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.
I love how it's a hidden gem in such a quiet neighbourhood . We had to wait 30+ min for our table because it was so busy but they were so nice to offer drink on the house. The tuna tartare is very refreshing. The fish had a few bones in them so becareful not to choke. The dessert was delicious as well! I love the atmosphere the bartender & staff are wonderful.
We had an incredible dinner here! The food was absolutely delicious, & we love that they use fresh, local ingredients that really stand out in every dish. The service was top-notch, & the atmosphere was warm & inviting. We can't wait to come back for another wonderful experience!
New favourite diner spot. We're spoiled with great restaurants & food in Montreal but this just made it to the top of the list! Fresh fresh ingredients, tasty & exceptional service! Thank you!
Comforting & simple meals that exceed expectations! Special thank you to Jenna & Dylan for their attention to detail & excellent service! Can't wait to come back!
Sep 6, 2024
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Le restaurant est très beau & excellent service. Les entrées étaient superbes dans son ensemble & grand coup de coeur pour le thon & tomate. Cela dit, les plats principaux étaient décevants; rien d'incroyable pour m'inciter a revenir à ce restaurant. De plus, les quantités étaient vraiment petite pour le prix, selon moi. Je serais tout de même prête a y laisser une seconde chance & a y revenir pour essayer un prochain menu de saison.
One of the most anticipated openings in history. I came in with high expectations, & they did not disappoint. Food, service, vibe, all at the highest level.
The food, service & atmosphere at Le Violon are all wonderfully refined. The flavours of each dish were delightful, you can tell they use really fresh high quality ingredients. The dining room is also really nicely decorated/curated, & makes for a very pleasant calm evening vibe. It literally feels like they got a sound engineer to help design it because you have that nice restaurant ambiance without it being too loud. I would love to go back & try more of their food!
Great new spot from Danny Smiles. Great service & innovative food of French, Italian, Middle Eastern inspiration. The interior atmosphere & decor is sublime. I'm looking forward to going back & exploring seasonal changes to the menu
Sep 2, 2024
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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.
Les entrées étaient savoureuses, mais les plats principaux manquaient de saveur. Les pâtes & le porc étaient particulièrement fades, ce qui a été décevant. De plus, les desserts étaient assez basiques. Pour le prix, l'expérience culinaire n'était pas à la hauteur de nos attentes. Malheureusement, je ne recommanderais pas ce restaurant.
I really wanted this to be our new spot but it wasn't a hit for us. Decor is beautiful, food was good, but not great, especially for the price we paid. We will not go out of our way to come back. Also, don't bother mentioning if it's a special occasion when reserving, they couldn't care less!
Aug 28, 2024
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Nous sommes allés au violon en groupe de 5 personnes, un vendredi soir. Arrivés au restaurant, nous avons été assignés à une table malheureusement mal placée: à côté de la cuisine, du bar & de la porte d'entrée, donc un endroit très bruyant, nous avions peine à nous entendre sans crier, bien qu'il n'y avait pas vraiment de musique. Ensuite, nous avons commandé l'équivalent d'une entrée & d'un plat principal pour chacun. Les plats sont arrivés dans un délai de temps adéquat. L'entrée, un tartare de boeuf cru avec du tahini, était un vrai délice. Rien à redire. Goûteux & frais. Le plat de résistance, la lotte, malheureusement était fade avec des goûts mal agencés. La lotte était servie sur ce qui semble de la crème de maïs (comme si on avait ouvert une conserve & mis dans le fond du plat), avec des pleurotes de champignons que je n'ai pas bien goûté en raison du goût de maïs extrêmement prononcé (voir la photo jointe pour le plat principal). Parmi mes amis, certains avaient pris ce plat & avaient la même opinion. Au niveau du service, les serveurs étaient courtois, mais ne sont pas venus très souvent en cours de repas ou pour servir le vin. Au final, bien que l'entrée fut bonne, nous ne reviendrons pas ici en raison du prix dispendieux pour la qualité globale de la nourriture.
Le service & la nourriture étaient au rendez-vous. N'hésitez pas à prendre le menu dégustation quand il est offert & à vous laisser conseiller pour le vin. Merci pour la belle soirée!
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!
