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.
Started with les escargots 9.5/10 (balanced, not too salty, no sand in my snails)
My friend had duck somewhere else for the first time & told me about their disappointment. Told them about how Pois penché's duck is 😍👌🏽 & as always they delivered.
Crispy skin + melting in the mouth + the sauce = 9/10.
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.
Apr 1, 2026
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
We had a wonderful dining experience here! Everything was absolutely perfect. The service was top-notch-they kept bringing us warm, fragrant complimentary bread without us even having to ask. Every dish we ordered, including the escargot, lamb chops, steak, & duck confit, was delicious. Highly recommended!
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!!
Les points positifs :
- Un très bel accueil, un personnel attentif & avenant
- Nous avons bénéficié d'un très bon service, en adéquation avec le prix demandé
Côté repas:
- les entrées : escargots: plat très bon avec de belles portions & une belle vaisselle.
les points négatifs : les plats
Les moules étaient bonnes, mais une quantité assez limitée.
& le tartare de boeuf: juste impossible de reconnaître la viande, un assaisonnement non maîtrisé qui simplement dénature & efface le produit. J'adore ce plat, je le prends assez fréquement, & c'est la première fois que je n ai pas été capable d'en manger plus que la moitié.
Au final plus de 200$ avec les taxes, entrées & plats pour deux, avec un verre de chablis chacun.
Alors ce n'était peut-être pas le meilleur soir pour la cuisine.
Visiting Montreal a week ago. Visited the first of three nights. It was so good, we came back the third night! Wonderful French bistro. Many classics on menu, with interesting alternatives. The escargot was delicious. Expertly prepared tasty duck confit. Loved the onion soup & hanger steak as well. The baguette was perfect. I could have eaten two baskets. Nice, warm & inviting decor, with red banquets. Service was excellent. A special thank you to our server Marwa. Highly recommended!
Belle découverte lors de l'événement MTL à Table, nous avons pu gouter quelques plats iconiques de la place: les escargots, les quenelles, le canard confit & le paris brest. L'accueil a été très chaleureux & le service impeccable.
Nov 2, 2025
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
We ordered the escargot, oysters, & the steak with fries…it did not disappoint!!! Service was exceptional especially since we just walked in & didn't have a rezo.
EXCELLENT! We came here via recommendation from the City of Montreal's website. If you're looking for a classic French restaurant vibe, this is your place. The Escargot with garlic butter, steak frites, & cauliflower (vegetarian) stole the show.
Great portions, good cocktails, excellent service from our waiter Laurent & an overall 5/5 experience. Check this out if you're looking for an awesome option for dinner in downtown Montreal.
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!!
Exceptional! We had wine, cocktails, digestifs, oysters, escargots, ceviche & the strawberry melba. Everything was a hit! Our waiter was incredible & we are glad we took his recommendations. Highly recommend!
Aug 22, 2025
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
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.
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!
Restaurant très agréable & peu bruyant malgré l'effervescence. Les escargots & le confit de canard étaient délicieux, une cuisson parfaite. J'ai craqué pour le Paris-Brest en dessert, pour finir un repas déjà copieux, & ne regrette absolument pas :)
Apr 8, 2025
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
Food is good, but nothing to write home about. Service is very good, but they don't ask about any allergies. I got my food covered in cream (duck) & it did not say on the menu that it has cream. I had to wait while my other party was eating. Duck was great, tartare was lacking flavor & texture. Escargot were amazing. Bouillabase sauce was just ok, but the seafood was super fresh & made well.
We went for a family dinner eight of us & a 1 year old. We had a fantastic time in the restaurant & the experience was first class from entering to leaving. The service was friendly & attentive & our waiter was an engaging, knowledgeable guy as well as giving great recommendations for specials. All of try dishes the group ate were all very good. I had the escargot & a fillet steak. Both were exceptionally good. It was our second time there & it was as good as the first time. Really enjoyed it.
Amazing service, food & atmosphere. Probably one of my favourite restaurants in Montreal. The escargot was delicious. (First time trying it). Oysters were fresh with a large selection. Steak was delicious & perfectly cooked. Will definitely be returning. The fresh bread they serve is absolutely delicious. 10/10.
first night here in montreal with my friends for a trip this place was soo gooddd yes the prices are expensive but the quality of the steak & fish was great the waiters were so sweet & very welcoming & quick to detail we waited for a while but it was worth the wait! the bread was delish & so was the onion soup this was the first time i tried escargot & it actually tasted so bomb!! definitely great way to end the first day here~ merci beautiful :)
