Le Garde Manger est une sorte de joyau culinaire qui, de prime abord, n'en présente pas les apparences. Il faut d'abord dénicher l'endroit, dans une ruelle quelque part près des quais du Vieux-Montréal. De plus, ce bistro sans prétention, situé près du centre des affaires, ne possède pas d'enseigne extérieure. Malgré tout, depuis son ouverture en juin 2006, il est devenu une adresse de choix auprès des professionnels branchés qui ont envie d'une cuisine de la Côte Est et d'une pinte de bière locale après une dure journée de travail.
Les avis sur Garde Manger convergent vers une expérience culinaire maritime inventive et généreuse, avec des fruits de mer frais, des plats créatifs et une présentation soignée, et un menu degustation avec accords vins et cocktails souvent salué pour sa cohérence malgré un prix élevé et des portions parfois modestes. L'atmosphère est chaleureuse et intime, et le service est fréquemment loué pour son attentivité et son professionnalisme, rendant l'expérience conviviale et rassurante. Si certains retours évoquent des plats vedettes et des moments mémorables, d'autres notent que la cuisine peut parfois manquer d'audace ou de cohérence d'ensemble selon les visites. Dans l'ensemble, cette adresse est perçue comme une référence pour les fruits de mer et l'innovation culinaire à Montréal, capable de laisser des souvenirs forts et d'attirer des retours réguliers des amateurs exigeants.
We upgraded to the most expensive tasting menu & the experience was confusing. We upgraded because we wanted more lobster. I'm not certain that's what we got. Our waiter seemed unable to clearly explain what the tasting menu included & whether there was any flexibility in asking for certain dishes. As courses came out, we were confused about how many appetizers & entrees there were. It would've been helpful to have something printed so we knew what to expect. We were disappointed with the wines by the glass selections, especially with respect to the white wines. The white wines we tasted were very dry. There did not seem to be any options for something off dry or fruity. The constant filling of our water glasses (after every sip) was off putting. It interrupted our conversations & created a disconnect during the meal. The food was outstanding.
Food was good,, took 4 course meal. Not every bite is a party in your mouth but there were a few item that were amazing.
The reason for the 3 star is ambiance. The front portion of the restaurant has nice decor & romantic vibe worthy of paying over $150 per person. However if you are unlucky & get seated at the back of the restaurant, well they should give a discount. It has an old bar look & the decor does not match the front.
Disappointed from the restaurant set up, too old & tables are very close to each other, very noisy & annoying. Food Ok not as we expected.. very expensive for what we got…
Je suis encore bouleversé par mon passage au Garde Manger. Dès l'instant où nous avons franchi la porte, nous avons été accueilli par une équipe d'une générosité exceptionnelle. On ressent immédiatement que chaque membre du personnel travaille avec coeur, passion & un souci réel de faire vivre un moment inoubliable.
L'ambiance est vibrante, chaleureuse, presque enveloppante. C'est un lieu où l'on se sent bien, où la passion culinaire flotte dans l'air, où chaque détail compte.
& que dire de la cuisine… Je suis resté sans mots. L'émotion m'a littéralement submergé dès les premières bouchées.
Pour la première fois de ma vie, j'ai goûté au bonheur pur de l'art culinaire. Des plats exécutés avec maîtrise, créativité & une profondeur de saveurs qui touchent l'âme.
Le Garde Manger, c'est bien plus qu'un restaurant : c'est une expérience humaine & gastronomique qui marque.
Je recommande sans hésitation à toute personne qui veut vivre un moment exceptionnel avec des personnes exceptionnelles.
Had a blast trying their tasting menu. It was a lot of food. Although it was some of the best seafood I've had, my most memorable courses were their vegetarian dishes, especially the chickory salad. The snow crab & octopus were quite unique & tasted great with amazing textures. Great cocktails as well & Felix was an amazing host. Cheers to Felix & rest of the staff for that last shot, it was an amazing end to a great meal
20 janv. 2026
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I came into Garde Manger extremely excited. Chuck Hughes is undeniably a talented chef, & expectations were high given the restaurant's reputation. Unfortunately, the experience didn't live up to it.
We opted for the $295 tasting menu per person & asked the bartender to curate a cocktail & wine pairing alongside it. For the price point which was well over $500 per person all in, the meal lacked focus & cohesion. None of the dishes truly stood out or felt memorable. The menu skewed surprisingly bland & safe, especially considering the bold, flavor driven cooking Chuck Hughes is known for.
The pairing felt sloppy & disconnected from the food, more like an afterthought than a considered progression that elevated the courses. At this level of dining, execution & intent matter just as much as ingredients & that consistency wasn't there.
This isn't bad food by any means, but it is wildly overpriced for the experience delivered. Given the cost, I expected sharper flavors, clearer vision, & a more polished overall experience
Once in your life, you need to indulge in this experience. We took the chef menu level 4. Worth every dollar. The coffee cake to finish it off. No words can accurately describe how delicious everything was.
29 déc. 2025
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After last night this became my favorite restaurant...EVER!
We got the'basic chef tasting menu'. There is NOTHING there that I would skeep. Every round was paired & timed perfectly. The host was gracious, the waiters were amazing.
I hope to go back soon.
We knew the meal was going to be fantastic even before we got in. Two separate groups told us the food was excellent as they made their way out, & we made our way in. We had two appetizers, & two mains split between two people, & this was a good amount of food for us. Each dish was quite frankly amazing. The seafood was delicious, & we did have a non-alcoholic cocktail which was tart, but incredibly well balanced. The cherry on top of all the great food was the attentive & fun service from Felix & Taylor. We felt incredibly attended to, & we left with our bellies full. What more could you want?
18 déc. 2025
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Phenomenal experience. The entire team provided an unparalleled level of service. I hosted an intimate dinner with colleagues & customers which Garde Manger just nailed on giving us the ultimate service experience.
What would happen if they rebooted Le Bernardin, kept the food quality & preparation but threw out the (at times stifling) formality? Turns out they did: Garde Manger is one of the best seafood meals I've had in my life. Hell, it's one of the best meals I've had period. From the not-the-same-old seafood tower through all of the creative, multi-flavored & stunningly prepared courses that followed. & the service is the best I've ever had anywhere -- including in three Michelin-starred restaurants. These people love their jobs, love food & treat the diners like pals in a way that feels really genuine. It's like dining at a well-organized party catered by a team of the world's best chefs. How this place doesn't have at least one Michelin star utterly baffles me.
The best meal of my life. Truly. The food was spectacular-every dish, every bite, every moment was unforgettable. The atmosphere struck the perfect balance of elevated & welcoming, but what made the experience exceptional was the staff. They were kind, fun, & clearly take tremendous pride in what they've created. Their energy elevated the entire evening. It's not an exaggeration to say this was the best meal I've ever had. A true joy & an absolute pleasure from start to finish.
Si je pouvais donner plus de 5 etoiles je le ferais sans aucune hésitation. C'est ma découverte/recommandation ultime de l'année 2025. Comment n'ai-je jamais entendu parler de ce restaurant ? Je suis complètement saisie. Chaque service était meilleure que le precendent alors que ça me semblait impossible à battre à tous les coups. Ma soirée c'est terminée sur une note EXCEPTIONNELLE avec un dessert chocolat & crème sûre. J'ai presque versé une larme. Je l'ai mangé les yeux fermés. Du début à la fin le service est impeccable. Je suis FAN ! C'est tout !
