June Buvette serves a focused menu rooted in market-fresh ingredients and regional culinary traditions. Small plates define the dining experience, showcasing seasonal produce sourced from local growers. The kitchen prioritizes simplicity, allowing the natural quality of the raw components to dictate the flavor profiles of each dish. Guests encounter an atmosphere designed for casual interaction and efficient service, favoring a relaxed approach to social consumption. The selection of offerings changes frequently to reflect the shifting availability of ingredients throughout the harvest cycles. Beverage pairings emphasize classic profiles that complement the nuanced acidity and textures inherent in the vegetable-forward preparations. This establishment functions as a neighborhood anchor where the integrity of the supply chain remains the primary influence on the evolving menu structure and presentation style.
June Buvette offers a cozy and aesthetically pleasing atmosphere that many guests find perfect for dates and social gatherings, frequently highlighting the diverse wine list and creative cocktail menu. While the service is often described as attentive, warm, and knowledgeable, some diners have noted inconsistencies regarding pacing and friendliness. Opinions on the food are generally positive, with several dishes like the calamari, beef tartare, and various seasonal offerings receiving high praise, though a few visitors found certain portions small or flavors underwhelming. Despite occasional complaints about uncomfortable bar seating and high noise levels, many patrons consider it a delightful neighborhood gem and express a strong desire to return for the lively experience.
June Buvette has quickly cemented itself as one of the best neighborhood wine bars on Rue Centre.
The Owners:
Opened in the summer of 2023 in the space formerly occupied by Masala Cuisine, the restaurant was originally founded & continues to be owned by a powerhouse collaboration. The visionaries behind the establishment are Thomas Engasser & Kevyn Houpert (owners of the popular spot La Traversée) alongside Thomas Vernis & Patrick Marion of the nightlife-focused Tomahawk Group. Under their continuous leadership, the kitchen has thrived with the incredibly talented Chef Colin Lavallée steering the culinary program.
The Specialty:
They specialize in an eclectic, seasonal menu filled with'cheeky' but seriously cheffy small plates designed for sharing. While the food rotates with harvest cycles, they are widely celebrated for a menu that leans elegantly into exquisite seafood, decadent pastas, & elevated casual bites-think scallop pogos, fried halibut sandwiches on potato buns, & incredibly creamy burrata with warm focaccia. Their other major specialty is an expertly curated beverage program focusing heavily on'glou-glou' funky natural, organic, & biodynamic wines.
What People Are Saying:
Patrons absolutely love the atmosphere. Reviewers frequently highlight the dual-energy design by MRDK, noting that the front room is bright, stylish, & lively (often hosting excellent live jazz nights), while the back room transitions into warmer, quieter cottage vibes. Locals & foodies alike rave about the youthful, exuberant energy of the front-of-house staff & appreciate that they can drop in for casual drinks or commit to an amazing multi-course tasting experience without a drop of pretension.
Whether you're sitting at the bar to chat with the kitchen brigade or enjoying the summer terrasse, it's a neighborhood staple that delivers big on flavor & character.
Last Monday, we went for a drink. The welcome was very, very cold; the staff didn't smile. They didn't open the bottle of wine in front of us. Quite a disappointing experience!!! The recommendation came from Star Wine List. The only positive points were the wine list & the back terrace.
Lovely little bistroesque restaurant with great decor & super interesting dishes to try on this midweek night. Long banquette with several tables for diners, plus a bar counter, separate larger open room, & outdoor space. Wine & other bottles adorn the main walkway wall, & art prints & interesting things hang on most available wall space. Music was at a reasonable level, more or less.
The menu is fairly concise, & while we did not opt for the three-course table d'hotes, there were plenty of decisions to be made. We opted for the fried calamari & focaccia, with the beef tartare & squash ravioli as mains.
The calamari appeared to be breaded in-house, & were cooked properly (no toughness here). We very much loved these. Focaccia yielded two large hunks of bread & a marinara, & served me well with the ravioli.
The ravioli were swimming in what I believe was butternut squash sauce, adorned with cheese shavings, but otherwise filled with the standard ricotta. These were clearly freshly made, & cooked to al dente perfection. The tartare, stacked with focaccia as well, & a blizzard of shredded parmagiano, seemed to be sat on a sauce, not quite balsamic, a little fruity, but we could not discern the origin. I loved it, while she, less so (she is a tartare purist), but it was happily eaten.
The wine list is extensive by the bottle, but there were a few by-the-glass options, including an orange wine, so we were well covered there. The service was fine, if a little prone to misremembering, but we were well tended to during our visit.
The meal with a drink each came to $114 before tax & tip, & I feel it was well worth that.
Jun 6, 2026
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Super resto avec un superbe service! Un peu bruyant mais c'était un vendredi soir.. On a pris le menu 3services 50$ & du vin, tout était très bon! Je recommande
I came here on a Friday night with reservations. Our table was not ready for us when we got there. We waited maybe 15 minutes past our reservation time. It took a while after that for us to get our drinks & order our meals. We found that the service was a bit slow throughout the night.
They had a table d'hôte which we all liked. It was very reasonably priced & the food was good.
The seating was something that a bunch of us found very uncomfortable. The little stools at the tables are very small. I sat on the booth & it was very cramped for my legs. Since service was a bit slow for us, we were there for about 3 hours. & it was very uncomfortable being on those seats for that long.
I would be open to coming back & trying again, especially if they have seasonal menus & a terrace in the summer. I didn't have the best experience this time but open to trying again as I hear great things about June Buvette.
Nous étions très mal assis à un îlot où il n'y avait pas d'espace pour les jambes. Je ne recommande pas cet emplacement. Le service était courtois & chaleureux, mais assez long. Les plats étaient bons, mais pas très goûteux. J'avais plus d'attentes envers ce resto. Légèrement décevant
The food wasn't what we expected, some dishes were EXCELLENT but some less, & the service was so great about everything. We loved our waitress, the people & the overall service
Franchement très déçu... La bavette & frites à 30$, c'est un morceau de deux bouchées avec littéralement 4 frites. C'est vraiment rire du monde en pleine face. Si vous voulez offrir des tapas, parfait, mais des tapas au prix d'un repas complet c'est du vol! J'ai travaillé en France 3 ans & j'ai jamais vu des portions aussi minuscules pour de tels prix. Les serveurs étaient bien présents, mais le contact était froid & business. Je n'y retournerai jamais.
June Buvette is an excellent choice for a cozy, intimate dinner in Montreal! I recommend making a reservation ahead of time as they got quite busy when we dined here. The interior is dimly lit with simple yet elegant decorations. The servers here are very helpful & attentive & can help with any questions about the menu.
We chose to get one table d'hôte along with another appetizer to share. For our table d'hôte starter, we chose the oyster mushrooms. They were cooked extremely well & paired well with the pickled shallots. Our other appetizer was the fried calamari. The squid was lightly fried & crispy with a classic sweet & sour sauce.
For our main, we had the beef flank steak. It was perfectly cooked medium-rare & so tender. The steak slices were topped with large onion rings & served with a really creamy, delicious purée & pepper sauce.
The highlight of our meal had to be the bread pudding. It was so sweet & rich. The lemon crumble added a crunch & bright flavor that contrasted the rich taste of the bread pudding.
June Buvette was absolutely one of the best meals I had in Montreal. Come here for both the wonderful food & lively atmosphere!
