Reviews describe Île Flottante as a highly creative tasting menu destination in Montreal, where dishes are often praised for balance, originality, and refined presentation, and wine pairings are frequently highlighted. The service is repeatedly described as attentive, professional, and friendly, with thoughtful touches such as noting dietary restrictions and writing guests' names on a slate. Many experiences are celebrated as among the best in the city, especially for diners seeking an intimate, elegant atmosphere and a memorable multi-course progression, with live music on select evenings and strong vegetarian and vegan options noted. Some reviews temper the praise with concerns about pacing and coherence, noting that certain courses can feel too busy, underseasoned, or not fully integrated, and that value may not always align with the price. Overall, the consensus points to a memorable and often exceptional dining adventure at Île Flottante, best enjoyed by those who relish creative, ingredient-driven menus and attentive service, while acknowledging that consistency can vary by visit.
Original setting, casual but curated. Service was attentive & friendly. Food was very pretty & artistically put together but had no umami. One dish was crazy salty as if no one tasted it before. It felt as if the Chef was on vacation. We left with a little sadness.
Highly recommend the tasting menu. The service, unique flavor combinations & presentation make this a place to put on your Montreal restaurant to try list (especially great for celebrations)
Jul 19, 2024
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The food was pretty & the taste was nice, but nothing that blew my mind (except desserts, they were outstanding). ... The whole experience was unbearably long though, we were there from 9 to past 12:30, & waited 20-30 minutes between each plate. Each plate is only a few bites, so you're just waiting for food 3/4 of the time. They don't offer any bread or anything similar to keep the hunger down between each plate either The staff was really sweet though! I guess I just expected a lot more from the restaurant that is regularly voted the best in Montreal. I've you regularly eat for 120$ per person, then it might not phase you to risk having a meh or even bad experience at this place. But if you're going for a special event, there are definitely other restaurants you should consider first.
Absolument exceptionnel. La sommelière est charmante & brillante. La nourriture originale & fraîche. L'ambiance superbe sans être trop bruyant. À ne pas manque
We went a year ago & it was an amazing experience. We had the 7 services with the wine pairing. Everything was on point & delicious. I was recommanding to a friend & I remembered that I forgot to leave a review. Cheers :)
L'un des plus célèbre restaurant de la ville. J'y suis allé en 2022 alors peut être que ça a changé. Ce fut une soirée magnifique & un réel plaisir, certains plats sont divins. Malheureusement je regrette que d'autres ne soient pas à la hauteur. La tourte par exemple est très commune, bonne mais commune alors qu'il aurait été possible de la revisiter de bien meilleur façon. Pour le prix ce n'est à mon sens pas possible de donner à manger des plats juste commun. J'y retournerai tout de même peut être un jour.
I loved the concept of having no choice but to get the tasting menu. Each plate was a masterfully crafted blend of flavours from locally sourced ingredients. They obviously put a lot of thought into what they put in their plates in terms of quality & originality of ingredients (parsley root, an ice cream made with fir & pine tree comes to mind, among other things) They were also willing to take some risk with unusual blends of flavours (coconut ice cream with strawberries & asparagus) which made the experience even more memorable. Other reviewers mentioned that they serve the plates too slowly, which I disagree. Even though we did stay about 2.5 hours in total, I liked the pauses between the dishes as it gave you time to appreciate & think about how incredibly creative the plate you ate was. In summary, I feel privileged to have been able to experience a wonderful dinner at Île Flottante, which I feel was a truly masterful work of art
Usually like gastronomical experiences, this one not so much. Not the best flavor combinations... asparagus in dessert? No thanks. Very expensive as well, & don't give any other option than a 7 course tasting menu. Bad value.
Jun 14, 2024
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I cannot recommend this place enough ! As a vegan it is hard to find this kind of culinary experience. The chef & his whole team really went above & beyond to make this night special. The service was great, the knowledge of the staff was great & the food was to die for. The other couple with us were eating the original 6 course menu with meat & they were also extremely pleased. I will definitely come back!
This place offered an unpretentious dining environment for prix fixe, the menu is creative & you can tell thoughts & experiments happened behind the scene. My favorite was the homemade bread in P4, it was crispy on the outside, creamy & chewy on the inside, out of this world. Would go back for every menu change.
Si le guide Michelin voulait bien se rendre à Montréal, vous y seriez, c'est certain. & que dire du classement des 100 meilleurs restaurants Canadiens... Pour en avoir testé plusieurs je ne comprends pas de ne pas vous retrouver tout en haut.. mais tant mieux finalement, on vous garde pour nous.
Nous y sommes allés pour un anniversaire. Nous y avons mangé le menu dégustation 7 services avec l'accord. Tout était délicieux, & la sommelière était très bonne. Comptez 250$ (après taxes & pourboire) par personne si vous prenez l'accord
Quelle expérience! D é l i c i e u x Staff hyper sympathique Ambiance chaleureuse & sympa, sans chichi Excellent endroit pour une date spéciale en amoureux.se!
C'est la 3e fois que je viens à L'Ile Flottante (1e : 2018, 2e : 2021, 3e : hier soir), & l'expérience & l'ambiance ont encore une fois été très agréables, pleines de découvertes. Je pense qu'entre les 3 fois, c'était même celle où l'accord mets-vin était le plus intéressant, le plus cohérent. La sommelière est incroyable & son approche des vins est à la fois exploratoire mais assurée d'une très belle cohésion. Coup de coeur pour ses deux vins blancs siciliens & du nord de l'Espagne. Je recommande hautement, chaque vin choisi avait sa place & sa petite "touch". Si je mets une étoile en moins, c'est qu'entre 2018 & aujourd'hui, certains des attraits de l'Ile Flottante se sont un peu perdus. La facture est vraiment devenue chère pour des plats plutôt petits (je suis rentrée assez saoule, ayant + bu que mangé... ce n'avait jamais été le cas avant où je trouvais qu'ils réussissaient un équilibrage & un dosage des plats parfait). Pour un 6 services rendu à 115 $/personne (autrefois c'était 70 ou 80), un peu plus de générosité dans certains des plats (ex : la portion de poutine, le tartare) auraient permis d'apprécier davantage le moment. L'accord mets/vins à 65 $ vaut toutefois amplement son prix. Comme d'autres reviews en ont fait mention, il faut s'attendre à passer un bon moment en salle (environ 4h), mais pour une expérience gastronomique, ce n'est pas si dérangeant. Le premier plat a été long à arriver, mais la sommelière nous a resservis en vin. (Un pain/petit amuse bouche serait à prévoir pour les clients toutefois si le problème de manque de personnel en cuisine persiste) Mention à l'accueil parfait, doux & attentionné, le service impeccable & la présence sympathique & witty tout au long du repas ! Il fait toujours bon redécouvrir ce qu'a à nous proposer L'Ile Flottante .
This restaurant pushes the boundaries of creativity to the next level. The extra effort in each dish is carefully crafted with intention & elegance. It seems like so many ingredients when the plate is presented, but they all work harmoniously together to give an impactful flavor that feels familiar yet totally unfamiliar at the same time. With the menu changing seasonally, it's without a doubt super enticing for me to go back to discover a whole new set of works of art. Because that's what it was... masterpieces!
