Bar Kabinet

Best

4.0

It wins you over at first glance. The space is undeniably charming-warm lighting, thoughtful design, & an intimate atmosphere. It's aesthetically pleasing in a way that suggests a carefully curated experience.

Unfortunately, the reality doesn't quite live up to the setting.

We were seated at a wobbly table-a small detail, perhaps, but one that instantly chips away at comfort. It's something that's easy to fix & hard to ignore. The tables themselves are also notably small, packed tightly together in what feels like an effort to maximize capacity. While understandable from a business standpoint, it comes at the expense of ease & intimacy. Instead of feeling cozy, the space can feel cramped.

The cocktails were creative, well-balanced, & reasonably priced. It's clear that the bar is a strength. The wine list, though short, is well-selected as well.

The food, however, was underwhelming. The bites are serviceable but not particularly memorable. The beef tartare, in particular, lacked the depth & seasoning one hopes for-it felt flat & uninspired. At those prices, you expect something that excites the palate, not something you struggle to recall the next day.

This works well as a pre-date night stop: a place for a good drink in an attractive setting before heading somewhere else for dinner. We're glad we gave it a try, but between the cramped layout & the forgettable food, it's not somewhere we feel compelled to return to.

Catherine

5.0

Gregor was great - super funny & personable (& definitely knows his wine). Can't wait to come again!

Mikaila

5.0

Love this spot, one of our favourites, Gregor is always amazing - good vibes & knows his wine!

Christiane

5.0

Gregor & Karrigan were amazing! I'm so grateful for their service. Gregor gave multiple suggestions for white wine & I absolutely loved the suggestion he gave (Weszeli was my fave!). Thank you so much!

Eric

5.0

Kind of chose this on a whim in our 30hr visit to Montreal from Vermont. Greatest whim in a long time Grigor was out server & he was great. He described the dishes & drinks perfectly. Guided us towards house specials & for our food order, made sure we not only had enough, but also made the experience so enjoyable. Grigor offered tastes of all of the wines by the glass & also described them to a t. Made me want to stay & have more but family...

As for the food, we had one of each dish & every one was prepared very well. From the opener of Hamachi crudo which was so simple but the flavors of the tomato base & the Hamachi itself made a great marriage in the mouth. As the food progressed, the layers of flavors increased to the showstoppers in my opinion, the potatoes & then the duck.

The potatoes were on a base of what I'd call ajvar, a pureed red pepper sauce but with some vinegar in there too. This offset the richness of the duck fat potatoes & I could have ordered more of them until I passed out from a food coma, but family...

Then the duck came out. On a base of pureed apple, the duck was perfectly cooked medium rare & the flavors melded so perfectly.

Along with the food, the cocktails were expertly crafted & again, worth seeking out.

Overall, this was a crazy good experience that I'd come back to Montreal from my home in Brooklyn for. I have a reason to drive further to ski Tremblant

Tout c'était bon. Merci beaucoup.

Mia

5.0

Fabulous drinks (we got wine & martinis) beautiful interior + patio, & super friendly servers + sommelier. 10/10

Isabel

5.0

Fun place for good wine, & sharing dishes. Great patio in the summe

Max

5.0

Great wine selection ! The menu changes often & is always good.

Oxana

5.0

We really enjoyed the place! We were sitting on “chef’s table”. Food was delicious. We had a great experience with staff, suggested bottle of wine was exactly as we requested. Ambiance was just perfect for our small date night.