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.
The restaurant has a pleasant layout & a comfortable atmosphere-thankfully not too loud, which made for a relaxed dining experience. However, the service left something to be desired. While our server was clearly inexperienced, they were polite & made a genuine effort, which I appreciated.
Unfortunately, the food didn't justify the high prices. The mussels had an overpowering smell that made them unappetizing, & the French fries were soggy & greasy. The salmon tartare had potential, but the quality of the fish didn't seem particularly fresh.
The wine list was average-nothing remarkable-but be sure to double-check prices. Our check listed a different price for the bottle than what was shown on the menu, which was a bit frustrating.
Overall, while the space is inviting, the experience didn't live up to expectations, especially considering the cost.
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!!
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.
Atmosphere & service were excellent. I ordered a steak & it was way overdone. The soup tasted like Campbell. The chocolate mousse was excellent though.
I love this place. Always consistent, great French bistro with a versatile menu. Decor & ambiance make this place perfect for a date. I would highly recommend if you like French cusine. I would highly recommend the clams, steak, & french onion soup. The venue is not too loud or pretentious.
A very comfortable & well-managed place to eat.
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.
Went for a brunch with friends. They were able to accommodate a group of 8 with advance notice. Got the French Toast & honestly the best I have ever had. I still think about it & dream about it till this day. Service was amazing & the food was of quality. The drink assortments were of high quality also.
This place seems classic. Lots of business people, family celebrations, & special occasions.
The fish soup & mushroom pistachio pasta with the QC Chardonnay btg was the perfect seasoning.
Philippe was a pro server. My husband enjoyed the French Onion soup & hanger steak, the chef's choice of prep.
This was my birthday meal out. I have no regrets!
The only thing lacking in the atmosphere was the sound level. I think this place is best for groups of three or more. For some reason it was loud for the two of us but really, we managed fine.
Also, the seating is beautiful but not cushy.
May 26, 2025
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Baffled as to why this seems to get rave reviews. I can only imagine people have low expectations.
The best part about this is the food, which is totally fine. That's the best I can say about it. There's clearly been some thought behind food combinations & flavour, but it wasn't executed to perfection, & came out so quickly that it made us question how fresh it was.
Service is fine, but doesn't extend beyond that, & it has a very'corporate' feel that makes it hard to relax.
If you want a fine meal where you know exactly what to expect then this is the place for you, but we won't be rushing back here.
We had such an amazing meal here! I cannot recommend the food highly enough-I'm still thinking about it weeks later. We had the chicken liver pâté, the grilled salmon, & one of the fish specials of the day. All were INCREDIBLE!! Our waiter was delightful-kind, funny, & personable. We loved our experience here & will definitely come back whenever we're in Montreal next. We made a reservation for Saturday night & it seemed busy enough that it was needed. Highly recommend making one so you won't have any wait times. 10/10!
Je suis une régulière à ce restaurent. Toujours excellente nourriture & exceptionnel service! J'aimais eu aucun problème. Les week-end il y a des déjeuners & les oeufs Bénédicte sont EXCEPTIONNELS 😍😍😍 je recommande à coup sûr si vous passez à Montréal.
UDATE. Ils ont changé les oeufs Bénédictine & ont remplacé la gratin dauphinois par des patates déjeuner que j'aurais pu avoir au Cora une même plus petite portion que Cora). Un peu un décevant du déjeuner… avec une salade que je ne mange pas. Au moins les oeufs étaient bon & cuit à la perfection mais j'ai été très déçu cette mâtiné là 😢. Jus d'orange bon à l'habitude. Je vais y retourner pour dîner/souper mais j'attendrai un petit peu avant d'y retourner pour déjeuner.
De plus, la serveuse commence à nous parler en anglais, nous lui répondons que nous parlons français. Elle continue à nous parler anglais alors que nous répondons en français & lui répétons plus de 3 fois que nous parlons français avant qu'elle comprenne dans nos visages. Je sais qu'elle est nouvelle mais on lui répondait en français & on lui a dit 3 fois… le service était excellent & rapide comme d'habitude en dehors de cela.
