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.
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!
Nous y sommes allés cette semaine un midi avec mon amie. Avons pris le croque monsieur qui était bon ainsi qu'un tartare de boeuf. Bon mais portion minuscule & frites pas maison alors qu'elles étaient annoncées maison sur le menu ce qui est vraiment dommage…
L'endroit est par contre très agréable :)
Mar 1, 2026
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Expérience très agréable lors de l'heure du lunch. Service rapides, serveurs gentils & bonne ambiance. Mention spéciale au tartare de boeuf du menu midi, le meilleur. Merci à Sheldon & à toute l'équipe 😊
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
Great place to grab a bite in Montréal! We sat outside & enjoyed great weather. Our server was friendly & made great recommendations. We tried the Beef Tartare, Gnocchi, & Roasted Chicken & everything was excellent.
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!
The restaurant had a lovely & unique ambience that made for a memorable setting. Our server was incredibly nice & welcoming, which really added to the experience. We had requested outdoor seating & were promptly ushered to a table outside.
As a group of five, we ordered a variety of lunch dishes including the beef tartare, beef sandwich, & black garlic gnocchis. While everything was presented well, the food itself was unfortunately a bit mediocre & didn't quite live up to our expectations.
That said, the sunny weather made for a pleasant outdoor meal, although it did start to get quite hot. Overall, it was a decent experience with standout service & atmosphere, but the food could use a little more refinement.
May 30, 2025
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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!
Nous sommes arrivés à 21h45 vendredi le 1er novembre Places disponibles au bar Endroit chaleureux Un tartare de boeuf (délicieux) en entrée (que ça pour moi, petite faim) Pour mon conjoint: Soupe à l'union (délicieuse) en entrée Un boeuf bourguignon (vraiment trop salé & mon conjoint aime le salé...) en menu principal Le dessert un gâteau au fromage....Une vrai farce! deux minuscules bouchées.... Deux verres de vins rouge de 8 oz= 56$ Une facture de 150$$$ Nous ne retournerons pas à ce resto
Nov 3, 2024
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Très belle découverte dans le vieux port, un beau restaurant chaleureux & cosy, de l'accueil au service. La nourriture était incroyable, un des meilleurs tartare de boeuf de ma vie! La soupe & l'oignon excellent & le ribsteak cuit à la perfection!!
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.
Adding yet another strong review for Buvette Nicole. The meal was delicious resulting in a lively debate afterward about which of the five delicious items we shared was our favorite (a tie between the tuna sashimi & cheesecake - remarkable because I don't even like cheesecake - honorable mention to the beef tartare). Bravo chef & crew. Our server Jordan was a hoot; the entire front of house team was first rate - friendly, professional, efficient. A bonus to sit outside on perhaps one of the last evenings this year that will be possible.
Absolutely fantastic dinner where Chef Alex & team took wonderful care of us. We are fortunate to like everything so we asked Chef to feed us, & that was the best decision. We were treated to an unbelievable spread of everything from tartare, bone marrow, charcuterie, pâté & cheeses, & octopus. Main course was a tomahawk with fries, mash, Brussels sprouts, rapini & asparagus, chimichurri & demi-glace. The video doesn't do justice to how spectacular this meal was, & I think we made the rest of the restaurant envious... bring your appetite, you won't regret it!
