At Kwizinn Vieux-Port, co-owners Michael Lafaille and Claudia Fiorelli bring a vibrant fusion of Caribbean flavours to the heart of Montreal's Old Port. Chef Mike Lafaille expertly blends traditional Caribbean spices with contemporary culinary techniques to create unique fusion dishes such as our octopus carpaccio, lobster poutine, plantain burger, and bao fall of di bone. The bold use of fresh herbs, rich marinades, and zesty sauces brings out the authentic and vibrant flavours that define Kwizinn Vieux-Port’s Caribbean fusion cuisine.
For a more immersive experience, Kwizinn Vieux-Montréal offers a range of special events throughout the week. Enjoy jazz nights every Thursday from 6 to 9 pm, while Fridays and Saturdays feature local DJs spinning beats late into the night. Every Friday to Sunday, indulge in a delightful brunch from 11:30 am to 3 pm, where you can savour dishes like our Fried Chicken Sandwich with coconut-marinated chicken, maple syrup, pikliz rosé, or the Tropical Wrap filled with sautéed vegetables and a choice of shredded griot or braised beef. The menu also features our creamy 3 Cheeses Mac n’ Cheese, the flavourful vegetarian dish Grilled Eggplant Obe Ata, and the savoury Chef Lafaille's Griot with fried plantains and pikliz. After brunch on Sunday, enjoy a lively Cuban night from 6 to 9 pm. We also have a private dining room perfect for groups and special occasions, and we regularly host thematic evenings, from Caribbean-inspired culinary nights to rum-tasting events.
Diners celebrate Kwizinn for its elevated fusion of Haitian and Caribbean flavors, with dishes that are flavorful, well seasoned and beautifully presented, from griot and octopus carpaccio to plantain burger and lobster pasta. Portions are generous and the tasting menu offers great value for exploring the varied menu. The drinks and cocktails are memorable, with inventive presentations like cocktails served in a whole pineapple. The atmosphere is warm, chic, and festive, with a mix of intimate dining rooms and a lively Old Montreal vibe, enhanced by live music on certain nights and a welcoming terrace. The service is consistently described as impeccable, attentive, and friendly, with staff guiding guests through the menu and making celebrations feel special. Kwizinn is recommended for celebrations, group dinners, dates, or simply discovering Caribbean cuisine at a high level, and many guests plan their next visit as soon as they leave.
I loved the elegance of the space, with its midnight blue walls, dark wood furniture & gold accents, blended with touches of Carribean art & accessories. It all works so well together to create a warm & welcoming ambiance.
The food was flavorful & plentiful! We went with the table d'hôte, but in hindsight, had we known the plates were so big, we might have shared some plates, or opted for their tasting menu. We saw it go by & it looked delicious. We had the cod fritters & the jerk ribs to start. The fritters come with a really tasty & nicely spiced pikliz. For mains, we had the fried chicken & the griot. Everything was tasty, & the service was friendly & attentive.
I felt a bit disappointed with the cocktail. The glass was half-filled - about five sips total - & tasted mostly of juice. Then again, I'm not much of a cocktail girl, so this is just one opinon ;-)
All in all, a good spot. If you're looking for beautiful ambiance, & lots of tasty food, I'd definitely recommend Kwizinn. We'll be back!
This restaurant is getting 2 star for the excellent dj performance afterward, so disappointing. It's way too expensive for the food quality & service altogether. I order the griot which was OK, the black was rice not to tasty but the real downfall was grilled fish which tasted spoiled. I almost threw up. I am Very disappointed. If you looking for place to drink & enjoy good music this is the place but for the enjoyment of food & service don't come.near it.
Dec 14, 2025
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
Sur les 5 plats que nous avons commandé tout était délicieux! Par contre pour le plat de griot la sauce ne goûtait en rien la sauce traditionnelle & il n'y avait pas assez de sauce également, le pikliz était doux pas vraiment épicé c'était plus comme une salade de choux & il faut commander le riz à coter car il n'est pas compris dans le plat de griot, sinon ambiance & décors sont au rendez vous, les plats sont chaud & arrive rapidement, je vous le recommande à 100% c'était une belle expérience somme tout. Par contre pour le chef le pikliz & la sauce est à revoir pour le plat de griot.
Had a great experience at Kwizinn Vieux-Montréal. My server, Maria, was excellent, super friendly, & gave spot-on recommendations. I went with the TJ lobster pasta, & it was amazing, especially with the wine pairing she suggested. My friend had the Griot, & it was honestly one of the best I've tasted in the city. Definitely worth a visit.
I recently had the opportunity of dining at Kwizinn, a charming spot that boasts a beautiful ambiance & a playlist that sets the perfect mood for the evening. The setting itself is inviting-warm lighting, sleek decor, & a cozy yet sophisticated vibe. It's the kind of place you'd want to bring a date or catch up with friends.
Let's talk about the food. The appetizers were absolutely fantastic-bursting with flavor & creativity. The oxtail patty was crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, & paired with a subtle sweet dipping sauce that left me wanting more. The deconstructed sushi roll was refreshing, & the mix of citrusy tang with delicate seafood that was spot on, which my colleagues raved about. The drinks had the pure essence of Caribbean culture that really helped tie in the whole start of the meal. I was definitely excited to see what the main dishes had in store.
As for the main dishes, they were a bit of a hit or miss. Some were absolutely delightful, like the griot dish with riz collee & plantain-juicy, rich, & all around complete full meal with good portions. On the other hand, the Picahna dish, while tasty & well cooked, it was lacking on the fullness you'll find in the griot dish. Let's not forget the 4 meat plate dish, that sadly was the most disappointing of all, the chicken served was completely charred than anything & the sides lacked in flavor. For the price it was truly a lost opportunity to really hit the spot. Still, nothing was truly disappointing, but the consistency wasn't quite there, aside from the chicken.
Now, what really soured the experience for me was the service. Our waiter, Justin, was incredibly subpar & fairly rude. From the moment we sat down, he seemed disinterested & unapproachable. He was curt with his responses toward us & made no effort to engage or make the meal more enjoyable. There were many moments where he seemed bothered by simple requests, like taking our group picture, & the overall attitude he projected was unpleasant & uncomfortable. To tell a group of people he will only take a single picture of us, truly shows how he did not want to be around our table or have to serve us a minute longer, which was amplified by how little he asked about our drinks or advise us the delay for our desserts. Any questions or follow ups from our end, were met with push back & fake smiles. For a restaurant that otherwise excels in its atmosphere & food (somewhat), this was a huge letdown.
In the end, Kwizinn offers a nice varied dining menu if you're looking for delicious appetizers, a solid main course (depending which one you take), & a vibe that's both relaxed & chic. But, I hope they pay more attention to service in the future because it really detracted from what could have been a perfect evening. A little warmth & attentiveness from the staff would go a long way.
Wonderful Haitian Griot!! This place is the fanciest Caribbean restaurant I've been in! Wow! I was looking for comfort Haitian food. I did find it! On a whole other level!! The Griot was melt in your mouth, & the portions were generous (as they should be for the price). You do have to order a plate of rice to go with it 😢If you want Haitian food in a five star restaurant you found it! The atmosphere is amazing. Our server was very attentive, but not over the top. Clean, bright. If you're looking for Haitian street food, this is not that place! Looking for Haitian food meets Rodeo Drive, this is the place! 100%
You do get what you pay for here, & it is amazing! Just not what I was expecting. Great job Kwizinn on taking Caribbean food to a whole other level.
**This reminds me of going to a five star restaurant & having a club sandwich. Why you say? It was a whole other level… a breast of chicken on each half of the sandwich, & thick melting havarti cheese, thick deli smoked bacon ** Kwizinn is that same kinda place!! Enjoy!
Jul 24, 2025
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
Our dinner at Kwizinn was exceptional! The cocktails & food were delicious. We chose their special price fixe table (Table d'hôte) option. The oxtail empanada, ceviche, fried pork griot, picanha steak were excellent. There was also live music - a mix of jazz, samba, & Caribbean music - which made dinner extra nice. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for dinner in Old Montreal, just one block away from the most crowded locations there, but close to everything.
Tried the Kwizinn food truck while walking through Old Port & was pleasantly surprised. At $21, the griot plate seemed a bit steep at first-but honestly, it delivered. They use a different cut than your typical griot: four big, fatty, juicy pieces of pork, perfectly cooked & packed with flavor. The riz collé was moist & delicious, not dry like you sometimes get. I'm usually not big on pikliz, but theirs hit the spot-just the right balance of acidity & heat without being overpowering. We also tried the plantain burger, which was super original & full of flavor. All in all, a delicious & memorable stop. Would definitely come back.
Superbe expérience! Excellent service! Belle terasse. On a pris le griot du chef, le carpaccio de pieuvre, les accras de morue & riz djondjon. Tout est bon! Le carpaccio est succulent!! Il y a des options végétariennes. Allez-y!
Jun 16, 2025
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
Amazing! Vibe, decor, food, cocktails were all perfect! The octopus carpaccio was absolutely delicious!!! So much so that we went back a second time. It was the BEST dish we had during our stay in Montreal. I'm still thinking about it! We also had the griot which was very flavorful & not too fatty. Highly recommend Kwizinn! You'll eat well & feel happy doing it!
Kwizinn just kicked off their new permanent summer location (open until end of September 2025) & it's their food truck sitting across the Montreal Science Center on de la commune ouest, corner st-laurent blvd! We tried multiple apps & mains & shared between friends. Service is quick, they call out your name when it's ready, & they told us there will be juicebar available soon!
There are also picnic tables available for everyone to sit & enjoy :)
- Tostones (fried green plantains)
- Homemade Fries with dill aoili
- Griot mac & cheese
- Panini Italiano
- Plantain Burge
Je suis allée manger avec une amie qui désirait goûter à la cuisine haïtienne nous étions très excité de goûter commençons par le positif le griot 10/10 vraiment le goût était parfait les plantain croustillant alloco bien sucrer . Le accras 0/10 complètement brûler la chèvre mon amie est allée vomir au toilette car c'était sa première fois de manger la chèvre elle n'a pas digérer le goût lorsque j'ai informer la serveuse à la place de nous accommoder avec un autre plat elle nous informe qu'on va devoir payer la chèvre malgré que nous avons goûter un petit morceau…. Nous étions pas contente mais puisque le griot était succulent on s'est dit que moi je vais le prendre pour emporter & on va prendre les empanadas au griot & sauce colombien… On reçois les empanadas à 22$ y'en a 3 petite dans l'assiette pour le prix déjà sa va mal le goût deguelasse sa goûte le baking soda avec la poudre à pâté sa ma ramener à mes souvenirs enfance lorsque je ratait mes gâteaux …
J'informe la serveuse je lui dis catégoriquement c'est un non elle part avec les assiette … le riz collé rien de spécial riz minute rice mélanger avec les fève avec lait coco sa goûte plutôt le riz que tu trouve dans les resto jamaïcain & non a fusion haïtienne très décevant … on reçois la facture il nous on charger 11$ chaque pour les empanadas & 4$ pour une sauce piquante demander sans nous aviser que c'était payant… vous imaginez resto caraïbe pas de sauce piquante gratuite .. le pikliz goûtait comme une salade & n'était pas piquant overall déçu j'ai refuser de payer les empanadas car c'était du vol & la sauce piquante je ne retournerais pas dommage le griot était bon
Vibe was good, they had a good DJ but the food was just ok.. no flare & pretty basic. They brought our order of rice to a diff table, it got sent back to the kitchen & when it was finally delivered to our table the rice was cold. Really fatty griot & the portions are small for the price.
Très bonne cuisine ! Super restaurant. Haute qualité des produits. Cuisson parfaite du griot & du cabri ! Nous étions dimanche nous avons eu des musiciens cubains en live c'était top. Nous recommandons ce restaurant. Manger de la bonne nourriture des caraïbes par -15 degrés nous a bien réchauffé ! Le riz djondjon était excellent aussi ! Nous avions pris le menu dégustation ... Faire confiance au chef ! Très bons cocktails aussi 😉
Warning: tourism trap 1st location was incroyable. 2nd location got a bit worse. 3rd location in Vieux-Port is made for tourists! Overpriced & overhyped. The service however, is extremely AMAZING! Ambiance of restaurant is lovely. I do not recommend the Chef Tasting menu, it's too expensive. - Bao was oddly tangy. Not a good bao. - cold menu: plantain hummus purée is extremely creative & executed so so well. - cold menu: arctic char & octopus was comme ci comme ça, pas mal. - avocado was mixed with cod, which is cool & unique. - pork (griot) was extremely dry. The meat sauce could not have made it better. - salad was lame & shrimp not good. - Coleslaw was spicy & really nice - plantain was dry - jerk chicken was the best thing, would recommend! - mushroom infused rice was creative & not bad - would not recommend the empanadas, they were dry. Overall, the items are so creative. But the ideas were not executed well. It's too bad that this is not good Caribbean cuisine.
Located in Old Port, Kwizinn's brunch combines delicious Caribbean flavors with classic breakfast staples. This Haitian-inspired gem delivers a bursting experience that's as flavorful as it is unique The brunch menu features a variety of unique dishes. We had: ✨ Chef Lafaille's Griot with fried plantains & pikliz ✨ Octopus Carpaccio ✨ Oysters ✨ Arctic Char Tartare ✨ Pollo Pan de queijo ✨ Chakchouka ✨ Prime Rib Toast with Truffle ✨ 3 Cheeses Mac N Cheese ✨ Pancake coco The restaurant also offers a great selection of cocktails & wines, perfect for pairing with your meal. Especially unlimited Mimosas with your brunch
Je suis allée hier soir avec ma fille pour célébrer un événement, notre réservation était à 19h. Nous avons été placées à côté d'une fenêtre où on sentait l'air, ma fille a gardé son manteau toute la soirée. My bad, j'aurais dû passer un commentaire, on nous aurait sûrement déplacées. Beau & bon cocktail...j'ai pris un zuzu, épicé sans exagération, juste parfait. La nourriture & les quantités étaient excellentes. Nous avons tout partagé : en entrée des sandwichs bao fall of di bone & du griot du chef avec pikliz & bananes pesées & ensuite un plat de poulet de Cornouaille fumé au Bourbon & sa sauce curry qu'on a accompagné de frites de yuka (manioc). Nous n'avions plus de place pour du dessert, la prochaine fois. Très beau décor & bonne musique. Nous recommandons toutes les deux.
