Reviews describe Lawrence as an outstanding and intimate dining room where every course shines and the staff are kind and knowledgeable. The tasting menu with its multi course format is repeatedly praised for variety, balance, and satisfying pacing, with many dishes highlighted as standouts. The wine program earns high praise for its breadth and thoughtful pairings, including excellent non alcoholic options. Dishes such as lamb, squid ink pasta, and mussel curry are frequently singled out for their depth of flavor, while desserts receive special commendation. Some feedback notes a shift away from a la carte and the removal of offal courses, with calls to preserve the restaurant's adventurous edge. The no tips policy is appreciated, and service is described as crisp, attentive, and unpretentious in a warm, refined setting with an open kitchen in some sections. Taken together, Lawrence is regarded as a Montreal standout and a memorable dining experience, though the tasting format can be lengthy.
We had a lovely experience at Lawrence. We did the 8 course tasting menu with wine pairing. Every dish we had was delicious & loved the use of local resources. Every wine that was paired with the food was perfect & tasted great. The service at the restaurant was amazing - everyone was so kind & knowledgeable & passionate about providing us with the best experience possible. We can't wait to go back next time we're in town.
Aug 5, 2024
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All four dishes we had, were creative & had an inspired core idea. Two of the four were transcendent. The monthly rotating/changing menu is a real plus. Exciting food experience. Location is a bit cramped. Service at times either a bit slow or rushed. Gratuity included is a serious perk.
Been wanting to try this place for awhile, & went with a friend visiting from out of town. We had the small tasting menu because we knew we would enjoy anything on the menu. We appreciated the really vibrant & unique flavour combinations, & beautifully presented dishes. The portions were a bit small, & although everything was excellent, no one dish really blew us away. Excellent wine suggestions from the servers, & impeccable service means that I would be happy to come back here & see what else the chef comes up with. I LOVE that gratuity is included in the pricing.
Sea Urchin Linguine! With no expectations, we taxied to Lawrence. Our reservation had a few minutes, & as we strolled the neighborhood, it looked familiar. We've been on the same block several times. Huh? In three days, 70% of our vacation was spent on two blocks. Lawrence is tiny, seven two tops & a large bar. You can stick your nose into the kitchen. It's right there. Sea Urchin Linguine! We took two seats at the bar, & realized, although small, Lawrence is designed beautifully. It never feels snug, just cozy, enveloping you in a comforting blanket of graciousness & warmth. Lainie & Anna took special care of us, Lainie a well versed, gregarious sommelier, & Anna a purveyor of the love of food & hospitality. Sea Urchin Linguine! I started with the lobster with green asparagus, a wonderful palate cleanser. Our other appetizer was the zucchini blossoms with smoked chicken offal, which was scrumptious. For our entrees, we both ordered the SEA URCHIN LINGUINE. I fell in love & Lawrence provided a memory that will remain forever, like the pasta buttons at Metamorphosi in Rome, the cacio e pepe at Aimo e Nada in Milan, & the risotto at Vecchia Lanterna in Turin. My taste buds were delirious, & I was in a culinary hallucination. For dessert, my spouse ordered the tarte tatin, with a soft fromage on top, & guanciale, a cured pork jowl. What sounds weird was out of this world delicious . I chose for my dessert SEA URCHIN LINGUINE! I didn't want my love affair to end. La Dolce Vita. We loved everything about Lawrence, & I will miss it like a paramour from days past. The memories will remain.
We were visiting from the USA & googled QUIET restaurants in Montreal because we wanted an upscale, intimate dining & culinary experience where we could hear one another speak. LAWRENCE was on the list. It exceeded our expectations. The service, food & ambience were impeccable. It felt casual & comfortable in a good way & we had a wonderful experience. We went all in for the 8 course tasting & loved every minute of it. Highly recommend!
After reading reviews, expectations were very high. Food was rather non-eventful, portions were minute vis-a-vis the hefty price tag. Service was good although rather slow. No intention of returning.
Repas excellent! Plats goûteux & originaux. Toutefois compte tenu du prix & du type de cuisine, le service est vraiment bas de gamme & non avenant. Les plats sont très peu décrit & aucune suggestion de vin proactive.
Wonderful unique food experience. Montreal has exceptional eats, & this matches our top experiences. Great pairing of a Greek wine. Great service, quiet intimate space. Will definitely be back.
May 12, 2024
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Dining at Lawrence was a highlight of my visit to Montreal. The restaurant's tasting menu, accompanied by a perfectly matched selection of wines, offers a satisfyingly complete journey without feeling overwhelming. The service at Lawrence is impeccable - warm, welcoming, & attentive. The intimate space is so charming, & the food is exquisite; the desserts, in particular the kouign-amann, were fantastic. Lawrence offers not just a meal, but an experience that will draw me back to Montreal very soon!
Charming, warm, friendly space, excellent food (tuna/marrow toast!), excellent drinks (Quebec Chardonnay!). Effortless service made us feel like we were friends visiting. Worth noting they use a non-tip model, so everyone is already paid a fair wage & you don't need to do any math at the end of the meal (which could be a challenge after 8 services with wine pairings). Wholeheartedly recommended. Keep up the great work, Marc & co!
