Le Darling comes across as a bustling, stylish bar and bistro with a distinctive vintage, artsy vibe that makes it feel both cozy and festive. The drinks and cocktails are frequently praised for strength and creativity, with several items like oysters, beef tartare, popcorn chicken, burrata and focaccia highlighted as standouts, though some dishes are noted as hit or miss and portions can feel small for the price. The atmosphere is a major draw, featuring warm, attentive staff at times and occasional slow or uneven service and long waits during peak hours. The venue is described as ideal for gatherings with friends, dates or a lively brunch, and the terrace and interior decor receive frequent compliments, though noise levels and crowding can be high and some tables near doors or windows are less ideal. Overall, Le Darling is seen as a beloved, visually striking spot with a strong bar program and varied menu, offering great value on certain items but with some inconsistencies that depend on the visit and time of day.
MARCO IS THE BEST!! We went here to kick off my bachelorette... this place would have been amazing on it's own, but having Marco as our server seriously elevated the experience to a whole new level! The aesthetic, the food, the drinks were A+++. You need to go here... & when you do, tell Marco HI!
Last Monday me & my sister had a wonderful experience for lunch. It was the last day & rainy & we couldn't have picked a more amazing spot! So welcoming & made sure we were comfortable. The entire staff extremely friendly, especially Marco! He helped us pick the best drinks for what we were looking for, food was DELICIOUS & fast! I highly recommend this place & will be coming back every time we visit. Ask for Marco he was seriously amazing & even helped us learn our French we got books to learn (touristy, yes know but don't care 😂) but we did drink wine like the French while learning.
Sep 30, 2024
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Disclaimer, the Steak Frite was horrible. Amazing fries but the "steak" was not it. This is still a 5 star review because the other stuff we had was incredible, the drinks were excellent & the vibe & prices were solid. Definitely coming back, but not for the "steak".
The ambiance of the bar is great. Very spacious as well. However, the food was not good. I know 5 people at our large table that ordered their steaks in a very specific way & they all came back rare - despite nobody ordering rare. Myself & my friend both ordered the ribs. They were dry, difficult to eat, & not very good for a whopping price of $23. My friend wanted to send hers back & the server told you "well this is what you ordered". I've never seen a server act like that when a customer has a problem with their food. The food is also very small portions for what you're getting. Drinks are also expensive for the sizes you're getting. Our server also seemed annoyed every time we wanted to order more drinks or had any questions. We caught her rolling her eyes at our table too. There is no organization to this place either. It was hard to order anything after placing our food orders, as our server never came to our table to check in on us. & upon wanting the bill, she did not ask how we wanted the bills split, & instead she came with bills for each individual person when there were multiple couples at the table that wanted our meals on the same bill. I've never had such an unpleasant server at a bar or restaurant before. She made our group feel very unwelcome & annoying. I would never go back to this location. Maybe you get better service as a smaller group, but if you're a big group, I don't recommend.
What a cozy little bar! Stopped in during a business trip to Montreal for some drinks & snacks & really enjoyed it. The food was EXCEPTIONAL - the olives & lupini beans were delicious! We actually ended up coming back a second time during the trip because of how good it was. Highly recommend visiting!
Sep 10, 2024
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Highly Recommend!! Everything about this place is charming!! Sit at the bar, lean back ;) try it, grab a book, a beer, a coffee, or a smoothie, & enjoy friendly service too!! We just stopped in for drinks, but the food looked great as well & we loved the atmosphere!
I don't understand why everyone goes on first dates here because I find it just too loud. Everytime I've gone here I've left feeling like my voice is strained as if I just left the club. However if someone is visiting Montreal I will almost always take them here so they can take their pictures & say'what a fun & quirky city' because they have dolls on the walls or whatever. Good drinks that are just strong enough for me to be able to listen to other people's conversations while having my own.
My partner & I stumbled here late one Saturday night. The atmosphere was very warm & welcoming, we sat at the bar & had a great time. The bar tenders had great spirits, the drinks were good, they had late night snackies but we didn't have any this time. The lighting is beautiful & romantic. We loved it there & would be happy to return for a meal!
Aug 18, 2024
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If you are looking for a friendly & cozy place in Montreal, you found it! A wide choice of drinks: lots of ciders, cocktails & beers. The food is also pretty good. I recommend the ribs. The desserts all looked good too but I haven't tried. The music isn't too loud & the place is big but often full. There are a few places outside too but on st Laurent boulevard. The service was a bit slow, especially to order but this place s definitely has a vibe!
I ordered a mocktail. It was surprisingly awful. At the end of the night, when the waitress brough the bill with an itemized list of what I'd ordered, I realized she had brought me the wrong drink. Guess that explains it. The place is really loud. The food is okay. Vegans don't have much to choose from. I enjoyed the eclectic decor.
Le service de notre serveuse était vraiment médiocre. Elle ne revenait jamais pour prendre notre commande, elle avait l'air bête toute la soirée. Elle nous remercie pas lorsqu'elle prend les paiements & quitte. Vrm décevant. La nourriture était bonne, les drinks très médiocres, ils goûtaient l'eau.
Jul 24, 2024
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I'll state the facts, you decide. I have been there for drinks & went for breakfast recently. The food is ok, tasty, but the portions are ridiculously small. The average price for benedicts in most breakfast restaurants is ~$22 for two. Here you get only one for that price. I was also charged $3.50 for a couple of teaspoons of jelly & an extra dollar for ice... & thing is that it is only the Plateau, right? With a very standard service & nothing more. Up to you.
The cozy antique-esque atmosphere is great. My friends & I arrived just before 11pm & the kitchen was closing but we were able to order a matcha dessert, which was delicious. I had a Moscow mule to drink, & did not like it. It did not come in a chilled copper mug & flavour did not taste like a typical Moscow mule. Overall, I really liked the vibe of le darling. The service was very average. Not the best bar along Saint Laurent but would be open to trying again if my friends want to go.
