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...
Overall, reviews describe Holder as a lively, classic French brasserie in Old Montreal with a warm, versatile atmosphere and a strong wine list. Service is repeatedly praised for attentiveness and friendliness, though a few visits note slower pacing or inconsistent attention during peak hours. The space is stylish and bustling, which can translate to a noisy environment and limited privacy, making it less ideal for quiet business meals or intimate dinners. The food earns high marks for standout dishes such as braised beef cheeks, duck confit, lobster ravioli, mussels, oysters, and French onion soup, with many diners calling the meals superb and well presented. Yet other orders have fallen flat, including greasy or under seasoned items, dry meats, or dishes that felt overpriced for the portion or quality. The menu's breadth is a strength, offering classic French bistro staples and brasserie favorites that suit groups, celebrations, or casual yet substantial lunches, with brunch and lunch service generally reliable. In sum, Holder emerges as a dependable, high energy spot with many standout plates and gracious service, but experiences can vary by dish and by the tempo of the room.
We had a great BD dinner at Holder. Dominique's service was impeccable. We enjoyed the calamari, the oysters, the little goat tart, the beef & the duck & everything was on point.
Dominique even sent over some free dessert once I mentionned to her on the side it was my friend's BD & made her night special, thank you Dominique!
Jan 24, 2026
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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..
Decided to lunch here after reading the reviews.
Staff were both friendly, pleasant & helpful. Great ambience & well appointed.
My wife ordered the French onion soup & the beef tatare (her favourite) for the entrée. I had the warm goat cheese & beef cheek for the entrée.
My order was fabulous. Loved it. My wife was a wee bit disappointed with hers. The soup was below average & her beef tartare was average fare.
We'll try Vallier tomorrow as we're here for a few days.
Absolutely first rate brasserie. Lovely room, professional service, fantastic food. Beef cheeks & salmon were amazing. Serving sizes were large & creatively plated. Excellent all around.
A veritable Parisian experience in the heart of Montreal… absolutely delicious classic French brasserie type of fare. Beef cheek bourguignon served over dreamy mashed potatoes was divine… the endive salad a delight! 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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I would give our recent dining experience at Holder six stars if I could. The food was excellent. We shared the calamari & mozzarella di bufala to start. The braised beef cheek was outstanding - rich & flavourful. The grilled hanger steak was bistro perfection. But what made the evening was possibly the best service we've had ever. Professional of course. But friendly & kind & genuine. Joe made a great evening unforgettable. His food & wine suggestions were spot on. So if you're gonna go to Holder, ask for a table in Joe's section. It's worth it.
Currently on vacation here in Montreal! I am overall very pleased with my time at this restaurant. I ordered the beef & the meat was very tender & delicious. Our server was very kind & helpful & I had a great time dining with my family. Only thing I could complain about is that the food did take a good amount of time to come out, but it wasn't anything too crazy. Definitely check this place out if you are in the area!
Jun 26, 2025
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Beautiful French bistro
Tried the beef cheek soooo tender
& the duck salad was also very nice!
Loved the tall bartender with beard, think his name was Mike, gave us a great service!!
This is my second year here & I ordered the same entree- the braised beef cheeks.
It was not as tender as last time & the sauce was very salty this time. Super busy restaurant even on a weekday. It makes it difficult to listen to someone talking across from you.
The braised beef cheeks was very scrumptious, tender, juicy & all that jazz! We also tried salmon tartare & it was beautiful & cute, both in taste & looks.
Mar 22, 2025
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Had the beef bourgignon & shepherd's pie. Both were divine. Waiter also recommended a lovely Bordeaux to pair with our meal. Overall a great place for classic french fare
The food was phenomenal! We enjoyed the lobster ravioli, the beef special, & the butterscotch mi cuit. The staff were kind & the service was fast. Highly recommend that you make a reservation for this fabulous restaurant.
Great food, service, & atmosphere. Loved the onion soup, lobster ravioli, & braised beef cheek was just amazing! Tender, flavorful, with delicious mashed potatoes underneath it with crunchy sring beans. Would definitely visit this place again next time I'm in Montreal!
Great place, would highly recommend going if you're in Montreal. The beef cheek was really good. Good food, busy & a bit crowded but good atmosphere in general. Recommend a reservation. The service was particularly good! We ate there on October 4, & our server Joe was incredible. Never had to wait on anything, quick on new drinks, great recommendations, & just a pleasure to talk with.
