Cabaret l'Enfer

Lukesh

5.0

This was an all-around fantastic experience.

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.

The atmosphere was nice - lots of candles!

19 janv. 2026

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Lauryn

3.0

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.

30 déc. 2025

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Kyle

5.0

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.

3 nov. 2025

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Evan

2.0

I spent a long time searching for a great dinner spot in Montreal to take my girlfriend to on her birthday while we were in Montreal. I felt confident Cabaret L'Enfer would be a hit, but unfortunately, it fell far short of expectations.

Cabaret L'Enfer is different from traditional fine dining restaurants in that you don't have a server in the traditional sense. A young man in black fetched us water when we arrived & asked if we'd like the wine pairing with our meal. When I asked for details about the wine pairing, he had no details to offer. He clumsily said something about how their sommelier chose the wines, & that they pair well with the courses (which is a given) but no knowledge of the actual wines themselves.
Despite this, we requested the wine pairings & the mail began. I will say that for the most part, we enjoyed the courses. Some were better than others, but they were fairly exotic, adventurous, & interesting. The tuna belly was our favorite. The dessert dusted with chocolate powder over a stencil as to create a resemblance of Leonard Cohen .. was laughably tacky & just not good.

But what fell short more than anything was the ambiance & experience.

We were sat at the bar, where you're offered a unique experience of watching the preparation of the courses. If the kitchen is'on' that day, I think it could be a fun addition to the experience. Well, on this particular day - the kitchen was not especially locked in. If your kitchen is on display to your clientele, things should be running immaculately, but there were a number of issues:

- The vent fan was broken & the smoke from the seared duck enveloped the entire (tiny) restaurant area. Watching Massimo himself jump & try to throw a sheet of paper against the vent fan to confirm they were indeed not working, & seeing it fall behind the fryer.. was something.

- We had to lean in & try very hard to hear the chefs over loud 80s punk/industrial music as they described the courses as they were served. They sometimes failed to recall specific English words to describe elements of the meal. Understandable in Montreal, but just a bit clumsy & something that, in my opinion, an actual server should be doing.

- Seeing plastic bins with prepped food pulled out of refrigerators to plate courses - while it is something that occurs at literally every restaurant, it is best kept behind a wall, in my opinion.

This all felt so amateur & unbecoming of a restaurant that purports to be a fine dining experience. It was bizarre & somewhat uncomfortable.

I don't watch Top Chef, so I'm not especially enthralled with the mystique of'Massimo'. If you are, you may enjoy his banter & antics. He was buzzing around the restaurant, serving wine, running food, chit chatting, working the room. He certainly has a big personality, & I could see the appeal for folks who are foodies. It didn't really add anything notable to our experience.

My priority when eating at a restaurant such as this is a delicious, thoughtful set of courses served by an attentive & highly knowledgeable server prepared to offer excellent service. While the food was mostly good, the service & ambiance so aggressively missed the mark that I feel very disappointed with our experience. At $550 USD for two, it is quite expensive for such a lackluster overall experience.

21 oct. 2025

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David

5.0

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.

21 sept. 2025

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Megan

5.0

Amazing experience! We ordered the tasting menu with wine pairing & sat at the counter, which was fun because we got to see the creation of the plates. Every dish was excellent & somehow better than the last, with each ingredient & component so harmonious & well considered! Service was also fantastic-everything was well explained, & the wine pairings were great. We're already looking forward to a return trip.

23 août 2025

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Tristan

5.0

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.

20 juin 2025

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Brian

5.0

Fantastic! Really enjoyed the tasting menu with wine pairings. Service was excellent from start to finish.

23 oct. 2024

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Paul

5.0

Remarkable food, pairing & service - a truly phenomenal dining experience.

3 juin 2024

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Vincent

5.0

Chef Massimo & his team never cease to amaze me. The thought, flavour, & execution of each dish is unrivalled. He & his team were also incredibly hospitable & welcoming of my team that had difficult dietary restrictions. The wine pairings were expertly chosen to be unconventional, thought provoking, & delicious. After my third visit here, it remains clear this restaurant is a MUST go.

19 avr. 2024

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Craig

5.0

Be prepared for a gastronomical experience...this is not a place to go out for a quick bite but to take your time to enjoy all the thoughtful flavors assembled by a team of chefs for your culinary delights...literally! Cabaret L'enfer offers an outstanding service of very small portions, prepared & presented over an extended period of time...usually coupled with an excellent wine paring. Just know that this meal takes time...budget around 2 1/2 hours to fully enjoy the experience (see below for more). The set menu was presented to us as we sat down...with 7 included courses & the option to add on two others (for an additional charge). Note that everything is prepared in house (bread, purees, etc...) so it is super fresh. The wine pairing is an additional $85 but includes a 100ml glass for almost each dish so it is worth the value. The starter is the Anti-Pasti board (a mixed of meats & purees with a side of bread), then a pasta Agnolotti with Hazelnuts, then a Scallop & Potato service, then a Cardeau fish serving, then a Hazelnut Tetela Mexican tarte, the Lemon Parsley Granita palate cleanser, the meat service in a Bordelaise sauce, followed by two dessert dishes, Meringue Skull with Black Apple & Blackberry Mille-Feuille. As mentioned, the portions are relatively small & we did not feel stuffed or overwhelmed in any way & everything truly tasted wonderful. Although I commented on the length of the meal service, in fact it was barely noticeable because of the company I had. We had a chance to catch up with each other & re-connect as it were in a perfect setting. So it made our meal that much more enjoyable...& that would be my point; go with a small group 2-4 people where you can spend quality time together. It will be well worth the visit & create a warm, loving memory. Enjoy!

4 févr. 2024

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Thomas

5.0

Incredible experience - easily one of the best meals my wife & I have ever had. Each course was beautifully presented & full of unique, delicious flavors. The smell & flavor from the Japanese style, wood-fired grill were particularly delicious. The wine pairings were spot on as well. Also, my wife is vegetarian the substitutes she received in place of the meat courses were excellent. We live in New England but I'd happily make the drive to Montreal every time their menu changes - it's that good. Thank you so much to Massimo & team for a great experience, we cannot wait to return!

2 févr. 2024

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Margaret

4.0

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.

19 nov. 2023

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Fernando

5.0

Amazing spot in Montreal. Ran by passionate people who truly know their craft.

If you want to go all in with the tasting menu ($120) & it's wine pairing (80$)you will leave satisfied, happy & wanting to come back.

Now they have a late night short menu for those who want to be coming back often as regulars, amazing 40$ price for three courses this one is a must for repeat customers. I know I'll be coming back for more.

Thank you Santiago & the rest of the team for putting on a show last night.

12 oct. 2023

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