Overall, Buvette Nicole comes across as a warm, intimate French bistro in Old Montreal with a welcoming atmosphere, chic yet cozy decor, and a team that is consistently described as friendly, attentive, and helpful. The menu earns praise for comforting French classics and standout dishes such as fondue, beef bourguignon, duck, gnocchi, and tartare, complemented by well crafted cocktails and thoughtful wine pairings, with brunch and happy hour also receiving high marks. Service is frequently highlighted as fast and personable, though a few visits note occasional slow pacing during busy times and occasional missteps that affected the flow of the meal. The value is a point of contention for some, with several diners calling prices steep or portions variable, yet many reviewers regard the quality and presentation as exemplary. Most reviewers intend to return, describing the place as a gem, a spot to linger with friends or family, and a destination that captures the spirit of a neighborhood French bistro in Montreal.
A true gem in Old Montreal ✨
Beautiful ambiance, incredible food-& Adam at the bar? Absolute standout. Charming, attentive, & his recommendations were chef's kiss.
To say we enjoyed this restaurant is an understatement. A friend & I are visiting Montreal & this place was recommend by a local. The atmosphere was very nice with dim lightening & a mix of Jazz, French, & Italian music. All the food looked absolutely delicious. We settled on the Famous Fondue for two. What a fun dish to eat! BUT the absolute best part of our night was actually our server, Jordan. He was attentive from the moment we walked in the door, a real joy. He was so funny. Even told us about the'dare' when the bread is dropped into the fondue. We had an over all GREAT experience at Buvette Nicole. Highly recommend.
Mar 27, 2026
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Buvette Nicole is a true gem in Old Montreal. The space has a natural charm , warm, intimate, & effortlessly stylish. It's the kind of place that immediately puts you at ease, & the food only adds to the experience. A standout part of my visit was meeting Chef Alex. He has a calm, grounded presence & a genuine passion for what he creates. He takes the time to connect, answer questions, & share small insights about the dishes without ever feeling intrusive. You can feel his influence throughout the restaurant, thoughtful, balanced, & welcoming. The rest of the team matched that same energy: attentive, friendly, & professional. A charming spot with personality, great food, & an impressive chef. I'll gladly return.
The atmosphere is adorable!
The wait staff is charming, attentive, patient, fun, & willing to do the extra just because they clearly love their jobs & want you to enjoy yourself.
The food is…ridiculously marginal. Seriously. How do you make insipid onion soup? The food comes out very quickly (there's your first evidence) & it clearly is not made with love or attention. It actually makes me angry that a place with so much going for it just can't get the food to match. I also had a middle appetizer that was tasty but on bread so tough I asked for a steak knife to cut it (still doesn't work).
I wanted to love this place so much. Instead, I love the interior, & I love the waiters. But I hate watching them have to make up for the food.
Stumbled upon this place looking for delicious French onion soup. 3hrs later… we finally left. We loved this spot. The happy hour is daily from 2 to 6 , was part of the reason we stayed so long. The soup was delicious & the gnocchi… outstanding! We really enjoyed the atmosphere, a comfy, not too big, French background music playing restaurant . The service was outstanding especially, Callum. He was so attentive, full of helpful tips for dining & seeing things in town. We throughly enjoyed our experience at Babette Nicole, a genuine French restaurant.
One of my best dining experiences ever. All the food was excellent, staff were friendly & attentive, but never stayed too long. Chicken supreme is in my top 5 foods I have ever eaten. Gnocchi was incredible too. Mix of locals & tourists, everyone seemed to be having a great time. Definitely will go back next time I am in Montreal.
Oct 21, 2025
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My wife & I were looking at the menu outside, when Andrew, our soon to be host & waiter pulled us in with his smile & friendly nature. After giving us recommendations we finally ordered. The food was excellent (especially the deconstructed cheesecake) however, what truly made the experience unforgettable was Andrew, who delivered AAA service, something I genuinely haven't experienced since before COVID. He was attentive without being overbearing, genuinely friendly, effortlessly funny, & clearly passionate about what he does. He knew the menu like the back of his hand, offered thoughtful recommendations, & made us feel like we were the most important table in the room. Andrew turned a great meal into an outstanding dining experience. It's rare these days to find service that feels this personal & this polished at the same time. We'll definitely be back.
Adam made a fantastic cocktail, the basil bourbon & orange! A must try!
& Callum was an excellent & attentive. Food was 4/5 stars (chicken was slightly salty for me). overall, highly recommend.
We had the most wonderful brunch at Nicole, & a huge part of that was thanks to Callum, our amazing server. He was incredibly sweet, kind, & attentive, & made my bachelorette brunch feel truly special for both me & my bridesmaids. From the moment we sat down, Callum made us feel so welcome & cared for - it was like being served by a good friend.
His calm, warm energy was the perfect complement to such a fun day. Oh, & the food was absolutely delicious, too! Everything was perfect.
Thank you, Callum, for adding so much joy & making great recommendations. We're so grateful!
This petite bistro has a warm ambiance. It has classic wooden interiors, adorned with black/white photos & lush plants. Reservations can easily be made for brunch or dinner via GoogleMaps. I had their gnocchis à l'ail noir (black garlic gnocchi) & kiwi sour cocktail. Both were top notch! 🍸🫶 My server/bartender Jordan was welcoming, friendly, & attentive. He granted my request for window seating, which gave a nice corner view of Rue Saint-Paul & Rue Saint-Pierre & all the city folks walking by. Enjoyed dining for brunch here & would love to return.
Apr 24, 2025
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Buvette Nicole was divine. It was a weirdly slow night due to the weather so we had very attentive service from our fabulous waiter, Jordan. The food was outstanding from start to finish. No lie, when they suggest the Brussels sprouts, listen & order. So good.
Super cute & chic spot in the Old Port. Staff was kind & helpful, & the perfect level of attentive for a solo diner with a book. They made sure I had everything I needed & then just left me to enjoy the experience. Delicious dishes for all three courses & a perfect wine pairing. Will be back!
This cute cafe is such a hidden gem! The gnocchi was incredible & so full of flavor, I really enjoyed their latte as well. I loved the whole vibe of the place & the service was fast, friendly, & super attentive. Highly recommend checking it out.
If I could give this place more than 5 stars, I would. My husband & I went for lunch today & sat at the bar because it looked so cozy. The decor of the place is super stylish & inviting. We had the pleasure of being served by Ce. She was amazing! So hospitable, friendly, attentive & overall a fabulous person. Jordan wasn't our server but he was also awesome, as the second he heard us ask Ce for extra tissues, he was right there with them, & it shows they have a great team that works together while having fun. The food & drinks were delicious. We had the beef tartare with fries with shaved truffles & the beef sandwich. Everything exceeded our expectations. It was our weekend away visiting Montreal & we felt the warm hospitality of the city right in this place. We are both very grateful to the staff of Buvette Nicole for making our visit a very fun & welcoming one.
Absolutely delicious. The waiter & the food were desirable. The plating, elegance, & taste was more than I could've ever hoped for. Jordan, not only beautiful but extremely attentive & an absolute pleasure. Steven's managing style is a quality most restaurants would hope for. 11/10. Would defiantly go again.
This place is very mid. The waiters were friendly but not really attentive. Big smile & friendly demeanor, but it took 10min to get a glass of water after we'd been seated. After we ordered the food, we were left for about 40-45 min without news before the food came (real slow service). we had the croque monsieur & breakfast sandwich, both slightly underwhelming.
An absolute delight. Jordan is phenomenal. He is attentive, knowledgeable & welcoming. But the food is sublime. We ate there two nights on the trot because the first night was so good. Seriously, if you want reasonably priced excellent food, go to Buvette Nicole.
