The Au Pied de Cochon restaurant is where it all began. Passed from one generation to the next, family knowledge contributes to the restaurant's reputation. Constantly evolving, the Pied de Cochon celebrates its 20th anniversary in November 2021. This à la carte restaurant is located in the heart of the Plateau Mont-Royal. Authentic to its Quebec and Canadian roots, the dishes are hearty and comforting. Adopting the style from French brasseries, the chef and his team draw inspiration from local and seasonal products to create a timeless menu. With private import wines, beers brewed in Montreal, and signature cocktails, Au Pied de Cochon restaurant is a friendly place where local products are showcased. There is one of the first open kitchens in Montreal where you can see the cooks in action.
Reviews portray Au Pied de Cochon as a landmark of indulgent Quebecois cuisine where the Duck in a Can and foie gras poutine are signature showpieces that set the tone for a decadent, meat forward menu. The atmosphere is described as warm, rustic, and lively, often loud with an open kitchen that feels like a performance, making it easy to get swept up in the energy. Dishes are frequently praised for bold flavors, rich textures, and generous portions, with many diners raving about foie gras nigiri, pates, tripe, and a seafood tower as standouts, though some note occasional temperature issues or oversaturation of foie gras on the menu. Service is commonly highlighted for attentiveness, knowledge, and friendliness, yet a few reviews mention slow pacing, crowded spaces, or uneven experiences during peak hours. Value is a recurring topic: the meals are described as memorable and worth the splurge by many, while others call the prices high for the heft and richness of the dishes. Overall, Au Pied de Cochon comes across as a must try Montreal institution for foie gras lovers and fans of bold, traditional yet inventive Quebecois cuisine, best enjoyed with reservations and an appetite for excess and discovery.
The service is excellent, the atmosphere is great.
The food is really below average. it is very gamey & the smell & taste are missing something...
I don`t know why the menu is very heavy on Foie gras which
1) Does not taste good at all
2) Is ethically controversial since it involves cruel treatment of ducks..
Au Pied de Cochon remains, without question, my favorite restaurant in Canada. Alongside its sister properties; Cabane d'à Côté & Cabane à Sucre in Mirabel- it is a group that simply does not miss.
This visit marked roughly my tenth time through its doors, though opportunities to bring my wife here are rare. Experiencing it together this time gave the meal a different resonance, allowing me to see the restaurant anew through her reactions as much as my own. Her first time here compared to this was much different, as she was prepared - & she loved it.
Service, as always, is impeccable - & worth mentioning briefly because it has never wavered. The staff are deeply knowledgeable, disarmingly honest, & charming in a way that feels entirely unforced. There's a self-aware joy in how they describe the excess you're about to consume. At one point, our server leaned in with a broad, knowing smile & a thick Québécois accent to say:'The Champvalon is cooked from all of the meat juices & drippings from basically everything throughout the day.' She didn't hesitate - dropped the plates on the counter & confidently walked away knowing we were in for a treat.
We began with the onion soup, a dish that could justify the visit on its own. Deeply savory, intensely warming, & loaded with well-charred, gooey, funky cheese, it also contains actual chunks of sausage - because of course it does. On a night where it was -17°C outside, this was comfort at its most primal. Alongside it came the foie gras poutine: house-cut fries, a decadent foie-laced gravy, huge chunks of soft foie gras & gloriously oversized cheese curds. It's indulgence dialed unapologetically to eleven.
The main course was the Champvalon - something I had somehow never encountered on previous visits (or even heard of as I'm also a chef). A slow-braised mélange of venison & pork, cooked for hours in cast iron, layered with thinly sliced potatoes & bound together by a glossy, sticky sauce that speaks to patience, restraint, & technical saucier skills. It was rich without being too heavy, rustic yet precise, & deeply, impressively delicious.
Dessert, as has often been the case here, was the showstopper. These aren't listed on the website & should never be skipped. The pouding chômeur is otherworldly - the best we've ever had. Incredibly rich, deeply sweet, unctuous, & unapologetic. Every adjective that points toward absolute food heaven applies here.
If there is a criticism - & it's one I've never had to offer before - it's that the menu feels smaller than in years past. While it's comforting to see the staples remain (duck in a can, foie tamaki, tartare cones), the reduced selection offers fewer surprises for repeat visitors. For someone returning for the tenth time, the sense of discovery is slightly diminished. I was fortunate there was one main I hadn't yet tried yet, & it was still available. I'd love to see a little cross-pollination from Cabane à Sucre when it closes for the season, if ideation over the years becomes too much, or bring back some of the hits over the years (I recall an incredible French toast with maple syrup, foie gras, cranberry, goats cheese, as well as a delicious tarragon pickled cows tongue).
Until then-see you at the Cabane on May 2nd. I've been lucky enough to snag a reservation.
Absolutely phenomenal experience at Au Pied de Cochon! From the warm welcome to the last sip of my cocktail, everything was perfection. The foie gras poutine is pure decadence, rich, creamy, unforgettable. The duck in a can? A showstopper tender, flavorful, & beautifully balanced. Every plate felt crafted with passion & precision. The staff were attentive, knowledgeable, & genuinely proud of what they serve. Cozy, lively ambiance with that classic Montreal charm. Easily one of the best dining experiences in the city indulgent, bold, & unforgettable…Definitely going back soon
Absolutely stunning plates with fantastic Quebec fare. I was going to get the Duck in a can, but the chicken & Morels won me over. I have no regrets getting this dish as it was more like a deconstructed chicken pot pie. Fantastic from start to finish. The drinks were fantastic as well. Highly recomend a reservation & going if you are visiting Montreal.
Is the theme tacky & completely went over my head??
The food was all over the place. The best thing we ate here were the French fries. Yes they were really good, but disappointing this was the best thing. Foie nigiri is super tacky - bamboo leaf, bamboo platter, big Asian soup spoons, what was even the rice, foie cooked ok. Sauce comes in a small squirt bottle. lol.
Duck in a can - duck overcooked like a tire, foie somehow undercooked pink & stringy?? The sauce it came in was delicious but more than a few bites will put you in the grave. Sweetbreads dish I couldn't take more than 2 bites of.
Spicy martini was gross, congealed olive oil all over the glass. Straight to jail whoever created that! Drinks took a long time, all appetizers arrived before, service friendly but super super slow. Was the staff drinking? Lol maybe just having a good time & urgency not the key here. Even to get the bill was along wait. Absolute tourist trap. Would not recommend.
Oct 24, 2025
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Un incontournable de la scène culinaire Montréalaise & pour plusieurs raisons. La nourriture, le service, l'ambiance & le personnel (adorable)en font son succès. Vous y trouverez une multitude de produits uniques sur la carte des cocktails (un must!), cidres etc. Sans oublier la qualité de leur produit… Vous voudriez pas manquer ça! Allez y! Un incontournable: La poutine au foie gras, « duck in a can », Duck temaki & les ris de veau… pour ne citer qu'eux!
We visited this restaurant while on vacation under the recommendation of so many & I cannot recommend it enough for delicious food. It is very lively inside & a bit chaotic, but the staff are friendly & attentive.
Every dish was an interesting take on traditional foods. Highly recommend the duck in a can - the can is opened at the table & the duck comes out rare, I was very impressed
It is very fairly priced for the quality & we rolled out so full!
Highly recommend if you are in Montreal!
Food was amazing. Everything that I heard about was accurate. Service was on point. I sat at the bar in front of the kitchen & observed all of the dishes. I could have ordered everything that I saw being prepared. I had the duck tartare & the duck with foie in the can. Absolutely delicious.
Oct 3, 2025
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This is one of the best dining experiences in Canada. Our experience that evening was perfect, from the food to the service. Every dish was so well crafted & they were all delicious.
Duck in a Can is not a gimmick, it's a flavour explosion packed in a can. Another mind blowing must-try is the Foie Gras Nigiri. The rich & smooth Foie Gras paired with Japanese rice drizzled with maple-infused soy is absolutely delicious.
Another incredibly creative dish was the Foie Gras Mapo Tofu that doesn't seem to be a staple on the menu, but we're glad we got to try it. The pork shank & pork chops were also cooked to perfection. Stop reading this review & start reserving a table!
Food was just ok. The duck temaki & foie gras nigiri were good. While the duck in a can wasn't bad, it didn't leave any lasting impression. The stuffed pig's foot was very heavy & we didn't manage to finish. Service was top notch.
We had a great dinner at the bar & got to watch the chefs hard at work in the open kitchen. Our server Alex was amazing & very accommodating to our requests in wanting to try a variety of food. We definitely will be back for more duck in a can.
Sep 8, 2025
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I really did not enjoy my experience here, but the excellent service & friendly server kept this from being a 1-star review.
The atmosphere is cozy & inviting, but the service was extremely slow. We waited over 3 hours for our food, with no explanation given when we asked. The drinks were decent, but nothing memorable.
The biggest letdown was the food. For a bill over $500, we expected far better quality. The foie gras poutine was the only standout dish. The duck in a can was okay, but far from exceptional. The steak was a disaster. It was chewy, poorly cooked, & still had silverskin. For a dish that cost $180, it was truly disappointing. The flavor & execution were lacking on this dish. I could not even swallow the steak as it was so chewy that I had to spit every bite out.
On a positive note, dessert was quite good, & again, the service was excellent. If it wasn't for the server, we would've walked out.
Unfortunately, I won't be returning or recommending this place unless you have time to kill & don't mind overpaying for mediocre food. All of us went to get poutine afterwards, that's how disappointed we are with this place.
Fun fact, the $20 poutine place had way better taste & way better flavours then here.
As an out-of-town visitor, I was excited to try Au Pied du Cochon after hearing so much about it, but my experience left me with mixed feelings.
>Reservation Process:
Their hands-off approach to reservations is frustrating. Booking a table for our party of nine was a nightmare. The restaurant operates asynchronously *only* with no published phone number to speak directly with staff, which is particularly challenging for out-of-towners seeking certainty. People seem to book far in advance & cancel last-minute to avoid penalties, making it tough to secure a large table. I emailed them but received only a partial response many days later, & my follow-up email to confirm everything went unanswered. Thankfully, our table was available upon arrival, but the process felt unnecessarily stressful.
>Service:
Once seated, the service was a highlight. Our server, a friendly & attentive, which made us feel welcome & was quick to address our needs.
>Not Kid-Friendly:
This restaurant is not accommodating for families with children. The menu lacks options suitable for a kid's palate, & the kitchen refuses to do anything; even when it came to our request to prepare something as simple as plain fries with salt. They eventually complied, but the hesitation highlighted an inflexible, almost arrogance.
>Food:
The food was a mixed bag. Many dishes were very good, but almost all were overwhelmingly rich & lacked balance. The foie gras terrine & duck temaki stood out as the most harmonious dishes. However, the signature'duck in a can' was more novelty than masterpiece. The duck breast was dry-likely due to the pressure-cooking method in a boiling can-& I couldn't help but think duck legs would have been a better choice in this application. The menu itself was confusing. For a restaurant supposedly celebrating the pig, pork was surprisingly scarce, with foie gras dominating instead, which felt excessive & overwhelming.
>Final Thoughts:
I realized my review may seem controversial going against the grain, but to be clear, I don't regret going. It's a place to try at least once. I will not return, however.
Our visit to Au Pied de Cochon was the highlight of our already amazing trip to Montréal. The staff was incredibly attentive & the overall vibe was so positive. I truly applaud the team for being able to create such a memorable experience.
The foie gras poutine was the best poutine I've ever had. I highly recommend it. The duck in a can was delicious, & the pork loin was also wonderful.
A special thanks to our server Emil for his excellent service & spot-on recommendations.
I'm flashing back to a memorable night at this Montreal institution given their exceptional sense of hospitality. I had the daunting task of hosting a group of five ladies from New York who know a thing or two about great restaurants. Among the standout dishes were the foie gras poutine & the duck in a … can. Our waiter didn't miss a beat throwing in a round of drinks because he felt that the extra few minutes we waited for our food was too long. At the end of the meal, he offered us a maple sugar pie for the table & played DJ taking requests that led to a Tina Tuner singalong. Nobody at the table was celebrating anything in particular other than life in general. It was all just ducky!
Wonderful meal with some of the most incredible duck & fish dishes! The atmosphere was wonderful & our server Niles offered some great food recommendations. Highly recommend, especially for a date night or a special occasion.
