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 in Montreal is widely praised for inventive, beautifully executed dishes and attentive service in an elegant, cozy setting, with standout items like lobster, beef tartare, gnocchi, seabream, and lamb chops frequently cited; the bar and the kitchen view add to the experience, though noise levels can be high and some nights show inconsistencies in dish execution or portion sizes for the price. The dining atmosphere, wine and cocktail program are highlighted, and many guests say they would return, with several calling it one of the top experiences in Canada, while a minority note that portions are small and service can be uneven during busy periods.
Nous sommes allées pour une soirée entre filles wow tout était délicieux ! Même les cocktails étaient excellents. Je recommande vraiment pour une date night ou une sortie entre amies.
Le violon m'a malheureusement déçue. Listé 29e sur le top 50 meilleur resto en Amérique du Nord, je m'attendais à une expérience culinaire à la hauteur de ce classement, ce qui ne fut pas le cas tristement. L'ambiance est champêtre, bruyant mais on s'entend parler. Le service était bien (tous les plats ont étés expliqués en détails & la serveuse était dynamique).
Là où ça se gâche est au niveau de la nourriture; j'ai essayé le homard, le thon & le tartare de boeuf pour commencer. Le homard en entrée était bon, cependant les poireaux, légèrement fibreux, & la portion minuscule pour un prix déraisonnable (38$). Pour ce qui est du thon, il était correct sans plus. Le pain avec lequel le thon a été servi était vraiment vraiment dur & sec sur toute la croûte extérieure, pas mangeable. Le tartare de boeuf goûtait très ordinaire rien d'innovateur & les tranches de concombre sur le dessus du tartare avaient un goût franchement trop envahissant.
J'avais l'intention de commander d'autres plats, mais étant donné la déception concernant des trois premiers, j'ai écourté mon expérience culinaire.
De plus, il n'y avait pas réellement de cocktails créatifs/originaux, la carte des spiritueux est restreinte & sur la carte des vins, il n'y a que 2 types, blanc ou rouge. Les vins rosés & les vins orange sont absents de la carte.
Oct 1, 2025
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Nous avons découvert Le Violon pour un dîner en couple & l'expérience a été vraiment agréable. L'ambiance est conviviale avec un petit côté bistronomique parisien. Nous avons été installés au bar ce qui apportait un peu d'animation & finalement c'était très sympathique.
La carte des vins est excellente tout comme le cocktail que nous avons essayé. Côté plats nous avons goûté au thon rouge plus bruschetta, à la pintade & à la dorade : des assiettes bien préparées & savoureuses. Pour finir le gâteau basque accompagné d'une crème anglaise à la pistache a été une belle conclusion au repas.
Un endroit qui vaut le détour surtout si vous parvenez à obtenir une table même au bar ou l'expérience reste réussie. Une adresse à garder en tête.
Le Violon does not disappoint! The service was impeccable & you can tell that each person truly wants you to have a positive experience. It is evident that the staff works as a team to make this place come alive. The renovations to the building are fantastic. The interior offers 3 main seating areas, including the bar in which you can watch the chefs work. I was told by the staff that the art is one of a kind, which is neat. When you get a chance, check out the washroom as well - trust me. Of course the food was phenomenal. With Le Violon being rated as #11 in all of Canada (2025) & #1 best new restaurant (2025), I was not surprised. I asked for the chef to cook for me instead of picking items off the menu myself. Some items I had are the scallops, the beef tartare, the gnocchi dish, the tonata & a pastry dessert. Each meal was gorgeous to look at & taste. You can tell that all flavours & textures were carefully considered. I can't forget the bartender who whipped up an amazing cocktail to suit my dishes. THANK YOU to Le Violon team for giving me a memorable culinary experience. I will be back!!
Absolutely fabulous meal & service. Great cocktails & deep wine list. We had the chef's tasting menu featuring highlights of menu & some special additions. We were treated as royalty. Great service & an amazing dining experience.
Really beautiful spot for a date night. The staff were all so friendly & the ambiance of the restaurant was amazing. Really great music & lighting. The cocktails are amazing. Highly recommend!
The beef & bulgur was good. The white asparagus & crab was delicious but maybe a little overpriced. The guinea fowl was perfect. Lamb chop is worth adding. The off-men snow crab tagliatelle was kinda disappointing, needed more seasoning. The custard pie needed more rhubarb, the tiramisu was delicious, the tiramisu flavoured affogato was great, though I think adding a lady's finger biscuit or its crumbs would have helped. Could have put more effort into garnishing their cocktails but they were good.
Friendly, efficient service. Nice decor.
Apr 30, 2025
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What a great experience. The food was obviously incredible (the tagliatelle was actually the best pasta I've ever had) & very creative. The wine selection is very fun, the cocktails were amazing. The staff there were an absolute highlight, laughing & joking with us & they all seemed to be really enjoying themselves.
The only down side was feeling judged in the bathroom by the fancy French ladies (this was a joke - see my pictures!)
Nothing not to like. Great food with a changing menu. Great cocktail & wine list. Food is simple ingredients done really well. Seafood focused but vege & meat options too. & the wait staff are incredible…seems like they're all very happy & have a great time. They really want to ensure you enjoy your time there. Sit at the bar & talk to the servers & you'll have a blast.
Not only was the food delicious, the service was smart & friendly with out being condescending. The cocktails were great, the ambiance cool & comfortable & by comparison to everything else these days I felt like it was priced very reasonably. Really impressed with this restaurant
Violon est le genre d'établissement auquel on voudrait vraiment donner 5/5, mais ce n'est simplement pas possible si on veut être juste. Le décor est superbe & le service également. La nourriture quant à elle n'est que bonne: aucun plat n'est mauvais, mais aucun plat n'est véritablement mémorable. Pour $275 à deux personnes (2 entrées, 2 plats, 1 accompagnement, 1 verre de vin, 1 cocktail), on aurait souhaité avoir plus que 2h (le resto prévient effectivement que les services sont limités à 2h). Il fut impossible de prendre dessert / café / apéro car on s'est fait aviser que l'on devait quitter vu que notre temps s'était écoulé. Ce pourrait être un 5/5 si les plats étaient plus recherchés vu le prix ($21 pour une laitue - oui, juste une laitue - c'est un peu osé) & si le temps accordé aux réservations était plutôt 2h30 que 2h00. Bon courage Violon, vous n'êtes pas loin d'une note parfaite! Ceux qui cherchent similaire mais mieux: allez essayer Beba.
Jan 24, 2025
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quite mediocre for the price. Would be inoffensive at half the cost, currently it's a bit of a ghastly price-to-quality & quantity ratio. Desserts were surprisingly the worst part after they came so highly recommended. Cocktails were great.
I really miss La Maison Publique & was so pleased when I had heard that Danny Smiles was taking over the location. Came in with high expectations & was left somewhat underwhelmed. At first, I had to make a paradigm shift as I loved LMP's charming rustic interior & to see the space transformed into an elegant dining space full of light with a clean white & beige colour scheme took a few moments to adjust. First off, everything was really nice & pleasant: the service, drinks, food & atmosphere. But nothing really stood out in an exceptional way. The ingredients were fresh & of good quality for my fennel salad & fish, & the flavours were subtle & pleasant (yes that word again). So there was never really a "wow" moment where I was wow, this is sooo good! It was also very expensive. My friend & I had cocktails, starters, a glass of wine with our main dish, & shared a dessert. My portion was $112 including tip. Yet I was left still feeling slightly unsatisfied. I've had similar meals at places like Le Majestique where I left feeling I had a deliciously satisfying meal & the bill was a good $25-30 less. I would say the food exactly reflected the interior design: elegant yet safe, minimalist & beige, as if saying: here at Le Violon, there is nothing too bright or colourful to pop out & jar you from the tranquil yet slightly bland surroundings. I know I keep comparing it to Le Maison Publique, but it's as if Le Violon was intentionally created to be in stark contrast to its predecessor. The problem is that it all feels somewhat self-conscious & soulless, like a younger person's idea of what a fancy, upscale restaurant should be for a 30-something clientele. This is really a place one would go to impress a first date (most of the clientele seemed to be straight couples), & it's not really a place where you'd go regularly, like a neighbourhood joint (what LMP used to be), unless you have a fat pocketbook! I'm glad I gave Le Violon a try, but I don't have much desire for a return visit, unless I have a lot of money to throw for a special occasion.
MEILLEUR RESTAURANT DE MONTRÉAL! Des cocktails, aux huitres, jusqu'au service en optant pour un menu du chef savoureux, ce restaurant est la perle de Montréal. Assis au bar, nous avons dégusté chaque bouchées, en commençant par dire: meilleur martini, meilleures huîtres, meilleur tartare de thon & ça continue jusqu'au désert, même jusqu'aux allumettes adorables remises avec la facture. Sans parler du décor & de l'ambiance , wow! Le chef qui nous offre sa présence entre 2 plats! Si vous avez peur d'avoir faim avec le menu du chef, détrompez vous tout était parfait! Déjà hâte d'y retourner!
From start to finish, this was one of the best restaurant experiences I've ever had. The decor was beautiful (colour scheme, art on the walks, cutlery, plates, glasses, etc.), food was amazing & service was impeccable. Highly recommend the cocktails, bread & butter, sweetbreads, green salad & pork dish. You be blown away!
Aug 19, 2024
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