Le Garde Manger est une sorte de joyau culinaire qui, de prime abord, n'en présente pas les apparences. Il faut d'abord dénicher l'endroit, dans une ruelle quelque part près des quais du Vieux-Montréal. De plus, ce bistro sans prétention, situé près du centre des affaires, ne possède pas d'enseigne extérieure. Malgré tout, depuis son ouverture en juin 2006, il est devenu une adresse de choix auprès des professionnels branchés qui ont envie d'une cuisine de la Côte Est et d'une pinte de bière locale après une dure journée de travail.
Dans l’ensemble, les avis sur Garde Manger décrivent une expérience culinaire maritime exceptionnelle mêlant ambiance chaleureuse et service attentif. La cuisine est largement saluée pour sa fraîcheur, ses fruits de mer généreux et ses plats créatifs, présentés avec soin et équilibre. Le menu degustation est souvent un point fort, même si certains visiteurs trouvent les portions parfois petites et le déroulement des plats peu clair sans support imprimé. La carte des vins et les cocktails reçoivent aussi des éloges, avec des accords judicieux, même si quelques convives regrettent le choix au verre et préféreraient des options plus fruitées ou off-dry. L'ambiance est décrite comme vivante et accueillante, et le cadre du Vieux-Montréal est souvent mentionné comme un atout majeur. Des critiques signalent néanmoins des réalités pratiques comme une certaine confusion autour du menu, une arrière-salle bruyante et des tables serrées, ou des temps d’attente qui peuvent décevoir lors des soirs plus chargés. Malgré cela, l’enthousiasme demeure fort et beaucoup recommandent Garde Manger comme une expérience mémorable à Montréal, un lieu où la nourriture et le service s’accordent pour offrir une soirée exceptionnelle et inoubliable.
Creative, delicious, really high quality ingredients, cozy setting, just so great. One of my favorite fancy meals for a long time. About $700 CAD for the tasting menu for two, with two drinks each, including taxes & tips. A la carte would be less but the chef's menu was very good.
I mean.... I'm not even sure where to begin. I'd like to call myself a foodie that will not go to a restaurant before first looking up it's reviews, comments & social media page. With sush a high rating, it actually made me doubtful. I looked through the comments hoping to find negatives comments (which would still make sense even for a great restaurant) but, I couldn't find anything. Anyways ... we decided to go ahead & choose Garde Manger for our special couple date night. Let me tell you. Wtv could make you doubt about trying this restaurant, forget about it. The experience was IMPECCABLE from START TO FINISH! I even doubted the waitresses on her recommendations (I like to be smart like that haha) & I had to end up apologizing to her for attempting to not follow her recommendations We had the chef menu. Mind you, this restaurant is up there price wise but every single dollars is worth it. I've tried many highly rated restaurants, some overhyped, some very delicious but this one... I'm still 24hours later trying to find something to not give it the TOP 1 RESTAURANT I've tried so far in MTL. It is was it is. What you see in the rating, trust that your experience there should be nothing but short or perfection. Thank you Garde Mange
8 sept. 2024
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Signature Québécois-Canadiana dining @ 408 Garde Manger falls into the'must-experience' category - this is not your average'pantry chef' (translated)-themed restaurant, but a cool, nuanced, & intentionally-not-to-be-found seafood-focused eatery (despite the massive chandelier, open kitchen, & well-stocked bar top). An intimately designed but vivacious resto created by Chuck Hughes (known for defeating Iron Chef Bobby Flay on Iron Chef America, but his enduring accolades (Top Chef Canada, Chopped, Chuck & al Cuisine, to name a few) supersede that accomplishment), Garde Manger exudes Canadiana cottage time; imagery of canoes, backpacks, sandy firepits to cook up the day's fresh catch, married with eye-rolling innovative creations, from start to end. Presentation span wonderfully the spectrum, exemplified by delicately-prepared Turbot Crudo, laced with the freshest of herbs, all the way to roll-up-the-plaid-lumberjack-sleeves to slurp down briny freshly-shucked maritime oysters. Service for everyone. We were seated at the bar to indulge in our mid-level menu de dégustation - certainly sufficient for two. Our bar seating - while may not be for everyone - was on point; regular Bartender & Head Chef chat-ery, hustle-&-bustle for the eyes & ears, & attentive food & drink on display, all made for a vibrant, eclectic & fun experience. A pair of Amuse-Bouches started strong, with a quirky Homard Pogo topped with an incredibly generous porion of sturgeon caviar, followed by a contrastingly delicate, dill-infused Razor Clam, expertly prepped & served on shell. Observant wait-staff providing (almost too) efficient service & clearing - cadence for these experiences should be tempered, to allow for a fuller appreciation of the offerings, wouldn't you say? Thankfully, it did slow to a comfortable pace. The Seafood Platter did not disappoint. Maine lobster, Nordic shrimp, mussels, briny Oysters from NB, PEI, & Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine, served up with a variety of house-prepared mignonettes & Chuck's own sauce piquante. Tres bien! Paired from this point a Kamptal Reisling, we savored Charred Octopus on a bed on seasoned baby potatoes, the aforementioned Turbot Crudo, & a dill Nordic Salad. We followed with their interpretation of surf & turf, exemplified by aromatic Hangar steak, alongside fresh yet savory scallops bedded on smashed potatoes. Merveilleux. Closing out with a serving of Nonino Prunella to pair with Profiteroles, & Crème Glacée breaded pudding. A degustation to remember; taste buds treated well with a marriage of flavors. Bières pour la cuisine! Hints- ample online pay-ahead-of-time parking next to GM. Bar seating: ask for the end bar seats. Mid-level Service can be filling, but not uncomfortably.
During a visit to Montreal, I had hoped to revisit Restaurant Le Diplomate, but upon learning of its closure, we opted for Garde Manger on a friend's recommendation. We tried the chef's menu, & each dish was a flavorful treat for my palate. The service was warm, helpful, & courteous. The fun playlist added to the lively atmosphere. The oysters were irresistible, perhaps the best I've ever had! ---------------------------------------------------------------- Lors d'une visite à Montréal, j'avais espéré retourner au Restaurant Le Diplomate, mais en apprenant sa fermeture, nous avons opté pour Garde Manger sur recommandation d'un ami. Nous avons essayé le menu du chef, & chaque plat était un véritable délice pour les papilles. Le service était chaleureux, serviable & courtois. La musique était très agréable & l'ambiance générale excellente. Les huîtres étaient irrésistibles, peut-être les meilleures que j'ai jamais goûtées !
Not to be dramatic, but this truthfully was the best meal/ experience we've ever had. We got a short notice reservation at the bar @ 9:15pm. From the moment we walked in, until the moment we left, the service was 10/10. Our wine glasses or water cups were never empty. We opted in for the 4 course "chefs menu", & had a 2 different wine pairing recommendations. Everything was great - from the seafood platter, to the gnocchi with scallops, duck, beans with smoked tuna belly, carpaccio. We also got a cute little sparkler in our dessert dishes since we weee celebrating our engagement. Thank you Garde Manger team for the incredible evening!
By far the best meal we've had during our stay in Montreal, dining at Garde Manger was an incredible experience from the moment we walked in the door. The atmosphere is everything you want in the old city--exposed brick & stone, light just bright enough to enjoy the meal but not overpowering, tables set far enough apart to give a sense of intimate dining. The staff are outstanding. Our server was charming & attentive & never seemed rushed. The other staff supported him well & were equally attentive & polite. Our server helped us choose a crisp white wine, perfect on one of the hottest days of the year. We ordered the Chef's Menu & loved the cold seafood platter that came out first. I don't know how the cold lobster could be so tender, but it was. The salad course included a turbot dish & another with potatoes that we practically fought over--it was that good. The protein course included hanger steak & scallops, which were also excellent. I preferred the scallops--I'm not a fan of steak--& my partner preferred the steak, so that worked out well. We were full when the dessert course arrived, & somehow we devoured both the flourless chocolate cake (which we both usually dislike & couldn't stop eating until it was gone) & the lemon curd with a moist cake beneath, & this too we finished off & then sat back in a stupor after eating so much great food. On our way home we agreed that when we return to Montreal, we'll return to Garde Manger--in fact, we would come back to the city just to eat there. This place is that good.
20 juin 2024
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Superb place, really enjoyed our time. Recommended to everyone. The staff is amazing, the food & wines choices are outstanding. My compliments to the chef!! I highly recommend to take the 4 course meal, it was truly an amazing experience.
This was our splurge meal on our trip to Montreal, & it did not disappoint. We had the chef's choice, which I recommend doing. You get a lot of different items & every dish was fantastic. I'm still thinking about the sweetbreads. So good. Our waiter was Nicholas with assistance from Wesley & the service was impeccable. Worth every penny!
Had such a great dinner last night at Garde Manger! We had the chef's plate.. Every course was spectacular. Expensive, but worth it for the experience.
A very lovely & fun dining experience. We tried the 6 course chefs tasting menu, & each course consisted of up to 3 separate dishes; we were stuffed at the end. Some dishes were pleasant, others great (I loved the steak, wife loved the apple vinaigrette salad, we both loved the seafood platter & the rich chocolate cake). The atmosphere & service was warm & fun, almost irreverent. It was pricey, but well worth it for a date night splurge.
Its reputation precedes itself - for good reason. We put ourselves in the chef's hands & were not disappointed. Service team of Taylor, Wesley & others were kind, attentive & friendly. Loved every part of our meal & experience.
7 avr. 2024
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We had a great experience here while visiting Montreal. It is a bit of a hole in the wall. There is no signage for the restaurant, you just have to know which door to go into based upon the street number. We were sat right on time & started with cocktails. The Smash cocktail was great! We decided to order the Chef's Menu ($100 per person). There are different levels to the Chef's Menu, with this being the lowest option, meaning you get the least customization with it. We were open to trying anything so this was fine with us. The first course was a seafood platter, the waiter brought out the food & explained every single item on the platter & the recommended way to eat it. It was delicious! The second course included a wonderful vinaigrette salad, a tartare, & some sort of incredibly delicious cod bites (they were amazing). The third course was duck in a beet roux, roasted carrots, scallions & artichoke. All wonderful. Finally, for the final course, we were brought two desserts. A lemon sponge cake with a crunch meringue & another creamy creation with a chocolate center that was delectable. Throughout the experience, our waters were constantly filled & plates & silverware exchanged for each course. Wonderful experience.
We were able to get a last minute reservation here during our stay in Montreal & had the best meal we have ever experienced. My husband & I ordered the middle tier tasting menu & each course came out with multiple shared tastings that were beautifully plated & so delicious. The chef chose each course so we had no idea what we would be served & we loved this element of surprise. The seafood platter, lamb, squash, trout, beef carpaccio...omg, everything was perfect! Our server & all of the staff we interacted with were lovely. Wish we lived closer because I would be coming here all of the time! Cheers!
Ordered the mid range Chef's Menu & it was phenominal. Service was fantastic but the food was even better. Higly recommend putting your experience in the Chef's hands.
