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 unique and memorable culinary experience that highlights the creative fusion of sub Saharan African spices with seasonal Quebec ingredients. Guests frequently praise the thoughtful presentation of dishes, the bold and complex flavor profiles, and the carefully curated South African wine list. The restaurant maintains an intimate, cozy, and professional atmosphere, making it a standout destination for those seeking fine dining that feels both sophisticated and welcoming. While many diners appreciate the attention to detail from the knowledgeable staff, feedback occasionally notes that portions are modest and service pacing can sometimes be affected by the venue's small size or logistical challenges during busy times.
Update 2025: whilst I had a good meal (& adapted for vegan options), for the cost of the meals, I think experience had some hiccups. We waited 45 minutes for our bill due to a payment machine issue & they didn't provide free drinks or a discount for the wait, which is honestly the LEAST they could have done for a party of 9 which had been seated for already over 3 hours. Really disappointed in that part of the service although the servers themselves were attentive & kind.
Old: Food is pricey but I really love the concept of this restaurant! Modernized food with a lot of care & thought out into the dishes. A little pricey but definitely worth a visit. The restaurant is beautiful but could do with more personality inside in my opinion. Overall happy with the place (wish there was more vegan options).
I gave a 3 because food was excellent & flavourful but the service was poor. They do not know how to handle groups. We were 9 people & we were made aware that we would need to get the menu for $90 each with 20% gratuity during reservation, so thats okay. However the issue was service was very slow. Our first course only arrived after 1h30 in the restaurant & at the end of the courses, we waited 45mins for the bills due to an issue with their machine. We weren't given any free drinks or discount for spending basically 3h45 in their restaurant. It was disappointing.
Aug 24, 2025
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La nourriture est très bonne, mais les portions sont petites. Resto gastronomique, mais service… comment dire… mon verre s'est renversé, je ne me suis même pas faite offerte un autre (même à mes frais); c'était l'anniversaire de mon mari, on a amené le gâteau & j'ai dit à la serveuse pour le mettre au frigo, elle a dit je vais voir avec la cheffe & elle a laissé le gâteau sur la table tout le long de notre souper & ne nous est pas revenue sur ça, donc on a compris qu'il fallait prendre leur dessert (on aurait aimé tout même qu'il nous offre de le garder au frais) … donc la petite attention qui aurait pu faire la différence n'était pas là. Je ne suis pas sûre de vouloir y retourner.
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.
Ma découverte de l'année! Plats succulents, saveurs nouvelles, & parfois relevées. Profiter de ce petit resto, c'est voyager pour quelques heures. Nous étions 6, & nous avons tous été ravis.
J'ai fait une réservation pour un groupe de 10 personnes, pour mon anniversaire. Ils nous ont obligé à prendre la table d'hôte (qui contenait très peu de choix), prétendant que ça serait trop de gestion pour eux qu'on prenne le menu à la carte. C'était très décevant pour nous, car la majorité des choses que nous voulions goûter n'étaient pas sur le menu table d'hôte.
Le repas était tout de même bon, bien que pas ce que nous souhaitions. La serveuse a offert un bon service. Par contre, elle nous a imposé un pourboire de 20%, sans possibilité de choisir ce que nous voulions donner. Leur pratique en la matière est probablement même illégale.
Aucun de nous n'a l'intention de retourner dans ce restaurant. Il y en a des tout aussi bon culinairement, où il y a une plus grande considération des clients.
