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.
Do you have an open mind about fine dining? Are you willing to be open to an engaging experience which is both edgy & comforting? If you are, I think you will love Massimo Piedimonte's Montreal restaurant.
The first thing you will notice upon walking into the restaurant is likely the space. It is small & intimate. It feels like you have been invited into an eclectic downtown apartment with loud colors, artwork & punk music. Next you will likely meet Massimo who is a gracious, fun & lively host. Massimo is a bundle of energy- almost punk rock like - at one minute host, at another chef, at another he is at your table serving & describing & telling stories & then, flash, he is off doing other things. It's energetic & fun & you feel like you are a part of something.
The rest of the crew are incredibly well trained, professional kind & calming the frenetic (in a good way) energy of Massimo. The wine service, in particular, was superb & knowledgeable. The sommelier is Argentinian & she has a deep/broad appreciation for wines from around the World. Fall backwards with her recommendations, she will catch you & recommend excellent wines to match the cuisine. While we ordered by the bottle, the wine pairings we saw were generous & clever selections. She is a really superb addition to the restaurant.
The food was wonderful. Small, expertly prepared courses that challenged your senses & taste buds similar to the artwork & music that surround. Acid, fat, umami, textures from soft to crunchy - all swirling & dancing & jumping & then combining for memorable bites.
I understand this experience may not appeal to all in the fine dining world. This is not a restaurant where voices are muted, service is reserved & you can hear a mouse fart. This is an edgy, energetic party with an eclectic host. But at its heart, Cabaret L'Enfer is full of love. I highly recommend it but please go with an open mind & a fun attitude.
P.S. some have described the pricing as expensive. I felt it was quite reasonable for the experience & excellent cuisine - particularly for a small restaurant that lavishes attention on its guests. With wine pairings included you should expect to spend around $200 US dollars per person.
Sep 21, 2025
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It was my second time at cabaret l'enfer & it was absolutely delicious. Ordered everything. I was a little over-full by the end but I think most people would be perfect. There are a lot of restaurants here in Montreal that will give you more food, but it won't be as high quality. If you are looking for big plates this isn't the spot for you (no judgement, just an honest fyi). Everything is made in house & there's a sense of perfectionism that permeates the dishes. It's not very showy, it's just really, really good. I would kill someone for a loaf of their bread. Sauces were killer. The charcuterie plate is wonderful. Lobster & saffron was a great bite. Koji marinated beef was outstanding. Nice wine pairings, too, funky but enjoyable picks. I also had a fun time with the team, so yeah, would recommend if you're down to get spendy.
Une soirée remarquable au Cabaret de l'enfer ✨ L'ambiance chaleureuse & raffinée, associée à un service irréprochable, nous a immédiatement séduit Les plats, faits maison & préparés avec des produits de saison, ont révélé une qualité & une finesse exceptionnelles Un grand bravo au chef & son second dont le talent & la créativité sont clairement mis en valeur dans chaque assiette Le personnel, à la fois professionnel & attentif, a contribué à faire de cette soirée un moment particulièrement agréable Une expérience que je recommande vivement & que je ne manquerai pas de renouvele
100/10. I am in love with this restaurant. Everything from the food, to the service. Everything is done top notch. I could not recommend it enough! Do yourself a favour & visit this amazing restaurant.
What an incredible meal & experience! We were 6 fully vegan diners, & the Chef & his team prepared an insane 7 course meal for us. It was PERFECT! We were blown away, service was professional, patient, super friendly & attentive! The wines which were all recommended by the wonderful Sommelier were all AMAZING! food, taste, creativity & presentation was just out of this world! 10/10!! We will be back!
Dec 9, 2024
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We were excited to pay a visit to Cabaret l'enfer last week after hearing so much about it. Overall, we were disappointed, the food was good (but with very few memorable dishes in my opinion) but the service was abysmal, by far the worst I've had in a restaurant at this price point in Montréal. We got there at 20:15, paid for the tuna extra so we had 8 courses. We left at 00:10, so almost 4h later. The service was excruciatingly slow, & ruined the overall experience for me. It took over an hour to get the first course. Food wise, the charcuterie board was good & enjoyable, the fatty tuna extra was also delicious, same for the scallops. The rest of the meal wasn't bad, but I'm writing this barely a week after going to the restaurant & I've already forgotten what those dishes were, so they probably weren't that good. The restaurant by itself is pretty plain, some may call it ugly. It feels cheaply put together, & not in line with the $140 tasting menu. I would not come back & recommend the restaurant to friends, there are very similar, but superior restaurants in the city.
Nous sommes allés ma conjointe & moi ainsi que ses enfants. Ce fut une belle soirée. Très grande précision dans l'exécution de la plupart des plats. Mention spéciale pour le pain au levain, le mozarella di buffola, l'agnoletti, les pétoncles & en terminant les fameuses sauces. Massimo est le dieu des sauces. Il nous a reçu avec classe, il est venu plusieurs fois à notre table & nous a tous salué à notre départ. Un chef & sa brigade qui savent très bien prendre soin de leurs hôtes. Est-ce qu'on recommande ? Bien sûr pour l'ensemble de l'oeuvre.
Feb 12, 2024
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My husband & I went to have dinner at cabaret l'enfer & our experience was incredible! The food was exquisite: flavours were on point, & portions were generous. We were full after the 2nd plate! The chefs, sommelier & other staff were so lovely! We were sitting at the counter & were interacting with them all night long & it made our experience a hundred times better. We would recommend this place without hesitation & we will definitely be coming back!
C'était ma toute première expérience culinaire & je suis extrêmement satisfait. De la nourriture délicieuse, un service incroyable, l'attention aux détails, tout était parfait. On ressent la passion & l'amour des chefs lorsqu'on mange. Je reviendrai sans aucun doute ici, je le recommande à n'importe qui!
What a culinary experience. From start to finish, brilliant! Best seat in the house is definitely the chef's counter. Watching chef Massimo Piedimonte along with his team, prepare flawlessly each dish & interacting with us added to the experience. Also recommend the wine pairing. The only reason I gave 4 stars is because we found the portions very small.
Super expérience! La nourriture est délicieuses & soigneusement expliquée entre chaque plat. Le service est rapide & efficace & l'ambiance est parfaite. Le staff est très attentionné & le service personnalisé. Définitivement dans les meilleurs restos où je suis allée, si ce n'est pas LE meilleur! Je le recommande définitivement!
Wow. Absolutely mind blowing. Food was exceptional, unlike anything we usually see in restaurants. The flavors are through the roof & every plate is a thing of beauty.
The Chef is brilliant & charismatic, & the open kitchen is wonderful to see.
Highly, highly recommand.
