Overall, reviews of KAVA highlight a chic, warm ambiance and a versatile Mediterranean-inspired menu where fresh, well-executed dishes such as tartares, octopus, keftas, lamb chops, and seafood are often praised for quality and presentation. The cocktails and drinks program is frequently lauded for balance and creativity, and the vibe with a DJ or live music makes the setting lively yet refined, suitable for a girls night, date night, or celebratory gathering. Service is consistently described as attentive, friendly, and professional, with good recommendations and smooth handling of reservations, though some comments point to slower pacing, occasional miscommunication, and higher prices relative to portions on busy nights or prix fixe events. The decor and atmosphere are repeatedly cited as standout, contributing to an experience that many consider one of the best in Montreal, while a few reviews note that loud music or crowdiness can detract from conversation and value can vary by visit.
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.
Went to Kava for a Friday night dinner & the ambiance it's nice decor , food was ok nothing so special but service was not good wait long time for main course plus music bit loud & I did not like the crowd.
Food was alright, just overpriced for what it was. The shrimp & zucchini arancini had barely any shrimp & was essentially tasteless without the sauce. Just a little salt would have helped bring the zucchini flavour out. Also for 22 dollars, I shouldn't have to dissect it to find the tiny bit of shrimp.
My lamb chops were alright with the labneh, charred a little too much but that's not the worst. Didn't include any sides.
Vacherin dessert was refreshing, great mix of strawberries & basil. Was expecting more meringue though.
Kava soul cocktail was fantastic. Decor was stylish.
Service was friendly & accommodating, appreciated the wine suggestion, just disappointed that chosing flat water would lead to a 7.50 charge for bottled water, I've only seen that in Europe & not a practice that should be imported.
Tout était parfait ! Les plats étaient délicieux, bien présentés & pleins de saveurs. Le service était irréprochable, avec une équipe attentionnée & souriante. Le cadre est superbe, décoré avec goût, & l'ambiance vraiment agréable. Une très belle découverte que je recommande vivement !
I went for a birthday & we had such a great time. The food was excellent & the vibes too. Very good ambiance, music & decors. They even have a violonist playing!
Update - J'y suis retournée souper avec une amie & c'était exceptionnel. Tout était exquis ! On a particulièrement aimé les Arancini de poulet & l'agneau, la cuisson des gambas était parfaite & les desserts délicieux sans être trop sucrés ✨😋😋
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Nous sommes allées en groupe pour le brunch & on a passé un super moment entre filles 🤩🌸🌸 !
Les plats étaient délicieux, notre serveuse était aux petits soins & le service était assez rapide malgré le monde présent. Il y a une bonne ambiance avec la musique du DJ qui n'est pas trop forte, volume idéal pour discuter.
Le cadre est très beau & moderne avec des touches méditérannéennes. Très instagrammable aussi, avec un beau décor & de belles assiettes.
Amazing new restaurant in Griffintown. Very beautiful decor & great ambiance. We ordered the grilled chicken sandwich & the brioche perdu au basilic. The brioche perdu was sooo good & I would come back just for that dish. Can't wait for our next visit
