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.
A hidden gem in The Plateau area of Montreal. If you're looking for something different, & mind-blowing flavours, give this place a try.
The restaurant is a Pan-African fusion restaurant; a hybrid of Saharan, Congolese, & Mozambican cuisine. The flavours of the unique spice blends were outrageously good. You can tell the sauces are very thoughtfully prepared. & the small, well-curated menu shows that they want to specialize in what they do, rather than offer a hundred different things & miss the mark on some. Also, a well put together all-South African wine list.
Amazing place with very unique dishes. The only comment would be the amount of food per dish, felt like they could have been more generous. But totally recommend & worth paying a visit!
Jun 1, 2025
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Came from NYC back to Montreal just to eat here again. Our favorite meal in the city. A truly unique dining experience, amazing flavors, & first class service.
A unique find in a city where there's so many nice restaurants, this one really stood out. Delicious menu, food cooked with love, very kind & forthcoming service. 💖 thank you!!
Jan 27, 2024
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We had a wonderful experience at Le Virunga! Excellent & unique flavors & dishes. The service was TrueType outstanding. A memorable evening. I would recommend this restaurant for any special occasion!
This restaurant was the HIGHLIGHT of our trip to Montreal. The food was unique, & displayed an affection for food culture that rivals some of the best in the city. This is absolutely a must!
Le Virunga immediately jumped out when we were planning a special trip to Montreal & looking for unique dinner options. With an incredibly imaginative menu, & from what we could see online, a really warm & welcoming interior, we jumped at the opportunity to make a reservation. We've travelled extensively & eaten at some of the best restaurants in North America, Europe, Latin America, & Southeast Asia, & Le Virunga exceeded our expectations. Here we had among the most unique & delicious cocktails we've ever tried, for starters. The portions of the mains were beyond generous; in hindsight, I wish we had thrown etiquette to the wind & ordered literally all of the appetizers instead, just because we would have been treated to that many more plates/flavours. The atmosphere is incredible, the decor is both comfortable & whimsical, & the service is exemplary. I cannot fault Le Virunga on any count - it was a wonderful night, plain & simple. If we were locals, this would be a repeat spot for certain.
Dec 12, 2022
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J'ai apprécié la décoration, l'ambiance, l'accueil, la musique, la propreté du restaurant (incluant toilettes).
Le service était très chaleureux & les plats servis étaient chauds comme je les aime & savoureux. Je pouvais identifier la saveur de chaque ingrédient du plat en bouche & l'explosion des saveurs en bouche est une expérience unique. Ma réservation était pour une personne seule pour le menu table d'hôte dans le cadre de l'évènement MTL à table. Ma table était bien située & j'ai reçu la même attention & le même temps de service que les autres tables qui avaient plus d'une personne.
La carte des boissons non-alcoolisées est très riche, j'ai commandé un d'jino pour l'association fruit de la passion & citronnelle qui était bon mais, ma petite déception était de n'avoir pas pu goûter la citronnelle car le jus de la passion était la saveur dominante de la boisson.
bravo !!! Une expérience unique! Un accueil chaleureux! Des mets délicats & fins, tout était franchement magique ! Du début à la fin nous avons été émerveillé par cette atmosphère de douceur & de saveurs exquises! Merci pour cette soirée de rêve. Merci !!!
Le Virunga ! Toujours aussi bon, créatif & magnifiquement présenté! Le service est aussi exceptionnel!
C'est une expérience unique à chaque passage!
J'adore & recommande vivement, ce restaurant, à tous ceux qui veulent découvrir la belle gastronomie africaine!!!
Bravo Mesdames! Continuez de nous éblouir & à très bientôt!
The food & drink were all very good, with flavors & spices that tasted deliciously unique. Loved the Mandela cocktail. The wait staff was welcoming & efficient.
Expect delicious food from different regions i Africa prepared with a twist. This makes the experience truly memorable & unique. The staff are also super friendly.
