Cabaret L'Enfer offers a bold, intimate dining experience with an open kitchen and counter seating that many reviews describe as energetic and engaging. The menu is inventive and expressive, blending coastal, Latin and Asian influences with intricate plating and strong wine pairings that often complement each course. Dishes like otoro and handmade pastas regularly receive praise for creativity and balance, while the atmosphere is repeatedly noted for candlelit warmth and a lively, showlike vibe. The staff and sommelier are frequently highlighted for knowledge and hospitality, though service can be slow and pacing uneven on some nights, and portions are sometimes considered small for the price. Reservations are essential due to the small space, and the experience can feel like a night out rather than a traditional fine dining meal, with some guests embracing the spectacle and others wishing for more restraint. Overall, Cabaret L'Enfer is seen as a standout culinary adventure that rewards an open mind and may inspire a return visit, despite occasional inconsistencies and cost considerations.
Visa infinite dining experience
Horrible service. Extremely small portions. Had one slice of bread to split 3 ways & would not re serve. Had to keep bread for following service. Tiny slices ( 1 mm x 2.5-3cm of meat & would not even bother give us more ignoring us ( 3 in party ) & had to eat again after the supposedly amazing meal. Small wine portions as well. For over 250$ per person w tax & tip would not return & not booking any visa events because of this experience.
Amazing experience on a snowy night in Montreal. Chef counter seats with great service by front of house & the chefs! Wine pairings were unique & perfectly matched with the course. Will certainly be back on a future trip to Montreal.
Feb 19, 2026
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Everything is perfect. But small reminders: sommelier should not be called the Italian sparkling wine'champagne',& for red wine, the temperature is a little bit'warm', minimum already 23ºC+ . The service is excellent, but if I evaluate objectively, there are still some issues that do not meet the fine dining standards. Tips are included after tax.(this is my second time come to this restaurant)
The best part is that their dessert wine (in wine pairing)is actually l'hydromel de Miellerie King! This is a good local Quebec wine(28cad in SAQ), & its flavor is even somewhat similar to Louis xiii(I have 2 Louis xiii at home). I have also had l'hydromel de miellerie king at other restaurants before, such as Le Mousso, which was very good. Actually I respect Italy,so, very sad hear about'champagne' for Italian sparkling wine... & I can't forget it in my mind hahah 🤣😭 service is 3 star because sommelier, not chef 😭
The food presentation was great. The dishes with South American influence were especially good (mole & an entree containing a paste originating from El Salvador). The concept of each course corresponding to one of the seven deadly sins was fun. I was concerned I would leave feeling hungry, but that was not an issue at all.
We were seated by the chef's bar. It was fun to see the chefs cook, & they were super friendly in explaining what they were cooking.
We did not get the full wine pairing, but did try one pairing as proposed by the sommelier. It was a very good recommendation! Also, I think it's worth highlighting how great the sommelier was. He answered all of our questions, cracked jokes & really elevated our whole experience. We also had some cocktails/mocktails that were tasty.
My first night on vacation in Montreal resulted in me getting a reservation at Cabaret l'enfer! I had been following Chef Massimo since he was on Top Chef & I was delighted to be having dinner in his restaurant during the 7 Sins tasting menu. Each of the courses were absolutely Divine & the plating & explanations from the chef was fantastic! The only reason why the atmosphere only gets four out of five stars is because some of the courses didn't quite match up with the sin. It did make sense when you Dove a little deeper, but on the surface it didn't quite match with what most people would think that sin means.
That being said, everything was delicious & it was a very fun way to start my first night in Montreal!
Jan 16, 2026
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This deserves a special shout out. As a Montrealaise living abroad, when I'm back home I care about where I eat. The food, staff & ambiance made a regular Tuesday evening outstanding. Even without the head chef, they held it down & you could feel he was there! The meal included the best tartare, best scallop, & best duck I've ever had. Special shout out to all the staff this past Tuesday, for indulging our questions about wine, food, etc. (special shoutout to Carlos for the extra attention & the lesson on Mexican cinnamon). A bientot!
Horrible NYE dinner, spend your money elsewhere. They charged $170.00 per person, & there were FIFTY minute gaps between dishes. The dinner ran so long that we had to leave after the fourth course (seven courses total) so we didn't miss our NYE event. Our reservation was at 6:30pm by the way. They reduced a small amount from the bill, they never apologizes for the delays & nobody from management ever got back to me when we messaged them after the dinner. Really poor all around.
The food here was fantastic. I'll start there. The branzino en croute was a particular standout. But the service was ROUGH. Our 7-course meal took nearly 4 hours, with long, sometimes 20-minute gaps between courses. Tables seated nearly an hour after ours received some courses before we did. I had the wine pairing, & they completely forgot to pour my wine for the fish course. Some dishes were explained well, others were confusing. The chefs generally explained the dishes well, but the waitstaff seldom checked in, which made it difficult for my partner (who doesn't drink) to order mocktails. I don't know if this was an off night or what, but it seemed like they desperately need to streamline service from what we saw. I will say that Massimo himself was fun & delightful, & clearly enjoys interacting with his customers, but for what ended up being nearly $700 CAD after tip, I expected to be taken care of with a little more attention & intention.
Considérant le nombre de bons restaurants à Montréal, ne faites pas le détour pour passer la soirée à ce restaurant. Je dis passer la soirée parce que le service est très lent. Pour donner un exemple, les 2 premiers plats ont pris 2h pour être servis. Aussi les portions sont minuscules & plusieurs personnes ont mentionné devoir manger au retour à la maison. Quelques plats étaient goûteux alors que d'autres mal équilibrés & très ordinaires. Finalement, le prix était déraisonnable pour la « qualité » & les portions.
I'm visiting Canada from Japan.
In Japan, I truly believe that the level of customer service in restaurants is among the best in the world. Even in small bistros-not just high-end places-you receive exceptional service. Because I've been so used to that standard, I honestly couldn't give very high ratings to some of the restaurants I visited in Toronto. Sometimes the service ruined the experience, even when the food was great. There were moments when I thought,'Do I really have to tip for this?' & it made me miss Japan.
But then I visited Montreal & came to this restaurant - & I was stunned.
Not only were the servers friendly, but even the kitchen staff were incredibly warm & kind. Every single person working there made us feel welcome.
& the chef… absolutely incredible. I've never met a chef this funny, kind, & entertaining - even in Japan.
Thanks to this place, we had the most amazing night in Montreal.
Thank you ❤?
I dined at this restaurant when it first opened & had a good experience.
almost 2 years later I can attest that everything is on the decline, minus the price. Sad to experience given the potential.
the sommelier was lovely, she was knowledgeable & attentive.
What a delightful experience!
Visited after attending a conference, & the experience offered just what I needed to relax & enjoy visiting Montreal. The staff is delightful, the way they interact with us & the menu descriptions add great value to the experience. Thank you all for one of the best dining experiences I have ever had
Dec 9, 2025
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Un seul vin rouge disponible, un seul vin blanc disponible, pas de cartes de boissons.
Si vous êtes prêt à mettre 25 $ + taxes + pourboires pour un simple verre de vin blanc bien classique.... let's go !
I went here as I watched Top Chef & saw Massimo on the most recent season. This was our Anniversary meal, & though we didnt see Massimo, the staff treated us exceptionally well.
We were greeted with a welcome cocktail & the meal progressed from there. Our menu was fairly seafood heavy, which was great for me, but not ideal for my wife. The food was all fantastic from start to finish, & I highly recomend the wine pairing with each course.
The restaraunt itself was beautiful, & I loved all the candles throughout.
A perfect place to splurge & enjoy an anniversary (or date night). The menu changes daily, so keep that in mind when you visit.
Après 2 premières super expériences avec le off-menu (passé 21h, 3 plats possible de complémenter avec des plats additionnels, mais qui n'est plus disponible aujourd'hui), nous avons décidé d'essayer le menu dégustation.
Nous avons été déçu de notre dernière visite.
- La valeur n'était pas au rendez-vous. Le prix de 165$ pour 7 services ne m'aurait pas gêné si j'avais eu l'impression d'en avoir pour mon argent.
- Les associations de saveurs, portions & ingrédients choisis ne justifiaient pas le prix. Nous avons fini le tout à la maison avec un trio Big Mac & des croquettes.
- Sélection de vin intéressante, mais commençant à 100$ la bouteille de rouge.
- Les cocktails n'étaient pas disponibles car le barman n'était pas là. Pas besoin d'un barman pour dépanner avec une carte simple & limitée pour la soirée (ex: Negroni)
- Le service était lent & pas plus attentionné qu'il faut, ce qui aurait dérangé si nous n'étions pas avec un couple d'amis que nous n'avions pas vu depuis longtemps.
Sur une note positive l'ambiance est toujours au rendez-vous.
Nous mettons 3 étoiles car nous avons adoré nos premières expériences, mais on est ressorti avec un malaise à la dernière après notre facture de 640$. On reste persuadé que le chef & son équipe sont extrêmement talentueux, mais à ce prix, on ne peut justifier d'y retourner sur un gamble.
