Reviewers consistently praise Mauvais Garçons for a warm, intimate ambiance and a lively yet comfortable setting that invites lingering. The tapas style menu is inventive and flavorful, with beautifully presented dishes and a well-priced tasting option that showcases balance and creativity. The drinks program shines, with excellent cocktails and a standout espresso martini, complemented by attentive, friendly service. The new Notre Dame location is a welcome backdrop for date nights or gatherings, delivering a memorable overall experience with great food, drinks, and atmosphere.
Belle ambiance, bonne nourriture & excellent service. Le bartender Jonathan a su bien me conseiller dans ma sélection de cocktails & de vin. Moi & mes amis avons passez une excellente soirée.
Feb 21, 2026
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Nice atmosphere that's great for a date night or girls night! The tartare was great, really nice tapas place, the cocktails menu was great, had a fun night! Wish I had the chance to meet sliderman in person, maybe next time!
The tacos were tasty, but I think they would be even better with some sauce, lime, & a bit less fried onion on top since it was a little too much. On the other hand, I really loved my cocktail-it was excellent!
Mauvais Garçons - A St-Henri Gem with the Best Espresso Martini in Town.
Mauvais Garçons, nestled in the vibrant St-Henri neighborhood, is more than just a restaurant; it's an experience. From its inviting ambiance to its exceptional culinary offerings &, most notably, its outstanding bar program, this spot truly stands out.
Ambiance & Atmosphere:
The decor at Mauvais Garçons strikes a perfect balance between sophisticated & welcoming. It's chic without being stuffy, making it ideal for a romantic dinner, a celebratory evening with friends, or even a stylish casual meal. The lighting is just right, creating a warm & intimate atmosphere that encourages lingering.
Culinary Delights:
The menu at Mauvais Garçons is designed for sharing, featuring a fantastic selection of tapas & small plates that are both innovative & incredibly flavorful. Some standout dishes that consistently impress include:
* Tuna Tataki Tacos: A delicate balance of fresh tuna, crispy texture, & zesty notes.
* Fried Chicken Sliders: Pure comfort food elevated, with a delicious blend of textures & a kick of flavor.
* Arancini: Perfectly crispy on the outside, creamy & rich on the inside, often with a delightful hint of lemon or spice.
* Burrata: A fresh & creamy delight, often paired with creative & delicious accompaniments like basil-arugula hummus or a confit tomato relish.
* Truffle Fries: A classic done right, elevated with the irresistible aroma & taste of truffle & parmesan.
Their'Menu Expérience' is also highly recommended for those who want to sample a wider array of their best offerings.
The Bar & The Best Espresso Martini:
Beyond the fantastic food, Mauvais Garçons truly shines in its cocktail offerings. They boast a creative & well-executed drink menu, but there's one particular highlight that demands special mention: Jonathan makes the best espresso martini in the city.
His espresso martini is simply unparalleled. It's perfectly balanced - strong enough to give you that delightful coffee kick, but smooth & exquisitely blended, without being overly sweet or bitter. The frothy head is consistently perfect, & the overall taste is a symphony of rich coffee, a hint of sweetness, & a potent, yet refined, alcoholic base. It's clear that Jonathan possesses a masterful touch & a deep understanding of what makes this classic cocktail truly exceptional. It's the ideal way to cap off a fantastic meal or to kick off a lively evening.
Service:
The service at Mauvais Garçons is consistently attentive, friendly, & knowledgeable. The staff are clearly passionate about the food & drinks they serve, & they go out of their way to ensure a pleasant dining experience. Jonathan's excellent bartending skills are a testament to the high quality of the team.
Overall:
Mauvais Garçons is a must-visit in St-Henri. With its beautiful ambiance, delicious & well-crafted small plates, & especially, the undisputed best espresso martini made by Jonathan, it offers a memorable & truly enjoyable dining & drinking experience. It's a place you'll want to return to again & again.
Jul 11, 2025
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Popped in for a family brunch. Chose the place for the decent rating & being failry expensive according to Google ($$$) & we wanted to take no chances. Service was a bit slow at starters, but we weren't neglected. Place does not scream child friendly, but our 4yo got fixed a juice & plain fries, which she enjoyed. We had beef & tuna tartares from the brunch menu. Portions were smallish, but we expected that, paired with some parm-truffle fries it actually was perfect. The two cocktails we ordered were also quite good. We sat inside & the ambiance was great, comfy chairs, nice plates & themed decor.
This place is fabulous. I was brought here on a date & the atmosphere, & the bartenders were A1. The special attention they put in crafting the cocktails were amazing. I even ordered something off the menu. We sat at the bar & it was good vibes!!
Expérience mitigée. Le + : -La nourriture dans l'ensemble est plutôt bonne. -On ne vous bouscule pas & vous avez le temps de manger, ce qui n'est malheureusement pas le cas de tous les restaurants en ville -Les cocktails étaient bons Les -: -La musique était tellement forte que tout le monde parlait extrêmement fort -Le principe des "tapas" à Montréal devient fatigant. "On vous conseille de prendre plusieurs tapas à partager pour vivre l'expérience..." Oui sauf que cette "expérience" revient toujours plus cher que le classique entrée-plat & que toute la table n'a peut être pas les mêmes goûts? J'ai trouvé qu'on insistait trop pour qu'on prenne cette formule alors qu'il y avait des combinaisons qui fonctionnaient très bien pour faire une formule entrée-plat. C'est tout de même un restaurant sympathique avec des saveurs intéressantes dans le menu.
We enjoyed a wonderful dining experience at Mauvais Garçon. The cocktails were perfect & the food was an absolute joy. Everything was served with panache & each plate was prepared to perfection. My husband is very difficult to please & he was raving about each dish. The burrata was amazing, as weee the arracini & sliders. Our friends enjoyed the salad & gnocchi. I highly recommend Mauvais Garçon.
Sep 3, 2024
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I love this petit cute place, nice cocktail( actually a little strong :))) but tasty, even their virgin cocktail is very nice, i asked something with basil & herbs & i really liked what I received! :) The food is very tasty, i liked the jerk cauliflower & Tuna & beef tacos! Highly recommended!
Felt like we were in the middle of nowhere, but boy, was it worth it. Amazing service, so many delicious plates, & the herbal smash is my new favorite gin cocktail. Still drooling over the tuna tartare!
Excellent tasting menu. Highly recommend for a group. They also have some really excellent signature cocktails- I like the basil sour. The tacos & other salads & entrées at the beginning of the tasting menu are delicious, I know everyone talks about the sliders, which are also good but the hut that wasn't a highlight for me. This is on my list of places to take people visiting Montreal.
It was a lovely meal. We had the 10 course tasting menu. We did not like one dish but that happens in a rating menu. What was disappointing was our server. He brought things too fast. & took away our drinks (expensive cocktails) before we finished them (one was at least a 1/3 full). It really felt like he was rushing us through. Even when we asked him to slow down it, he still kept trying to hurry us up. As we ate our dessert he offered us our bill. If he hadn't been in such a hurry to get us out we likely would have had a coffee & or another cocktail (although my partner was not please he had lost part of his earlier).
Excellent Tapas menu. Owner is super nice, very helpful with explaining the menu offerings. Great cocktails. Our birthday evening celebration was amazing. Don't miss this gem & it's sister bar next door, Vendetta.
