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.
La cuisine est bonne & le personnel souriant mais 28$ pour un champignon coupé en deux sur un peu de sauce… J'ai juste l'impression qu'on m'a volé mon argent.
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.
Jan 18, 2025
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We went to the Christmas bar downstairs. Everything was good, but I wish they had more dairy free options for people with allergies. Most of the Christmas cocktails had milk products in them which isn't bad in & of itself, just kind of wish they had something clearly labeled for people.
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
Expérience médiocre au bar caché de Noël : Le poisson ne sentait pas frais, on nous a chargé un frais de réservation de 8$/personne alors qu'il n'y avait aucune attente sur place, on ne venait pas ramasser notre table, bref, le marketing de ce resto ne reflète pas l'expérience.
Dec 27, 2024
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TOO NOISY !!! before you walk in you are confronted with a blaring speaker pointing outside, with the door wide open. Then you get inside , the place is beautiful & the menu is interesting. However don't plan on having a conversation because the music is too loud & everyone is talking loudly to hear one another. Not relaxing or enjoyable. Just look through the window to see the pretty interior then walk away. Turn down the stupid speakers
Mon amie & moi avons été très agréablement surprises. La salle était magnifique & le service exceptionnel. Nous avons été servie par Schubert. Le reste des serveurs ont également été extrêmement agréables avec nous. La cuisine était délicieuse & le groupe de Jazz en live offrait une ambiance superbe. Kwizin est définitivement sur ma liste de restaurants à faire & refaire! Je vous conseille vivement l'endroit!
The restaurant is quaint, the food is mostly good but the shrimp salad was pretty ordinary. The music was far too loud. The live band was great but I had trouble hearing the person across the table from me. The restaurant was not well heated, i don't usually mind the cold but had to keep my tuque on to keep my head warm. The speakeasy in the basement is no speakeasy at all, the music was far too loud & I still had a hard time hearing my partner. The decorations for Christmas felt a bit thrown together. The drinks were very nice but pricey, paying 22$ for a cocktail in a noisy room with people trying to talk loudly over the music made it difficult to truly enjoy the experience. Service in the restaurant was great, the staff is lovely. I won't be returning to the speakeasy (or recommending it to anyone) but I may go to the restaurant again because the food was great.
Moi & mon copain avons découvert le secret bar sous le Kwizzin, & quelle expérience! ✨ Le service était impeccable, & les drinks étaient tout simplement exceptionnels. Un énorme merci à Claudia, Stéphane & Kevin qui ont rendu notre soirée mémorable avec leur accueil chaleureux! La bouffe était délicieuse, & l'ambiance festive nous a vraiment mis dans l'esprit du temps des Fêtes. On reviendra sans hésiter!
Dec 22, 2024
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Went to the Secrets Christmas themed pop bar that is part of Kwizinn, in their basement. Paid 40$ just to book, it did not come back to me after nor did it get any kind of drinks or food items. Drinks were not bad, but nothing special. Mold wine with sugar cane & some Old Fashioned with a cookie. They are about 18$ each... The pizza was a small 6" pizza. That was 18$... We left as soon as we could & went to a different place. Not worth it!
Located in Old Port, Kwizinn's brunch combines delicious Caribbean flavors with classic breakfast staples. This Haitian-inspired gem delivers a bursting experience that's as flavorful as it is unique The brunch menu features a variety of unique dishes. We had: ✨ Chef Lafaille's Griot with fried plantains & pikliz ✨ Octopus Carpaccio ✨ Oysters ✨ Arctic Char Tartare ✨ Pollo Pan de queijo ✨ Chakchouka ✨ Prime Rib Toast with Truffle ✨ 3 Cheeses Mac N Cheese ✨ Pancake coco The restaurant also offers a great selection of cocktails & wines, perfect for pairing with your meal. Especially unlimited Mimosas with your brunch
Je suis allée hier soir avec ma fille pour célébrer un événement, notre réservation était à 19h. Nous avons été placées à côté d'une fenêtre où on sentait l'air, ma fille a gardé son manteau toute la soirée. My bad, j'aurais dû passer un commentaire, on nous aurait sûrement déplacées. Beau & bon cocktail...j'ai pris un zuzu, épicé sans exagération, juste parfait. La nourriture & les quantités étaient excellentes. Nous avons tout partagé : en entrée des sandwichs bao fall of di bone & du griot du chef avec pikliz & bananes pesées & ensuite un plat de poulet de Cornouaille fumé au Bourbon & sa sauce curry qu'on a accompagné de frites de yuka (manioc). Nous n'avions plus de place pour du dessert, la prochaine fois. Très beau décor & bonne musique. Nous recommandons toutes les deux.
Update location in the Old port The decor & the bar was really nice Service was good, the waitress was nice, the oysters were lovely. We got the bao bun, it was really good, the griot & the goat, we were surprised that the goat didn't come with anything & for it to be 45$, 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.
Lovely space, went on a slow monday (great for me), but lively Thr-Sun with live music. Food is great, but quite spicy! Definitely not child friendly as there are not too many options available.
