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.
There isn't much more to say than this: it more than deserves its spot at the top of the list of best restaurants in Montreal. The food & wine pairings are next level, & the service is second to none. Bravo!
It always takes me aback that I can step out of my door & walk a few meters to one of the best restaurants in Canada, probably North America. There's always something different & delicious to try (the crusted scallops are a must). With locally sourced fresh food & wine. The service is absolutely excellent!
Jun 29, 2024
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Outstanding from start to finish. Since we were visiting from San Francisco we booked a month in advance (quite necessary) & were so happy when they called the day of to offer an earlier time. I've never been a big fan of natural wine but the somm here may have nearly converted us! Every dish was delicious & tasted of technique & passion, we especially loved the tartare. We rarely ordered dessert but were happy we did & we tasted some absolutely amazing amaro. Service was truly gracious & exceptional in all respects. This is one of the top three dining experiences we've ever had. Thank you!!!
Chosen as Canada's best restaurant, Mon Lapin was a huge let down. One caveat, the temperature in Montreal was hot & humid, 93 degrees, & Mon Lapin was full. Our decision to sit at the bar facing the kitchen was stupide, because it was hot. Everyone at the restaurant was lovely, but we were miserable nonetheless. Our hope relied on the food, but the dishes did nothing to lift us out of the inferno. Sticking to a seafood theme, we chose to start with the scallop sandwich & the raw scallops from the Iles de Madeleine. Mon Lapin holds onto a small plates concept. Everything is to share. Both scallop dishes were refreshing but nothing more. For entrees, we chose poached Halibut & marinated white asparagus with lobster. The Halibut was the star of the evening, but that star isn't getting a review in Variety. In fact, our comped tiny Cannolis tasted best of all. While service at Mon Lapin was well-meaning, they were all running around frenetically. It was akin to an ADHD convention. Mon Lapin is a casual joint, & the staff goes out of their way to let you know they're down to earth, but it seemed like they were trying to go Around that World in Eighty Days. Mon Lapin has an extensive & eclectic wine list & would fair better as a wine bar that serves good food. No, Mon Lapin is not Canada's number one restaurant. Edulis in Toronto & St. Lawrence in Vancouver were infinitely better. Pricing is fair at Mon Lapin, a little over $200 Canadian for four dishes, one glass of wine & one cocktail.
Great restaurant with good selection of cocktails & wine. Would recommend to celebrate special occasion. My favorite was the soft shell crab infused with lobster bisque.
Mon Lapin is the perfect restaurant for sharing plates with fellow food lovers. Dimitri was a wonderful server & walked us through the menu & made suggestions on wine & the food based on our preferences. The menus are small & seasonal so probably won't get the same thing twice expect for the delicious buckwheat cake that is a house special. Will be back.
#1 resto in Canada & well deserved! Everything was perfect. Each dish was unique & flavourful. The wine pairings were excellent. Our waitress Mayou was a gem. We will be back for sure!
Jun 11, 2024
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Realised this place is steps from my house after learning of it on the news (top restaurant in Canada!) So I went at opening alone on a tuesday & they sat me at a cozy spot at the bar. My server was Dimitry & he was very knowledgeable about wine & very generous with translating the menu & offering recommendations. There was ample Vegetarian options too. First off the service is probably the best Ive ever had. Secondly, the food & wine were a journey. I was able to order half-dishes of some items so I could try more plates & that was a great call. I had 3 different wines which was a really cool journey to taste from first to third, & the food was similar. The (listen im a barbarian idk what its called) cannoli? Canolini? The pasta tube. I will be coming back for the full version of that because it was heavenly. The asparagus was the freshest Ive ever had & the rest was delicious too Very happy to have a new local spot to revisit!
I had very high expectations for this place & it did not disappoint. Yes, the food was absolutely fantastic, but it's probably the best (personalized) service from Rose I have ever received in a restaurant ever. The wine pairing was also outstanding. Simply WOW!
May 5, 2024
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Always amazing food, the menu changes constantly (except a few signature dishes) so you probably won't have the same dining experience twice if you come here. I recommend the buckwheat cake, it's perhaps the best cake I've ever had in my life. As for food, the scallop sandwiches are great, basically anything seafood will also taste great! If you want to, you can let your waiter decide your dishes for you, I can assure you whatever you end up eating here, you will thoroughly enjoy it. Even if you're not a wine drinker, let them recommend at least one to go with your food & you won't regret it!
All I can say is wow! Loved the food & how imaginative it was! Great service with knowledgeable staff! We will definitely go back although getting a reservation isn't easy. The only negative might be the limited selection of cocktails compared to selection of wine & beer.
My conclusion is that this place is overrated. We ordered 7-8 dishes & only truly spectacular was raw fluke. I know to expect this somewhat in Montreal but when I said in French that we have to speak English because my friends French is not so good I watched the waiter spend more time with the francophone couples around us & less time with us. The she came back to ask if we were ready for our last dish, the chicken. We didn't order chicken we ordered wild trout. It's ok, mistakes happen. We were happy to wait for the trout & have another drink. Instead they brought it out after five minutes & it was undercooked, somewhere closer to raw than cooked, as if it had been seared & then bathed in ice water maybe, but no it was just undercooked. We questioned the waitress about it & she told us this is fine & normal how it's supposed to be served. I was skeptical. Then after we pay our check & tip we see another table being served the same trout dish & it is fully cooked & flaky white. Why lie to us? The mistake is no big deal just serve us what we ordered, we don't mind to wait. Clearly she just wanted to be done with us & not bring it back to kitchen or cook us a proper new one. Kind of messed up when you spend over 300CAD This really put a negative taste in my mouth & to be honest the carrots are very boring, the pasta with clams was uninspired. Oyster remoulade wraps were good, but I don't think I will ever come back For such a big reputation this place was a big letdown & also the biggest dinner bill I've seen so far in Canada. Bad combination. The wine list & cocktails are formidable but I think you can spend your money more wisely elsewhere in Montréal
Apr 10, 2024
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Very welcoming place that distinguishes itself with excellent creative dishes along with great wine pairings. We really had a wonderful time overall, & will be back for sure.
Outstanding service & impeccable food! Our server Rose was so fun & knowledgeable. I highly recommend the wine pairing. One of the best dining experiences I've had!
We went here with high expectations, & the food & service did not disappoint. Our server helped us select a fantastic wine, after we described our taste preference & budget. She then curated three courses based off the wine, & every dish presented us with a "wow" moment. Raw sole with radish & brown butter, wow. Rehydrated carrots with smoked oyster sauce, wow. Buckwheat cake for dessert, wow. The list goes on & on. Thank you for a memorable evening, we will be back next time we head to Montreal!
From the food to the service to the wine Vin Mon Lapin is an exceptional experience. The staff will take the time to explain the dishes & the best wine pairings. The food is fantastic & the experience is one of the best in Montreal.
