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.
Honestly, underwhelmed by the food, given the price. Best in Canada? NO. However, waitstaff was exceptional & the interior design is beautiful & some wines delicious - so we still had a fun time. But won't return. Too bad.
Tout était délicieux & très bien exécuté. Pas le meilleur restaurant au Canada selon nous, mais très haut dans nos restaurants préférés. Le menu change souvent donc ne vous fiez pas au menus dans les images. Le service était impeccable. Le poulet au levain est le meilleur poulet qu'on a jamais mangé!
Nov 14, 2023
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I had a really great experience here, & I would say that is very much due to the extremely passionate waitress we had, Rose. Don't get me wrong, the food was good, the entrees were pretty good & the two main dishes were very good, as were the drinks. But the intricate presentation of the menu & the drinks were on another level. The prices were actually not as high as I thought they would be, it is an expensive restaurant, & this was a special occasion, but I've been to more expensive ones that are not as good
It's such a lovely restaurant with great food & amazing people. The food looks simple but cooked with so many details in mind. We were traveling from Amsterdam, & one of our friends highly recommended it. We tried many of their dishes & a few wines. They were all perfect.
Oct 26, 2023
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We love the food, especially the scallops appetizers! The ambience is good. It's a bit too loud that you need to raise your voice to chat. The service is great. The staff are nice & patient.
Très belle expérience, service parfait. Nous avons adoré les poireaux & les chips & le gâteau sarrasin. Super concept de croque-pétoncle, mais le goût de beurre était un peu trop prononcé.
Très belle expérience culinaire. Le service était parfait avec un personnel très sympathique. Repas de type plats gastronomiques à partager. C'était délicieux. La musique mettait beaucoup d'ambiance mais elle constitue aussi mon seul petit bémol puisqu'elle était un peu forte, on a parfois un peu plus de difficulté à se comprendre. Mais ce petit point négatif ne doit pas vous décourager car tout le reste est fantastique & il est certain que j'y retournerai.
Nous avons beaucoup aimé la nourriture qui fût très inventive & délicieuse, ce n’est pas très cher & c’est un très bon point, j’ai adoré les carottes ainsi que le tartare de boeuf
Le service est bon mais un peu insistant, oui les serveurs sont très bons & qualifié.
One of our standout meals in Montreal, we enjoyed VML’s warm welcome & excellent meal of 5 or 6 small courses, with perfect wine pairings.
I had to plan ahead to get a reservation, but I’m so glad I did.
Oct 14, 2023
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There is alot of hype for this place so I came with high expectations. Unfortunately, everything felt very average. The pork portion was very small & fatty. The steak aubergine was too salty. Unni was not memorable. The scallop sandwich tasted like a cheese sandwich.
The only dish that was interesting & inventive was the leek. But that was essentially chips dipped in a smokey mayo with a leak on top.
The appetizers were amazing. What a great start. After that, everything was disappointing. It was just average, which doesn’t work when it’s supposed to be the #1 restaurant in Canada. Tasted plain & felt like it was trying to do too much without getting the basics right. We ordered 90% of the menu so I can’t even use my choices as an excuse. Service was impeccable & the staff was extremely friendly.
Is this place worth the hype?
In a word...yes.
Everything was on point. Menu variety & quality? Oh yeah.
Wine & beer list? Totally.
Overall feel of this place? You bet.
I was flying solo & felt like a king here. I loved everything I had, the urchin, the radishes with chicken pâté, both scallop dishes, the ricotta pasta with mushroom sauce, the vin jaune Baba, it was all awesome, with the accompanying wine suggested by the waiter perfect.
Not cheap, but frankly it was worth every penny. I had a surreal experience & any foodie would love it here.
No wonder int one of the best restaurants in Canada. The food was amazing, we had 5 dishes, the menu changes all the time. The server Tania chose wine for us & every time it was delicious. We also enjoyed that she was very knowledgeable (not only about food) & casual, talking with us occasionally. We loved our experience & would come back 100%.
Tout était parfait à part cette manie déplacée d’enlever les plats & les verres de vin le plus vite possible, alors que certains n’ont pas fini de manger/boire à table. Je vous conseille le croque pétoncles, le gnudi, la panna cotta chocolat!
