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 was only in Montreal one night for a conference. When you come to Montreal you have to eat here, the food is absolutely outstanding, there is a great vibe & the service is beyond expectations. Our server Mahgi is superb!!!! He made recommendations, asked for allergies & checked in. He makes the most delicious cucumber tequila shot. All the meat is seasoned exceptionally & falls off the bone! You need to go & experience Kwizinn.
Absolutely amazing!!! The food was absolutely delicious, beyond expectation. The service was impeccable, & everyone was genuinely kind & welcoming & attentive. This place has such a good vibe to it. I can't wait to come back with others to share this place. What an amazing discovery ! They really aced it.
Dec 15, 2025
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Not only is the food amazing, but the service is impeccable! The workers & owners make sure all your needs are taken care of. Not to mention the vibes of the whole restaurant are great! You should definitely add this to your bucket lists of restaurants to try in the Old Port !!!!
Absolutely loved this place! The flavors were bold, authentic, & perfectly balanced. Super friendly staff & the ambiance & aesthetic vibe made the whole experience even better.
This spot is a gem.
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.
Sep 19, 2025
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Loved this spot! The vibe was cozy, the staff was super friendly, & the food was amazing, fresh & full of flavor. Definitely a place I'll be coming back to!
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.
The food overalll tasty & good! The sauce chalè is spicy & good I loved it. Their pikliz need to be better The oysters were good I love the sauce that comes with it. The sauce for the oysters was tasty but tho thick it would be nicer to have more a liquid sauce. The oxtail patty very good but would love if it was more juicy & saucy inside but the tasty was there very good ! Then the lobster pasta was good too! But I would love it more saucy. The service was a bit slow they seem low staff. The lady on the front was ok I think she could be more warmth & welcoming. The atmosphere & deco are nice but they were playing latino music all night. I would love to hear some carribean vibes in a carribean restaurant . Would I go back? Definitely it was good
The service & vibe of the restaurant are great. Food though was a big let down, below average & overpriced. The place definitely caters to tourists. If quality Caribbean food is what you are looking for in Montreal, go elsewhere.
Aug 4, 2025
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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!
10/10 outta 10/10
Exquisite!! Booked back on Feb 1st for a surprise birthday dinner. We had the degustation meals which came with lots of options & truly each meal were fire 🔥🔥.
Everything we had hit the spot, the freshness, flavours to spiciness, to tenderness of the meat! The whole crew loved it & to please 8 different personalities & taste buds, I'm truly impressed & grateful for a superb experience.
I don't drink alcohol but the others did let me know they loved their drinks. My mocktail was on point.
The vibes were immaculate! Decor & music were amazing!
Compliments to the chef!! I will most definitely stop by whenever I come to Montreal! I have to get the fish tartare & the octopus 🤤🤤🤤
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.
This place is a perfect 10/10. It's low key & unassuming. The service was great. The food delicious. & the vibe ... oh the vibe!! Absolutely on point. Husband & I went for a date night. We had a great time. Great to see how this restaurant has transitioned from the verdun location to the old port. Well definitely be back!
