Located in a beautiful turn of the century building in Old Montreal, Brasserie Holder's design makes good use of its high ceilings and wide open space creating a sense of European charm that is hard to find anywhere else in town. Specializing in Old World European cuisine, Restaurant Holder is famous for its vast selection of brasserie-style seafood, pasta and meat dishes. Sample Menu items at Holder include: grilled beefsteak, steamed clams, salads, tartares, etc...
Holder offers classic French brasserie fare with generous portions and a lively, welcoming atmosphere, where attentive service and a solid wine list elevate many meals; across visits the beef cheeks, duck confit, mussels, oysters, calamari, lobster ravioli, and French onion soup are frequently praised, while some guests note a noisy room, crowded tables, and occasional inconsistencies in a few dishes, yet the overall impression is of reliable quality, good value for the area, and a strong desire to return.
We dined here on a recent trip to Montreal & my friends & I really enjoyed our meal! I had salmon, my sister had duck & another friend had the beef cheeks. Each plate was prepared perfectly & our waiter, Masha suggested the perfect wines to go with each entree . The atmosphere was very comfortable & welcoming & the staff very attentive to our needs. We highly recommend Holder..
Jan 20, 2026
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A wonderful evening filled with fantastic food, excellent service & a great vibe. The staff were attentive but knew how to leave you alone. About the food-wow! Each course was perfect. Our server, DoDo (Dominque) was such a joyful woman. Completely positive recommendation.
I came here with my partner to celebrate my new marathon PR at the Marathon Beneva de Montréal & it was amazing. The french onion soup was the best I've ever had, & my partner said his favourite meal throughout his entire trip was his entree: Duck Confit. The portions were fantastic & we were both amazed by how fast our food orders came up. Our server was a kind gentleman who was very attentive & polite. Would strongly recommend!
We had a spectacular meal at Holder last night. My wife & I shared oysters, calamari & a fish & chips dinner with a nice bottle of reasonably priced wine / with perfectly dine crème brine for dessert. The real bonus though was the exceptional waiter - Philip - who found the perfect balance of being attentive without being intrusive. He seemed to know just before me when my water or wine needed refilling. Johan who also attended to us was also awesome. Highly recommend!
We had a nice dinner at Holder in Old Montreal. The ambiance was lively & stylish, & the service was friendly & attentive.
Here's what we ordered:
🥩 Beef Tartare: Flavorful & well-prepared, though a touch too salty for my taste. Still enjoyable overall.
🥗 Mixed Vegetable Salad: Light, fresh, & a great starter - nicely balanced & refreshing.
🐮 Braised Beef Cheeks: Tender & deeply flavored, one of the best dishes of the night.
🦆 Duck Confit: The skin was crisp, but the meat was a bit dry. Could use a bit more juiciness.
🦞 Lobster Ravioli: Rich & creamy, with a generous amount of lobster. A standout dish!
Overall, a solid dining experience with a few minor flaws. Still a great spot to check out if you're in Old Montreal!
Jul 1, 2025
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Perfect from the beginning to the end. The hostess was welcoming like to her own home. The waiter was thoughtful & attentive. The food was most delicious.
Saturday brunch. Setting was lovely, atmosphere typically brasserie, service was attentive but not obtrusive. Fish & chips were tasty, fries especially, fish was disconcertingly tender, but tasty. Now, eggs Benny, one with ham, one with smoked salmon-both poorly executed. Poached eggs should be lovely & runny yolks & tender FULLY COOKED whites. That's not what was presented. While the yolks were runny, the whites were liquid, watery unappealing & left in a watery mess on the plate. Also had one tradional full breakfast with sausage(just ok), smoked bacon (delicious), baked beans(undercooked) & over easy eggs which were over cooked & left uneaten , the grilled bread that was supposed to accompany it never arrived. Bloody Caesar was traditional & delicious. Unexciting bread was served before the meal, no butter, not a great first impression. Service was lovely, atmosphere cheerful. $140 four people.
We came here with some business vendors who took us out for dinner. The inside is very classy & chique. & our waiter was very friendly & attentive during the whole meal. We started with some appetizers of oysters, steak tartare, foie gras & French onion soup. My main was the lobster ravioli. We finished with a few dessert samplings including crème brûlée. It was an amazing meal. Everything was delicious! I will definitely come back here when I'm back in Montreal!
Mar 29, 2025
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My husband & I went to Holder for date night. The food & ambiance were amazing. I'm a vegetarian & there were many options for me (I got the fig salad as an appetizer & my main was the goat cheese tartlette & frites). My husband is a chef & carnivore & he absolutely loved his food (he got the fois gras as his appetizer & the duck confit as his main). We shared the lemon cream dessert & it was heavenly. I wish I could give the service at Holder a 20 out of 10. The service/our server was so attentive that it completely elevated our dining experience. We have been to many restaurants & would both say this was probably the best server/service we have ever had.
Our quest for a delightful dining experience during our weekend getaway led us to Holder, & it surpassed all our expectations. With our server Antoine offering impeccable wine & dessert recommendations, & his attentiveness ensuring our glasses were never empty, combined with the stunning bar & exquisite cuisine, we will undoubtedly be recommending this dining experience. We recommend: -Château Garraud'18, Lalande-De-Pomerol. (For a full bodied affordable red wine. Antoine's recommendation) -The Duck Confit -Crème Brûlée -MI-CUIT Au Caramel Salé (A Butterscotch style lava cake with ice cream. This was a unique dish that is hard to compare to anything else I've had. This was also a Antoine recommendation)
Their ham egg Benedict is the best one I ever had because of their bechamel sauce to die for. I made it try to my bf & he was also sooo impressed. It was out first time going there but not the last! The staff are very nice & attentive & the service is super fast!
We always come here when we're in Montreal. Book ahead & always ask for a windows seat. Less traffic that way. Bustling restaurant filled with lots of energy, business folk, people on dates, family, tourists, & locals. Service is always top-notch, friendly, attentive, & knowledgeable. Food has always been great, & we always order too much. Our faves are the foil gras, grilled octopus salad, & the boeuf cheek a la borguignon. Portions are just right, for us. Prices have gone up over the last year, but I feel like it's gone up everywhere. Photos don't do the food justice. Probably the best mashed potatoes. Veal & steak, cooked to a perfect rare. We'll be back again
Duck confit was good for the first time though not as crispy as desired. Beef cheek was divine. Definitely some cool stuff on the menu, a shame we didn't have time to try dessert. Fun & attentive service too.
