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.
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.
My husband & I came here for breakfast with a reservation. We arrived about 10 minutes before they opened at 11, & the server was very kind to let us in early. Within an hour, every table was filled, so I would definitely recommend making a reservation.
Service: The service was excellent. Our server was friendly & professional, explained the menu clearly, & checked in regularly. He managed all the tables efficiently & made sure every customer was taken care of. Both the server & another staff member consistently refilled our water, which we appreciated.
Food: The French toast was absolutely delicious, with a soft texture & just the right level of sweetness from the light cream & sauce. The Croque Monsieur was generous with ham & overall quite good.
Environment: The space was cozy with nice décor. I did take one star off due to the tight seating. The chairs were on the smaller side, & with winter gear, space was limited. I ended up eating my entire meal with my purse on my lap. Perhaps offering table hooks for bags would help. When leaving, the restaurant was so full that it felt tight & awkward to put on the coats & move from our corner seat to the exit.
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.
The brunch was excellent, love the cozy vibe & the french playlist. The service was amazing so I had to come back for dinner & it was impeccable as well! Definitely my fav spot in town.
Wonderful spot - we came here twice for brunch in the week we were here because we had such a lovely time. We got the french toast & the salmon toast, which were very good, but the thing that brought us back the second time was the gnocchi. It was transcendent. Also great service & beautiful decor. Great spot for a leisurely brunch.
Visited this establishment this past weekend, on September 6th, for brunch during a day trip to the city with my classmates. We came by at around 11am & our party of 9 was easily accommodated. The service was quick & we were able to get our orders in right away.
My table ordered an assortment of beverages & meals, but I went with a hot chai latte & the french toast. We received our drinks first & didn't have to wait too long for our food to arrive. While the french toast was delicious, it did not fill me up. I was almost shocked at how quickly I ate it as it felt like I hadn't eaten anything at all. The others in my party who also ordered the french toast thought the same, so I knew it wasn't just me. We ended up supplementing our hunger by eating the leftover homefries that those who ordered sandwiches couldn't finish. If the french toast came with something else on the side, like the homefries, then I would've been more satisfied with my meal.
Other than that, we had a great time overall. The place is super cute in the interior & the service was great overall. Our servers were kind & didn't hesitate to answer any of our questions about the menu.
I would still recommend you come here, but to order something heavier, like the omelette, croque monsieur, or breakfast sandwich if you're really hungry. The french toast wouldn't be a bad option if you are looking for something light!
Sep 8, 2025
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Perfect spot for authentic French food. It's a little bit of a walk off of the main drag but totally worth it. Everything was cooked to perfection & absolutely delicious. My favorites were the French Onion Soup, Roasted Brussel Sprouts, & Steak Frites (the meat was so soft & buttery!). I only wish I had saved room for dessert!
Dropped in at this lovely French restaurant on a whim! The food is absolutely incredible! I had the beef skewers with chimichurri which were charcoal grilled & super tender. The chimichurri was also well balanced & paired so well with the beef. I also had the salmon with beurre blanc, also insanely good!
The food was amazing from the starters, including ceasar salad & foid grass, to the mains that we shared. I had the roasted duck (medium rare was perfect), & my friend had the braised beef. The wine we selected was perfectly paired. The portions were so amazing that there was no room left for dessert. We arrived at 19h00, but by 20h00, the place was packed & alive. Our two staff members were very helpful & chatty. By far, the best French bistro experience we could have hoped for in this area.
Jun 23, 2025
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Unfortunately, the quality of food & service was not even close to satisfaction. We ordered entrée, the charcuterie was a semi-authentic(!) 5$ cost Costco board which they charged us more than 20 dollars for. Also charged 64 dollars for a low quality 20$ red wine.
Worst part was the waiter's rude attitude which implied'you don't know French cuisine' with a condescending humiliating smile. Also, be alert that google photos are not real, most of them belong to previous ownership of the restaurant.
I will NEVER GO BAC, but I hope they reconsider their attitude towards customers at least.
Wonderful service & banter from the moment we walked in. We spoke French of course but sprinkled in some English with staff easily. Arrived 10min before our reservation & it wasn't an issue seated a min or two later. Food was delicious from the escargot, beef tartare to the duck. Perfection. Note I was asked & notes were taken for allergies , favoured water & language choice. Also asked multiple times if the music was too loud but we loved the ambiance. The large windows also helped for a great view hustle & bustle of the city. Will return again !
Just had the best French food at Nicole!. We stayed at St. Paul hotel & happened to pass this restaurant everyday during our trip in Montreal. We decided to go there for our last dinner in Montreal. It was incredible. I had what they called "winter chicken". Chicken was well seasoned & based sauce was amazing. They are such a hidden gem in the areas. Please please please give them a try. There is not many people talk about them on social media. But you will have a great time there. Great service. They were fast, fun, & very friendly. One little comment, I was gonna ordered their steak but I looked at our neighbors & it didn't look like a lots going on there. They wish they could more to that dish, so it will gain more attention to it. Full reviews will be post on instagram @nycthaiguyfoodie
We were here earlier this week following. a recommendation from a friend. We had a very good French Onion soup & beef tartare as appetizers. Then we had the bouillabaisse -- outstanding!! -- & the duck, which was very good also. Service was delightful & place was charming. Definitely we will return next time we're in Montreal!
Jan 1, 2025
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We tired the Mtlatable menu. The beef tartare was so chewy & fatty. expected a better quality from a French restaurant. the steak was good but not close to the best one I've had.
