Knuckles Cantine & Vins propose une approche raffinée de la cuisine italienne contemporaine en mettant l'accent sur des profils de saveurs créatifs et audacieux. Le menu met en vedette des pâtes artisanales préparées avec des ingrédients de saison ainsi que des petites assiettes inventives conçues pour être partagées. Chaque recette souligne des techniques traditionnelles jumelées à une expérimentation culinaire moderne pour assurer une expérience gastronomique distincte. L'environnement de la salle à manger maintient une attention particulière sur des accords où des bouteilles sélectionnées complètent les profils complexes de la nourriture. Chaque composante est choisie pour souligner la qualité, résultant en des plats qui équilibrent les racines méditerranéennes classiques avec une perspective avant-gardiste. Les convives rencontrent une progression méthodique de goûts qui défient les attentes conventionnelles tout en respectant l'intégrité des ingrédients.
Knuckles Cantine & Vins est largement reconnu comme un joyau de quartier inventif à Montréal, proposant un menu qui marie avec brio le confort culinaire et la cuisine créative de haut niveau. La clientèle souligne fréquemment l'ambiance chaleureuse et animée ainsi qu'un service impeccable et dynamique, en mettant souvent en avant des coups de cœur comme les gnocchis aux épinards, le tartare Big Wac et les fameux panzerottis frits. Bien que la grande majorité des visiteurs soient conquis par l'équilibre des saveurs et la carte des vins audacieuse, certains convives notent que le restaurant peut être bruyant lors des périodes d'affluence et que les avis divergent parfois sur la taille des portions ou les politiques spécifiques du menu. Dans l'ensemble, l'établissement est considéré comme une destination incontournable pour ceux qui recherchent une expérience gastronomique ludique, maîtrisée et mémorable dans un cadre accueillant.
Incredibly creative fare! The Éclaire is a delightful visual surprise (though it shouldn't be given its name) & unbelievably delicious. Buffalo Shrooms delivered incredible flavour far beyond what we expected. The Gnocchi were as delicate as it gets - wonderful soft texture & the sauce was perfect. Unlike so many others, we found the Panzerotti less impressive & a bit too salty. All of this on the Wednesday prix fixe $40 was a great value. We will be back (reservation already made).
Knuckles is an inventive neighborhood gem in Montreal's dining scene that masterfully sits at the intersection of a fine-dining kitchen & a nostalgic greasy spoon. They excel at turning comfort food classics completely on their heads, offering a menu that is equal parts playful, indulgent, & seriously well-executed.
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The clear standout of the meal is the Tartare Big Wac, a dish that proves to be an absolute triumph. It arrives styled exactly like a classic fast-food double cheeseburger, complete with a toasted sesame seed bun, a mountain of shredded iceberg lettuce, melted cheese, thick pickle slices, & a signature sauce that captures that unmistakable, nostalgic fast-food tang. Instead of a beef patty, it is packed with a generous, impeccably seasoned beef tartare that is rich, tender, & beautifully studded with whole-grain mustard. The crunchiness & structure of the bun offer a fantastic textural contrast to the soft, velvety tartare, while the acidity & brightness of the sauce perfectly cut through the richness. It delivers exactly the flavor profile you hope for, wrapped in a genuinely impressive presentation. It is easily the winner of the night.
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Equally essential to the experience are the Signature Panzerotti, a staple born from a beloved recipe passed down from the co-owner's Nonna. These deep-fried, savory turnovers eat like a premium, elevated'pizza pocket' with the flavors cranked up to eleven. Fried to a deep, golden-brown perfection, they boast an incredible, bubbly, & shattering crust. Knuckles serves up a rotation of creative fillings like Spicy Roni (pepperoni, jalapenos, & pecorino) or Cheesesteak (ground beef, onions, marinated hot peppers, & ricotta). Skewered with a pickle or hot pepper to balance the fried indulgence & served alongside a wonderfully creamy dipping sauce, they are incredibly satisfying, delightfully messy, & a mandatory order for the table.
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For a softer contrast, the Fresh Herb Gnocchi showcases the kitchen's dedication to scratch-made pasta. These pillowy, vibrant green herb gnocchi swim in a rich, buttery, & translucent emulsified sauce, heavily dusted with a snowcap of finely grated Parmesan cheese & a sprinkle of toasted, aromatic spices or breadcrumbs for texture. The gnocchi themselves are beautifully cloud-like. While the sauce is exceptionally savory & well-executed, it leans into a more delicate, comforting profile compared to the bold, punchy flavors of the tartare.
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?Ultimately, Knuckles masterfully blends a cozy, lively neighborhood vibe with a menu that doesn't take itself too seriously but delivers serious technique. Sharing a meal here passing around a basket of fried panzerotti, cutting into a'Big Wac' tartare, & passing around bowls of fresh pasta makes for an incredibly fun, indulgent, & memorable dining experience in the city.
You feel the liveliness the moment you step into this restaurant! The deco is classy/funky/cozy at the same time.
We had the beef tartare'Big Mac' which was really interesting, I really like the crunchiness of the bun & the sauce has a good balance of acidity.
The fried bread is their famous dish but wouldn't say it was my favourite thing of the night. Gnocchi was soft & sauce is nice but I'd say the tartare was the winner of the night!
Special shoutout to the service! As we saw there were like 2-3 servers only at that night, but they were all really nice & were as attentive as they could. The girl that served us was very enthusiastic, great energy! Thank you :)
12 mai 2026
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The absolute most delicious gnocchi I've ever had! & the dessert was so amazing. I'm not usually a huge fan of mousse but the combination of jam & popcorn make the dish so interesting & irresistible. Such a cute restaurant & neighborhood to visit on top of that.
J'ai adoré ce restaurant ! L'ambiance est très agréable, le décor & la lumière sont top. Le service était vraiment parfait & a rendu l'expérience encore plus plaisante. & que dire des plats ! Nous avons testés les gnocchis, les carbo & un panzerotti, les trois étaient vriament délicieux. Je reviendrai avec plaisir !
Les gnocchis sont à tomber, & les plats saisonniers sont toujours excellents! Ils peuvent facilement accommoder les végétariens. Je recommande chaudement :)
Very charming place with a creative menu. For appetisers we had the eclair with arctic char (my personal fav), beef tartare (big mac flavour), panzerotti (smoke meat). The eclair was light & paired nicely with the goat cheese & fish. The beef tartare was unique & something I never had before, but I'd still rather go for a classic tartare. & the panzerotti was overall quite underwhelming because of the lack of filling, & the sides were folded too thick & so some parts of the dough were a bit raw. We also had the spinach gnocchi which was nice & light & the cornbonara which was fun but personally not to my palette. Overall, dishes were executed as described & service was good.
