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.
Good food, they changed the menu. Nothing out of this world, just really solid. Service was really good, & the ambiance was very french bistro. They have coat stands to put your jacket.
Bathroom is only one, so you might have to wait a bit to use the washroom.
Mar 31, 2026
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We're very happy to have found this solid French bistro on our trip. Their food was cooked to perfection. We enjoyed every bite. Their service was impeccable. We will definitely come back!
Easily one of the best French restaurant we have visited. It's located right at downtown Montreal, only 5 minutes drive from most hotel in the area. The oysters were fresh & packed with flavour. The baguette is impossibly soft, we could not believe it. Lamb was slow cooked to perfection, taste amazing & the texture is soft, charcolly on the outside & super soft on the inside. On top of that the staff is so friendly made us feel right at home. It was my birthday dinner, I got a suprise treat & live performance of the happy birthday song. Unforgettable memory!
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!
Nov 27, 2025
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Best French food we've had!
Service--good but could have checked in to see if we needed anything.
Atmosphere--cozy & romantic but also relaxed. Restaurant with upscale quality food but casual vibes.
What the hell this the best French meal I've ever had. & I don't use the word'ever' lightly. The price is average for French fine dining but the taste & execution punches way above its weight.
I had the best duck confit ever. Best foie gras ever (& I usually don't like them.) Best French onion soup ever. Incredible restaurant & the servers are amazing too.
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!)
Nice French Restaurant in Montreal!
The service is excellent. We are searching for the tissue at the bag n the staff is so caring that asking anything that she can help. We ask for a napkin so that we can take away some seafood for 🐶 momo, the staff is so nice that she gives us a little bag for the dog food. The staffs are very caring , efficent & copperative to serve in a team. The high standard food n service making the dining atmosphere perfect!
Sep 6, 2025
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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!!
Aug 26, 2025
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i ate here about a month ago while traveling w/ family, i have ARFID & struggle to find foods i like. i had penne & shrimp in lobster bisque & i think about it every single day, i genuinely think it's the best thing ive ever tasted. the pasta is perfectly cooked & the lobster bisque was so perfect i wanted to cry. im trying to plan another trip to canada just for the food, 10/10. the chefs & servers deserve the world aswell, the waitress was extremely patient considering none of us spoke french. atmosphere was gorgeous as well, if there was a way to give it 10 stars i would.
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 ate here during f1 weekend. The service was top tier, our waiter was very patient & kind. The food wasn't anything special but it was still good, a tad overpriced for me. I had the French onion soup & steak frite.
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)
