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 offers a refined French brasserie experience with classic dishes given a Montreal touch, set in an elegant yet comfortable space where attentive service and a warm atmosphere pair with a standout wine and oyster program. Oysters, escargot, bouillabaisse, duck confit, mussels, and favorites like Paris Brest and creme brulee are frequently praised, and the bar area along with occasional live singing adds a charming, convivial vibe. The dining room works well for intimate celebrations or relaxed meals, with reliable, knowledgeable staff and thoughtful touches that make guests feel welcome, from wine pairings to easy reservations and a private room option for special occasions.
Delightful French Brasserie-Style Restaurant
It was our last night in Montreal before taking our flight to the UK & we chose this delightful restaurant for an early evening meal. We were really warmly greeted by the team & Marwa gave us the most wonderful, friendly service. We sat at the bar to eat. The restaurant is smart, light & has a really nice, laid-back ambiance.
The menu is Parisian brasserie-style & had a really good choice of dishes.
My choices:
- A selection of oysters, freshly shucked in front of us
Exceptional restaurant, super service, tres bon prix. Compare a Bar George ce restauramt est 10 fois mieux. Le vin, nurture... extraordinaire, le poisson & les huitre frais & tres bons. Experience incredible, cocktails super bons.
Apr 26, 2026
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My friends & I were sat in front of the Oyster Bar on April 18th & we were delighted by the hands on process & care of the staff here. Brilliant & gracious service, everything was a delicious experience & we all would go again in a HEARTBEAT. We can't recommend this place enough. Well worth the price attached for this phenomenal experience.
I came alone without appointment. I sat at the bar. Matthew was very attentive & yet gave me personal space. Meals & drinks all came at the right time in the right order. Duck Confit was really good.
I went to this beautiful restaurant & had such a lovely waiter that showed great hospitality. It was so nice that I returned a few days later with my husband & sat at the bar. What a different experience. The young woman tending the bar was brusque, condescending & started spray cleaning the bar on either side of us after we ordered dessert! We were well within closing time but I guess she wanted to start her cleaning early. Not great.
LPP is my favorite place to visit during my monthly trips to Montreal, & always tops before a Habs game. The menu & wine list are exquisite; the service is exemplary (especially Charles); & overall atmosphere is second to none. My six year old little guy tried his first oysters & escargot at the bar. In fact, he was so enamored with the escargot, for the rest of the trip he stopped shaving, & refused to speak English!!
Nous avons pris deux sièges au bar & avons été servis par Clément qui nous as offert un super service, super gentil, nous as recommandé de délicieuses huîtres françaises, de délicieux repas & vins. Je recommande 100%
Jan 6, 2026
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This restaurant is truly excellent & worth every penny. We sat at the bar & Emma took care of us. She was so sweet & lovely & made the *BEST* recommendations. Do NOT miss out on the scallop ceviche. Every recommendation she made was out of this world. We will definitely go back! Thank you, Emma!
On a recent trip to Montreal, I stopped into this spot for dinner, & it turned out to be an absolutely fantastic evening from start to finish. Every part of the meal was spot-on - I had mussels with a side of fries, but the real standout was the starter: a bold, hearty, & perfectly spicy ceviche. I'd go back just for that dish alone.
I wrapped things up with a crème brûlée kissed with smoky bourbon - a clever twist on a timeless classic that was the perfect finale.
The atmosphere is everything you'd want from a true Brasserie - warm, lively, & unpretentious, with a beautiful central bar anchoring the room. I chose a seat at the bar & couldn't have been happier with the service. The team was friendly, funny, & clearly passionate about what they do.
All in all, a stellar experience - great food, great vibe, & great people. Highly recommend a visit!
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.
I really enjoyed dining here! The food was very good, but I found that the courses came out too quickly. I had barely finished one piece of bread when the appetizers came! The salmon tartare was excellent, & easily my favourite dish that I tried. The duck confit was cooked very well, & the sauce was delicious. For dessert, the paris-brest & crème brûlée were both very good but not better than I would expect from a pastry shop (paris-brest) or regular steakhouse (crème brûlée).
Overall, I would come again!
Nov 3, 2025
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J aime bien ce chic bistro à la francaise! Que cela soit pour le brunch, le lunch ou le souper, il est toujours agréable d y prendre un repas ou simplement s installer au bar pour un déguster un verre champagne & des fruits de mer.
Personnellement j aime y aller pour bruncher le weekend. Un mimosa ou un verre de sancerre (les deux la plus par du temps!)ensuite le plat de croissant au crabe est un must pour moi (ou le croissant au homard selon la saison), un bol de frites croustillantes, une salade fraiche un peu acidulée mais combien savoureuse & pour finir un excellent café! Il est certain que j y retournerai dès que l occasion s y présentera.
L'un des meilleurs restaurants de Montréal bien situé dans un belle atmosphère de convivialité grace au bar central.
Un cadre plutôt haut de gamme & très détendu en même temps qui crée une ambiance très agréable.
La nourriture est de qualité, bien préparée, bien servie pour une belle dégustation.
Le service est excellent avec Loïc qui surveille la bonne marche du restaurant & Marc-O qui ravit les clients par son attention & sa gentillesse.
Un lieu incontournable !
This restaurant was recommended to us by hotel staff. We weren't particularly hungry after a late lunch, but also wanted a nice glass of wine. We were not disappointed!
We walked in about 6 pm without a reservation & were offered seats at the bar. The server was very friendly but a tad slow for just about everything.
After ordering our wine, we opted for some French Onion soup - it was amazing! Nothing like the overly salty mush of bread topped with cheese we often see. We followed that up with two appetizers - the Octopus & Escargot.
The Octopus was excellent - topped with salad & on a beet sauce (excuse the photo - we started to eat before we remembered to take a picture!). I love, love, love Escargot. This did not disappoint. There were at least 10 pieces, & it was perfectly cooked with just the right amount of garlic & seasoned butter.
I wish I could comment to the dinner selections other than to say everything being served around us looked delicious!!
Aug 26, 2025
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Best French food in Montreal hands down! I easily made a reservation & from the time I walked in, I was promptly seated at a lovely table on the side of the bar. It was a bonus the server was able to speak English, he even offered to speak French or English. We end up ordering wine & the waiter made an amazing recommendation. Along with food specials, he suggested to us some great items. We end up ordering a couple of appetizers, a few entrees & desserts! Every so often he'd come by to check in with us, & it's the little things that he does that makes our dining experience superb like pouring wine for us, cleaning any empty plates & maintaining a clean table. Other servers & even the hostess stopped by our table to make sure everything was to our liking. You can see a whole team effort & it doesn't go unnoticed! Everything was just absolutely incredible, unforgettable dining experience & I'll be sure to dine here again on my next visit back to Montreal!
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!
Nice & cozy place, service & ambiance are really good. A bit pricy (well it's downtown Montréal)
We ordered the seafood platter for two.
Everything was very delicious. The lobster tail was a bit small for the price we paid(in my opinion) otherwise a really classic French style seafood restaurant.
PS we got our margaritas served in low-ball (whiskey) instead of classic margaritas shape glasses, & it was small size. I guess focus on wine & food instead of cocktails (after all it isn't a bar)
This was an unexpected delight! From the moment we walked in, we were transported back to some other timeline. There was a man standing in the restaurant with the microphone singing old tunes… Think Frank Sinatra, etc.… With a very easy on the ears voice. We could also see a gorgeous oyster bar. The vibe was very happy immediately. The restaurant was full, but not overly loud. The service began the moment we walked in the door. We felt very welcomed. We were seated immediately at a nice round table… There were five of us. The bread & butter served to the table was delicious. I know it's just bread, but it was very very good bread. Some of our appetizers included escargot, fresh oysters (hand chosen by the oyster master... they were served in a specific order.) & were all delicious. Our mains included Steak Frites (except we requested Dauphine potatoes instead of frites) & Moules Frites with some amazing crème brûlée for dessert. Cocktails & wine were delicious. The service & the vibe were splendid. We almost went back the next night, but we decided we should diversify. Highly recommend!
Visiting Montreal for the first time was an unforgettable experience, & when in Montreal, you eat as the French do! At Le poison Penche from the moment I arrived, I was welcomed with warmth & hospitality. The Duck skin was crispy & the meat tender, Brussel sprouts cooked perfect & the sauce simply divine. The server/bartender was not only knowledgeable but also incredibly kind, making the experience even more enjoyable. The atmosphere was absolutely beautiful-relaxing, elegant, & never too loud. The service was impressively fast, & the food? Simply incredible! Every bite was bursting with flavor. I had an amazing time & would highly recommend it to anyone looking for an authentic & delightful dining experience in Montreal. Made my birthday so special 💗
