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.
First of all the service is really amazing. My friends & I were asking questions about the dishes all night & the servers were super knowledgeable & nice about it. Food is really good & all the dishes are super thought-out, my favorites were the raw fish, the carrots in mussel escabeche sauce (will be dreaming about that sauce), & the pork cheek. But I have to say the absolute best part of the meal was the sour cherry sorbet with rice pudding on top. One of the best things I have ever eaten in my life & I am really hoping they keep it on the menu because I would go back & eat that dessert forever.
Super expérience que nous avons vécu en famille. Toutefois, plus de 6 mois après y être allé, l'expérience est encore plus formidable car lors du dessert , j'ai découvert un café envoûtant, savoureux , fruité & chocolaté à souhait. Un des patron a été assez gentil de me dire exactement ce que c'était & où l'acheter, & je viens de m'en commander un kilo cette semaine, six mois plus tard. Un café rwandais de café Union - c'est le café le plus fantastique au monde & c'est grâce à ce super resto que j'ai pu le découvrir!
J'ai eu le plaisir de souper dans ce charmant restaurant où il fait bon vivre. Les plats sont des découvertes explosantes de saveur & les gens qui y travaillent sont chaleureux & hyper en mode partage de connaissance. Un incontournable de la petite Italie!
Jan 2, 2024
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Our dinner date was sublime. The staff was absolutely friendly in both English & French, & adapted to our mood while being very courteous. The food was excellent. As the menu changes quite often, the best I can suggest is their dessert options which often are consistent & the scallops sandwich for sure. The staff was very well prepared to explain every dish that we were interested in with fine detail without confusing us & the wine selection was excellent too. Whilst this restaurant is definitely a special occasion spot, I do recommend trying it out once as it's a must try in Montreal.
Meilleure expérience culinaire de ma vie. Le chef super accessible, le staff est plus que parfait & le repas était à couper le souffle ! De grosses portions & de la découverte à chaque bouchées. Je suggère à tous d'essayer l'expérience en faisant confiance au choix du chef & des sommeliers.
Super expérience! Ils méritent leur #1 au Canada! Tout était parfait. Ma seule suggestion serait d'ajouter un peu d'anguille fumée dans les pâtes carbonara, car il y en avait pas assez.
It's tough to be name Canada's best restaurant & I think the accolade leads diners to have unrealistic otherworldly expectations. I loved the fun & upbeat atmosphere of the restaurant. Our service was great. We greatly enjoyed our dishes, in particular the tartare with the assortment of bitter greens & the scallop toast. I found the carbonara serving temperature a tad cold though I understand it can't to too hot to execute properly. Nor did I understand the uni & chestnut dish. Great bottle of wine. All in all a lovely meal, but the "best" restaurant title is probably a bit of a curse.
Dec 5, 2023
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After making a reservation several months ago, the big day finally arrived! My husband & I left the restaurant extremely happy & delightfully full. The concept of ordering multiple dishes to share worked wonderfully for us. For starters, we tried the restaurant's signature sandwich & some bread, both of which were fantastic. Our main courses included an outstanding carbonara pasta & fish, not particularly extraordinary for our taste, but still quite good. For dessert, we indulged in a maple tartlette, a definite highlight & perhaps the best dessert I've ever tasted, along with the recommended signature dessert from our waitress. We paired our meal with white & orange wine, an excellent choice suggested by our waitress. I loved the service; the staff was consistently attentive, swiftly clearing tables & plates. Everyone was friendly, & they provided service in both English & French. The bathroom is small, but it's immaculately clean. An unforgettable dinner experience!
Really exceptional experience. I sat at the bar & the server there was amazing. She really knew her food & wine, & just clearly loved being there. The food was incredible, wine was great, & the place just had a great vibe in general. I can't wait to go back, this will become a regular for me when in Montreal. In a city of great restaurants, super happy to have found another gem.
Dinner here was a special experience. Part of the fun is sharing dishes with people you are dining with. Another enjoyable aspect is the brilliance of the dishes. They are not showy. Yet great care has gone into creatively & playfully preparing ingredients that are familiar. There is a twist to everything we tried. I really appreciate the novelty & skill this requires. But I don't think that this would be noticed or enjoyed by all. Service was excellent, wine recommendation spot on, atmosphere of the space was casual but stylish. I expected the bill to be far more than it was. Very cool night out.
I really wanted to love this but it didn't hit it for me. I don't get why it was listed #1 restaurant in Canada 2023. Staff very attentive & our mixologist was top notch. The drinks were the highlight. The food, I'm sure very well executed with all the techniques but the flavours were unusual & not that special.
