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.
We ordered the surf & turf for two & chose the ribeye, which was excellent! The sides were very good as well, & while everything else was solid, nothing particularly stood out. It's nice to have a variety of options, but overall it didn't quite feel worth the price.
The staff were amazing & great vibe!
Le rib eye & le short ribs was veryyyy good! Les calamars frits était tendre & goûteux! Par contre, nous étions assit au bar & le service était pourri, on a attendu au moins 10 mins pour demander un menu, on nous a donné un menu d'alcool uniquement… on a du redemander pour un menu nourriture. La serveuse nous regardait même pas, servait tout le monde autour sauf nous, expérience assez désagréable pour le prix qu'on dépense à ce restaurant. J'imagine que le service au table doit être définitivement mieux.
Mar 7, 2026
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
I came last week & the service & food were amazing. I had the ribeye & it was perfectly done. My server Julia was attentive & made us feel extremely welcome & taken care of. Would recommend.
Delicious food overall, it was pricey but fair & the atmosphere was rather rustic in a nice way. The waitress did end up forgetting one of our entrées but in the end we were full so it wasn't so bad. Highly recommend the beef short ribs.
We've been to Grinder twice now, this time for Mother's Day, & both visits were fantastic. The food, service, & atmosphere all hit the mark.
My favourite thing on the menu has to be the Hamachi, so fresh & flavourful. This time around, we ordered the Wagyu carpaccio, Hamachi, French onion soup, steak (which came with a flight of sauces, loved that touch), & the short ribs. For sides, we had the sweet potato fries & mushrooms. The only small letdown was the mushrooms, not because they weren't good, but because they were different from the ones we had the first time, which we absolutely loved. Still tasty though!
Everything was delicious & well-executed. I'd definitely recommend trying this spot.
The last photo is from our first visit, surf & turf platter with those amazing mushrooms I was hoping to have again.
Update:
The owner was sad to hear about our experience & wanted us to leave with a better impression. He suggested we come a second time, on the house. Our second visit was very enjoyable, we opted for smaller appies & main meals instead of the larger sharing plate. Tuna tartare, fried calamary, NY steak & short ribs were all 10/10. To finish the night, the manager offered us dessert. We appreciate the time & effort the staff took to turn the situation around. I will be coming back. Thank you
_______________________________
Came for a steak, stayed for the suspense. After a 90-minute wait, my food arrived cold, impressive, really. The steak was so rare I almost named it & let it go. Sent it back, but it returned just as raw, only angrier.
Great place if you enjoy long waits & plot twists.
Music was good
Jun 22, 2025
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
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
----------------
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.
Dear grinder pls bring back the old carpaccio i hate the new one!!! 😂 The green salad is so good the ginger vinaigrette is so bomb!!! I love beef short ribs & the aligot potatoes. I personally think the menu needs a revamp but i love the pudding au chomeur im guilty of going to grinder just for that 😄
Kicked off the night at Grinder with a dozen fresh oysters-clean, briny, & the perfect start. For the main event, the rib steak for two didn't disappoint-juicy, flavorful, & beautifully cooked. The mashed potatoes & mushrooms on the side were rich & comforting without stealing the spotlight. It was a quiet night, which made it ideal for a business meeting-great ambiance, professional service, & just the right balance between upscale & relaxed. Solid choice for both steak lovers & those looking to talk business over a great meal.
Apr 4, 2025
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
Grinder Restaurant in Montreal is a lively & popular spot known for its vibrant atmosphere, great music, & stylish industrial-chic decor. The place was packed on a Friday night, creating a loud but energetic vibe. Despite the crowd, the hostess was accommodating & seated us at the bar, though service remained slow.
We ordered the 40 oz rib steak for two ($120), cooked to a perfect medium-rare but lacking in seasoning (salt). Fortunately, several sauces accompanied the dish, adding some extra flavor. The fries were excellent-crispy, well-seasoned, & addictive. We also tried the pomme de terre aligot, which was supposed to be a rich blend of purée, crème, & aged cheddar, but it didn't have a noticeable cheesy taste, which was disappointing. On the bright side, the mocktail was refreshing & well-balanced.
Overall, Grinder is a solid choice for steak lovers looking for a trendy, high-energy dining experience, but be prepared for a noisy atmosphere & potentially slow service during peak hours.
Le restaurant Grinder à Montréal est un endroit animé & prisé, connu pour son ambiance vibrante, sa bonne musique & son décor industriel chic. L'endroit était bondé un vendredi soir, créant une atmosphère bruyante mais énergique. Malgré l'affluence, l'hôtesse a été accueillante & nous a installés au bar, bien que le service soit resté lent.
Nous avons commandé une côte de boeuf de 40 oz pour deux (120 $), cuit à la perfection en cuisson médium-saignant, mais manquant d'assaisonnement (sel). Heureusement, plusieurs sauces accompagnaient le plat, ajoutant un peu de saveur. Les frites étaient excellentes-croustillantes, bien assaisonnées & très savoureuses. Nous avons également essayé la pomme de terre aligot, censée être un mélange gourmand de purée, crème & cheddar vieilli, mais le goût du fromage était à peine perceptible, ce qui était décevant. En revanche, le mocktail était rafraîchissant & bien équilibré.
Dans l'ensemble, Grinder est une bonne place pour les amateurs de steak à la recherche d'une expérience culinaire tendance & dynamique, mais préparez-vous à une ambiance bruyante & à un service potentiellement lent aux heures de pointe.
C'est coûteux, mais ça vaut le prix! Le steak rib eye était INCROYABLE! Il était servi avec 5 sauces & des frites, la cuisson était PARFAITE! & que dire des boulettes végétaliennes & du pouding chômeur! Le service d'Alejandro était impeccable & professionnel! Souper mémorable! Bravo!
Steak Ribeye à 71$ froid, pas très goûteux & à ce prix chez les concurrents, l'accompagnement est inclus dans le prix. La serveuse était joyeuse & très efficace. L'ambiance bien mais un peu trop bruyante.
I went for the first time last night & ordered the rib steak. Unfortunately this was the worst rib steak I've ever had - tough, chewy & flavourless. I really wish I had sent it back - for the price this should be an amazingly cut. My friends shared the tomahawk & it was way better - everyone tasted my steak & agreed it was terrible. I wish the server had come & asked how everything was & I would have sent it back but she never came. The pudding Chomeur & vanilla soft serve was noteworthy & delicious. I would come back again just for that dessert & the tomahawk I sadly watched my friends eat with envy. The vibe is great too & the manager was also exceptional, giving us a bottle of wine on the house & a complimentary dessert platter after our server spilled wine on my friend. Overall, Grinder is still worthwhile despite my bad steak & all my friends enjoyed their meals.
Le bruit est vraiment désagréable. Excellent entrée (carpaccio). Eye rib sans saveur. Impossible de profiter de sa soirée avec la musique à fond & le monde qui crie.
