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 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
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
Loved everything about this restaurant! The food & service were excellent! The waiter that assisted was so kind & thoughtful! The atmosphere was great with the music & eclectic decor!
De loin une des meilleures brasseries de Montréal. La nourriture est bonne comme le serait n'importe quel bistro français. Même le café est bon. Le menu classique offre le choix parmi les plats les plus emblématiques de la bistronomie hexagonale, mais c'est plus cher. En tout cas je le recommande à qui veut connaître un peu la nourriture française de base, qui est déjà très bonne.
I'm writing this review two years after my visit to Holder. I had their Moules à la Pastis & I am still thinking about it. This is as good as moules-frites gets. The mussels were fresh & the broth was both flavourful & complex. Is it the best moules-frites? I cannot say because I have not tried every moules-frites in the world but if I have to find a better moules-frites that would be an endeavour. Sure, maybe the best moules-frite is still out there. But to be tossed back to the sea of bistros, to be again at the mercy of fortune, whether it's the not-so-fresh undercooked mussels or the disappointment when the chef mistook simple to mean bland in the business of mussel-cooking. Or when the cook has taken too much liberty with the wine that you can skip the aperitif.
Why? When one could just ask for a table & a bowl of Moules à la Pastis at Holder.
Feb 24, 2025
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
Des bon restaurant, abordable, les plats sont généreux & la serveuse était très agréable.
Attention toutefois, le restaurant ce revendique français, sur les profiteroles il n'y a pas de crème anglaise.
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.
