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.
From start to finish everything was excellent. We asked Dylan to give us the Le Violon experience in selecting the appetizers & entrees. He did not miss, it was spot on with the lobster & persimmons appetizers with the fleur des monts cheese. Followed by the beef flank & trout entrees…not great but stupendous. Thank you Dylan. Thank you Andrew for the warm greeting & chat as we left. Priceless! Highly, highly recommended….see you in December!
My husband & I came here to celebrate our 10th anniversary. Food was exquisite, & service was attentive without being overbearing. The staff are young, but knowledgeable & passionate about what they do - a delight! We loved the lobster, braised leeks & hollandaise, as well as the blue fin tuna bruschetta & squid & mussel escabeche - but the hand pulled ricotta gnocchi Boscaiola was the absolute star of the night. Rounded out the evening with espresso, Valhrona Basque cake & the Peaches Eton mess, followed by a tipple of Amaro generously offered by the chef. The decor was elegant, spare, but still cosy. Chef Danny Smiles & his team have created a complete gem. Outstanding & highly recommend!
Oct 30, 2025
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Hats off! All the acclaim & amazing reputation are well-deserved! I've had some of the best food in a long time, & the atmosphere & service were truly amazing! Highly recommended!
I was so looking forward to trying this place . Overall , it was good but nothing more than that . I was expecting to be wowed , unfortunately I wasn't , I think because I had very high expectations cause it's so highly rated & recommended . The portions are very very small & not very filling & when my main dish was delivered (the monkfish ) it was cold . The highlight of the night was the sourdough bread with their whipped local
butter . We had the green salad , i
I do appreciate simple but there was
nothing special about it . The
melon & cheese appetizer is a must , the lamb chops were cooked perfectly (2 chops in a plate ) & their tiramisu was impressive The place is modern but has an old charm , it's small & very pretty . The big issue here was the noise level , we had the speaker underneath us , the music for this type of resto was unusually loud & the back ground chatter made it very difficult to have a conversation at our table , my partner & I kept repeating ourselves Service was friendly , the host at the door was very welcoming & we appreciated the Happy
Birthday wishes at the beginning of our meal by our waitress .
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!
Le Violon - a wonderful gastronomique experience! Chapeau to the chefs, especially Chef Mitch who passionately shared with us (table of 8) the "behind the scene experience" for each course - truly appreciated Chef Mitch! An innovative menu - dishes curated mainly from locally sourced ingredients, with a multi-cultural touch, a wonderful experience in a chique, without being pretentious, environment. Highly recommended!
We had an amazing dining experience! We were a party of eight & what a special evening. The chef's plate option was a delicious variety of specialty items that did not fail to impress. The restaurant has a comfortable & warm energy that we quickly settled into. Thank you Mitch, Andrew, Danny & Esme for taking such good care of us. Highly recommend.
Jan 20, 2025
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The food is delicious & creative, the restaurant is beautiful, music is great, staff are warm & welcoming. I will visit Montreal just to enjoy a dinner here. Highly recommend!
Amazing time at Le Violon. The food is amazing, the drinks are fantastic & the wine list is out of this world. Great place for a date night & to share with small to medium groups of friends. I would highly recommend having a great night at Le Violon! Bon appetit!
Very high end tasting menu/chef's choice for $100 per person. Amazing quality, creative, this is one of the best restaurants in the city today (Nov 2024). Highly recommended. Small cozy room but still upscale without being pretentious. 3 services per night, & you have to pay a $50 deposit per person, but definitely worth it. Service was excellent for our group of 5. To me it ranks up there with Vin Mon Lapin, my colleague thinks it's better. Decide for yourself. Highly recommended, great experience.
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.
It exceeded all expectations! The food was beautifully presented & absolutely delicious, with fresh, high-quality ingredients. The service was impeccable, & the ambiance warm & elegant. Highly recommend for anyone seeking an exceptional dining experience!
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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The place is absolutely stunning! We put our full trust in our waitress to pick the food for us, & she did not disappoint. Food was incredibe. Highly recommend having all 3 desserts. Everything about this place is perfect. It's an absolute yes! We will definitely be back.
