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 créatif, salué pour son approche ludique et raffinée de la cuisine réconfortante aux influences italiennes. Les clients soulignent régulièrement les panzerottis maison signature, le tartare façon Big Mac présenté avec originalité et les gnocchis aux épinards d'une finesse exceptionnelle comme des plats incontournables qui mettent en valeur des ingrédients saisonniers de haute qualité. L'ambiance est systématiquement décrite comme chaleureuse, animée et accueillante, parfaitement complétée par une équipe de service professionnelle et enthousiaste qui se surpasse pour garantir une expérience mémorable. Bien que certains convives aient noté que le restaurant peut être animé et bruyant, le consensus général désigne une destination culinaire unique, savoureuse et profondément satisfaisante, qui vaut amplement le détour tant pour les sorties décontractées que pour les occasions spéciales.
Excellent restaurant de cuisine italienne atypique. Le décor est très chaleureux & vintage à souhait. Il y a un délicieux steak 🥩 frites 🍟 au menu. Les choix des boissons 🍸, cocktails maison créatif , vin & bières sont très intéressants. La spécialité panzerotti (une genre de pizza pochette deluxe avec une bien meilleure pâte)!est une belle découverte ! Désolé pour la comparaison mais c'est tout de suite ce à quoi ça fait pensé 😁😁😁… mais c'est très bon.
On aurait aimé essayer le dessert mais plus place à la fin du repas. Les portions sont bien assez généreuses.
Elevated comfort food with Italian influences, centred around their signature homemade panzerotti inspired by the owner's grandmother's recipe. The Mille feuille was the best for me. Big Mac tartare was OK but would have preferred it with chips but I get the theme. Everything is simple, creative, seasonal, & seriously delicious.
Our first visit to Knuckles. Saturday evening, table on outside terrace which was empty around 7pm but quickly filled up. Specialty cocktail menu is out there, some weird combinations, the spicy mezcal with pepperoncini was very good. I stuck with a classic Negroni Mezcal, also good. Starters were phenomenal, the beef tartare (burger) was really tasty but a disaster to eat with the toasted bread being harder than cement, we managed to finish it after much struggling. The tuna crudo was also excellent, extremely fresh with the tomatoes & Leche de Tigre made for an excellent combination. We shared a plate of Marinara pasta which was also delicious along with the spicy panzerotti. Limited wine selection by the glass is my only complaint. Service was excellent & very friendly. Will definitely return & recommend.
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.
?
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.
?
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.
?
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.
?
?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.
Wow! What a delicious meal. The eclair really surprised us. The big Mac tartare tasted exactly how it sounds but the presentation was impressive! The panzerottis were delicious we tried the spicy Roni & the cheesesteak, the spicy Roni was our favorite. For our main we had the cornbonara, very good! For dessert we had the sundae creamsicle also delicious.
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 !
Lovely experience at Knuckles. Great Italian decor & great service. The smoke meat panzerotti is a must try! Overall one of the best restaurants I've been to
