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.
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.
Déception! La recette de la sauce des raviolis a été modifiée. C'était LE plat a prendre au Lionel. Un repas délicat & rempli de saveurs. Maintenant, une réduction épaisse & tellement sucrée. Quel dommage. Par contre, un super service, charmant & rigolo.
Nous avions aussi sélectionné l'entrée de salade iceberg. Oh la la, le plat est le tier du format pour le même prix.
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
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Went for lunch on December 23rd. The price was $42 for 3 course lunch & it was phenomenal.
For appetizers, we got the lobster bisque & beef tartare. Bisque was nice & beef tartare was a fun experience to eat. Would probably order something else for it since it was out top choice in term of taste but it was a fun experience.
Main entree was duck confit & the chicken Dijon. Both were amazing. The duck confit was tender & skin was crispy. The other ingredients in the dish was delicious. The chicken Dijon was creamy & flavourful. Highly recommend these two dishes.
Dessert was fresh & light. Not too sweet. It had raspberry, vanilla cream & sponge cake. It was the dessert of the day so others might get something different.
Service was great & they were kind & it didn't felt weird for us to eat there while wearing sweat pants. We definitely had people looking at us, might be because of what we wore.
The bread they gave as a complimentary was hard & not really fresh(it felt it was out for a bit too long) but the butter with it was good.
On a plusieurs choix au moment de notre réservation & à 2 jours d'avis on nous envoi par LIBRO ce qui suit :
WOW c'est vraiment sérieux … des amateurs non professionnels !!! On avait prévu le repas à 19h30 & par la suite autre chose… WOW
Bonsoir M. X, suite à l'organisation de la soirée du 31 décembre, nous avons décidé d'offrir seulement 2 services distincts. Le premier étant un menu 4 services au coût de 75$ entre 17h00 & 17h30. Le second étant un menu 7 services au coût de 150$ se déroule entre 20h30 & 20h45. Puisque votre réservation initiale est prévue pour 19h30, nous aimerions savoir s'il vous serait plus convenable d'opter pour le menu 4 services ou le menu 7 services? Vous pouvez toujours nous rappeler en restaurant si vous désirez de plu amples informations. Au plaisir!
Gérant peu aimable & manquant d'ouverture. L'accueil donne davantage l'impression d'un hall d'hôtel que d'un restaurant. Une adresse que je ne recommande pas pour une expérience à la hauteur de l'enseigne.
Beau, bon mais, cher. Un peu prétentieux comme place. La serveuse m'amène mon assiette avec un chiffon parce qu'elle est chaude & me la donne directement dans mes mais... ouch... Je commande 1 coupe de vin pour souper & on m'oublie. On me la finalement apporté gratuitement mais, j'avais déjà fini mon plat...
Je suis venu manger dans votre établissement & j'aimerais vous offrir mon expérience. J'ai été servi par Frank, nous étions assis au bar. C'était un moment très achalandés lors de notre passage au restaurant. Tout au long de notre présence, il était attentif & prêt à intervenir au besoin. Il est aller au delà de nos attentes & malgré la période très achalandés, il a pris le temps de nous sourire, nous parler amicalement & non pas juste prendre notre commande comme la majorité des services dorénavant. Vraiment un WOW pour Frank. Si j'aurais pu, pour son service je lui aurait donné un 6 étoiles. Les portions étaient toutefois plus petite en comparaison avec nos visites chez Lionel à Brossard ou nous sommes habitué d'aller... mais la qualité était au rendez-vous & l'ambiance pat Frank surpasse notre expérience. Au plaisir.
