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.
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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If I had stumbled upon this place, I would have probably been more impressed, but my group came to this restaurant specifically because we were in town just for a few days, so we decided to try one of Canada's top 100 restaurants. This is probably where our disappointment came from, as I think we were expecting a bit more. Pros: •Everything was tasty! •Our server was very knowledgeable about their wines & took the time to help my table with our questions regarding wine & the food menu. •The ambiance was good! I would consider it a cool place to grab dinner. •We had two servers as one was finishing up, & they were both excellent. I would have only liked better guidance on the portion size of some dishes while ordering. Cons: •The signature dish was prosciutto cotto with cheese & black pepper. While tasty, I think a little less emphasis on it being their "specialty" would have gone over a lot better with our table. •The razor clam portion was pitiful. Two shells with diced clam & veggies (ceviche type) served on a bed of salt? Again, this was tasty, but the portion & presentation fell flat. My friend accidentally took a spoonful of salt & was convinced it had to be some riced veggie as the portion was so small. For reference, we were a group of three, & each got a spoonful of the dish, not including the spoonful of salt. •Some dishes were dropped off without a peep; nothing was described or pointed out about them. This could have saved my friend from a spoonful of salt 😂I definitely expected a little more table service in this regard, considering the restaurant's rating. •One employee worked in a paint-stained jumpsuit, which we felt was an interesting choice for this casual fine-dining restaurant. •We left a little hungry & underwhelmed
Amazing menu with top notch service! The ambiance is on point & their bottle list is extensive & deep. Highly recommend to anyone looking for an intimate dinner spot!
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.
Inviting & intimate, but relaxed atmosphere. Staff was incredibly knowledgeable & excited to help guide to a great experience. Must get the ham, must get the mushrooms!
Réservation un vendredi, soirée 18h00. Nous avons pu avoir une place sur la terrasse nais ne restait que 1 table dispo. Ne voyant pas le menu d'avance je ne savais pas trop à quoi m'attendre mais agréablement surprise j'ai hésité entre plusieurs plat. Certains étaient généreux mais d'autres trouvé un peu trop petits(par exemple les bourgots). Sinon le service était excellent & rapide, belle terrasse. Bière/vin super également. Nous avons aimé tout nos plats mais cela reste un menu à déguster & des découvertes de saveurs. Donc parfait pour un verre de vin & prévoir 2-3 plats par personne
Incredible meal & service, you won't be disappointed! The menu does change often & is not available to view in advance so you won't know the items available for order but this wasn't a problem for us even with a gluten free dietary consideration. Be aware that there is both outdoor & indoor seating with the outdoor seating being shared communal tables - if you have a strong preference be sure to notify them in advance. The staff are incredibly sweet, everything was perfect even with an obnoxious person at our communal table the situation was handled very well by the wait staff.
Restaurant chaleureux & invitant. Plats exécutés à la perfection mettant en vedette les ingrédients frais du moment de leur menu changeant. Nous étions véganes & ils n'ont pas eu de problème à modifier des plats végétariens pour nous. Il y avait même un dessert végane incroyable (sorbet fraise rhubarbe). À essayer!
Aug 19, 2024
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Amazing service, really lovely wines, & the food was fantastic. We went with the ham & cheese that had a brown butter (absolutely delicious) along with the fresh bread, the chili green beans & rosemary butter mushrooms - all stood out on their own. We ate at the bar & the service was excellent! Highly recommend - & be sure to make a reservation.
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.
This place has amazing food & a really cozy vibe. Their dishes are perfect for sharing with friends. The server recommended that we get six dishes for our group of 3, & it was just the right amount. & the dessert was out of this world - we had a heavenly chef's special: a carrot cake ice cream sandwich with toffee. I'd definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a great spot to hang out with friends & enjoy good food & drinks.
One of my girlfriend's favorite places & for a reason. Everything there is good & the service is flawless every time we visit. Great wine list too. An hidden gem a little outside the center.
Aug 12, 2024
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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.
Uninspiring! Do not understand the hype of this place. Only had three nights in Montreal & was extremely let down by spending a dinner here. Food was very underwhelming, the squash was watery & bland. The dishes were not well thought out. So many items were smoked, there are other techniques to make food interesting. Lacked diversity & imagination. Felt like I was eating random sides that had nothing to do with one another. I ate at Monarque the night before & Damas the night after, both were much better dining experiences! Ordered several dishes, didn't enjoy any of them. Searched for another place to go afterwards...
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.
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.
