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.
We ordered a table for two to celebrate the birthday. Surf & turf for two is great, steak is so tasty, the sea fruit are good quality too. Next time we want to try the burgers, seems very good too.
Mar 15, 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!
Grinder is the Resto we reserve for special occasions. Great oysters, perfectly cooked steak & fish, & friendly smiling staff. Seems like the go-to destination for the beautiful 30-somethings, lucky they let us in :) Highly recommended!
Grinder is my standby in Montreal. I fell in love with this place the first time I visited it years ago & it hasn't dropped a beat. I love the scallops but probably order the salmon tartare most often; the trio with the tuna & steak tartare is a great introduction. The staff is so chill & so much fun… special shoutout to Kimberley who keeps everyone glowing 💕
Went there for an immersive concert experience, the music was so loud it felt as though 10 pop concerts were going on around me at the same time. The steak was good, not overcooked & well seasoned. However, the same cannot be said for the side dishes. The mushrooms tasted like straight from the Dead Sea. To make things worse, the service was extremely slow & I was genuinely worried about whether my server had a health emergency because she disappeared for 30min. We attempted to make eye contact with any other server that passed by & by the time we were able to get someone, my neck was strained & I wrote down'massage therapy' as my #1 NY resolution. It took another eternity to get my water cup refilled & I had to refrain from helping myself as the bottle was just on the counter, so close yet so far. If you want to go there just for the food, bring ear plugs!
Had an amazing experience sitting near the bar ! The waitresses & bartender were extremely knowledgeable & helped my boyfriend get over his fear of pink steak 😅 food was phenomenal
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!
Dec 12, 2025
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Très bonne nourriture, mais le service était désorganisé. Les plats sont arrivés avec un certain délai d'attente entre eux, nous avons dû attendre un bon moment pour avoir des couteaux à steak & une erreur a été faite sur notre commande. Je crois que le fait d'avoir divers serveurs qui s'occupent d'une même table apporte une confusion & une certaine désorganisation. Cela dit, ils se sont rattrapés & l'expérience demeure bien positive.
Service de voiturier bien apprécié vu la difficulté de s'y stationner.
I expected something more elegant but was relieved when it turned out to be more relaxed & casual. The meat is excellent but the sides are a bit humble in proportions, especially for a steak house/restaurant.
The staff are very attentive & may I say.... all are so very attractive...eye candy everywhere.
Mon steakhouse préféré !
La qualité de la nourriture est exceptionnelle - le steak AAA est cuit à la perfection & incroyablement savoureux. Le service est rapide, l'atmosphère est élégante & conviviale, & le personnel est attentif, professionnel & vraiment agréable.
Oct 26, 2025
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J'ai pris un new york strip qui était cuit à la perfection. L'accompagnement était un peu petit. Les sauces pour accompagner le steak étaient très bonnes.
Le seul bémol est que la musique était très forte
WOW! Alejandro was absolutely fantastic! You HAVE to request him if you go to eat here. He made our experience so perfect! We both ordered steaks that were cooked to perfection. Highly recommend the calamari for an appetizer. Definitely check this place out while in montreal!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Favorite steakhouse in Montréal! 🥩 They surprised me with cake & ice cream for my graduation. thank you so much! The food is both generous & top quality. Highly recommend.
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 is great, service is abysmal. I have a list but here's what stood out: apps took forever & came out piecemeal, my steak knife was dull, we ordered oysters & weren't told what kind (until I asked), the server maybe checked in on our table once, not friendly. I usually never write a review, but the service experience was so lousy that I would second guess recommending this place
