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 made the reservation weeks ago not realizing it was Mother's Day weekend, so not exactly a calm atmosphere. We should have made our reservation for an hour later to avoid the rambunctious kids - all well behaved just kids being kids. The room is large & painted white. This makes the food the focus of the evening but is a bit stark & echoey. The service was excellent & if you get the chance to talk with Jenny the sommelier do it! She is a an amazing font of information & did a great job of guiding us to the perfect wine pairings.
Rather than do apps first, our group of 4 ordered the scallops, the French tomato salad & the black cod. The scallops were ok but the cod was magnificent. Perfect grill & so good. I would recommend skipping the tomato salad. It's a great idea but the tomatoes were mealy & the crunchy bits on top were an unnecessary attempt at adding texture. For our second course we share the Kansas cut steak (almost perfect) & the broccoli rabe (delicious). I can't remember if it was the fish or the steak but one of them came with Swiss chard - a nice surprise & cooked my favourite way.
Our table of 4 could not have been happier. Treat yourself & check this place out
I do not understand why so many positive reviews for this restaurant. First of all, the atmosphere. Minimalistic, half of the menu is on a single chalkboard, some items proposed by our server were either absent from the chalkboard or market priced. The place is noisy, the owners should invest in acoustic tiles. Second, the food, we ordered 5 different items form the menu (Steak frites, Scallops, Duck Confit, Pasta Dish & Ribs, with three sides & 4 cocktails (no appetizers). The waiter was pushing for more items. The food was served before the drinks arrived at our table, which is something I've never seen before in any restaurant. The food was lukewarm, there was no WOW factor as far as taste. The duck confit was dry, & gave me heartburn later (I wonder how long it stayed under the lamp). Third, the prices & quantity of food. The broccolini side had only 7 small spears, & was priced at $19, the fries were $11 for a single serving (one potato). The average price for each dish (no side) is $45; portions were not overly big. Cocktails are $18 for a ounce of liquor. We were celebrating my daughter's birthday, they did not even comp the tiny portion of cake she ordered. Overall, I felt that we overpaid for very ordinary food. For half of what we paid, we could have had a far better meal at Lucille's, the Keg or Bâton Rouge.
May 14, 2026
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The atmosphere was better than the food unfortunately ! Service was ok- our server was very nice but she was a little bit all over the place & our appetizers took about 40 minutes to come out .. we tried the scallop special which was good however I found it was lacking a little bit of flavor. I got the half chicken which was delicious but unfortunately very very salty, I couldn't finish it , it comes with fries which is salty as well, I did not have much to balance with the saltiness . My friend got the fresh cod from BC which was delicious however was also very salty . Maybe it was an off night with the food I would maybe try again
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.
Absolutely incredible restaurant from the service to the food we really enjoyed our visit here.
We had the scallops , carpaccio , marmite oyster & milano ham. Each dish was better than the next. The scallops were the best i ever had!
For the main dishes we had the steak & duck. Absolutely amazing!
Our waitress was super friendly & did a really good job. Huge thank you to David Mcmillan for coming over to our table & speaking to us. Was such a good experience wish i could eat there every day ! 😂
Had a mostly pleasant experience for dinner this week. The service was excellent from the moment I stepped in. Had the milano ham & alpine cheese as an starter followed by the scallops. Meal was very good. Main courses are quite varied, priced from 25-100$, something for each price point. Local tall can beers from 4 Origines were listed for about 10$ with non alcoholic options on request. I ordered a small can of Asahi 0.0 (price is not listed) & was charged 12$ for it. How a small can of non alcoholic beer can cost 20% more than a tall of craft beer? My meal was good, but I left with a sour taste in my mouth.
Feb 27, 2026
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It's truly in the details. You get a 5* experience from food to service without breaking bank thanks to the small attention that make it feel special. The windbreaker curtain to avoid drafts, the'coat service', the replacement of utensils... Small things that don't mean much alone but compound when added together. Didn't feel like we were bothering anyone even when we asked for things from someone who wasn't our dedicated server. Again, simple things but all together made it a great night out for tired parents on Saint-Valentine. We had the foie gras to share, steak poivre & scallops. All excellent & cooked perfectly. I was suggested an excellent wine pairing for my scallops & the spicy margarita had a strong kick! Generous portions so we did not have space for dessert.
Overall, we had a great experience, with a few areas that could use improvement.
The service & staff were excellent. Everyone was attentive & friendly, the food arrived quickly, & the pacing of the meal felt well thought out rather than rushed or sluggish.
The menu is genuinely interesting, with a lot of tempting & well-curated options. It feels creative without being gimmicky. The drink program is also a strong point. Cocktails were very tasty, & the wine list is solid, offering great selections both by the bottle & by the glass.
Food highlights really stood out. The calamari were excellent, perfectly cooked & flavorful. The scallops were cooked just right, & the fries deserve a special mention. Honestly, they might be the best fries I've ever had.
That said, a few elements didn't fully live up to expectations. The 8oz bar steak was cooked perfectly in terms of temperature/crust, but the quality of the meat itself wasn't there. It was chewy & had noticeable sinew, which took away from what should be a highlight at a grill-focused restaurant. The mortadella appetizer was also overhyped by our waiter. It ended up being very standard German-style mortadella (Leberkase), nothing bad - even very tasty, but nothing memorable either. I would skip it next time.
I'd give the restaurant a solid 4 stars, but a few details pulled the experience down.The bar stools were extremely uncomfortable, to the point where my legs were going numb. We eat at bars often, both locally & while traveling, & these were among the least comfortable bar seats I've encountered. It really affected the enjoyment of the meal. The steak knives also felt cheap. It may sound minor, but ripping through meat isn't appetizing, & for a place branded as a grill, this feels like a basic expectation. Lastly, the toilets were a bit dirty, with things like urine on the floor. Nothing dramatic, but still unacceptable for an establishment at this price point & level.
Overall, it's a bit on the expensive side for the portion sizes, but the food is very tasty. I would definitely go back, & if some of these issues improve, I'd be happy to update my review.
Went to Grille Nature with my wife, & my parents & had an absolutely wonderful experience!
We ordered the ginger shrimp & chopped salad to start! The shrimp were very tasty & the Chopped Salad tasted very very fresh!
For the main, we ordered two specials (New York steak & Black cod) & we also ordered the scallops which is on the regular menu! Steak was served in a jus that was absolutely delicious. It was cooked pretty rare & I wish it were closer to medium but it was still very very good! The black cod was also delicious. It had a slight sweetness to it (probably a sauce), & tasted very fresh! The scallops were very flavourful & super tender! I honestly would recommend all 3 dishes! (Pictures of the mains included)
The service was very polite but I found the pacing was a little off. The appetizers came in a good amount of time but it felt like 35-40 minutes between the end of the appetizer & when we got the dinner. All that being said, the server was very polite & I think she was pretty new so I should give her more slack than I am giving her.
Overall, I really really enjoyed this restaurant. It's so great to have a restaurant of this quality in the West Island
I will absolutely be back & I can't wait to try more things on their menu!
Local high quality ingredients with simple delicious recipes expertly prepared & didn't break the bank!
From the moment you walk in you're greeted with a warm smile & friendly banter. The service was EXCELLENT, she knew the menu inside out & we didn't feel pressured.. only supported.
It's a very chill local vibe inside & I can't wait to try the terrace in the summer!
You HAVE to get the Furley bread with churned butter, Hudson's finest really delivers.
The shrimp were the perfect starter & weren't overpowering.
The spicy margarita was strong & so yummy!
The scallops & bar steak were the perfect combo, & the value on the streak is crazy imo. There are some elevated options, but you can enjoy this restaurant without breaking the bank easily. Incredible addition to the West Island!
Jan 25, 2026
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What an well thought out environment. Everything is understated & you feel like you've walked into a friend or family's kitchen to grab a meal.
The service was excellent. We didn't ever need to flag anyone down & the staff clearly knew the menu well. Other establishments could learn from this staff.
Food was nothing short of amazing. The scallops we perfectly cooked, their chalkboard items we're mouth watering & their twist on something as simple as french fries we're already one of the many reasons I will be coming back.
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! 😀
Absolutely beautiful experience. We will be back no doubt.
David & Derek made us feel absolutely welcomed & you can just tell how invested they are in this project.
The food was beautiful. Everything works well.
We ordered 3 entrees & 3 mains plus dessert. It was ambitious but this is a hard menu to choose from.
The Scallops, Sausage & Ribs were all amazing. The avocado Entree is absolutely stunning & delicious.
There is nothing like this in the West Island & we thank you for it!
Not only does the West Island have a new restaurant, but it's a David McMillan & Derek Damann venture. The food was mind-blowingly good & the service was outstanding. Sam was our waiter & all of his suggestions were perfect. We had two cocktails, appetizers were foie gras as well as a plate of calamari, mains were scallops in butter sauce & my husband had the'Salaberry steak' with a fried egg on top. We shared an alpine salad. Dessert was the amazing coconut & sucre à la creme pie (it's an entire pie, enough for 4 people). Can't wait to go back!
Dec 20, 2025
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Wonderful new restaurant. Calamari was the best we've tasted. Scallops were incredible. The Alpine Salad was delicious & full of excellent greens - varieties of radicchio, watercress, & herbs. The sausage was too much for one person - better to share.
& the atmosphere is laidback with quiet jazz - makes it so easy to converse.
SO happy to see this kind of restaurant in the West Island.
