Restaurant L'Orignal opened in the winter of 2008 to a warm welcome from locals and tourist alike. The room is decked out in chalet decor, and is a little getaway to the country...in the middle of Old Montreal. The kitchen turns out local farm dishes with a modern look. With fun play lists and our variety of cocktails, L'Orignal is a little bit more just your local restaurant.
Reviews describe L'Orignal as a warm, cozy spot with cabin-like charm where the food is consistently exceptional and the service attentive and friendly. Diners praise standout dishes such as poutine with truffle, bone marrow, mushroom toast, tagliatelle, braised beef cheek, and highly regarded specials, with many noting that the menu offers both comforting favorites and refined flavors. The atmosphere is intimate and welcoming, suitable for date nights, small groups, family gatherings, and celebrations like birthdays and New Year toasts, while the staff are frequently described as on point and accommodating. The restaurant is often called a hidden gem and a top choice in the city, though a few comments mention smaller portions or higher prices relative to the plate, and one review recalls a service lapse during a busy night. Overall, the impression across reviews is that L'Orignal delivers elevated comfort food in a cozy setting and remains a go-to for guests visiting Montreal.
Wonderful dinner here - our favorite during our stay in Montreal. The restaurant itself is tucked away off a quiet street & nicely designed. It felt like a nice change from some of the more touristy spots. The service was attentive & welcoming. & the food was delicious. We had the kale salad, marrow, burrata, & two outstanding specials. We'll be back next time we are in the city.
Aug 13, 2025
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Exceptional service & above all the specials. Everything was very tasty & presentation incredibly exotic. Chef Guille met with us during the stay so that we could find out what ingredients made his meals so special. Will go back every time we'll get near Old Port in Montreal.
Great place! We were in a rush & they accommodating. Delicious tagliatelle dish & bison burger. A little expensive but comparable to other places in the area. Well worth a visit.
Lovely cosy restaurant with great service let down by food that wasn't quite up to snuff. I think they may be trying too hard to make the dishes stand out. My tagliatelle was good but not great being somewhat overpowered by truffle or whatever it was. Would I go back? Probably, but if it was the same I wouldn't again. Prices are OK for these days.
Overall really great place to eat at, worth the price. A bit dark when you first enter but your eyes will eventually adjust. Entrance doesn't look like much but the inside is amazing. Really well decorated, sort of a cabin vibe. Very comfy, I really liked the decorations, whoever designed this place I love you. Really lovely seating area, I wish I took a lot more photos so I could use it as reference in decorating my house in the future or something. Anyways, I got fish of the day, very nice, very tasty. Personally liked the chocolate(?) dessert the best. Oysters were great too their hot sauce is really good. I took some of my sister's fries that came with her burger & those were really nice too. Very crisp. Portions were nice. Service was great, nice lady, English friendly. I would definitely come back probably in winter. I feel like it would be really cozy in winter like a hidden haven tucked in a street corner haha.
Très bin restaurant, mention spéciale pour les frites à l'aïoli & le bol du fermier, un délicieux plat végétarien pleins de légumes frais. En tant que végétarienne ça fait plaisir de pouvoir manger un plat frais autre qu'une salade ou un burger de tofu transformé!
Seul point négatif: la clim qui était à fond, en plus d'avoir un peu froid nos plats on refroidir très vite.
Aug 2, 2025
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Food was outstanding. The service & interactions with staff were even better. Felt truly cared for. Can't wait to come back & will recommend to everyone.
We ate here 7 yrs ago & we thought these were the best oysters we ever had & thought so for the intervening yrs. Well we remembered the place & returned today & they're still the best oysters ever.
The Halibut was amazing as was the pork schnitzel.
Good to see the same guy/boss from last time.
Jul 3, 2025
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We were here for dinner with colleagues & everything was excellent. We had many of the menu items & all of it was great. The service was also amazing. Above & beyond on a very busy night. Highly recommend!
Had a great experience at L'Original! The service was warm & attentive from start to finish. The standout dish was definitely the maple Brussels sprouts-perfectly cooked with just the right balance of sweetness & texture. Our server also got us shots!
If you're looking for elevated comfort food in a cozy setting, L'Original delivers. Will definitely be back next time I'm in town!
May 13, 2025
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A hidden gem!! Lovely atmosphere. Amazing service & the food was to die for. Had the bison burguer with poutine side & it was the best bites of yumminess i ever had. I also had the french kiss martini. Overall amazing.
2nd time here. Gets even better. It's now our go to in Montreal. I could go on & on but just go. You will not be disappointed. Well done again Michael.
Cheers
Trevor & Tessa
