L'Autre Saison specializes in refined French culinary techniques with a focus on fresh seafood and intricate raw preparations. The menu highlights precision-cut fish and seasoned tartare dishes designed to emphasize the natural textures of premium ingredients. Culinary preparations prioritize balance, utilizing classic seasoning profiles that respect the inherent flavors of oceanic proteins. Each plate demonstrates technical expertise, from the selection of high-grade seafood to the carefully calibrated accompaniments that elevate every component. The atmosphere remains structured and focused on the interaction between traditional French methodology and modern plating standards. Diners encounter a menu where the integrity of raw materials drives the kitchen output, ensuring that every dish delivers a consistent and deliberate gastronomic experience throughout the entire seasonal rotation.
L'Autre Saison is widely regarded as a charming and classic French dining destination in Montreal, celebrated for its elegant townhouse setting, romantic atmosphere, and live piano music. Many patrons praise the restaurant for its high-quality cuisine, including standout dishes like escargots, rack of lamb, and perfectly cooked salmon, often complemented by an extensive wine list. While the majority of diners highlight the warm, attentive, and professional service provided by the staff and owners, which contributes to a memorable and welcoming experience, some guests have expressed concerns regarding pricing, perceived inconsistencies in service, and rigid dining policies. Despite a few mixed reviews about the owner's unconventional hospitality style, the establishment remains a popular recommendation for special occasions, date nights, and those seeking an authentic culinary experience in the heart of the city.
D'abord, je concède que l'ambiance, bien qu'un peu trop chic à mon goût, est très bonne. L'établissement est beau & propre, & les ingrédients sont de qualité.
Cependant mes compliments s'arrêtent là. D'abord, le propriétaire nous a, à plusieurs reprises, brusqués à commander malgré que nous étions les seuls clients. J'ai vu un autre avis mentionnant un comportement raciste contre les asiatiques, que le commerçant a critiqué puisque les clients ne parlaient ni français ni anglais à table. Ce n'est pas du tout l'attitude que j'ai remarqué en réponse à des clients qui parlaient allemand. Faites de cela ce que vous en voulez.
Quant à la nourriture, j'ai d'abord commandé l'entrée d'escargot. J'eus finalement droit à une montagne de champignons & si peu d'escargots que j'aurais pu les compter sur les doigts de la main. Comme plat principal, j'ai commandé le carré d'agneau, dont le menu vantait la qualité. La viande, bien que très bien apprêtée, était très peu goûteuse. C'était bien plus que mangeable, néanmoins j'ai mangé bien meilleur pour bien moins cher.
J'admet sans doute ne pas être la clientèle cible, malgré tout, vous trouverez sûrement meilleur rapport qualité-prix ailleurs, en plus d'être mieux servis.
My wife & I walked in…she with a gluten sensitivity & me with a lactose problem
We showed up in jeans, flips & tee shirt. Faizal eyed us & when I asked if they were
Open…grinned & said'only for ice people.' we laughed, sat down & started down a food & wine journey we could not forget
Patê, made in house,
Salmon in white sauce custom for my wife with no gluten,
An amazing veal dish with custom wine sauce for me. We had the place almost to ourselves & felt we're were invited to a home for amazing hospitality.
A new Montreal favourite for me…& Faizal has always promised us a seat…
Jun 12, 2025
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This is a smaller family owned French restaurant right downtown. We first saw this place walking home from another dinner & the owner was out front & chatted with us & told us he had been in business for 49 years. So we thought that we would give it a try during our stay. The owner himself & one other person were serving. We were first served individual rolls & bruschetta. Both were delicious. Amongst the five of us, our appetizers included the escargot in puff pastry, which was an amazingly delicious rich appetizer. I would've been satisfied to stop there. I did not. A couple of people had the French onion soup, which was apparently rich & very delicious. Our Manes included my short ribs, which were served with a couple of spears of perfectly cooked asparagus & piped mashed potatoes. Other diners had Rack of Lamb Provençale, fillet mignon, fillet mignon with pepper sauce,
& Entrecôte sauce Bordelaise. They were all excellent. For dessert, the five of us shared two desserts… One was their chocolate crème brûlée… It was just OK. & a small apple dessert with some vanilla ice cream. That was good. Their wine list was quite extensive & expensive lol. The chef did come out at the end of the evening when we were leaving & asked us how we enjoyed our meals. I would highly recommend this restaurant.
Excellent! My son & I came here for the first time tonight & we will surely be back again. The food was delicious & the service was great. The waiters were attentive & the owner, Kazim, was charming & personable. We shared the escargot dish & they so kindly split it into two dishes for us. Their unique preparation with the puff pastry is a must try. The French onion soup was delicious. The salade L'autre saison was crisp & fresh & the duck confit was so tender. The ambiance & decor was lovely. We didn't have time for dessert this evening, but we will be back another time to try! Thank you for a lovely experience!
Update - We came back for another visit. I recommend the scallops. The sauce was tasty & scallops were cooked perfectly. This time we did have dessert. The tarte tatin (French take on apple pie), was delicious. The ice cream with berries was abundant with fresh berries. Kazim was a charming host as always. Thank you!
My wife & I & another couple had dinner here while visiting Montreal last week (we are from Ontario & they are from England). We all agreed we had one of the best French dining experiences we have had in a very long time. The owner was funny, charming & engaging, while the décor was both cozy & classy, but not pretentious. Service was prompt & attentive. Particular standouts from the menu were the French onion soup & the duck confit. Five stars all around. Highly recommended.
A hidden gem! The service is impeccable & the food perfect. A lovely, quiet elegance with attentive but not intrusive service. Highly recommend for a wonderful experience!
The food was excellent.... The scallop dish & lamb shank were perfectly executed & every accompanying component to each dish treated with respect & presented beautifully... The wine list was extensive & impressive... An old school classic French dining experience in a comfortable classy atmosphere. Attentive service, & in addition I was even fortunate enough to receive a valuable lesson on napkin placement etiquette. If I had but one concern it would be that the crème brûlée was not properly caramelized, but it was a minor concern in the scope of the overall dining experience.
L'Autre Saison is a place with the decor that reminds me of meals & restaurants in Montmartre, Paris. This place serves excellent dishes which I would definitely rate it as a 5-stars establishment had there been good services. Almost as soon as we walked into the restaurant, the owner's attitude was borderline racially prejudiced against Asians. From the shaking of his head to remarks like "the days of free bread are long gone" or "Is that all you ordered?", he definitely treated us very differently than to the 3 white customers who sat at the table next to ours. Those customers ordered less than we did but were treated with courtesy & friendliness. The owner also came by several times to have small talks with them while totally ignoring us. Service here is a 0 since there is no negative 5 for rating. Food-wise, this place is easily a 4.5 stars. 1. The snails were served in vol-au-vent style with a delicious garlicky creamy sauce. Since it was not served with bread, we had to order a basket of 6 excellent bread rolls at $10.50. 2. The creamy foie gras was excellent & paired real well with the house pinot noir one of us ordered. No, the owner did not suggest anything. 3. The onion soup was good but had too much onions & not enough soup. 4. The duck confit dish is possibly one of the best I've eaten. It rivals with good French restaurants in major cities such as Paris & Washington, D.C.. 5. The tarte tatin served à la mode was delicious. Each bite of apple reminds me of a great bistro in Montmartre. This restaurant offers a great dining experience for non-Asians who would be treated with courtesy & great service. Based on our own experience, I cannot & will not recommend this racially prejudiced restaurant to non whites. In short, there are other French restaurants in Montreal that offers the same level of food quality with much better service.
