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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Ambiance is nice but the food was super salty & the sauce was so acidic! Need tweaking in the recipes to be honest but love the vibe of the space … not the best pasta, very basic.
Wow! This was one of the best restaurants I've been to in my life. It is an intimate place with limited seating, but we made a reservation ahead of time & they were able to seat us right away. The drinks are creative & different but still tasted amazing. The food was almost like, classic American food reinvented. We had the steak tartare which was made to mimic a Big Mac - amazing. The pizza pockets were great. The fish was out of this world & the sauce was to die for. For dessert we had the chocolate mouse which was a good portion & paired well with the berry & kettle corn. We are already thinking about a trip back to Montreal just to go to this restaurant again. Do not miss out!!
Les portions étaient largement suffisantes. Les plats étaient très bons, les pâtes étaient délicieuses , les sauces goûteuses & parfaitement épicées, sans excès dans les saveurs.
Le panzerotti était à se rouler par terre, avec sa croute craquante & dorée, sa garniture à la tomate savoureuse & fromagée. C'est un item à ne pas manquer.
Le service était sympathique & efficace
Le décor est bien & c'est chaleureux.
Mais la nourriture est très décevante, je ne comprends pas tous les commentaires positifs… C'est présenté correct mais sans goût.
Pizza pochette sans saveur, ne vaut pas la peine même si on vous explique que c'est la recette d'une grande père xyz…
Steak a 60$ ultra sèche, viande de mauvaise qualité & sur une patate hashbrown trop cuite qui trempe dans une sauce…
4-5 choix de vins au verre seulement.
Manque de cohérence entre le concept de la nourriture, la façon dont s'est présenté & le décor.
Delicious food & a warm, aesthetic vibe! The spinach gnocchi (gnocchi verdi) was a standout, YOU MUST ORDER THIS! The gnocchi was so pillowy soft & the sauce was rich with a bit of crunch on top.
The other dishes we got were tasty too (see pics) but did not linger in my mind afterwards as the spinach pasta did. Smores & Cream dessert was good but large in quantity - I'm a lover of dessert but would recommend to share this.
Restaurant is a bit crowded, loud & hot (it was 32C outside). But the food & service were excellent. Had the Pintade with truffle & spinach gnocchi. Both top notch & sauces were excellent.
If you want to go to 2nd service, make a reservation.
