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.
Only positive is the atmosphere & & staff were friendly enough. Other than that I was so disappointed. Waited forever between courses (easily 30 minutes). Ordered the rack of lamb, it was only 4 chops. A rack of lamb means full rack of lamb like Gibby's. Food was cold, every time waiter came to fill wine glasses he would spill it on the table. Was expecting so much more. Will never return.
My boyfriend & I love this place! Their service is wonderful & very mindful of their guests despite having such busy nights. Food is always delicious & leaves you feeling satisfied - & the restaurant has a lovely ambiance. The beef cheek is truly chef's kiss.
My husband got sick from eating mussels here :/ - servers seemed to serve certain customers over others seemingly along racial lines, it was a frustrating experience & the food could have been better overall. There are gluten free options here including the onion soup but be aware the onion soup is a wine reduction & tastes different than your typical onion soup. Also note the regular menu is not available during brunch service.
Restaurant Français type Bistro au coeur de Montréal (rue McGill) Bon accueil & placés rapidement malgré un restaurant bien rempli pour un mardi soir & sans réservation de notre part. Nous vous conseillons néanmoins de réserver. Le choix de cocktail est varié avec des classiques & des cocktails maison très bons. Nous avons manger une bavette à l'échalote & une paella, les deux plats étaient excellents : La viande était tendre & savoureuse, la mayo maison avec les frites allumettes au top, nous avons moins aimer le poisson sur la paella qui n'avait pas beaucoup de goût mais le reste du plat était vraiment bon ! L'ambiance était chaleureuse, la playlist à notre goût les serveurs sont souriants & très agréables. Les desserts en photo parlent d'eux mêmes ! A essayer 👍
We went for a late lunch on a Saturday. I had the Grilled salmon filet (lemon beurre blanc, potato puree), it was delicious, I appreciate that I could choose the level of doneness. The staff was very nice & helpful. It's a beautiful restaurant.
An absolutely incredible meal. The lighting & atmosphere was perfect. The level of music, talking, & kitchen sounds was nicely balanced. The service was prompt & thorough. The orange juice was freshly squeezed. & the food was rich & delicious. The place is absolutely a top notch spot for Sunday brunch.
Beautiful space that is bright & open. Food was good & servers were friendly, however, be sure to check your receipt. My 9 year old son ordered two crepes from the kids menu for him & his 5 year old sister & we were charged for the adult crepes (description on the menu is nearly identical, so when we received the crepes, we thought they were the kids meal). We were also charged $4.50 for Americanos even though we ordered regular coffee ($3) & Americanos weren't even on the menu. When the taxes are nearly 15% on food, these extra charges add up. The server brought the bill & machine at the same time, & though I could have made a stink, it was a birthday brunch & I ended up paying the additional $20. Duck confit was very tasty, though quite oily, the crepes were beautifully presented, but tasted day-old. The mushroom casserole & poached eggs was a good comfort food dish.
Aug 17, 2024
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Great food, excellent service, & beautiful environment. If you haven't visited for a meal, you're missing out. I have traveled back more than once from USA & every time I had to have a meal here.
We took a group of executives to Holder this week & the experience was fantastic. Antoine was attentive, friendly & efficient The food, wine & sangria were delicious! Thank you for a great evening.
My wife had the best mussels & french fries (moules & frites) since Belgium. They were amazing. The duck confit was another amazing dish - & the dessert was fantastic. The service was outstanding. We will come back next time when we are in Montreal. Highly recommended.
Sadly duck confit was sold out on the Sunday night we visit... food was ok, I think I'm paying the atmosphere more than the food I taste. My friend was upset about the foie gras is a mousse, not prepared in whole.
