Le Violon is a neighbourhood restaurant tucked away in Montreal's Le Plateau. The menu by chefs Mitch Laughren and Danny Smiles and team focuses on seafood-forward dishes and seasonal Quebec produce. Our wine list is refined and approachable, plus find new spins on classic cocktails.
Le Violon receives widespread praise for inventive seasonal French inspired cuisine, made with fresh ingredients and beautifully presented dishes. Service is described as impeccable and the atmosphere as warm and intimate, making it a memorable spot for dates or celebrations. Some guests note high prices for relatively small portions and occasional inconsistency across dishes, and a few nights are described as loud or busy, but overall the experience is described as outstanding and many say they will return, with standout items including lobster starters, gnocchi, beef tartare, seabream, and the Basque cake.
I am very disappointed with my experience at Le Violon we had such high expectations. We got seated at the bar & right from the beginning the server was not friendly at all with us. We told her it was our first time in the hope to get some guidance, she told us we should get this specific amount of dishes, did not explained the menu we had to ask her what are the really good stuff, she goes on to mention every most expensive items on the menu without providing any additional details on the dish to help us make a decision while there are literally 3 ingredients listed for every dishes ?! Also sure the most expensive plate may be the best but like tell me more ?! Obviously with her attitude we didn't wanted to bother her with questions so we just ordered…
We ordered some wine & the wine came after we got the appetizers which I find unacceptable for a restaurant with such a reputation.
She set us up for the pasta dish with only a fork no knifes so we had to cut our ravioli with the side of our forks, which I'm sorry but why do I have to ask the server for proper ustensils with a 40$ pasta plate.
Food was good, maybe a little overrated, maybe I just had too much expectation, but the attitude the server had towards us completely ruined our night. I genuinely wonder if we did anything wrong because 2 people got seated next to us while we were having desserts & they got a beautiful smile from her so I'm clueless as to why we got this cold attitude since the moment we got sat.
Honestly most of the small issues could be totally forgave if it wasn't for the server attitude we really felt not welcome. 400$ for two people, I am never going back there.
May 13, 2026
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Très bon, cependant pour des prix similaires nous avons eu un meilleur rapport quantité question de ne pas finir sur notre appétit, & un meilleur service.
Magnifique expérience!
Je recommande le menu dégustation, wow. Tellement un beau menu & un service impéccable. Personnel attentionné & de bons conseils. Portions généreuses & de assiettes de grande qualité. Merci pour cette belle soirée!
Le Violon is sophisticated culinary experience where the vibrant ambiance of Le Plateau converges with Montréal's gastronomic excellence. The tasting menu showcases exceptional dishes, featuring innovative (& sometimes surprising) ingredient combinations that are expertly prepared & will leave you with a full stomach. Excellent service paired with delightful food in this trendy spot.
J'avais très hâte de découvrir Le Violon. Plusieurs bons restaurants ont fermés dans le quartier & j'espérais y retrouver une nouvelle valeur sûre.
Nous sommes très loin de l'ambiance du Plateau, l'accueil & le service est froid & impersonnel. On voit que plusieurs employés ont à coeur leur travail, mais la lassitude de certains de leur collègues ternissent l'expérience.
Nous étions un groupe de 5 & avons tous pris le menu dégustation, un de nous a des allergies alimentaires & aucun des plats n'a été personnalisé, on ne faisait que lui mentionner ce qu'il ne pouvait pas manger.
Dès notre arrivée, au lieu de se sentir accueillis, on m'a demandé si on était bien cinq ou si nous avions des cancellations, malgré les deux confirmations de notre réservation. J'avais l'impression qu'on les dérangeait... On vient peu aux tables pour s'assurer que tout est à notre goût, on nous a expliqué le menu comme une liste d'épicerie & non comme une expérience. Bref, mes attentes étaient peut-être trop haute suite à la recommandation Michelin… Mais bien que la nourriture soit excellente, le service est loin d'un étoilé.
Il reste encore de très bons restaurants à Montréal, qui méritent plus qu'on continu de les encourager & de les remercier pour leur travail. Le violon ne m'a pas conquise.
Le menu est court, mais chaque plat est très bien réfléchi & préparé presque à la perfection. Tout ce qu'on a mangé était excellent à sa façon. Surtout les plats de fruits de mer & les pâtes, qui étaient incroyablement bien équilibrés; les saveurs étaient à la fois créatives & sans exagération. Ce n'est vraiment pas pour rien que c'est devenu un des restos les plus populaires à Montréal en si peu de temps.
Amazing food & service! Allie & McKenzie were great! Super attentive & knowledgeable! The food was the most homey, approachable food for a fine dining experience! Beautiful surprise was the Guinea fowl - lots of umami & great portion! Favourite dish: white asparagus, Rimouski crab & hollandaise - pay extra for the crab, u won't regret it! Very approachable wine list!
We celebrated our 48th anniversary at Le Violon & it was a perfect choice. We told them it was our anniversary & that we'd take the Chef's choice, Tasting Menu. It was a wonderful experience these to senior Foodies.😄. The service was perfect as well. Definitely a strong recommendation for Le Violon.
Note, the tasking menu is very generous so bring a hearty appetite. Also one item was special & not available on the standard menu, which we loved.
Apr 18, 2026
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Soirée parfaite ! Un service comme il ne s'en trouve plus. Toute l'équipe est géniale & attentionnée. Les plats sont exquis. Chaque bouché est un voyage pour les papilles. Coup de coeur pour la Stracciatella-anchois-Coppa de Phil Viens-Tigelle. Divin 🤩
Merci Andrew & toute l'équipe. On a passé une excellente soirée.
This was an excellent experience. The service we received the moment we walked in the door was top notch. The staff made you truly feel welcome, we sat at the bar near the kitchen & the chef caught us eyeing dishes as they came out, he was so friendly & explained what the dishes were in detail. Mel truly made the experience special, she took time to visit & help us pick out the best coffee shops & restaurants for the rest of our trip. Le Violon is a special place & a must if you are in Montreal, the food is incredible!
Definitely overrated, especially for a city like Montreal with such a strong food scene.
Out of five dishes, only two met expectations (the agnolotti & the boeuf). The other three were very disappointing: asparagus with a poorly executed hollandaise, scallops that were tasteless with an unbalanced sauce, & a crudo that was visually beautiful but lacked flavor. Overall, quite underwhelming given how overpriced it is.
Service felt pretentious & more focused on upselling than genuinely guiding us toward the best choices.
Not worth the price or the effort of planning weeks ahead to get a reservation.
