Virunga Restaurant is the story of two women passionate about African culture, who invite you to discover the gastronomic richness of this continent, which is so dear to them.
Through revisited traditional recipes, the restaurant celebrates the authentic flavors of sub-Saharan Africa, while showcasing local Quebec products.
Both simple and creative, this cuisine demonstrates, above all, a respect for ingredients and gastronomy.
Virunga Restaurant aims to be a warm and friendly place, offering professional and quality service.
Chef Maria and her daughter Zoya generously welcome you for a unique culinary experience, combining history, modernity, and heritage.
Le Virunga offers a bold African inspired dining experience in the Plateau, blending local Quebec ingredients with aromatic spices and bold flavors that feel thoughtful and special without being fussy. Guests praise flavorful, well seasoned mains and innovative entrées, and the atmosphere is described as cozy, elegant and intimate. The service is frequently praised as attentive and professional, with staff who know the menu inside out and a wine list that features a South African focus. Many reviews highlight the Pan African fusion concept and a small, carefully chosen menu that changes with the season, inviting a sense of discovery. While some notes mention small portions or occasional delays, the overall sentiment points to high quality, craft, and hospitality that make Le Virunga a standout option in Montreal's dining scene.
We were three adults that had dinner at this restaurant on June 22, 2019. The restaurant is very tastefully decorated with African art, reproductions, objects etc. Very well done. In the background is African music. However, it is not loud at all. We had three courses: opening course, main course & dessert. Every dish that we had was beautifully presented. Everything was so colourful & delicious. All three adults loved their courses. In terms of wine, we chose a Pinot Noir from South Africa. Superb!! Unfortunately, the wine is a private import & not yet available in liquor stores. Service was excellent. Our waitress, Carolina, was professional, efficient & knowledgeable about the menu. Restrooms were small but spotless. Since this is a small restaurant, it is best to reserve. There's only 12-13 tables. We will certainly return!
Jun 23, 2019
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We thoroughly enjoyed our experience at Le Virunga. Cocktails & food were absolutely amazing. Perfect amount served (even with dessert). Great ambiance & service. Would highly recommend & will return.
Went for our anniversary. Lovely small space, excellent service. We had the goat salad appetizer, oxtail & duck leg as mains, & for dessert, the beignets with rum sauce. All was DELICIOUS! Only criticism is that the food could have been hotter. Would certainly visit again to try some of their other dishes, including the goat.
Nous avons soupé au Virunga dans le cadre de Montréal a Table. Une jolie découverte où les épices exotiques & la banane plantain ont la part belle. Malgré tout, les saveurs manquent un peu de relief. Je m'attendais à quelque chose d'un peu plus explosif en bouche. J'ai pris une quenelle de crevettes en entrée, du veau en plat principal & un moelleux en dessert. Le service est irréprochable & la carte offre de belles options aux végétariens/vegans, ainsi qu'une sélection de vins intéressante. Merci!
Amazing food. Incredible Service. Charming atmosphere. Authentic experience. Everything from the cocktails (Elephant Tree & non alocholic Kibri) to the starters (ginger soup & avocado mango shrimp dish) to the main course (oxtail & goat) & finally dessert & tea (plantain donuts & chai rooiboos) was delicious & thoughtful. A true gem!
Aug 2, 2018
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Last evening, I set out with a foodie friend to discover Le Virunga. Traffic woes, street closures & exasperating parking frustration almost changed my plans. But perseverance prevailed, & turned out to be well worth it. Tucked away in the heart of the Plateau, Le Virunga restaurant is cozy, intimate & tastefully decorated. A life-size, chalk-drawn map of Africa on the back wall faces the entrance; other walls are adorned with hangings depicting African art & culture. The table runners in hues of blue, brown & gold, some patterned, some plain, are an imaginative evocation of the African continent. Le Virunga features a Pan-African fusion menu with touches of French gastronomy, & highlights a few local Quebec products. Offerings are diverse, all very tempting & include vegetarian options. We particularly enjoyed the starter named after the resto itself, Le Virunga: spicy marinated shrimp showcased on a macedoine of fresh mango & papaya, lightly drizzled with pili pili vinaigrette & garnished with sprigs of arugula & slices of avocado: delectable. Suya – tenderloin brochette - was tender & tasty. For mains, ginger-&-cinnamon-roasted Marieville duck was flavourful, the plantain fries extraordinary. Veal sirloin topped with a mound of mashed mauve sweet potatoes, a layer of sautéed spinach & a plantain crisp as a finishing touch, melted in the mouth. Hot pepper sauce condiment served on the side. Dishes are creatively plated & presented to appeal to both sight & appetite. The background rhythmic music, at just the right volume, playlisted on Spotify created just the right vibe. Prices are eminently affordable. Service was warm, gracious & attentive. Definitely worth an encore visit, & an opportunity to explore the wine & dessert offerings.
It has been a long time since we had not gone to a restaurant where all the dishes we order were not only amazing from starters to dessert. They were original , well presented & mixing ingredients in a different way.
The service was equally efficient & courteous.
The minus will be the wine list- but definitely a most return.
An outstanding meal, especially the knockout main dishes, but all the rest, the appetisers, the dessert & the fine African wines were, well, fine.
We will be back.
I had an amazing dining experience at Le Virunga. My previous encounters with African food have been with Ethiopian cuisine only, so this place was a real discovery. The service was excellent, & each item on the menu was explained by the waitress. The food itself was similarly excellent. I had the Poulet d'Amours à la Moambe. The chicken was tender & easily fell off the bone, & was complemented by the palm nut sauce. The desserts here are also unique & not to be missed (where else will you be able to find plantain doughnuts)? I cannot recommend this place more enthusiastically, & will definitely be returning in the future with more friends. This is a one-of-a-kind dining experience in Montreal.
Nous avons enormement apprécié ce restaurant. L'ambiance par musique discrète , l'atmosphere feutrée, le décor, le service, la présentation tout y était en ce jourd e la SaintValentin. Que dire maintenant du menu, découverte pour nous de differentes saveurs de l'entrée au dessert çe ne fut qu'un régal. À recommapander pour sur. Menu spécial St-Valentin, entrée, trou normand avec mangue, repas principal, dessert, café ou tisane (exçellente), environ 150$ vin, repas, txs, pourboire.
samedi le 18 juin 2016,
Nous sommes parti un peu plus tôt pour marcher & profiter de la belle température dans les environs du restaurant soit sur la rue Rachel. Ouvrant a 17h30 le samedi sa nous laissait amplement du temps pour vaguer dans le coin sans aucun stress. En passant devant le restaurant on a rencontré la propriétaire ainsi que ça mère qui selon ce qu'elle nous ont apprise, était la cuisinière de se jolie petit restaurant africain. Nous avons constatés qu'elles étaient très aimables & sympathiques & franchement agréable de parler avec eux. Elles nous ont expliqué le concept du restaurant & leurs visions des mets a laquelle ils comptent servir maintenant & dans le futur. Nous étions très emballé d'y aller vers 17h30. Un peu plus tard nous étions attablés & fin prêt a essayer ce nouveau restaurant qui n'était pas très grand mais avec un joli décors africain. Nous avons bien sur été très bien accueillis avec un service chaleureux & hors-pair. Les plats étaient pleins de saveurs & de couleurs africaines teintés d'épices bien dosés. Je recommande ce restaurant & je vais surement y retourner pour essayer d'autres plats & apprécier de nouveau l'expérience.
Pour 2 personnes avec vin,entré,plats & dessert; 100$
