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.
C'étaient notre première visite, nous avons vécu une découverte culinaire, le choix du foie gras est touchant à la bouche, merci nous avons vécu une expérience unique.
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.
Eating is usually functional, rarely is it an artistic experience. When I was making plans for my girlfriend & I before we visited Montreal, I almost made reservations for a place called Joe Beef. They had a few reservations left at the bar here, which I was slightly nervous about because bar seating isn't quite as intimate but I made them anyway. Little did I know we would have front row seats to an incredible display of execution & teamwork as well as a meal to remember. Ariel was our server, welcoming us with a brief walkthrough of the seasonal menu - she left us to decide the journey we wanted to take. After we ordered, we quickly became mesmerized by the way the HC Robert moved with the food like a graceful dance. This alone was impressive but in addition to his skills it became evident he was teaching a junior chef (Spanish speaking), both about plating & food as well as French! Both gentlemen were a treat to watch work. We chose a sweet & salty starter - my introduction to Foie Gras arrived on a bread pudding complemented with a lovely cider reduction & poached pear. After tasting that we honestly couldn't believe two other groups had already come & gone beside us as if this was any other meal. Our grilled Rabbit, Tuna, & sourdough came after we had a minute to take a breath from our starter. We took our time with this & the following dishes as we felt savoring this effort was the best compliment we could pay our hosts. The chef noticed we had taken enough time to clean the grilled rabbit plate with our sourdough so only trace evidence was left of what was served - so he offered to heat the tuna for us - extremely grateful for his attentiveness. The grilled tuna was incredible, sandwiching bacon, greens, & served in a tomato water with cherry tomatoes. My girlfriend couldn't finish her portion so I took one for the team. No dishes went back to the kitchen with food. For dessert we decided on a caramel fondant with frozen raspberries, ice cream & a coffee. I'll just say even if I had no room for this I would've found a way to struggle through. The staff was having fun, we had fun, everything was beyond our expectations! If you are considering making a reservation - stop thinking & figure out where it will fit into your schedule. This place was perfectly reflective of our lovely trip, Thank you so much to the staff & specifically Robert & Ariel - we will surely be back :) Merci!
Absolutely amazing meal & cocktails. The foie gras apps were especially memorable as was the spicy cilantro drink. Fantastic server & a handsome space.
Believe the hype. I've eaten a lot of good food at a lot of good restaurants, & this enters the pantheon of the greats.
The sweetbreads sando & four gras nigiri were transcendental. Cocktails & drinks selection were on point & perfect for cutting through the richness.
The only thing better than the food was the world-class service provided by William. He was warm, personable, knowledgeable, & had a sense of humor. I hope he's getting paid well because he's providing outstanding value for the business.
Oct 9, 2025
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This was a lovely experience for my partners birthday dinner. We thoroughly enjoyed the food & drink, the staff were charismatic & engaging, & the patio/terrace was lovely even though it is so late in the season. A fantastic experience!
Has been on the bucket list for over two decades. Finally made it to Montreal for the first time for our daughter's 2nd birthday. Had the pleasure of dining here for her actual birthday. The food was fantastic, decadent & opulent in the way you'd expect it to be, that's why you're dining here right? Th e service was a little off, nothing offensive or wrong just not welcoming or warm, lots of fake smiles. Again nothing'wrong' per se, just, off. Could be a difference in ways of hospitality. We found this to be the trend in most places except for a few.
Undecided if I would return. The menu that evening had some of the classics but not the one I was hoping to have, the Plogue.
Perhaps if I could time it right for that, then maybe but Montréal has so many other places to offer food that isn't foie centric.
Shoutout to Agathe for being the best hostess!! Delicious comfort food & warm hospitality. Tight space. Good for couples, date nights & small group (4pax). Best for groups of 4 to share different dishes. They update their menu on a weekly basis with seasonal vegetables in mind.
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!
Oct 4, 2025
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Plaisir renouvelé à chaque visite! Plats merveilleusement conçus & service impeccable. Une institution Montréalaise qu'il faut visiter au moins une fois dans sa vie!
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.
This is a phenomenal experience every time. The food & drinks are incredible, but the extra layer of service that the staff add on makes this feel like a truly luxurious experience.
