Le Serpent opened its doors spectacularly on December 23, 2013 in Griffintown. Located in the Darling Foundry, an art-dedicated space, its name was borrowed from the former foundry, from the time when a massive pollution control duct crowned it. Today non-functional, this industrial artifact remains very present in the building’s architecture and the neighborhood’s urban landscape. Founded by Hubert Marsolais and Claude Pelletier, also creators of Club Chasse et Pêche and Le Filet restaurant, Le Serpent offers a menu with strong Italian accents in a contemporary brasserie spirit, with a strong personality and equipped with a unique, high-quality wine list. The team of associates is brilliantly completed by chef Michele Mercuri and sommelier Philippe Boisvert. Designed by architect Annie Lebel of atelier in situ in collaboration with Hubert Marsolais, Le Serpent enhances the industrial qualities of the space. Contemporary arrangements that contrast with the building’s raw and refined aspect, offering about 80 seats and a bar that can accommodate a dozen people. Wishing to be an accomplice to all occasions, Le Serpent is open in the evening from Tuesday to Saturday. Exclusive caterer for Darling Foundry events, Le Serpent also welcomes groups of different sizes.
Le Serpent is also a collector and integrates major contemporary artworks into the restaurant space that dialogue with the Darling Foundry.
Reviews describe Le Serpent as a standout with exceptional food and a warm, refined atmosphere. Many praise the pasta, especially the Bucatini and Paccheri, along with fresh seafood and well executed risotto. Desserts like tiramisu are highlighted positively, and dishes such as duck magret and octopus receive particular praise. Service is repeatedly described as attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly, contributing to memorable evenings, though a few observations note slower service or uneven attention during busy periods. The ambiance is described as elegant with an industrial chic design, high ceilings, and a bar that fosters an intimate feel, though noise levels can be high. Prices are described as steep, with some reviewers feeling the value matches the quality while others consider it overpriced for the experience. Several readers mention the restaurant’s Michelin star potential and recommend visiting with reservations, indicating it ranks among the top Montreal dining experiences. Occasional criticisms include small portions for the price, occasional misfires in the kitchen, and some nights when certain dishes seem underseasoned or cooler than expected.
We had such a lovely evening at Le Serpent. The food was excellent, especially the Bucatini & the Paccheri. They really know how to do pasta right. Both dishes were fresh, full of flavour, & unique in the best way.
The desserts were amazing as well. The tiramisu was rich & delicious. Everything was beautifully presented, & the restaurant itself is stunning with a great atmosphere.
Service was kind & attentive, which made the experience even more enjoyable. I would absolutely recommend Le Serpent to anyone looking for a memorable dinner in Montreal.
I found this to be a surprisingly warm & casual place for the high culinary & well deserved praise it receives. I would say it's as strong in seafood as it is in Italian fare making it a good place for compromise if you want to avoid pasta while satisfying your companion's craving.
Jan 8, 2026
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Le Serpent relies entirely on its reputation & its industrial-chic atmosphere to distract you from the fact that you are being fleeced.
A $430 bill for a couple with two children, without even ordering a bottle of wine & without a steak (or any protein for that matter), that's pretty offensive in my book. The pasta dishes are'delicate' only in the sense that they are missing the actual food.
When the bill arrived, it felt like a punitive tax for choosing the wrong restaurant. A bitter (& starving) end to what was supposed to be a nice night.
If you gotta go there, just be ready to hit the Five Guys two blocks away before or after. But better yet, just don't go.
Le Serpent was an incredible experience from start to finish. We sat at the bar, which created a very intimate & comfortable atmosphere. The team was attentive, warm, & knowledgeable - especially our server, who was exceptionally well versed in the wine menu & guided us toward great pairings.
The food itself was outstanding. The octopus was tender & flavourful, the pasta was fresh & beautifully executed, & the fish - seared to absolute perfection - was one of the highlights of the night. Portion sizes were generous, & the pricing felt very fair for the quality & craftsmanship of the dishes.
A fantastic dining experience overall. We're already excited to return!
Loud, pasta undercooked, crudo - pretty sure they had that sitting in the fridge with plastic wrap on top because the plate had so much condensation on it & smelled fishy!
Duck magret was delicious. Everything else disappointing.
One of our favorite restaurants to visit every year. Nails the atmosphere, great staff who are attentive, organized, & friendly without being too much. & the food is exceptional. Best risotto of my life, & fresh pasta that competes with the best.
The fish main dish was delicious complemented by nicely grilled vegetables. However, the starters & pastas were disappointing, particularly their signature bucatini, which was rather bland & lacking in flavour.
Aug 30, 2025
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I went here with a group of friends & it was an absolutely wonderful time. The food was exceptional. We shared some fried zucchini, oysters & Burrata Beef Tartare & I had the Bucatini. The tartare was outstanding. The Bucatini was a fantastic dish. The pasta was perfect & had a good chew. It was savory, a tad spicy & very flavourful.
The meal was the highlight of our Canada trip. We loved the location in an old factory that whilst open with soaring ceilings was well laid out so that it wasn't noisy. We started with the asparagus & zucchini flower specials followed by the venison & pasta, with tiramisu to cap it off, accompanied by a nice bottle of red. The food was superb, the colours & flavours of the asparagus with the dill dressing & prosciutto the standout. The tiramisu was simply decadence on a plate. Service could not be faulted. Definitely recommend visiting if in Montreal
Disappointing experience to say the least. Our group came Saturday night & ordered a bit of everything from the menu. Crudo & linguini were quite enjoyable. Everything else fell short or was surprisingly bland & underwhelming. I have never had such a forgettable night in terms of food, especially when one would expect the complete opposite from this type of restaurant. Nothing was'really bad', but nothing was really good either, yikes..
Octopus was tough & chewy, average taste. Cod & venison were a'meh'. Rabbit tart was intensely salty & rich, one-dimension, & not much of a tart. Bucatini was okay. Spaghetti was weird - pasta only tasted like lemon & the sauce at the bottom was bland, could not taste the clams, the garlic or any flavor really.
Both desserts were disappointing - the ladyfinger part of the tiramisu was too wet, making it a liquid mess that only tasted of espresso, & the chocolate, hazelnut & vanilla pastry was just average. Everyone felt like they were not worth eating & that we should have skipped dessert.
Portions were small & price was way too steep to justify such boring flavors. The people working there were nice, but cannot make it up for such a forgettable evening. Will not recommend & will not return.
An iconic restaurant in Griffintown, both location & vibe. I personally don't enjoy the warehouse/industrial vibe, but it is for some people.
What's certain is that the food is impeccable & stunning. The ingredients are fresh, from pasta to seafood going through seasonings & vegetables, you get an explosion of taste with every bite.
The place is brimming with staff for proper & quick service.
5/5 overall score, the lower stars are just my personal taste which doesn't apply to everyone.
Feb 9, 2025
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Delicious food - had the grilled octopus as entré & the special "caramel bonbon" pasta stuffed with braised beef, fois gras & ricotta served On panais purée with hazelnuts & crispy kale & add on of truffles as main course. Excellent service from Laure. Cool modern industrial ambience.
This is a revisit to Le Serpent. All the appetisers are delicious, especially sauces for the oysters & also the cooked oysters. Wine are priced reasonably. No corkages allow here is a disappointment. The pastas were not as good as I remembered but still pretty good. Overall very good. Highly recommended
Amazing food but I mean amazing. Better pasta & tiramisu than I ate in Italy! I recommend strongly the octopus as apetizer, the linguine with speck & the special of the day was beef & it was tender & absolutely delicious! Nice interior design & decor. Love the pub bistro chic vibe. Amazing customer service also. It shows they have the care for their guess to have a good time.
Sep 8, 2024
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The food was good, especially the pasta dishes. The service was not... We were given the wrong salad, (we receive a bowl of lettuce with no dressing, nothing instead of the summer salad). I asked for the menu & did not receive it so I got up & walked to the front to retrieve it. It was not taken off the bill & it took us 30 minutes to receive the bill. Our drinks also arrived after our main course. Overall, bad experience & would not recommend eating in.
As an Italian, I will give my honest review; this is not an upscale Italian restaurant. Atmosphere: too noisy, tables have no cover, poor Ikea chairs, definitely not a place for a date. The only decent dish was the risotto, amazing taste. The other dishes had many cooking mistakes like chili on the seafood pasta or too much bell peppers on the octopus, the dessert was a tasteless disaster strawberry fronzoli. Total price for a couple with a bottle of Franciacorta 330 CAD. How about hire an Italian chef & have some real traditional Italian options like Ossobuco Risotto?
Located in an old foundry in a very offbeat location, the atmosphere is quite nice. The service was efficient & attentive. The food was very good...a pasta & a risotto. The only negative was that the menu was very limited. Overall a positive dining experience.
The food was delicious! Especially the burrata & braised lamb pasta. We got seated in the back corner which was nice & relatively quiet. Lovely ambiance & service:)
