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.
Kwizinn is described as a stylish welcoming spot where Caribbean and Haitian flavors shine through generous, flavorful dishes and attentive service. The ambiance is praised for its beautiful decor with midnight blue walls, dark wood, gold accents, and a warm, lively vibe that makes dining feel special. The menu offers creative fusion options and tasting choices that suit groups and celebrations, with standout dishes like griot, oxtail patty, lobster pasta and empanadas noted for quality and presentation. The staff are repeatedly highlighted as knowledgeable and friendly, providing thoughtful recommendations and care that enhance the experience. While some reviews mention price reflections and occasional slow moments, the overall sentiment points to a standout dining experience worth returning for and recommending.
Amazing ambiance & very unique menu options. I love the vibe, decor & location. I like the menu options even if I found them slightly overpriced for what you get. I absolutely loved the plantain burger with tarot chips, good portion & I would highly recommend. The other items on the menu I will be trying the next visit, as recommended by my friends. I felt welcome at this restaurant & they didn't make us feel like we had a time limit, which most places do now. We all loved the food & the DJ on Saturday night kept the vibes going. Can't wait to come back!!
Pretentious diner. I have no qualms regarding service but the menu needs Gordon Ramsey desperately. My companion ordered the Lobsta Pasta (48$) which amounted to about 4 ounces of pasta in sauce with a Mexican crayfish tail on top served in the bottom of a large soup bowl.
I started with the Soju Jerk Ribs with kimchi. Flavourful item but turned out to be the highlight of my meal. As an entree I ordered (by the servers recommendation) Criote du Chef Lafaille, which came to me looking spectacular. Looks in this case were deceiving. The item consists of chunks of pork loin barbecued in some manner of rub, a stack of dry rice & beans, three disc's of hardened plantain & a tart & spiced variation of Cole slaw. The biggest problem with the dish I believe is the choice of the cut of pork. The pork loin is too lean to stand up to such cooking methods without drying out. One of the employees heard me mention that I found the dish dry to which she said that I hadn't been given the sauce it came with. She returned with a small pitcher of sauce but it didn't help. I think if the dish was made from a fattier cut of pork such as shoulder or even pork belly it would have been better.
There is a saying I heard in French that I think sums this plate up.
'sans matières grasses sans goût'
Apr 5, 2026
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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.
First time visiting Kwizin since it moved to the Old Port. Wow! Everything!! The service, the atmosphere & most importantly, the food. It was absolutely delicious. The oxtail Jamaican patty is a MUST! Such a flaky dough with a tender & creamy meat filling. The (sweet) homemade ketchup pairs perfectly with it. For the main, we LOVED the plantain burger. Again, the dish is so well thought & balanced. The cheesy sauce adds an amazing flavour & extra moisture, it's finger licking good. Finally, the beignets were a pleasant surprise. Like a warm crispy donut with a sweet glaze drizzle on the plate. Will definitely go back! Ultimate date spot.
Came here with a group of 7 people & overall I'd say there were highs & lows with the meal. The highs: oxtail patty & its salsa were out of this world - meat was tender, the pastry was flaky & it paired really nicely with the sauce. The vibe & decor is also really nice. The medium: had the plantain burger. The beef was nicely cooked & seasoned & I thought it was an interesting take to have plantain as the bun. Overall wasn't out of this world or enough to get me to return. The lows: yucca fries & the beignets felt overpriced for what they were. Both coming in at about 13$, the yucca fries were very salty & the seasoning was really uneven. The beignets were 13$ for 3 timbits sized donuts. Our party commented that the seasoning across several dishes - the burger, the sushi, the yucca fries - were pretty similar. Service was patchy & very slow. It took maybe 20 minutes to get our drinks & then we weren't really offered another round until way after we finished our meal. Dessert was also really slow coming out after an already long meal. Overall I know some delays are to be expected with a larger party but I'm not sure the food & service were enough value for money for me to return.
Took a 3 day birthday vaca to Montreal & felt for some hatian food. After eating Cora's the previous day i was in the mood for a taste bud sensation. The jamaican oxtail & lobster tail was spectacular 😋. The plantain was so yummy. The pink colada was passable not like the islands but pretty good. The waitress took her sweet time to attend to us but at least didn't cuss us out cough cough yeah you Jamaicans. Very happy will return
The service was personalized, quick & amazing. The food came quickly. We had the jamaixan & Haitian patties… both beyond delicious. Lobster pasta was good but the lobster was a bit overcooked. The plantain burger was juicy & delicious ! The drinks were also very tasty. Definitely worth the price. Will go back!
Aug 8, 2025
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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.
This place changed my g'dmn life.
No, seriously, that is how this place felt.
Came to Montréal & I fell in love, not with the city but with Kwizinn itself.
My daughter & I were recommended by friends to come here, & we wandered in at dinner time on a quiet Sunday evening. We had not really checked the menu/prices beforehand, but I think had we, we might have been scared off & not gone.
The atmosphere is immaculate. Their location is a beautifully decorated space near but not on the main road of Old Montréal. On one side of the restaurant is a larger group seating are & on the other is a more intimate dining room where the bar & floor to ceiling windows give you views of the square. From the flowers on the table to the color of the benches, you can tell everything in this place has been carefully chosen to reflect the type of restaurant they want to be.
It is kid friendly, but older kids; not like the ones that would scream. The wait staff was so attentive, too. Our waitress (I'm sorry I forgot your name!) was lovely & had so many recommendations for us based on our likes & dislikes. Water glasses were never empty, the table was cleared promptly, & questions were asked in great detail. Not in an irritating way, in an I see you & I care kind of way. It was genuine, & you can tell they really enjoy & love what they do.
All this, & I haven't even gotten to the food yet. My god.
The yucca fries & the sauce - definitely got my kid to eat her vegetables. The plantain burger made her eyes water both from spice but also love. & the Cornish hen with the sauce & grilled pineapple... wooooww. It was so tender & juicy while retaining the smoke & char of how it had been cooked. At the end of all that, they recommended dessert. I wasn't hungry, but we ate the beignets anyways. To round out the night, we were fortunate enough to take in their regular Sunday night Cuban band. It was a wonderful experience & we can honestly say that we might make a trip back just for the food.
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
May 15, 2025
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Wahooooo , au début j'appréhendais leur nouveau concept. Puis je me suis dis vas essayer. 🥰🥰🥰 J'ai bien faite. L'innovation dans la cuisine les goût. Mon préféré c'est le humus au banane plantain. Il y a un génie dans la cuisine qui fait des merveilles & qui amène la cuisine des îles à un autre niveau 🙌🏽.
The Plantain burger was absolutely blissful. There is so much flavor. The burger was seasoned, so well. Kudos to the chef. I definitely will be back in August for my birthday.
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.
The plantain was dry & the food just wasn't it. Definitely recommend anything from the grill though :) Loved the location & the waiters were nice. Over all, I would expect better food from a Haitian restaurant
Dec 28, 2024
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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
Update location in the Old port The decor & the bar was really nice Service was good, the waitress was nice, the oysters were lovely. We got the bao bun, it was really good, the griot & the goat, we were surprised that the goat didn't come with anything & for it to be 45$, i wasn't able to eat it because of the harsh smell. Ive eaten goat before & the smell was bever this harsh, waitress didn't recommend us to get sides, the only side we had was 3 pieces of plantain with the griot It would have been nice for her to let us know maybe we wouldn't have ordered 2 meat plates Also we were the last ones there & we felt like we were getting stared at to leave by all the employees, & it made us feel uncomfortable even one of the employees asked my friend if she can move from her chair because they wanted to clean & rearrange the table while we were still there. After having to pay over 200$ each I think they could have been abit more courteous towards there clientele Cute little Carribean place. We were 2 ppl & we got the shared plate for 2 but it was alot. It was nice to have different stuff on the platter to try but definitely alot to share for 2 ppl, I wish they had told us that the portions are insanely big. The food itself was so good, the only bad part was that the crab was overcooked. They have the meat or the seafood platter that you can chose from, we chose the meat,on the platter we had okra, plantain, griot, lamb, steak, crab, octopus, arrancini, rice, salad & a few dipping sauces. We got mojitos as drinks, the drinks were average If we do go back with will probably be a bigger group to share the platter, or we would get out own plate. Plus it would cost you cheaper if you get your own plate. The sharable plate was 130$ & it was expensive for just 2 ppl This place was full when we went & it was very noisy you can hear other ppls conversation because everyone was talking to loud & can't really hear the person in front of you. This place is good for big groups I find They have a very small bar area. The cocktails were ok The service was pretty good, they were nice.
Je fréquente ce restaurant depuis ses débuts sur la plaza Saint-Hubert passant ensuite par Verdun. J'ai été à leur nouvel emplacement au vieux port & je dois dire que j'ai été déçue pour la première fois. J'ai pris le cabrit qui à mon avis à toujours été un de leurs meilleurs plats & j'ai à peine pu prendre quelques bouchées tant le goût n'y était pas. La nouvelle recette d'accra laisse aussi à désirer à mon humble avis. Par contre, j'ai adoré les frites de yucca. Le classique buger plantain est toujours aussi bon. La recette du poisson a aussi été complètement modifiée :(Je trouve que les récettes ont vraiment perdu leur authenticité sans doute dans l'optique de plaire à la masse en raison du nouvel emplacement, mais tout de même déçue de ne pas retrouver les saveurs auxquels j'étais habituée. Cependant, très bel restaurant, excellent emplacement avec une belle ambiance & le personnel est très chaleureux. Je trouve le prix des assiettes assez compétitif pour un aussi beau restaurant en plein coeur du vieux port.
Went for a brunch ! Pretty good but the plantain which were dry. Meat too. Vegetarian option was excellent Chili sauce was fresh & good but for the amount we can actually eat it's a bit on the pricy side. Still a refreshing brunch
