Garde Manger

Cody

3.0

I came into Garde Manger extremely excited. Chuck Hughes is undeniably a talented chef, & expectations were high given the restaurant's reputation. Unfortunately, the experience didn't live up to it.

We opted for the $295 tasting menu per person & asked the bartender to curate a cocktail & wine pairing alongside it. For the price point which was well over $500 per person all in, the meal lacked focus & cohesion. None of the dishes truly stood out or felt memorable. The menu skewed surprisingly bland & safe, especially considering the bold, flavor driven cooking Chuck Hughes is known for.

The pairing felt sloppy & disconnected from the food, more like an afterthought than a considered progression that elevated the courses. At this level of dining, execution & intent matter just as much as ingredients & that consistency wasn't there.

This isn't bad food by any means, but it is wildly overpriced for the experience delivered. Given the cost, I expected sharper flavors, clearer vision, & a more polished overall experience

19 janv. 2026

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Alexander

5.0

After last night this became my favorite restaurant...EVER!
We got the'basic chef tasting menu'. There is NOTHING there that I would skeep. Every round was paired & timed perfectly. The host was gracious, the waiters were amazing.
I hope to go back soon.

28 déc. 2025

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Josh

5.0

Tasting menu was 10/10 with excellent dishes. Warm service & felt well taken care of the entire time.

21 déc. 2025

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Sandy

4.0

Great spot in old town Montreal. I was there solo for less than 24 hours in a work trip & was looking to have a nice meal. I got the 6 course tasting menu with the blue crab toast add on. Would say that the crab toast & the seafood platter were my favorite dishes but everything was well made & delicious! That said, I felt the sauce on the last dish was a bit too heavy in butter & not well seasoned enough. Overall though, I had a good meal. It was on the pricy side but worth it!

Also the espresso martinis fantastic, & if you can, I'd sit at the bar & hang with Emma! She's the best!!

15 nov. 2025

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David

5.0

We had dinner here while visiting in town for my birthday. This was a very good choice indeed. Cooking recipes from chef Hughes at home, was interested in seeing where it was coming from & how it was made in house.
We opted for the tasting menu with all the bells & whistles. (Go big or stay home we say). Everything was top notch. The surprise dish for us was a carrot'3 way' side dish. It was absolutely fantastic with a slow cooked carrot purée on the bottom that I want to have every day of my life.
Chef Hughes did come over & talk to us for awhile, which was a great surprise & made the experience for my birthday oh so special.
Thank you to the team at Garde Manger for making it special.

26 oct. 2025

sur Google

O

5.0

I heard about this place. Booked a table months in advance. We ordered chef's tasting menu, it was the beat food I ever had...it didn't disappear...so yummy 😋. The meal ends with wonderful chocolate dessert.

21 août 2025

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Gina

5.0

I've been coming here for years, & it never disappoints. The quality is always outstanding, & the creativity in every dish continues to surprise & impress me. It's one of those rare places where you feel the passion in every bite.

The tasting menu is, in my opinion, an absolute must. It's a beautifully curated journey through inventive, seasonal flavors - each course more intriguing than the last. What sets the experience apart even further is their thoughtful wine pairing by the glass. The staff takes the time to match each pour perfectly with your food, enhancing the whole experience in a way that feels both refined & personal.

The service is always warm, professional, & genuinely welcoming. The team strikes that perfect balance of attentiveness without being intrusive. They make you feel like a regular, even on your first visit.

In short: amazing food, impeccable pairings, & a staff that makes you want to come back again & again. A truly special place.

7 août 2025

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Courtney

5.0

Stop scrolling through reviews & just make the reservation. This spot nails the balance between cozy & elevated. The atmosphere is warm & homey, yet stylish & full of character. It's vibey in the best way, with great music that adds to the experience without overpowering it.

I lucked out with a last-minute reservation & grabbed a solo seat at the bar. The staff were exceptional, welcoming, attentive, & happy to strike up a conversation. I opted for the tasting menu, & it was flawless from start to finish. Every dish was thoughtful & beautifully presented.

One standout was the seafood tower course - I'll be dreaming about it until I can come back.

I will recommend to anyone visiting Montreal & I'll 100% be returning.

5 août 2025

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Sarah

5.0

We were seated at the bar, & the experience was very enjoyable. We had the tasting menu, & everything was fresh & absolutely delicious.

8 juil. 2025

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Cam

5.0

The most fulfilling tasting menu I have ever had!

F1 special tasting menu almost 10 dishes, 1 of which is an entire seafood platter!

Hot towels, never had that before, the service was outstanding!

All the staff were superb!

Can't wait to see what they come up with next.

13 juin 2025

sur Google

Nadia

3.0

Short version: We paid $800 (tax & tip inc.) for a dinner for two & left hungry - got Domino's pizza after. Was it tasty? Yes. But miniature portions at a very steep price. Lovely staff & nice menu but portions too small.

Long version:

It was my birthday dinner, & I had heard many great things about this place. I also love Chuck Hughes' sundried tomato chili oil, so I was really excited to try his restaurant. My boyfriend & I reserved for dinner, & when we made the reservation, the option was a tasting menu, so we opted for that at the moment of the reservation. When we arrived, the waitress explained to us that there are multiple'tiers' to the tasting menu, going from tier 1 to tier 4, & she hyped it up so much & specified that for tier 4, you'have to be hungry'. We were starving & very excited to eat, so we opted for tier 4. It was priced at 275$ per person, so we were ready to feast.

The plates started coming, & they were very, very tasty. However, we started worrying about the portion sizes as the dinner went by, because we were realizing that the courses were coming & going & we were just having enough for one bite or two. Unfortunately, as we feared, we finished the night & could have easily eaten 3 times the amount of food that was served to us.

Highlights:
- Delicious cocktails. I really enjoyed the cocktails. The mixologist was really great because all the flavours paired perfectly.
- The waiters were kind & attentive. My glass of water was always refilled.
- The food was delicious.

Cons:
- Portions were very small. We were still hungry at the end of all that tier 4 multi-course meal.
- Extremely loud restaurant (did not bother me but pointing it out in case people are looking for quiet)
- The price we paid did not justify the food quantity, as we then went on to get pizza takeout.

Overall, I would love this restaurant if the portions were bigger. I would go back because the taste was great, but I would not get the tasting menu because it's too expensive for simply too little food. I don't know what the price is per item but the gnocchi was delicious. I would have wanted an entire plate of it. So, be mindful & eat beforehand, or bring snacks for after if you go because you might still be hungry.

Honourable mention to the staff who were all super kind & attentive. My birthday was nice.

5 juin 2025

sur Google

Z

5.0

I didn't have a reservation & was lucky enough to be seated in the back area. Ordered 2nd tier chef tasting menu & a couple of drinks. One of the best restaurant experiences of my life.

Wes, Taylor, & the rest of the back area were incredible. Thanks for making this a highlight of my trip.

28 mai 2025

sur Google

Francis

5.0

The food was outstanding, but what truly stood out for me was the service. It's rare for service to catch your attention like this, but the team here is exceptional. Their hustle is evident, & the attention to detail is impeccable-every little thing is taken care of with care & energy.

Oh & again, the food was amazing. We ordered the chef selection / tasting menu & it was amazing. The seafood, the beef & the sweet at the end - all A+.

Thank you for an amazing evening-can't wait to come back & dine at Garde Manger again soon!

26 mai 2025

sur Google

N

5.0

This was likely the single best meal we have ever had. Everything - from the moment we sat down until we left - was immaculate. The service was incredible (our waters never bordered on empty, our table was always cleaned, & we were even given a moist towel at one point between courses). We did the level 2 chefs tasting menu, plus the snow crab, & I'd say it was worth the upgrade. The lobster caviar was incredible, while the snow crab almost brought us both to tears. Every other dish was varying levels of great to fantastic, & the wine/cocktails were also excellent. Truly, everything was immaculate. In particular, the pacing with which the dishes came out deserves a special shoutout - we were never waiting, & once we started to slow down, the dishes did, too, to give us time. Absolutely recommend this place. High-end dining, but you will not leave hungry!

20 févr. 2025

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Justin

5.0

Absolutely phenomenal experience. We had the tasting menu - service was impeccable. The atmosphere was relaxed & welcoming & made for an excellent cap for our visit to Montreal. Thank you for hosting

10 févr. 2025

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Frank

5.0

We did the level 4 tasting menu with extra additions. Highlights are the razor clams, snow crab & wagyu steak (though, they could salt it a touch less). Oxtail Pasta is amazing. Pass on the caviar. Great service. Food comes quickly.

31 janv. 2025

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Faisal

5.0

Dinner with colleagues from work. Tried the four course Chef's tasting menu & everything was excellent. Favourite items included the grilled swordfish & the salad.

29 janv. 2025

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Kyla

4.0

The staff & vibe was impeccable . We had the tasting menu & it was such a lovely experience. Fresh seafood, rich tender beef, delightfully prepared vegetables. I cannot overstate how much I loved the experience. The pistachio profiterole & amaro meletti pairing was indescribably perfect. I cried it was so good. The only negative of the entire night was in the final course. It was a plate of small bite desserts that was just too much after such a decadent meal. The brown butter macaron was so overpoweringly sweet that it turned my stomach & I couldn't eat the rest of the options on the plate. My partner said the rest (salted dark chocolate wafer, a fruit gelée, & a petit four) were delightful. I don't want this to dominate this review, so I'll just leave it at-maybe avoid the macaron but absolutely devour everything else. The oysters were perfectly shucked & cleaned. The mignonette served with it was nuanced yet bold. The cocktail sauce with the shrimp was familiar yet surprising (super fresh horseradish & perfect Worcestershire) I could have eaten just that & left happy. The bathrooms smelled like maple syrup. Every detail has been thought about here. It's obvious the staff cares deeply.

4 janv. 2025

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Colleen

5.0

Great evening! Food, drinks & music was perfect. Tasting menu was outstanding ! Service was perfect. Really had a wonderful experience.

1 janv. 2025

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Pete

5.0

Did the tasting menu. Fantastic. Service was exceptional. One of the best meals I have ever had in a restaurant. & I have been to a lot of restaurants. The Paul Bocuse restaurant in Lyon may still be my number one, but I am tempted to say Garde Manger may be my number 2. Jeez, if Chuck had been there........well we will never know. I am a fan of Chuck Hughes, for sure.

20 oct. 2024

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