Overall, reviews describe Le Vin Papillon as a standout Montreal dining spot praised for inventive, flavorful sharing plates, a thoughtfully curated natural wine program, and a warm, inviting atmosphere. The food is repeatedly called delicious and creative, with particular attention to crudo, seafood, ham and cheese plates, and standout desserts like the carrot cake sandwich and Paris Brest, while some note that portions can be on the smaller side. The service is frequently lauded for being friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable, with many mentions of a vibrant, intimate vibe that makes it easy to linger, though a few comments point to a busy, noisy room and occasional missteps or rushed pacing. The setting is described as charming, with a great terrace or back patio and a lively neighborhood, though guests also mention tight seating and some late night terrace issues with noise and trash nearby. The wine list is consistently praised as well curated and well explained by staff. A few perspectives query value, with some calling the pricing steep for the portions, while others crown it a must visit and among the best in the city, even noting Michelin recommendation. In sum, Le Vin Papillon comes across as a must try for adventurous diners who value strong flavors, thoughtful pairings, and a convivial atmosphere, tempered by occasional constraints of space and price.
Very good. One of my favourite restaurants I've been to in the city. Also in a great location with other fun restos & bars around. Service was amazing from the start, explaining the menu throughly for us'first timers'. Fun plates to share, don't disregard the veggies as they are some of the best parts of the meal. The chilie cabbage was probably one of the best things I've ever eaten. (Choi chili crisp). Thanks for the great service, food & ambience, will be back asap.
First visit to Le Vin Papillon for birthday celebration. We were 2 & sat at the bar. Wonderful service & a great atmosphere throughout. The food & wine were excellent, with small sharing plates that were original & delicious. Everything was perfect. A solid 5-star experience.
Jan 7, 2026
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This was one of the best dining experiences of my life. My girlfriend & I came here for a nice dinner on a weekend trip & couldn't be more pleased! We got the bread, the ham & cheese, vegetable plate with aioli, the chicken & the lamb for dinner along with the carrot cake cream cheese ice cream sandwich with hot butterscotch sauce & Guinness infused chocolate cake with mascarpone for dessert. I also had the lemon grapefruit vodka soda to drink which was wonderful.
The only thing better than the food was the service. Huge shoutout to Brian for being incredibly attentive, especially to my allergies.
Such a wonderful experience & will be back when I'm in Montreal!
Cute date spot. Highly recommend going with a reservation. The menu is supposed to constantly change. Classic French with a bit of a twist. Definitely a go to if you like to order a bunch of different small plates to share. Get the dessert. The carrot cake ice cream cake with toffee dripping was amazing. Would go back just to have that again.
Far cry from when we were last here a few years ago: within minutes, a manager said something rather unkind about us after we politely asked if we could change tables. She didn't even try to speak quietly, we both heard what she said loud & clear. What a start to the evening! As for the food, some of the plates' portions were less than 1/2 the size of what we were expecting, (& we were expecting small plates to begin with) & a couple of dishes were meant to be returned outright: like the potato dauphine with mussels which was essentially just a deep fried pocket of air that tasted of burnt oil served with precisely 4 tiny smoked mussels which is a pairing that, well, doesn't pair at all. Visually, it made me gag & you'll see why if you order it. Or the delicata squash which was served as 4 baby bite-sized bits of vegetable: at that point it's just insulting to two grown adults. But I guess I should have taken the hint when our waiter greeted us not by wishing us a happy anniversary the way every other restaurant has done in the past after reading the reservation notes, but instead by asking if we know how their renowned restaurant concept works. Now we do.
This place has been on my list to try for many years. Finally got around to it, but I was overall disappointed. Nothing was bad, but the standouts were the bread & wine, neither of which is a reflection of the restaurant. Portions were also EXTREMELY small... really... is this a dinner for ants?! The special of the day was a cube of overcooked & fishy tuna, maybe 4cm on each side, for $22. I wasn't sure if I should laugh or feel insulted at that. Tried the signature ham dish, which was tasty & the cheese & brown butter mixed well. Upgraded with fresh truffles, but this did not add anything other than $10 to the bill. The flavours on plate overpowered the tiny amount of truffle. Also tried: eggplant with fried chicken skin & garlic sauce: crispy chicken skin was great. rabbit merguez sausage: if I wasn't told it was a merguez, I would never have guessed, but it was ok for rabbit. mistake mushrooms: I looove maitake. These were braised very well, with a delicious mushroom reduction sauce Carrot cake ice cream sandwich with caramel : buttery caramel was amazing. Overall delicious. We arrived & were seated about 5 minutes before our reservation, & the waiter came to our table several times, but mostly to tell us he would come back soon after seeing to someone else. The result was 55 minute wait just to take our drink order. The waiter was really convivial but the wait & timing of plates once order was finally taken was unfortunate. Service, portions, prices... I guess it is possible this place was better when it opened, but really disappointed & cannot see myself ever returning.
Sep 19, 2024
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Fantastic dinner here celebrating our wedding anniversary. We sat on the garden patio which was so nice with a relaxing rustic chic vibe. Their menu is large & they do everything so well. I am gluten & lactose free & was able to have 2/3 of what's on the menu with some slight modifications. Thank you to our servers & the kitchen for being so great about dietary restrictions & modifications. The tomatoes with roasted sunflower seeds, beef tartare & eggplant with crispy chicken skins on top were standouts for me, but everything was truly wonderful. They did a fantastic job of pairing & pacing the 6 plates we ordered. A very welcoming spot with impeccable service & memorable food; can't wait to return.
I brought my family to this place because a friend recommended it. Fantastic food , small plates to share , excellent service & great atmosphere! We all loved it ! Will come back next time we are in Montreal.
From start to finish the service, atmosphere (even amid the pouring rain), & seasonal menu are above & beyond Our server was very attentive & helped us choose very interesting wines that paired with the meal absolutely perfectly - the complexity of the wine evolved with the meal, in unexpected ways The plates not only came out quickly (within minutes after ordering), but used unexpected combinations such as radish with the most buttery biscuit you'll ever taste. For a party of 4 we had 9 dishes total, plus 3 desserts The difference between a great restaurant & a good restaurant leaves you thinking about the interplay between the flavors of the dish long after you leave, versus serving flavorful dishes you may have enjoyed before. This is a great restaurant. Many thanks to the staff here for such a great evening.
I had reservations on a Saturday night. We had to wait around 20 minutes before we were seated. Parking is not the easiest in this area but there are some paid parking lots you can use. We tried a bunch of different plates. As we are not huge wine people, we let our waitress help us pick out one that would go well with what we were eating. We really enjoyed the selection & the service was great. Despite the delayed start, the food & service was quick afterwards. Not sure I would visit again but was nice to experience it once.
Jul 28, 2024
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cozy, chic, rustic atmosphere that goes perfectly with the petits plats of the evening. this is one of my top spots in the city. great shareable plates & the wine is fantastic. vibes are immaculate inside & great service. we got the bread, shaved ham, broccolini, scallops, steak & mushrooms & it was all fantastic. same owners as liverpool house & how beef which are both phenomenal too.
Last two visits here have been terribly mediocre. Smaller plates than before, Wine by the glass very disappointing & very lacklustre service. This used to be in my top three restaurants. I'll take a break & revisit one day... but honestly feel the bang for buck is no longer here. This restaurant is coasting too easily imo. Nearly no air conditioning on the bar side & very slow staggered service.
I visited while on a work trip & sat at the bar. The bartender was excellent! The service in general was great, & it was such a cute environment. The wine list is unique & the dishes I tried were really good, especially the rabbit sausage. Perfect place to share small plates with friends.
We came here at the recommendation of a few friends, & it did not disappoint. Instead of choosing our own dishes we opted for the Blind Menu where they curated the entire dining experience for us, considering our food preferences. The jambon & fromage was the best of all that we got 2 plates! The tomato dish, & the biscuit & radish round out the top 3 for us. As for dessert, we got the carrot cake ice cream sandwich, which was also one of their bestsellers. Overall, a nuit parfaite!
Jun 25, 2024
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Great for sharing & small plates Sweetbreads was such a highlight Not my favourite mackerel but everything else was delicious:) Aesthetically pleasing & vibes were good.
Great food & wine with a relaxed vibe. We enjoyed the small sharing plates made with high quality ingredients. Great wine selection & excellent sommelier. We just described the types of wines we like & they brought out a few options for us.
