Grille-Nature by chef-owners Derek Damann and David McMillan is an end-of-career promise kept. These two longtime chefs, bound by mutual admiration, have teamed up to bring to their beloved West Island a restaurant for everyone. Seafood, vegetables, and prime cuts of responsibly farmed meats and local products are always on hand. A welcoming bar, an eclectic wine list, and a warm staff are ready to create something new in hospitality, surrounded by purveyors of true quality.
Two chefs, two farms, two families, one restaurant. Quality goods only.
Reviews of Grille Nature converge on a standout West Island dining experience, with generous portions, inventive and well executed dishes, and attentive service in a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Dishes range from crowd pleasers like burgers and seafood to ambitious specials, with many highlights such as scallops, foie gras, crispy fries, and a strong bread and butter service, and a well curated drink program. While the overall food quality and vibe receive high praise, several guests note high prices for the portion sizes and occasional inconsistencies in pacing or execution, including one steak that was chewy or overcooked, some sides priced a la carte, and a few visits where service or timing could be improved. Still, the restaurant is described as lively yet comfortable, with a family friendly vibe and a level of hospitality that makes visitors feel welcomed and well cared for, and many plan to return to try more dishes.
We had another enjoyable evening at Gille Nature. My wife & I particularly appreciate sitting at the bar, & this visit was no exception... we had plenty of space & felt very comfortable throughout the evening. The staff interactions were, as always, warm, attentive, & genuinely pleasant, which really adds to the overall experience.
A standout moment was when the chef noticed we were intrigued by the salad, sucrine au Roquefort. He kindly approached us, provided explanations, & described the dish perfectly. It was a thoughtful & personal touch that made the experience even more memorable.
We started by sharing the fried calamari, which was nicely prepared & perfect to kick things off. I had the burger, which was satisfying & well executed, while my wife opted for the sucrine au Roquefort, which did not disappoint.
Overall, it was a relaxed & enjoyable evening at a very reasonable price. Definitely a place we're happy to come back to.
We had the burrata, tuna aguachile, gnocchi with veal ragu & duck confit. All were excellent. Bartender/server Glen was awesome & makes a great dirty martini. Courteous, efficient & a pro:)
We had an issue with something we ordered & the chef/owner (?) made the situation right with grace & kindness.
So happy to see the WI upping its game. & catering to the limited & more adventurous palettes close to home:) Thank you!
Apr 26, 2026
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What an incredible experience at Grille Nature. A long-awaited spot that we finally got to enjoy with friends. The highly anticipated dining experience didn't disappoint, it far exceeded expectations.
As a self-proclaimed home cook, I'm not easily impressed & usually love cooking at home. This really showed me the difference between a home cook & a chef. I was happily humbled, I can't cook like that, even with all the YouTube help.
Dining is alive & well, & yes, it's a luxury, but Grille Nature is the right place for that special occasion. We were greeted by name with smiles by David McMillan at the door & guided to our table by a very friendly host. Our waitress, Alia, was full of passion & had great suggestions. She brought dishes that paired perfectly together, banger after banger, no misses.
Big shoutout to the kitchen, truly incredible. We had the white asparagus with prosciutto, scallops with potato butter, sausage coil with poached pear & long hots, miso cod, pork skewer with lentils, Furley bread, panna cotta, Parisian flan, & cassis sorbet to finish.
Shoutout to Jenny (sorry if I got the name wrong). Ordering a Pigeon Hill wine sparked a great conversation about Quebec wine, & she offered us a taste of a crisp gem. Thanks for the recommendation of L'Espiegle.
The vibe was right, great tunes, proper lighting, & even a hockey game on (Go Habs Go!). What a gem to have in the West Island, greatly appreciated by us west of the West Island folks. & yes, parking was plentiful.
Went on a Thursday around 4:15 & we basically had the whole place to ourselves, which was amazing.
Our server was 10/10 he was super knowledgeable, explained everything on the menu, & made the whole experience even better.
The food was fantastic. I honestly don't think I've had better duck confit in Montreal (only time I've had it this good was in Paris). The béarnaise sauce was out of this world, & the calamari was perfectly coated, seasoned, & delicious.
Loved the atmosphere, & both chefs being there made it feel really special.
As someone who grew up in the West Island & a foodie for 34 years, I'm so happy there's finally a spot like this here. They really nailed it. Already planning my next visit.
I also shared a reel with more on my IG: @mtlfoodgal
What a wonderful experience. The food & the staff were fantastic. Their attention to detail was outstanding. I will definitely be going back. A great thank you to the Chef Melinda
Vraiment une belle soirée chez Grille-Nature ! On a super bien mangé : la nourriture était fraîche, bien préparée & les cuissons étaient parfaites. C'est du comfort food de grande qualité.
Le menu offre énormément de choix, donc il y en a vraiment pour tous les goûts. Nos cocktails étaient bons, même s'ils n'étaient pas nécessairement exceptionnels.
Le gros plus : les deux chefs propriétaires étaient sur place pour faire le tour des tables & jaser avec les clients. Ça donne une ambiance vraiment chaleureuse & humaine. Pour la qualité servie, les prix sont très raisonnables. En plus, c'est super facile de se trouver du stationnement.
Bref, une belle découverte où je retournerais n'importe quand !
With two chefs that need no introduction to the Montreal food scene, it should come as no surprise that Grille-Nature offers some delicious food, great atmosphere, & outstanding service. Seeing Chef McMillan walking around & talking it up with everyone was a highlight. I'll have to ask him to autograph my Bourdain cookbook next time.
Excited to have this place in the west island.
Feb 3, 2026
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Ordered from their specials menu. We got the fish. Was literally raw. Sent it back & the chef came back to tell us it was cooked perfectly. Pretty sure the fish was still flopping on my plate 😂 their baked potato taste was equivalent to an ash tray! Hoping that jukebox makes a comeback at this place ❤?
As a fan of Chef Derek Dammann & Maison Publique, I had very high expectations for this new spot. Unfortunately, despite the hype, it was one of the most disappointing steak experiences I've had in Montreal.
?The space feels similar to a refined McKiernan, industrial & modern but the ambiance was thrown off by three TVs over the bar blasting football. For the price point & the open-concept style, it felt out of place & cheapened the atmosphere.
?Service started well with a nice hostess, but things went downhill. We waited 45 minutes for our starters. The Caesar salad was unremarkable with scarce bacon & parmesan. Worse, the bread (which isn't complimentary) arrived late & ice cold with hard, unspreadable butter. We also had to ask for wine by the glass because it wasn't on the menu; the server brought bottles to the table with no price transparency, eventually suggesting glasses that turned out to be $17 each.
?But the main disappointment was the steak. We skipped appetizers to save room for the meat, which was a mistake. I ordered the $110 Australian Wagyu Delmonico special.I was told it was'Chef's choice' for temperature, but what I got was a disaster. The portion was massive (honestly, too big for one person), but the cut was absurdly thick, over 3 inches. Because of this thickness, the cook was terrible. It had an inch of dry, well-done gray band on top, while the bottom was completely blue, cold, & unrendered. For a Wagyu cut, you need a better cook to render the fat, but this was chewy & unseasoned inside.
?To make matters worse, both my steak & my partner's fillet were served in a pool of overwhelming, salty, HP-style sauce that completely masked the taste of the meat. Between the bad cook, the cold interior, & the heavy sauce, I struggled to finish even half. We ordered fries on the side, but they were oily & lacked crunch.
?The dessert sundae was good, but overall, for a restaurant of this caliber & price, the execution was shocking. I've eaten steaks all over the world (US, Japan, Spain), & this was a major letdown.
Les mots me manquent pour décrire la soirée incroyable qu'on a passé à Grille-Nature, le chef David & son staff ce sont occupé de nous comme de leur famille, l'ambiance était incroyable! on a mangé comme des rois, le vin était divin. déjà notre meilleur soirée de 2026. merci pour tout 🖤
Thrilled to have a restaurant of this calliber on the West Island!! Thank you Regan for your great service & menu suggestions. We were SUPER surprised at how good the Argentinian white wine was. From the amazing bread n butter to the sundae dessert - *chef's kiss* ! Husband had the beef carpaccio (we ended up sharing- wow) & the scallops. I had the appy shrimp (honey ginger) & a gigantic salad - refreshing!!!! We will surely be back! 😀
Jan 12, 2026
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Surreal that this is in the West Island, one of the most special dinners! Thank you to the chefs & staff, can't wait to go back. $15 for a generous foie gras toast (enough for two), unbelievably good value 👌
Outrageous. One of the best salads I've ever had. Wagyu steak from Australia with the craziest Japanese steak sauce directly from chef. The chocolate cake you dream of. In the West Island? A dream come true.
Very attentive, witty & entertaining bar staff , great sommelier recommendations, food as amazing as expected, owners/chefs roaming the place to make sure everyone was cared for. A definite must
