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Restaurant Top Pick

Chez Lionel

Chez Lionel elevates the Montreal bistro scene with masterfully crafted tartares and refined French classics.

Downtown
4.5$ & $$
CLOSEDOpens Today at 11:30 am
Monday
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Photo of Chez Lionel, Downtown - Montreal
BistroTartareComfort FoodFish & ChipsBurgersMarketRegionalFrenchGluten-free OptionsGreat selection of cocktailsGreat selection of winesResto-Bar
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About

Chez Lionel focuses on the precision of bistro craft through a menu anchored in high-quality comfort food staples. The kitchen specializes in seasoned tartare preparations, utilizing fresh ingredients to achieve a consistent texture and balanced flavor profile. Patrons encounter a straightforward culinary approach that prioritizes technical execution over unnecessary ornamentation. The selection includes hearty dishes designed to satisfy specific cravings for classic preparations found within traditional bistro culture. Each plate emphasizes depth through deliberate seasoning and the selection of produce that complements the core protein offerings. The atmosphere remains centered on the functionality of the dining room, allowing the focus to stay squarely on the plate. This establishment functions as a dedicated hub for those seeking reliable, well-executed standards that define the modern bistro experience in an urban setting.
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5★
73%
4★
11%
3★
7%
2★
6%
1★
2%

Mentioned in:

Chez Lionel was featured in the article(s) below.

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Reviews for Chez Lionel

Food
Service
on Google4.5 (400+)
*as of 2026-08-01
5★
73%
4★
11%
3★
7%
2★
6%
1★
2%

Review Summary

Chez Lionel is widely praised for its elegant French bistro atmosphere, stylish decor, and overall excellent dining experience in the heart of downtown Montreal. Many guests highlight the high quality of the food, particularly the lobster bisque, beef cheek, and duck confit, while frequently noting the professional, attentive, and welcoming nature of the service staff. The restaurant is a popular destination for those heading to events at the nearby Bell Centre, with many diners appreciating the ability of the staff to accommodate large groups and provide efficient service on busy nights. While most reviews are glowing, some guests have noted inconsistencies in dish preparation, such as overcooked or overly salty items, and occasional delays during peak hours. Despite these mixed remarks regarding timing or specific culinary preferences, the majority of visitors feel the sophisticated ambiance and friendly, dedicated team make it a standout choice worth visiting.
Page 1 of 1 - 10 Reviews

The food was amazing & service was great. My friend & I had a delicious meal & it fit perfectly into my lunch hour.

Aug 1, 2026
on Google

Expensive lunch for Fish & ravioli badly cooked & badly seasoned. Only the tartare was acceptable- machine cut & no outstanding flavor but not too bad .

Apr 30, 2026
on Google

I went for a business lunch, arrived 5 min before, asked for the reservation name & they placed me at a different table than my client (same reservation name). Thirst time for me, at least a good remember for my customer & I

Mar 11, 2026
on Google
1.0

Update ** Following their response I proceeded to contact them via email as they proposed only to be left without a follow-up… Awful customer service.

I reserved for a group of over 30 people a month in advance. The GM clearly proposed that we could choose from the lunch menu ($42) or the group menu ($60). He even confirmed that both menus would be placed on the table.

Two days before our reservation, I called again to double-check, & they confirmed once more that we would have access to both options.

But on the day of the event, the staff suddenly refused to let us order from the lunch menu. It felt misleading & unprofessional-especially after multiple confirmations.

For a large group booking, this lack of transparency & last-minute change is completely unacceptable. I would not recommend this place for group events.

As for the food, I ordered the risotto & was shocked at how undercooked the rice was. Instead of being creamy & tender, it was hard, grainy, & honestly unpleasant to eat. A basic risotto should never leave the kitchen in that state.

Jan 3, 2026
on Google

Went for lunch on December 23rd. The price was $42 for 3 course lunch & it was phenomenal.

For appetizers, we got the lobster bisque & beef tartare. Bisque was nice & beef tartare was a fun experience to eat. Would probably order something else for it since it was out top choice in term of taste but it was a fun experience.

Main entree was duck confit & the chicken Dijon. Both were amazing. The duck confit was tender & skin was crispy. The other ingredients in the dish was delicious. The chicken Dijon was creamy & flavourful. Highly recommend these two dishes.

Dessert was fresh & light. Not too sweet. It had raspberry, vanilla cream & sponge cake. It was the dessert of the day so others might get something different.

Service was great & they were kind & it didn't felt weird for us to eat there while wearing sweat pants. We definitely had people looking at us, might be because of what we wore.

The bread they gave as a complimentary was hard & not really fresh(it felt it was out for a bit too long) but the butter with it was good.

Dec 31, 2025
on Google
4.0

Came in for a corporate lunch, the place is clean & menu was good.

The only 2 issues i had was getting the bill in a timely fashion for us to be able to leave & the place was extremely loud where we were seated.

Jul 9, 2025
on Google

Great 40$ set lunch, big portions, great service, clean bathrooms, (best mocktails I've had in montreal!) highly recommend for a BD lunch

Jun 5, 2025
on Google

Service is great! for lunch the waiter will ask about your schedule to make sure you get your food on time so that you have enough time to eat & go back to work on time. I had the chicken for lunch & it was a great portion & great flavours. Only thing that was disappointing were the truffle fries…smells great but seems like it somehow lacks flavour & truffle essence..

May 31, 2025
on Google

J'ai essayé Chez Lionel pour le lunch avec la table d'hôte à 40$. C'était vraiment super bon! Contente de ce nouveau resto proche de mon travail.

Apr 30, 2025
on Google

Expérience pour le lunch.
40$
Le service est impeccable! Les serveurs sont présents mais discrets. C'est le point fort.
Le lieu est vraiment beau en revanche la salle est vraiment très très bruyante. C est assez dérangeant.
Les plats sont bons. Pour moi, les assaisonnements sont un peu en dessous de la qualité.
Attention au lavage des poireaux (il reste de la terre sable). Les ravioles sont bonnes mais la pâte avait un peu séché.
Le dessert était délicieux.
J' y retournerai.

Apr 29, 2025
on Google