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.
Super belle expérience à la Buvette Nicole! Nous y sommes allés hier avec mon copain & notre bébé de six semaines. Elle a dormi tout le long, mais l'équipe a été vraiment gentille & accueillante. Comme ce n'était pas trop occupé pour un jeudi d'hiver, on a même pu l'installer confortablement sur la banquette.
Les serveurs étaient super aimables, le service rapide & la nourriture excellente. Nous avons pris la salade de betteraves, le foie gras, le tartare de boeuf & la fondue au fromage - tout était délicieux!
Une petite ambiance décontractée & très cool dans le Vieux-Port. Je recommande à 100 % & j'y retournerai, c'est sûr!
Mar 6, 2026
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In a very touristy neighbourhood this reataurant is truly a gem! Great sized space, genuinely fantastic service, delicious cocktails & very well prepared dishes at a relatively fair price - what more could you ask for?! The duck was outstanding! Highly recommended.
Went here with my family for our first time in montreal, our drinks were well made & our bartender Olivier was very kind & engaging. Great atmosphere! Didn't get to try the food, but i strongly recommend.
D'abord, il est censé avoir un happy hour jusqu'à 18h sur des boissons sélectionnées. Nous commandons à 17h40 & le serveur nous dit aucunement de quelles boissons il s'agit. Nous avons pris la fondue au fromage. Côté quantité, il nous restait la moitié des légumes & le fromage on l'avait terminé. Sincèrement on a été plus que raisonnable, on n'a pas non plus pris tout le fromage pour un légume, mais une fois dis au serveur comme quoi qu'est-ce qu'on fait tous les légumes restants? Est-ce qu'on pourrait avoir d'autre fromage? Il nous a seulement offert de racheter du fromage.... c'est à vous de servir les bonnes portions: soit mettez moins de légumes, soit mettez plus de fromage.. Ensuite, lorsqu'on a pris notre premier verre de vin à 8 oz, le serveur nous a dit oh oui vous prenez huit onces c'est un bon verre de vin ça devrait vous durer tout le repas. Quand on a voulu recommander du vin, on a été jugé par le serveur en disant: juste vous dire vous avez vous avez pris plus qu'une bouteille de vin... & il est revenu pour dire bon je vais vous servir de l'eau vous en avez besoin bref un peu sexiste ou nous infantilisant... bref service mauvais... la bouffe sincèrement était bonne. C'est dommage parce que c'est un beau restaurant, ça pourrait vraiment être extraordinaire, mais côté service, le prix s'envole valait vraiment pas la chandelle
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.
La Buvette Nicole est un restaurant incroyable ! On s'est arrêté pour un verre car le décors est magnifique & chaleureux, puis on a finalement commandé a manger sur les recommandations du barman & c'était extraordinaire ! La Pieuvre en entrée puis la fondue au fromage wow & aussi un dessert au chocolat maison.. on recommande fortement
Nov 26, 2025
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Mon mari & moi avons découvert ce charmant restaurant en marchant, intrigués par leur menu distingué. La nourriture est excellente, belle ambiance & service impeccable! Je recommande fortement!
Une très belle expérience culinaire à notre arrivée à Montréal, tartare, magret & gnocchettis étaient délicieux. Un serveur très agréable, souriant & de bon conseil. Une très jolie adresse que je recommande
Je suis avec ma.famille hier soir & pour dire c'était vraiment top. Beaucoup choix aux niveaux des plats français comme américain. Personnel très agréable. Ambiance très chaleureuse. Je recommande vivement cet endroit. Réservé en avance car il est beaucoup demandé.
Oct 12, 2025
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Took my mom here who is celiac for her birthday. They were so helpful & the food was delicious! Amazing service, the night felt very special. I love when a waiter is kind, fun & helpful. I will definitely come back in the future! Couldn't recommend more.
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!
La nourriture est excellente. Nous y avons mangé mieux que certains restos de Paris! Le tartare de boeuf est succulent, je vous recommende les escargots au vin blanc & fromage & le suprême de poulet cuit à la perfection. Pas un match avec le serveur & nous avons manqué d'eau mais un endroit très agréable néanmoins!
Sep 7, 2025
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Une expérience à avoir. Notre service était vraiment superbe & les plats - recommandés par le serveur - nous plaisaient tous. J'ai adoré le magret de canard & le cheesecake était une bonne surprise. À la prochaine!
We were a party of 4 adults & 3 kids & had an excellent experience there. The food was extra ordinary. Had the best Gnocchi ever. The portion size was great.
The staff were super friendly. They were interacting with all the customers.
We got a lot of information about the region & specifically about Moose🫎, which was really great.
It was raining cats & dogs & the staff were willing to come with us to our car park with umbrella.
Enjoyed our afternoon there. Highly recommend the place.
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 stumbled upon this place & are so happy we did. Andrew was tremendous. Great service, great food. Would highly recommend. It was just him & the bartender in a packed place, & it was still great service. Loved the whole experience.
