Grinder restaurant is located on Notre-Dame street, in the heart of Griffintown. Indeed, this neighborhood located in the southwest of Montreal is dynamic and promising; residential and commercial projects are already underway.
The original decor screams Zébulon Perron (Furco, Buvette à Simone, Philémon). He created a comfortable and warm restaurant, kitchen and raw bar. Grinder characterizes itself by vintage and modern elements such as glass and metal.
On the menu, raw & cooked items: tartares, tatakis, ceviches, carpaccios, etc. Also on the menu, steaks and grilled or braised pieces of meats, all to be shared. Grinder also offers a variety of fish and seafood, served cooked or raw as well. More than a simple steakhouse, all food lovers will find something to their liking among their selection of fresh products.
A 100% of their wine list consists of privately imported wines, always changing with the seasons, and of course focusing on wines produced while respecting nature.
Overall, reviews describe Grinder as a stylish, busy steak and seafood spot with a warm atmosphere that blends upscale and casual vibes, ideal for celebrations and group dinners. The food is repeatedly praised for high quality and generous portions, with standout steaks such as tomahawk and ribeye, well prepared fish and shellfish, and signature dishes like tartares and surf and turf; sides like mushrooms, aligot potatoes, fries, and oysters are noted with varying enthusiasm. Service is described as knowledgeable, attentive, and friendly with many memorable touches like complimentary desserts, birthday celebrations, wine tastings, and even valet, but some visits report slow or disorganized service during peak times. The ambiance can be lively and loud, especially on weekends, making it less ideal for quiet meals, yet the energy and decor are frequently cited as highlights. Overall value is considered strong for high quality meat and seafood, though prices are high and some patrons felt portions or pacing could be improved; in sum, Grinder is a top Montreal pick for steak lovers and special occasions, offering a memorable experience with excellent food and notable service, tempered by occasional service delays and a vibrant, bustling atmosphere.
Had the pleasure of checking out Grinder for a work dinner & overall had a really enjoyable evening. The restaurant itself is beautiful - stylish interior, very clean, & thoughtfully designed. They also offer coat check & valet, which is a nice touch. One thing that stood out is that the restaurant has a butcher shop connected to it, which adds to the overall concept & quality feel of the place.
I started at the bar while waiting for my boss, & the service throughout the night was excellent. Attentive, quick, & professional without feeling overly formal or pretentious, which I appreciated. The wine list is also extensive.
To start, I ordered the calamari, which was fantastic. The batter was crisp & light, & it came with a creamy jalapeno sauce that had a nice balance of tang & spice. Easily one of the better appetizers of the night.
For my main, I had the filet mignon with mushroom sauce & a baked potato. The steak itself was decent, though slightly chewier than I would normally expect from a filet. The baked potato, however, was the standout - loaded with a thick layer of cheese, sauce, & bacon. Very indulgent & delicious. The steak & baked potato came out on the cooler side but the loaded cheese made up for it.
For dessert I ordered pudding chômeur with soft serve vanilla ice cream. It was warm, moist, & comforting with a rich brown sugar base. The portion was perfect, though it did get a little sweet toward the end.
Overall, the vibe of the restaurant was great - lively but not stuffy. Service was excellent & the experience was really enjoyable. I'd definitely come back, & next time I might try the burger because it looked incredible on other tables.
Had an absolutely wonderful dining experience here! The atmosphere was warm & welcoming from the moment we walked in. Our server was attentive & knowledgeable about the menu, offering great recommendations. The food was exceptional - fresh ingredients, perfectly seasoned, & beautifully presented. Every dish we tried was bursting with flavor. The portions were generous & well worth the price. The restaurant was clean & well-maintained, & despite being busy, we didn't feel rushed. The dessert was the perfect ending to our meal. We'll definitely be returning soon & would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a great meal & excellent service. Five stars!
Mar 3, 2026
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On Valentine's Day, we reserved a table for two at Grinder for our first visit - & it truly exceeded our expectations.
When we arrived, a very kind gentleman named Etienne welcomed us warmly & showed us to our table. Shortly after, our waiter Devin took care of us with such professionalism & genuine kindness. The atmosphere was vibrant yet romantic - perfect for a special evening.
We started with the Wagyu beef carpaccio & fried calamari, both absolutely delicious & beautifully presented. For our main course, we originally ordered the 40 oz Côte de Boeuf to share. After our appetizers, Etienne kindly informed us that they had unfortunately run out of it & offered two 20 oz New York style steaks instead. We agreed, & the way he handled the situation was incredibly thoughtful & professional.
To make up for the inconvenience, Etienne generously offered us complimentary cocktails. He even came back to confirm our drinks & surprised us with three cocktails, personally joining us for a cheerful toast & wishing my boyfriend a happy birthday. That personal touch made the night so special.
Our steaks were outstanding - perfectly cooked & full of flavor. To end the evening, they brought us a dessert with ice cream on the house for my boyfriend's birthday, which was such a sweet gesture.
Everything from the service to the food & atmosphere was exceptional. A huge thank you to Etienne & Devin for making our night so memorable. We highly recommend Grinder & will definitely be back!
We had a great night yesterday! Reservation ran 30 minutes late...that was one of the only negative point...but they made it up with providing us with shots & free dessert platter! Food was amazing! I had a NY steak with mushroom side. Great taste & perfect medium rare steak. Service was great & with attention. They have a dj playing music which was a bit loud, we had trouble hearing when server was speaking or even between us... But overall amazing experience & recommend to others!
I went here for my father's birthday! They even gave us a free dessert just for him. Our food was Delicious & we loved the service as it was fast & smooth! (:
Bon faut venir en costume biznessmen lunch casual. Clientèle qui a l'air aisée, je détonne un peu :) comme resto pour un lunch c'est super car le plat principal se transforme en mini 3 services ce qui bourré bien. Faut pas compter être productif après !
L'onglet est super. Faut dire que autant que je mange rarement du steak que ici c'est de la vraie bonne vache. Cuisson très bonne il manque un rien de juteux. Sauce d'accompagnement super, bien poivrée & acidulée. Les trois carottes qui viennent avec sont très bonnes. Le Valpolicella au verre est très buvable. J'ai pas essayé café ou dessert car il n'y avait plus de place...
A essayer surtout en lunch car le rapport qualité-prix est super.
Food was delicious & service was good. Special thanks for making our special night extra special with the complimentary dessert & shooters! Only downside is that the tables are extremely close to eachother so it feels cramped.
Aug 27, 2025
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The owner reached out to my boyfriend to understand what had happened during our first visit. He offered to have us come back for a second time, on the house, to make up for it.
We went back about a month later. We were greeted by Alejandro, the manager, who offered us a first round of drinks - just as good as the first time.
For starters, I had the tuna tartare & my boyfriend went with the fried calamari. Both were very good. For the main course, I had the short ribs (super tender) & he had the NY steak, cooked medium. Everything was solid.
The manager checked in on us without being overbearing, & he wrapped up the meal by offering us their pudding chômeur with soft-serve ice cream. Great dessert.
All in all, a much better experience than the first time. Thanks to the restaurant for taking the time to make things right. It doesn't go unnoticed
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My boyfriend & I were really looking forward to trying this spot, but unfortunately, it was a letdown. We ordered the rib steak for two ($120) & asked for it medium rare.
We placed our order around 10 PM, when things were winding down, but waited at least 45 minutes without any updates. During that time, the waitress didn't check on us once. I eventually flagged her down, & she mentioned the delay was normal due to the size of the steak - fair enough, but a quick update would've gone a long way.
When the food finally arrived 10-15 minutes later, the steak was cold & extremely undercooked - basically raw. I asked to have it cooked a bit more, & surprisingly, the waitress admitted she knew it was undercooked when she brought it out. Her explanation? Their medium rare leans'on the rarer side.' That's not reassuring when you're paying top dollar. The table beside us had also returned their steak, not once but twice.
The steak came back slightly warmer, but still incredibly raw & tough. My boyfriend lost his appetite after a few bites & decided to take it home to finish cooking himself. I ate a little more, but felt like I got robbed of an experience. The sides didn't redeem the dish either - the mushrooms were way too salty & the mashed potatoes tasted like cardboard.
On the other hand, the drinks were very good & enjoyable.
When the bill came, I asked the waitress if it was normal for their steaks to come out like that. She admitted it was undercooked & apologized awkwardly, but no compensation was offered - no discount, no complimentary drink, nothing. For a $120 dish we barely touched, that was incredibly disappointing. After the drinks, our bill was way over 200$
As someone who works in the industry, I'd never serve a dish I knew wasn't right, especially after a long wait. I would have gotten the manager involved the first time the food was returned to the kitchen. It's better to communicate delays than to disappoint with poor food & service. Sadly, this experience missed the mark on both.
We had the absolute pleasure of celebrating our anniversary at Grinder, & it couldn't have been more perfect. From the moment we walked in, we were welcomed with warmth & genuine hospitality.
The food was fantastic-each dish was thoughtfully prepared, beautifully presented, & bursting with flavor. Every bite felt like a celebration in itself.
Our server, Jennifer, was exceptional. She was attentive, friendly, & made us feel truly special throughout the evening. It was clear she genuinely cared about our experience, & she went above & beyond in every way.
What truly touched us was that the team at Grinder remembered it was our anniversary & surprised us with a complimentary dessert to help us celebrate. It's those thoughtful details that really set a restaurant apart.
Grinder is a gem-not only because of the incredible food, but also because of the people who make it such a special place. We can't wait to return.
Highly recommended for any occasion, especially if you're looking to celebrate something meaningful.
My family & I enjoyed a night at Grinder yesterday… The hostess gave us the warmest welcome & was so quick on her feet-she had a very positive energy. The food matched its description perfectly-the Surf&turfs, in particular, was absolutely exceptional. To top it off, our waiter kindly offered us dessert, which was just as delightful. I strongly recommend this place.
My friend & i were trying to find a restaurant to eat at for our girls night out, & we landed on grinder
we decided to drive there & to our surprised they had valet as well which made it super convenient
grinder exceeded our expectations & we will be coming back for sure, food was amazing, service was 10/10, music & atmosphere was 10/10
we even got offered free dessert at the end of our night which was delicious
May 7, 2025
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Pour y avoir mangé hier soir : une formidable expérience avec une viande excellente, un dessert fameux, un service parfait, que ce soit la serveuse ou bien le gérant qui est un très bon conseiller pour le vin (la carte des vins est très fournie) & qui est très professionnel, une ambiance au top, bref un restaurant incontournable pour qui souhaite passer une très bonne soirée tout en se régalant les papilles gustatives !
My son chose this place for his 17th birthday & I am glad that he did. The food was delicious. I liked the complimentary dessert. Jacob, our server was top notch. I was thrilled that he gave us a wine tasting even for ordering just one glass of wine. This was one of the better meals I've had at a restaurant.
La cuisson de la côte de boeuf était vraiment pa médium saignant, mais presque bleu & la pièce elle-même était décevante. Tiraille, pas tendre du tout… Qualité extrêmement décevante pour un plats de ce prix. Ceci étant dit, les huîtres, le tartare de thon, la soupe à l'oignon, le saumon, le filet mignon, le burger & les desserts étaient de pures délices.
Jan 25, 2025
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My fiancé & I spent our 8 year anniversary at Grinder & the service & food were exceptional as always. We have been coming here every year to celebrate for the last 3 years & the consistency in quality of food & service is always impressive. Every dish we ordered was fresh & delicious & service is quick. We have nothing but positive feedback for this wonderful restaurant & we are excited to return very soon. Quick shoutout to our waiter for asking us if we were at Grinder to celebrate a special occasion & then bringing us a complementary pouding chômeur for dessert which was excellent (as usual) 10/10 as always & would recommend to anyone wanting to try
I know the truth, I am but a plebeian Peasent, while I have done well tilling the meagar land given to me by my sovereign leaders, I have not yet risen to the station of being permitted to attend the the fine establishments where our overlords frequent. Attending this place, however, is like stumbing upon a crumb that has fallen from our masters table, a gem that had slipped from the treasure trove & not yet been noticed by the powers that be. For one as myself this was an experience that my descendants will treasure in the collective memories for generations! My infiltration was difficult, & I suspect they are on to me. The first test, one of literacy was easy, despite my hesitation. They had an arrow at what appeared to be the entrance pointing to the left, above it it said "Entrance". Following this arrow led me down a long dark hallway which increased my concern I would be found out, while also invoking feelings of exclusivity & high status. Thankfully we were greeted by a jewel of a hostess asking us for our reservation with a magical smile, before my nerves gave out. Upon sitting down I made my first blunder, the waiter, Diego, said "Flat water or sparkling?" Not expecting this test I yet rose to occasion & said "Peirrior or Club soda bubbly?" To this the waiter looked at me with confusion & said "S.Pellegrino sir." I then realized my blunder: only peasents like myself drink club soda when pretending to be fancy. The waitress, Mary, who came after, however, did not have a chance to receive the notification of my mistake, so suspected nothing. The menu was a treasure trove of incredible eats & foods that were foreign to my humble palette. While there was a distinct lack of pictures in the menu (thankfully my grade 3 teacher had taught me the animal & plant words) they had everything from Lobster Spaghetti to AAA ALBERTA BEEF BLACK ANGUS GROWN STRAIGHT FROM THE GROUND WITH THE FINEST HERBS & SPICES. However they had an option for shared whole table variety! My fellow co-consipators & I chose that option. They saved me from literacy blunder by pointing out that the price on the menu was per person, not per table. Words are hard & tricky inventions of wizards & accountants to keep the common man down The food was incredible, a flavor adventure of imagination & food sorecery if the highest level. Appetizers were divine drops of dews from the heavens, oysters arranged in a circle ready for us to consume them the way our overlords consume our labor, & a green sauce that might be made of avocado & olive oil, two fruits from two diffenent parts of the world coming together in a collision that was not available without the pirate extermination of 1952. & Millenials loving avocado toast. Dam Millenials always miss the true combinations. Avocados pair better with olive oil than toast. Finally the dessert did us in. We all lost our composure & fought like animals over the delight before us! At this point the waitress said "your reservation time is over sir" to which point I looked at the wonderful decor, reminiscent of a luxury pub from the industrial revolution, with a saltwater tank, & electricity, & modern day people. & RAN- To pay of course. Oh & the Baked octopus was my favorite. Don't steal it from my plate Shanel.
This place is an absolute must if you're looking for a fantastic atmosphere, delicious food, & exceptional service. The valet service was a lifesaver-finding parking in Montreal can be a challenge, so it made our visit even smoother. Special shoutout to our server, Benjamin, who guided us effortlessly through the menu & made sure we had everything we needed. We ordered the Tomahawk for three, which came with lobster, shrimp, scallops, & three side dishes. The cheddar mash was incredible-a must-have! The steak was perfectly seasoned, & every bite was full of flavor. I'd happily order it again. Portion-wise, it was just right for two people (or maybe we just have a hearty appetite, haha!). For dessert, we went with Benjamin's recommendation, a Montreal favorite. I don't remember the name, but it was a delightful warm dessert paired with cold ice cream-a perfect combination. To top it all off, we were treated to complimentary espresso shots, a wonderful way to end the meal. Overall, everything was perfect. The service made us feel right at home, & we left with full hearts & full stomachs. Highly recommended!
I was told about this place, & I'm so happy I took the chance to go, the waitress was called Danaelle. A beautiful blonde girl so sweet, sweeter than any dessert they have. She was so caring. She is really good & we had such a good time there. I miss it already I'll be back soon for sure. It's now my favourite place in mtl. Thanks to Danaelle for that. Words can't describe so you should see for yourself! Enjoy
