, I was very disappointed. The burger was tiny within a huge bun. It literally sat in the middle like a meatball while the bun remained soggy. It was difficult to pick up and fell apart. The meat was very dry, almost like it was reheated rather than freshly cooked. The tikka masala curry was also very dry, like it was cooked and then reheated in the microwave. There wasn't any moisture in the sauce at all more-so like curry paste stuck to the chicken.
I must say though the french fries that came with the burger were the best I had ever had and their homemade sauce was excellent.
However $45 for two lunch main dishes, a pint of Guinness and a panache was too much especially for the overly cooked and very dry food. -
Review from Sharmy C.
Brossard, QC
3/4/2011
Great ambiance, friendly service, up-and-coming trendy location, and good food, however, avoid the mixed drinks or the Burgundy Lion brew.
The burger here is probably one of my favourites in Montreal (you can order them medium-rare). The food is pretty good, as long as you don't order the steak and kidney pie. -
Review from Mitch S.
Toronto, ON
5/12/2009
A great English-style pub in a the heart of the up-and-coming Little Burgundy. Good beer, good service, nice atmosphere and great pub food.
If you're in the food for a tasty pub mean and Guinness, try out Little Burgundy. -
Review from Bonjour B.
Montréal, QC
7/21/2011
A pretty good place, especially for the area. A good hangout for drinks. Food is decent, although a little overpriced. Don't order the cucumber soup (bleh) but fish and chips are decent and their hamburger is good. Service is good, really nice waiters. I would like to try brunch here! Their outdoor seating is a plus!
-
Review from B B.
6/11/2011
Over priced and host doesn't have a clue. The new street patio actually puts you in the street... hope you enjoy the smell of exhaust! Beer and food selection are good, but quantity of food will leave you with either an empty void in your stomach or the opportunity to fill it with fries. Cool ambiance and layout with some decent TVs. They really are pushing for reservations here... what is it about places that aren't great trying to push themselves into coolness through exclusivity?
-
Review from DAVE I.
Montréal, QC
7/25/2009 1 Check-in Here
It was by the luck of the draw that I even heard of this Brittish Pub in Montreal. I was listening at The Montreal Burger Reports' Podcast on Dilallo Burgers. Since the guys needed some hops to start off their review and Dilallo serves none they stopped by Burgundy Lion's Pub and linked to it in their podcast. I took one look at the pictures of their food and thought that if the food is only half as good as it looks I would be plenty satisfied. So off I went for some Pub Grub.
At first I was surprised by the look of the place. It's definitely not a dingy musty old pub. It's modern but still keeps an old England feel to it. Extremely clean and I can't say enough how much I love that. The place is crowded and had I known we could I would have made reservations but despite being packed, the service never forgot about us as we drank at a standing bar shelf. We struck gold and got seated in their tiny interior terrace which was a thing of beauty and had a Tardis on the second floor. The owner(s) definitely knows who to keep mens attention by picking the simplest yet sexiest outfit for the feminine section of his service team - the white camisole - it just works.
Sadly the service barely handed us the menu and asked us if we were ready to order. Slow down Nelly, we just got here and it's our first time. But she did make a valiant effort to speak French and after letting her trip and stumble for a few minutes we switched to English and began with the house chips, as in homemade Potato Chips. And seriously, I'm ruined. I don't know how I can ever eat a bag of chips after getting still warm, thick freshly fried potato chips served to me. This was a first for me and the first of many firsts for the evening to follow.
As starters we ordered the Scotch Egg and Cod Fish Cakes. The Cod Fish Cakes were something I had never tried before but wanted to. Fishcakes are made of - of course - fish and potato mash crusted and fried - yes fried; you just can't go wrong with fried. They served it with a tasty curry sauce. The fishcakes were quite peppery which contrary to my usual tastes, I quite enjoyed. My friend's starter was the Scotch Egg and I suddenly feel the need use a lot of expletives to describe how good this was. I had never heard of a Scotch Egg before and shall never forget it. This was the winning dish of the evening, for me anyway. A Scotch Egg consists of a shelled hard-boiled egg, wrapped in a pork mixture, coated in breadcrumbs, and deep-fried. Scotch eggs are commonly eaten cold, typically with salad and pickles but they served it with some kind of compote I didn't care for - the egg alone was just insanely awesome and will definitely be having it as my starter at my next visit - because there will be a next visit.
Now for the main course I hit the Sunday Roast, a British classic it seems and foolishly I wanted it because I had to try the Yorkshire Pudding. This was a mistake on my part. Been dying to have a Yorkshire Pudding and sadly I was somewhat disappointed; it tasted like a pancake in the form of a muffin - well I tried. But let's get to that roast, oh baby. I could pull it apart with my fork. It was perfectly seasoned and had this crust on the outside that was bursting with flavor. It also had two sides of veggies and this is where it gets weird. It had a side of beyond delicious roasted roots - including potatoes - and all were perfectly sweet and flavorful from - hopefully - roasting alongside the succulent Angus beef I was eating. And then another side of potatoes, this side is mashed. Sadly it was dryer than the British sense of humor and I fail to see why I needed mashed potatoes when I already had roasted potatoes right next to it. The mash was horrible and the roasted root veg were awesome. I would have gone mad with delight having simply more roasted veggies. The peppered gravy supplied for the Roast and the Pudding was lukewarm. I should have simply complained about this but I did not for some strange reason. There was also some horseradish sauce of which I did not partake because I have no taste for it. But as a whole the dish was great, I consider the superfluous mash a minor faux-pas.
For desert I had the Raspberry Trifle. It was kind of a disaster, thankfully I don't go to pubs for desert but on my first run at a restaurant I go through everything. The custard was liquid and bland. The sponge cake was rock hard - not even soaking up the liquid custard - and the raspberry coulis was way too sweet. The whipped cream was delicious.
As a final review, the upscale pub grub was overall a hit for me. Fresh Chips, both starters and the main were fantastic with the exception of a few missteps and a seriously troubled trifle I cannot under good judgment give it anything less than a 4 out of 5 stars. I'm already dying to go back. -
Review from Amanda C.
QC
11/9/2008
We visited as a group of four on a Saturday evening to celebrate a birthday. It was definitely an enjoyable meal!
The food is great. The menu has all kinds of traditional pub fare, such as fish and chips, bangers and mash, etc, but extremely well done. We started off with stuffed yorkshire puddings and samosas. I would definitely return one evening just to have a pint and some more yorkshire puddings, they were that good. Our mains were equally excellent, and well presented too. It is a beautiful space, I could tell a lot of time and $$$ went into renovations.
The only downfall was that the waitstaff could have been a little more attentive. It wasn't all that busy, and yet we sometimes had a hard time getting a hold of our waitress to ask for our bill, and then to actually pay. -
Review from Lance G.
Montréal, QC
Just had the Full English breakfast. Absolutely killer! This is my Sunday morning from now on!
-
Review from Catherine B.
7/30/2009
Fun atmosphere, tasty food, some star-watching if you are lucky, and nice cold beer. What more can you ask for?
Read more reviews for this business:
French (2)
