Mon Lapin, a neighbourhood restaurant in the heart of Montreal's Little Italy. Inventive and delicious fare, all the seasonal favourites on an ever-changing menu by chefs Marc-Olivier Frappier and Jessica Noel, and team. Visionary wines, a list filled with vibrant and eclectic bottles.
Across reviews, Mon Lapin is widely praised for inventive seasonal dishes, a warm intimate atmosphere, and a dining experience that many call a standout in Canada. The service is repeatedly described as attentive and knowledgeable, with wine pairings and menu explanations that elevate the meal, though a few readers note moments of overcrowding, speed, or overly persistent attention. Portions are often described as small and prices high, with some guests feeling the experience is about culinary artistry more than meat on the plate, while others celebrate the finesse and balance of flavors. The menu emphasizes local ingredients and frequent changes, with signatures like the scallop pétoncle croque, preserved leeks with smoked mussels, and buckwheat cake standing out for many; the overall impression is one of creative presentation and thoughtful pairings. Reservations are hard to secure and the ambiance can be noisy, but the consensus is that the quality of food and service justifies the hype for many, even as a minority call it overrated or inconsistent.
I was thrilled to get a reservation here for my trip to Montreal. The food was so good that we were laughing at how we felt sad that our meal was coming to an end. We sat at the bar, which partially overlooks the kitchen. Our bartender basically curated our meal & wine & we just loved everything. The atmosphere is so nice. A cozy neighborhood restaurant. It truly lives up to its reputation. I would go back in a heartbeat!
This restaurant often tops Canada's best lists but after a disappointing time at Le Violon (probably victim of its success after Trudeau's visit), I was skeptical but man did it deliver.
First the service, something which is very hit & miss in Quebec, this was the definition of attentive service without being over the top.
The wines were fantastic, & well-deserved Michelin blessings to the sommelière. We tried yellow wine which was quite unique & honestly this spot could easily become my favourite wine bar in the city.
The food - Flawless experience. Unique flavours & methods, chicken in a sourdough crust was spectacular, the pork cheeks was melt in the mouth, the beetroots were fresh & creamy, the mousse in little rabbit biscuits was cute but delicious. Special mention to the sea urchins, I couldn't help exclaim my joy when the table next to us ordered it but they were non-chalant.
This one is a repeat & definitely a spot not to be missed.
Dec 17, 2025
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Not sure what the whole hype / difficulty to reserve is about. Food is bland at best & alcohol over priced. Never was much a fan of French/quebecois food, just bland flavors, salty & fatty. But if that's your thing, go for it.
What they do here best is their ability to push & sell you drinks through'free sampling'. If you sit at the bar like I did, the barmaid is incredible at making you feel welcome & serve you free samples of wine so the'appetite' to spend opens up. It's a brilliant sales tactic.
Great atmosphere though. 300$ bill for 2 main dishes, 1 entree, 2 desserts & 6 drinks. Mediocre imo.
Nous avons beaucoup apprécié notre soirée au resto Vin Mon Lapin. La nourriture était tres bonne ainsi que le service. Certains mets manquait le'WOW factor' comme la pétoncle, la truite & le bar rayé. Oursin, torteli, poireaux & strudel excellent.
Expectations were extremely high given all the recent accolades & I have to say I was ready to be disappointed. Marco, Jessica, Vanya, & their wonderful team blew my expectations out of the water.
Dishes like the foie cookies with habanada jelly, & the conserve leeks with fermented chips & mussel mayo are nostalgic in flavour, but creative & fun in their execution.
Their wine list is nothing short of impressive, with many references you'd have a hard time finding outside of a passionate collectors personal cave. Prices are also very reasonable by the glass relative to most wine bars around.
Atmosphere is what you hope for with Montreal dining; far from pretentious but very attentive & warm.
We left having gone through half the menu, & I did not feel heavy or overly full at all.
Sans réservation, petit coup de fil... 45 min avant,...le coin du bar.
un peu d'attente, une ambiance festive & soignée. Des tablées souriantes, des assiettes cousues & gourmandes.
les verres sont beaux & bons, le choix est là!
Tout s'enchaine, on bavarde & c'est bondé de beaux gens; excellente experience, @ revisiter pour confirmer leur statut. Bien joué. Ce fut délicieux !
merci
Une expérience exceptionnelle - de loin le meilleur restaurant à Montréal
En tant que chef ayant travaillé dans des cuisines Michelin & des établissements haut de gamme, j'ai tendance à être très critique quand je découvre un nouveau restaurant. Mais honnêtement, cette expérience m'a complètement renversé. Je n'ai absolument rien à redire.
Dès notre arrivée, l'accueil était chaleureux & professionnel. La première impression avec l'hôtesse était impeccable, & le service tout au long du repas l'a été tout autant. Notre serveur connaissait parfaitement le menu, tout comme le reste de l'équipe - du commis au barmaid, tout le monde savait expliquer les plats avec passion. Le service était tellement attentif qu'on n'a jamais eu besoin de demander quoi que ce soit, tout était deviné à l'avance.
& que dire de la nourriture… chaque plat était un sans-faute. Le plat de morue, le riz de veau, la conserve de thon, les poireaux vinaigrette, & le grilled cheese aux pétoncles (probablement la meilleure chose que j'ai jamais goûtée) - tout était exécuté à la perfection. Aucun besoin d'assaisonnement supplémentaire, tout était parfaitement balancé & maîtrisé. Même le dessert suivait ce niveau d'excellence.
Le service du vin était superbe, parfaitement accordé à chaque service.
Ce restaurant n'est pas juste bon - il est exceptionnel. C'est le genre d'endroit qui te rappelle pourquoi on est tombé en amour avec la cuisine. Un vrai bijou, & sans aucun doute le meilleur restaurant à Montréal.
Oct 7, 2025
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Absolutely incredible. The vibe here is very cozy & warm. It's not a large restaurant & they encourage guests to spend time savouring, so if you make a reservation don't expect to be seated for about an hour afterwards. That said, the service when seated makes up for it.
We spent time enjoying a glass of wine & watching the chefs do their thing over the bar. When a table had cleared we ordered the tuna, scallop sandwiches (a must), somerset chicken, cod, & ricotta balls. Everything was so light yet packed so much for flavour. We actually made a second reservation while still at dinner.
One of the best restaurants I've been to in Canada.
Finally made it after trying to get a reservation for weeks. Mon Lapin was voted #1 in Canada for two consecutive years, & while it lost that title this year, the reservation was still very hard to get. Barely got in with a 9PM res.
Mon Lapin changes its menu daily according to availability of ingredients, & since we had a late res, some of the items were already sold out. They don't release their menu anywhere, so even until we were sat down, we didn't know what we were getting into (except, obviously, their signature scallop dish).
From the smaller plates, our favorites were the Conserve de Poireaux, Moules Fumées & Le croque-Pétoncle. In the former, it took me several bites to realize that smoked mussels were puréed into the mayo. & it was just brilliant. Smoky, briny, & addictive enough to lick clean. Better than MSG. The preserved leeks were slick & squeaky, so I didn't enjoy it to be honest, but worth it just for that smoked mussels mayo.
The scallop mousse was extraordinary. The texture was silky yet gently chewy & it was like sinking your teeth into a warm, freshly pressed rice cake. The green onion mayo added a nice spark, but truthfully, the sandwich didn't need it. Ordered a second without hesitation.
For the large plates, we ordered the duck breast, Gaspésie halibut, & Beaurivage pork, & the only dish that really stuck to my memory was the pork. Beaurivage pork is the finest pork from Québec, so it was exceptionally tender. Here it got the treatment of prime rib. Cut thick & splashed with some anchovy sauce. It sounded a bit risky but ended up pairing beautifully with the pork fat.
We unfortunately weren't in the mood for wine pairing, so got some of their non-alcoholic drinks. I got the Honey & Sea salt seltzer, & it was one of the best soda/seltzers I've had in a while.
The one thing I can say about this gem that maybe hasn't been said before is that it brings you back to a time when Montreal restaurants were authentically Montreal restaurants. There is no pretense; just incredible food, a perfect bar where you can talk all the trash with amazing people, insane wines, & an unpretentious vibe. Long live Mon Lapin bro❤?
We really want to love this place, but maybe they are having an off day, the experience is way below our expectation. Our first glass of sparking wine was more than $20 & it was only a half glass pour. The appetizers were great, but then for the two main courses, we waited for 30mins for each course. We ordered a half serving of pigeon for more than $40, & the server said it was a substantial portion, but it turns out there is barely any meat on this sad pigeon. We waited again for a long time for someone to give us a dessert menu, & by then we were drenched in sweat (restaurant has no AC) & we decided to leave. It was unfortunately a very disappointing experience for us.
Jul 11, 2025
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Absolutely adored our experience here. Dimitri served us at the bartop & we let him pick everything for us. Cocktails, appetizers & dessert. Wish I had gone with more than 1 other person so I could have ordered/tried more dishes on the menu!
It's worth making a reservation & was one of our favourite dining experiences while in Montreal.
We loved everything!! No misses. Menu items cycle in & out but I can totally understand why the scallop sandwich & buckwheat cake have held their spot for this long. My one regret was not specifying that my husband has back problems so we would have preferred regular seating rather than the bar but he endured because we had such a good time. We'll be back!
Vin Mon Lapin, ranked #1 on Canada's 100 Best Restaurants list, is a must-visit spot in Montreal's Little Italy. From start to finish, it was one of the best dining experiences I've ever had. The vibrant atmosphere strikes a perfect balance between youthful energy & refined sophistication. Though the space is cozy, it adds to the charm, & reservations are a must.
We sat at the bar with a clear view of the kitchen, feeling like we were at an intimate dinner party. The service was exceptional, with our friendly server offering wine samples & never rushing us. We opted for the chef's curated tasting menu, paired flawlessly with wines. Every course amazed me, especially the Le Croque-Pétoncle-a scallop sandwich on buttery, garlicky toast-easily the best dish I've ever had. The veal tartare with sun-gold tomatoes, rich Béarnaise-like sauce, & perfectly seared duck breast with foie gras sauce were standout dishes.
The wine pairings elevated the meal, & though I lost track of courses, I couldn't stop savoring each bite. A hidden gem, Mon Lapin offers some of the finest French/Italian-inspired food in Montreal. Don't miss it-put it on your restaurant list to visit, & you won't be disappointed.
A top tier dining experience. Ate at the bar & was well taken of by the excellent staff. Dishes & execution are world class with a such a casual vibe, very special evening.
Feb 12, 2025
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J'ai attendu tellement longtemps pour avoir une table là & je n'ai pas été déçue! Sauf qu'avec tous mes efforts mis, j'ai ete placée au bar..! Service charmant en plus d'être attentif, menu vraiment originial & varié (& délicieux) Par rapport à bcp d'autres restos, qualité-prix fait beaucoup de sens! On a adoré notre soirée là bas
A very enjoyable kick back evening. Not pretentious, tasty cooking. Vibe inside is pumping & happy. Our server was really good at engaging with the tables & hearing what we wanted for a drink. The wait between some dishes was a little long, but nothing too overly long. I didn't really like the longish wait for a table beyond our reservation time (second seating) though, but in part this is due to there being not much outside the front door. Overall, I think this would be like your favourite neighbourhood wine bar: great for a catch up with friends, not so great for a first date but fine otherwise. Would return.
I find it's overpriced & we left hungry as the portions were very small. The waitress was amazing but the ambiance was lacking with high foot traffic constantly rushing by, & lights by the bar that kept flickering.
Started off by booking a table for Saturday August 10th at 9pm. This alone was a mess because applications only open up at 9am 1 month in advance. That I can accept as it was for Canada's #1 restaurant. We booked the only available spot which was for 9pm. We were very excited to try the food & experience the restaurant. We got there a few minutes before 9. Our table was not ready. This was fine since the place looked busy. We can tolerate a busy place if the food is good. After waiting for about 10 minutes we were then asked to have a seat at the outside patio. Which honestly was a fine place. Comfy seats with the heaters on. A waitress gave us our menus & asked us to place drink orders. We placed our orders, but we also wanted to sit inside the restaurant as we had booked well in advance & thought that was the least we could ask for. This in hindsight was not the right decision. We should have just stayed outside. Inside was as expected for a busy restaurant, hectic but fun. This is where our real problems occurred. We were led inside & a new waitress came to assist us. Who again asked for our drink choices even after we had ordered outside. We were then seated near the bar on uncomfortable stools without a backrest. I'm 26 & my significant other is 25 (she just had her birthday & that's what brought us to the restaurant), so we can take a little pain, but these chairs were incredibly uncomfortable. Our drinks came, & they tasted good. However our waitress was nowhere to be seen. We had perused the menu & we were ready to order, but noone in sight to take our order. Finally our third waitress showed up & asked for our order. We placed our appetizer orders & off our waitress went. Our first order came quickly as it was the scallop sandwich. Very buttery, but overall, pretty tasty & definitely unique. Then we waited for about 15-20 mins to place our entree order. However by this time it was much later at night & some of the items we were excited to try were already gone. This forced us to reorder some items that we didn't particularly want but ordered to try. Let me say for a fact that the food we ordered was very tasty. That we had no problem with. The issue we had was that people who walked in off the street with no reservations were treated better & had better service than we did. Overall food was good service was a major let down. I'd suggest leaving this restaurant off your list of things to do in Montreal. NOT WORTH.
Absolutely fabulous dinner! I was lucky enough to dine here this past week & I couldn't of enjoyed it more. I sat at the bar & Dimitri was so great-perfect wine choices, next time I'll try one of his amazing cocktails. The food was soo good & beautiful everything we had was great. Highlights for me were the tomato cherry salad the scallop sandwich is a must do!! Thank you ❤️
