Darna Bistroquet

Jasmine

5.0

We went to celebrate a birthday & we were delighted that we had selected this exquisite restaurant!

Our server & guide, Eric, suggested we get a few plates to share & taste a greater variety. He recommended a few dishes based on our preferences.

We ordered the halloumi, oyster mushroom tagine, grilled asparagus & that evening's special was a grilled swordfish steak. The presentation, was excellent, the service attentive & the taste delicious. We loved most of it especially the mushroom tagine. Exquisite!

IMO the swordfish steak was bland & the pita was dry & unsalted. I still felt hungry after finishing I need more protein at my meals.

The decor was evocative of the Magreb & the Silk Road. The only detraction in the ambience was having the music too loud to converse with ease.

Jul 24, 2025

on Google

John

2.0

It's obvious this place is capable of turning out good food - we saw some wonderful looking sausages grilling out front with some other food people seemed to be enjoying. Turns out it was for a special event celebrating five years in business & you had to pre-buy a ticket. The special event also meant a DJ, & we were stuck next to him. It was loud enough we couldn't have a conversation & just wanted to get out of dodge by the end. As for the food, the mushroom tagine was too sweet, & who puts fried halloumi with a low-flavor fatty sauce? The harissa/lemon aioli with the falafel had no discernible spice or color, while the beans with the octopus were flavorless. The Brussels sprouts were kinda blah. It felt like they were trying for upscale with "delicate" flavors & a ton of fat, but we left feeling bloated & disappointed. & watching others eat better food made us feel like second-class citizens. On the bright side, the drinks were well done, & our waiter was friendly & helpful (he told us to order bread, which was the one food I really enjoyed). It looks like customers should stick to brunch here - the menu looks much more basic.

Jun 21, 2024

on Google

Patrick

5.0

I found this place on Eater & decided that this would be the place to eat at during a small 2 night stay in Montréal. I was not disappointed! Moroccan cuisine, dishes with thought out flavors & textures. Our dinner was fantastic. Ordered the: Flatbread, Grilled Halloumi, Beet Salad, Chicken Tagine, & Grilled Octopus I thought the halloumi, chicken tagine, & grilled octopus were really good. I wish the pieces of chicken in the tagine were a bit bigger, I'd say. The flavor & texture was great. Crunch, salt, sweet, savory... all in the chicken tagine. All the dishes were fantastic, I would recommend!

May 19, 2024

on Google

Linh

5.0

Everything at Darna was absolutely delicious! The lamb kaftas were fragrant, freshened up by the acidity of the pickled onions. The grilled halloumi was similarly excellent: fatty, salty with a creamy tangy sauce. The real star was the mushroom tagine: the mushroom soaked up all of the flavor & umami, & left you wanting for more with every bite. Do not sleep on their desserts either! I would gladly come back here for another visit.

Jan 5, 2024

on Google

Micaela

3.0

I went for dinner with my husband a week ago. The restaurant was small & cute & warm. The service was wonderful. We ordered the lamb & the chicken tagine. Both were beautifully presented, but surprisingly bland. Although Moroccan food is typically served under seasoned & with no salt shaker on the table. The tagine was deceivingly small, as the chicken was served on the bone, & there were many bones & not a lot of chicken. We shared 4 cocktails, & although there were all nice, & sounded unique, none of them wowed us.

Dec 8, 2023

on Google

Malika

5.0

Wonderful experience! Menu items were typically Moroccan with a modern flair. Grilled halloumi & humus starters were very tasty. Chicken & lamb tagines were full & flavorful. The Moroccan mint tea after the last course & before dessert was key. Highly recommend!

Nov 18, 2023

on Google

April

5.0

Excellent service & incredible flavors. We each had the discovery menu which provided a fun array of dishes. Everything was very good, especially the falafel, roasted eggplant, chicken tagine, grilled halloumi & rghaeif flat bread. The servers were extremely attentive & kind. Darna also has a selection of interesting non-alcoholic mocktails — including a great non-alcoholic margarita. Much appreciated!

Sep 17, 2023

on Google

via Other

1 Review

5.0

This little North African restaurant is awesome. The food is spectacular. All of it. Grilled haloumi on roasted plums. Ricotta gnocchi & artichoke hearts in a lemony sauce. Hummus full of cumin seeds & preserved lemon. Monkfish tagine. Date cake with whipped labneh & fig panna cotta. Service is thoughtful & friendly. Care is taken at every step. What an amazing find. Perfect evening.

via Other

1 Review

5.0

Un des meilleurs restaurant à Montréal. L'aubergine & l'Halloumi en entrées étaient savoureux. Idem pour l'agneau des Cantons de l'Est & la tagine de poulet confit! A ne pas manquer!