Paris may be an ocean away, but the art of casual French bistro dining is not lost at Le Pois Penché in the heart of downtown Montréal.
The menu reads like a who’s-who of Parisian comfort food favourites, with beloved classics the likes of steak tartare and duck confit in mustard sauce alongside an array of spectacular seafood platters. Boasting one of the most interesting wine collections in the city, Le Pois Penché offers an impressive selection of imported bottles and wines by the glass.
This authentic French brasserie delivers fine cuisine in simple opulence: plush red velvet, checkerboard floor tile, crystal chandeliers, large paintings and a blackboard listing the daily specials on the wall. In the middle, a large bar; around it, busy waiters flitting to and from, outfitted in the traditional white shirt, black vest and apron. French bistro, through and through.
Le Pois Penché’s terrasse buzzes with animated conversation while its private banquet rooms reserve their splendour for group functions. Le Cellier, in particular, offers a sumptuous venue for events up to 70 guests, with vibrant Parisian settings by artist Pierre Pivet, a vaulted brick ceiling, and the restaurant’s prized wine cellars displayed behind sleek glass panels. Connected to the brasserie, Salon Chez Swann, in the boutique hotel of the same name, is ideal for groups of 24 guests or less.
Our Specialties
Oyster bar, Tartares (salmon, tuna, beef) & shellfish platters.
Le Pois Penché impresses with an elegant yet welcoming brasserie vibe, refined French fare, and a standout wine list that pairs with attentive, warm service to create consistently memorable meals. Guests praise dishes ranging from duck confit, bouillabaisse, and onion soup to escargots and fresh oysters, all prepared with balance and depth, plus desserts like paris-brest and creme brulee that delight. The atmosphere is stylish and cozy, with a lively bar scene and occasional live music that adds charm without overpowering conversation. The staff are repeatedly noted for friendliness, knowledge, and timely, thoughtful recommendations that make guests feel at home, and reservations are often advised for prime seating. The bread, seafood platters, and well curated pairings further elevate the experience. In short, Le Pois Penché is a premier spot for high quality French cuisine, gracious service, and a memorable dining experience in the city.
I dined at Le Pois Penché on Monday, March 30, at 17:30 & overall had a very enjoyable experience that lived up to its reputation for classic French cuisine with a refined Montreal touch.
My party of two, opted for the special two part meal for 49$ per person. Istarted with the escargot & cod balls as entrées. The escargot were rich & buttery, exactly what was expected -well-seasoned & served piping hot. Maybe au gratin could have been an option. A nice chefs touch was that in my 6 place dish I received 8 pieces ☺?
The cod balls were a pleasant surprise: light, crispy on the outside, & soft & flavorful inside, with a nice balance that didn't feel too heavy. The aioli was on pont, I could maybe not pick & say that I could have used more of that aioli.
For mains, I had the duck confit while my guest chose the mussels. The duck confit was beautifully prepared-tender, fall-off-the-bone, with a perfectly lightly crisp skin. The skin could have been crispy'er. The mussels were fresh & generously portioned, served in a flavorful cream broth that was made for soaking up with bread.
The ambiance was elegant yet comfortable, with a classic bistro feel that makes it suitable for both special occasions & relaxed dinners. We reserved & yet we received a table next to the open kitchen. A spot here when the kitchen would be busy, & the dinning room full could be good. However with things calm we could hear a bit too much kitchen & not much cooking to see. Service was attentive & lightly professional, though at times slightly slower than expected, which with the other mentions is the reason this isn't a full 5-star experience.
Overall, a strong 4-star meal so ( 4.25 star )Le Pois Penché delivers high-quality French cuisine in a charming setting, & I would definitely return-especially for that duck confit, & mussels.
Note that a 5 star rating from me is possible, however it has to be almost perfect. This restaurant is very close.
Le Pois Penché is love at first spoon. The best onion soup in Montreal - rich, perfectly balanced, & absolutely unforgettable.
The service is outstanding: very attentive, professional, & genuinely warm staff who make you feel truly welcome. The atmosphere is elegant & cozy at the same time. I was extremely happy with my experience & will definitely be coming back.
Feb 10, 2026
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We had a wonderful experience at this restaurant. The food was delicious & the service was truly outstanding. Our waiter was incredibly friendly & attentive. We were celebrating our friend's anniversary, & he kindly took us to a beautiful private area & even did a small photo session for us - such a lovely touch.
The interiors are elegant & very stylish, creating a special atmosphere. I had the black cod & my husband ordered the duck confit - both dishes were cooked perfectly. A place we would happily return to.
Le Pois Penché was the perfect way to end our Montreal trip. My husband & I went on our last night in the city & it ended up being one of the highlights of the whole visit.
Our server Andrew completely elevated the experience. He took the time to ask about our preferences & made thoughtful recommendations that were spot-on, & he was so attentive & warm the entire evening without ever being overbearing.
The ambiance struck that rare balance of feeling elegant & special without being stuffy or pretentious. It's the kind of place you can dress up for a nice dinner but still feel relaxed & comfortable.
The food was fantastic. We started with the calamari, I had the lamb, & my husband had the duck & everything was beautifully prepared & full of flavor. The glass of wine we had was also excellent, oaky & dry with no fruitiness, & it paired beautifully with the meal.
To top it all off, they even comped us dessert & the crème brûlée was hands-down the best we've ever had. I'm still thinking about it.
We would 100% come back the next time we're in Montreal. Highly recommend for a memorable, genuinely enjoyable dining experience.
This place is excellent. The service is fantastic. When we visit Montreal we stop & eat there. The staff has stayed consistent which in my book mean it is run well as staff are staying because they are happy. The dinners are delicious. My wife loves the oysters there & the gentleman that shucks them is such a lovely nice person. Our first time there we at the bar with him & talked with him all night. Marwa one of the waitress is so wonderful as well. We have had her a few times. I feel bad i blanking our waited name from this past Saturday night & Sunday brunch he is fantastic. The manger is very professional & also very attentive. He works well with his staff & looks out for them.
I have to mention that there brunch on Saturday & Sunday morning is phenomenal. Totally worth getting up for it them morning.
Make sure you make reservations for dinner & brunch if you really want to go as it fills quickly.
Overall I can not recommend this place enough. I felt like a celebrity & friend when i was there & we have only been there 5 times. I can't wait to go back to Montreal to eat there.
We came here for the duck & they delivered! In Montreal celebrating my 10th wedding anniversary & I was in search of a traditional French roasted duck. The duck was delicious & our server Emma was top notch! She was attentive, informative & very friendly. It is a beautiful space that made me feel like I was back in Paris. Note: get the green salad, the dressing is outstanding! (would love to get the recipe!)
We enjoyed a fantastic Friday night meal here, starting with a fresh & delicious selection of oysters, then appetizers & mains. Highly recommend the duck confit. Service was attentive & the atmosphere was classy & fun. Bon appétit!
Aug 11, 2025
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I discovered Le Pois Penché earlier this year & I have been a return customer several times since. The atmosphere is delightful & welcoming & the food is exquisite. I have tried many of the items on the menu & can't really choose a favourite, however the Cavatelli & the Steak Frites are amazing! I like to sit at the bar & enjoy Julian who is a master oyster shucker. Incredibly knowledgeable & passionate! I am not a big oyster fan but after trying one on his recommendation I can say I now understand the allure. Staff are all very friendly & attentive to service. In a city of many culinary choices, Le Lois Penché is at the top of my list!
Great food, very attentive service
They are experts on their oysters & very willing to give pairing recommendations from their extensive wine list.
The parisien seafood platter was perfectly portioned for two people. We started with the escargot - the parsley in the butter was a very nice addition. We finished with the chocolate fondant & a couple of café affogato. Would love to come back on our next trip to Montreal
My family & I had an amazing dinner here tonight. Clement was extremely welcoming & attentive. The manager & other staff were also very gracious & accommodating, working with Clement to make sure the meal was executed flawlessly. Everything we ordered was excellent (le parisien seafood platter, escargot, soup à l'oignon, steak frites, bouillabaisse, canard confit). The canard confit was the best I've had anywhere.
I did want to highlight that the staff's attention to detail is excellent. When the manager escorted us to our table tonight, there was a high chair & toy ready for my son. (I dine out very frequently & always leave a note requesting a high chair; Le Pois Penche is the only restaurant I've been to in the last year that had a high chair set up before our arrival.)
I cannot recommend Le Pois Penche enough! Reservations are easy to make via OpenTable. Amazing food, flawless execution.
It was our first time at this restaurant -- & it did not disappoint! From the moment we walked in, the service was warm & attentive. The food was flavorful & well-prepared, & the dessert was absolutely delicious. A wonderful highlight of our Montreal trip -- highly recommend!
May 23, 2025
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Wonderful food & atmosphere. We had the duck confit & paris-brest. Our servers Rou & Nicolas very kind & attentive & engaging & the rest of the staff were just as great.the truffle mashed potatoes are also a must. Highly recommend. Thank you, Rou for making this a great experience.
Beautiful traditional French restaurant. High-end but has all the basic good French fare. Service is attentive & the ambience is welcoming. While it has a lot of tourists, few French speaking locals are spotted. Food was excellent.
Apr 28, 2025
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As a trendy Montréal french bistro restaurant... they hit all the notes perfectly. Warm knowledgeable attentive staff, very nice atmosphere & as to the food, well, perfect is an understatement. Oysters served by a passionate oyster maestro chef, hanger steak, beef tartare, salad & perfect fries... qui dit mieux...
No doubt the food here is excellent: the oysters were perfectly complemented by the mignonette, scallops with sea urchin emulsion was buttery & luscious, & the confit canard was crispy while still being fall off the bone. We went on New Year's Day evening & these were standout dishes that we would definitely come back for. However, the cocktails & more importantly, the service was really where they dropped the ball. The cocktails were too dilute, like they were overmixed or otherwise let to stand too long so the ice has melted significantly & made them too watery. Our server was friendly enough, & he started us off well with a warm welcome, the menus, & specials. After that, he appeared to ignore our table for pretty much the whole meal. Different servers brought us water, wine, & our food while he was preoccupied with other tables. We thought it was because we were a party of two & he was just busy with the bigger tables he had, but then we noticed he was more attentive of other tables with parties of two (for example, two other couples were seated after us, & they received their bread & butter without asking within minutes of being seated, whereas we waited around 30 minutes for bread service & had to ask the server that brought our wine for it--it came just as our appetizer was dropped). Throughout our mains, we did not get so much as a check-in, a re-pour of wine, or a top-up of water. We were not asked if we wanted to order more wine while the couples beside us & the family behind us got multiple check-ins. When our dessert came, we also didn't get a check-in. When we asked for the bill, it took close to ten minutes to get it while he was attending to other tables, topping up their wines & waters. Overall, it was a pretty disappointing service experience especially since we were visiting the city & were really excited to try out the restaurant. We were at a loss as to why it went downhill so quickly while others appeared to have decent service. Was it because we are a queer couple that did not speak French? The place was busy but it didn't feel slammed to warrant how we were neglected. Either way, the food was quite impressive but we would be wary of returning because of the service especially with the amount we spent (& we could have spent more).
I recently had the pleasure of dining at Le Pois Penche on Friday 11/1/24 based on a recommendation from my hotel Le Nouvel Hotel. The quality of the food, the hip atmosphere, & the service were all exemplary, so much so that I went back Saturday night as well. I was seated Friday at the Oyster bar & had the pleasure to meet Julien a talented Oyster Man & amazing ambassador for Le Pois Penche & for Montreal in general. Julien described the available oysters in culinary detail & presented an artistic & delicious plate of oysters along with suggestions on accoutrements to complement the various oyster flavors. We'll be awaiting your oyster video Julien... My server Marwa was attentive, helpful, & pleasant. Based on my superb experience Friday, Marwa helped me book a reservation for a return Saturday with my daughter. On Saturday Julien thoughtfully introduced my daughter to raw oysters since she had never had them before & she loved them. After a delectable course of oysters, we dined on tomato & onion soup before moving on to a course of NY steak with mashed potatoes & mushrooms based on great suggestions from our premier server Marwa. She also suggested some fine wine to complement our meals. We both can't wait to return to this fine restaurant to experience the food, great atmosphere, fellow diners, & especially the superior service!!
