Le Violon presents a sophisticated market-driven approach to seafood, sourcing the freshest catches to showcase their inherent quality and flavor. The culinary team expertly transforms premium fish and shellfish into elegant dishes that highlight regional influences and seasonal availability. Patrons can expect a focused menu featuring expertly prepared seafood preparations, from delicate crudo to robust grilled entrees, all designed to celebrate the ocean's bounty. The environment is curated to provide a refined yet approachable setting for enjoying exceptional aquatic ingredients. It is a destination for those who appreciate the art of seafood preparation at its peak.
Le Violon offers a sophisticated culinary experience that is widely praised for its creative, high-quality tasting menus and beautifully presented dishes, with many guests specifically highlighting the gnocchi, lobster, and impressive desserts as standout elements. While the atmosphere is frequently described as vibrant, upscale, and trendy, some visitors find the space quite noisy and the seating tight. Service levels are generally considered impeccable and professional, though a minority of experiences report inconsistency in attentiveness or a feeling of being rushed. Although the restaurant is seen by many as a must-visit destination in Montreal that lives up to its reputation, a segment of diners feels the portions are small for the price point and that expectations set by its high profile are not always met.
I really loved my experience at Le Violon. From customer service to the food to the vibe.
The staff were very friendly & helpful. Loved the interior design & the atmosphere.
The food was excellent. We had the sourdough bread with butter & the beef tartare for appetizers. The beef tartare was delicious. & the lamb chops were so well cooked & were definitely the highlight.
Very much recommended!
One of the top restaurants I have ever been to. The menu is seasonal, varied, & perfectly seasoned. I have found some other restaurants may be heavy handed with salt/sweetness/acidity, but bravo to Le Violon for finding the right balance & made each dish shine with perfect execution. We had the tasting menu & found dishes to be creative, comforting & very enjoyable. Thank you for a memorable experience!
Jun 9, 2025
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For being one of Canada's top eats this year, I'm surprised it fell so short for us. We had a reservation for 9:30PM on a Monday night, arrived 5 mins early, & weren't seated until 9:50. The host was kind & offered us champagne while we waited though. We got the Cara Cara, raw beef, seabream, gnocchi, & mille feuille. Everything was above average except for the seabream, which is unfortunate because I wanted the monkfish but they were sold out. When it was served, the server explicitly mentioned that it was fully deboned (unless there was a misunderstanding or language confusion), but for a third of the dish, I kept running into bones. My third mouthful had so many bones I had to run to the WC to spit it out. When we told our server this, they took this item off our bill which was very kind. They also offered to make us another plate, but it was getting late. Overall, the food was done well, just not mind-blowing.
Food was great, tartare was delicious. Would recommend the affogato tiramisu for dessert. Very creative options. Ambiance is nice, staff are very friendly & attentive.
Tendance à overbooker. Sûrement victimes de leur succès. On s'est fait ¨gentiment¨déplacer à l'extérieur après 2 heures de repas, juste avant le dessert à une table improvisée à l'extérieur sur le trottoir car terrasse inexistante. Ils avaient besoin de la table pour un autre groupe à l'intérieur. On a gentiment collaboré vue que la nourriture était vraiment exceptionnelle. Honnêtement tout était bon.
Attiré par sa place de #1 au Canada's 100 best restaurant nous sommes allés hier & le moins qu'on puisse dire c'est que c'était une soirée splendide. Les plats étaient beaux, les saveurs recherchées, les ingrédients frais & goûteux. Bref tout ce qu'on recherche quand on met une somme non négligeable dans une soirée au restaurant.
Si vous décidez d'y aller, je vous suggère de manger au bar, vous aurez en plus le plaisir de converser avec des gens qui font le service avec un grand sourire & un professionnalisme exceptionnel !
Attention cependant, le restaurant peut être un peu bruyant donc si vous aimez les ambiances plus paisible ça peut être un peu dérangeant. Sinon c'est un restaurant à essayer (& adopter) au plus vite !
Disappointing experience. Hollandaise sauce on asparagus & lobster appetizer was bland & insufficient. Mains: only 2 lamb chops, overcooked, on peas, served on a salad plate was uninspired. A minuscule offering for a main course. Guinea fowl on sauce with spinach leaves on top was tasty but nothing else on plate. Shared Mille feuille for dessert was good but very small for $14.
Loved our experience at Le Violon. We had to wait 10 minutes for our table but the host made sure we were comfortable outside & checked in on us a few times. Enjoyed all our dishes - sourdough bread & butter, citrus (cara cara) salad, asparagus/lobster with hollandaise, seabream & affogato tiramisu. Standout was for sure the affogato tiramisu - the perfect blend of creamy, rich & sweet with a delicious note of bitterness from the coffee. A week later & I'm still thinking about it! The lobster was also some of the best I've ever had. Service was excellent & atmosphere lovely.
