Overall, reviews describe KAVA as a chic, warm, and versatile spot in Montreal where the welcome is friendly and the service attentive, with staff who strive to take care of guests throughout the evening. The food is praised for quality, freshness, and thoughtful presentation, with favorites including tartare, seafood, lamb, arancini, and grilled vegetables, often complemented by a strong wine selection and well crafted cocktails. The ambiance is frequently highlighted as elegant yet lively, with a vibrant vibe that suits a casual dinner, a night out with friends, or celebrations, and live music or a DJ on certain nights adding to the energy without dampening the overall experience for many guests. While most reviews sing the praises of atmosphere and hospitality, a few note slower service, long gaps between courses, or prices that feel steep for portion sizes, and occasional concerns about noise levels or crowding during peak times. On balance, KAVA emerges as a reliable favorite for brunch, dinner, or a festive evening, driven by a welcoming team, strong flavors, and a memorable sense of place in Montreal.
Je suis allée chez KAVA un samedi soir pour un girls' night avec trois de mes amies & wow, c'était super ! Ce n'était pas ma première fois (ma troisième en fait), mais honnêtement, c'était encore meilleur que les deux dernières fois.
J'ai pris deux tapas - le carpaccio de boeuf & le tartare de bar - en plus d'un plat. Les produits étaient frais, les saveurs nettes, & la bavette était excellente avec une sauce vraiment en profondeur. Gros coup de coeur pour le tartare de bar : parfaitement assaisonné, frais & plein de finesse.
Les cocktails étaient parfaitement dosés, frais & pas trop sucrés - exactement comme je les aime !
Le DJ jouait les hits du moment, l'ambiance était parfaite. On a été très bien servies, & la serveuse nous a fait d'excellentes recommandations parmi les bestsellers.
J'y retournerais dès demain, que ce soit avec mon mari ou pour un autre girls' night !
I recently visited Kava in Montreal & had an uncomfortable experience regarding tipping.
While I understand that tipping is customary, I felt pressured by the server to leave a specific percentage. After offering a tip, I was repeatedly asked to increase it & was told they would not receive the full amount otherwise. This made me feel uncomfortable & put on the spot, which affected my overall experience.
Tipping should remain at the discretion of the customer, & I did not appreciate being pressured or negotiated with about the amount.
The food was okay, but the atmosphere was also an issue. The music was extremely loud-loud enough to hurt your ears-& it felt more like a nightclub than a restaurant, making it difficult to enjoy the meal or have a conversation.
Overall, the experience was disappointing due to both the service approach & the environment.
Feb 19, 2026
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On est allés souper en famille chez Kava samedi soir, pis honnêtement… c'était écoeurant!
L'ambiance était vraiment le fun, beau vibe, bonne musique avec le Dj. Le service aussi était super attentionné, rapide, sourire tout le long, on s'est sentis bien accueillis.
& la bouffe… wow. Tout était savoureux, bien présenté, rien à dire.
C'est clair qu'on va revenir, pis je vais le recommander à mes amis. Merci à toute l'équipe
Franchement le restaurant est incroyable!! L'accueil est chaleureuse & le service est très agréable. Les plats étaient délicieux, l'ambiance était super & le dj avait assuré!! La soirée c'est passé à merveille, un grand merci à Nabil, le responsable & à Sofia pour son service. Je conseille vivement ce restaurant de qualité ✨
Horrible service, the food that came out the kitchen was cold & stale. The restaurant was empty so I don't understand how that could happen imagine when it's packed! Manager was rude & seemed on something…
Jan 17, 2026
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This place deserves no more than three stars. The food was mediocre at best. The calamari was average, & the accompanying sauce felt completely out of place. The octopus, while interesting, was not necessarily so in a good way. The internal flavors, mainly from the roasted fennel & the creamy celery purée, clashed rather than complemented each other, creating a strange & unbalanced profile. The flank steak suffered from a terrible sauce that entirely ruined what could have been a solid dish.
Overall, it felt like a restaurant built primarily for the aesthetic. The dishes look impressive at first glance, but fail to deliver once you actually taste them. Given this, the prices are far too high for the quality delivered.
That said, the venue itself is very appealing. The décor is well thought out, & the atmosphere is cozy & relaxed. It is clear that significant effort went into the design. Yet, the restaurant was less than half full on a Friday night, which is telling. The DJ played good music, but the volume was excessive, we could barely hear each other speak.
Overall, nothing remarkable. I will not be returning.
Très beau restaurant , la cuisine était tellement excellente, l'ambiance était super calme . On y était en date & le staff était vraiment très gentil avec nous . Pour avoir fait plusieurs restaurant à Montréal . Ce restaurant est vraiment dans mon top 5
Puis j'ai goûté à pieuvre pour une première fois & c'était super bon . Je recommande tellement
& je reviendrai très certainement
Bravo au manager de ce restaurant pour son staff très professionnel & friendly & qui accommodé parfaitement les clients
Keep going
Terrible New Year's experience. We were four girls with a reservation booked in advance. 30 minutes before arrival, we were called & told we could only enter with bottle service. On the phone, we explained that four people can't finish a bottle & were told to come in &'talk it through.'
When we arrived around 11:45 PM, management told us our only option was bottle service or they wouldn't host us at all. We agreed, assuming we'd at least get proper seating. Instead, they squeezed a tiny table into a corner with no chairs, expecting us to stand the entire time.
Service was basically nonexistent. The bottle came, the bill came immediately after, & the waitress barely checked on us. She even claimed we had to tip 15% because it was New Year's - not sure where that rule exists. We asked for water & additional drinks & never received them.
Overall, it felt greedy, misleading, & poorly managed. Definitely not worth it. Won't be returning & wouldn't recommend.
Franchement, le service de serveurs était excellent & notre groupe était très bien accueilli. La nourriture est très savoureuse & les cocktails qui étaient servis par le bartender Abdel sont vraiment délicieux & bien présentés. L'accueil y est formidable & je vous recommande vivement d'y aller!
