Reviews describe Mona Loa as a visually striking cavernous speakeasy with dim lighting, warm tones, and a unique decor that makes the space feel intimate yet elevated. The vibe is repeatedly praised as cozy and immersive, a great setting for dates or a night out with friends, and the cocktails are often highlighted for being creative and well balanced, with a standout Habibi cocktail frequently praised. Food receives mixed notes, with some dishes like seafood and sushi praised for freshness and flavor, while others arrive cold or fall short of expectations for the price. Service is generally friendly and attentive but inconsistent at times, and during busy periods some guests report slower pacing or seating and menu hiccups. The location and atmosphere are consistently cited as a major draw, including the sense of discovery and the overall aesthetic, sometimes described as a hidden gem on Crescent with a basement bar and lively music. Reservations are advised as the place fills up, and a few reviews caution about noise levels and the value for money. Overall Mona Loa is seen as a must visit for ambiance and drinks, with the experience varying by visit depending on service and kitchen execution.
Le personnel n'est pas à blamer quant à cette note, ils semblent essayer de faire de leur mieux mais l'organisation & la lenteur du service sont décevants : la gestion laisse définitivement à désirer. Ils over-book clairement leur restaurant quitte à offrir une expérience vraiment boff juste pour faire plus de client. Nous faire attendre 15min dehors alors qu'on est arrivé à l'heure, déplacement de tables pendant le service, délais entre la réception des drinks/plats, en plus j'ai eu un malaise digestif après avoir manger leur tartare de saumon qui était vraiment trop room temperature, aucune fraicheur.. pourtant c'est du Ora king apparemment. C'est dommage car le décoration est sublime & l'ambiance est plutôt agréable malgré la musique un peu trop forte. C'est un restaurant ou un genre de supper club? Pas trop certaine mais je reviendrai pas & ne recommanderai pas.
First time we went had some hiccups. But spoke with the manager & he definitely addressed the situation & took action right away. Our next visit was great & you can tell they care about their clientele. Drinks are great here & decent food. Loved the violinist entertainment as well. The vibe is awesome so definitely will be back
Was walking by & decided to go in for a quick drink with a friend & ended up staying until closing. We became best friends with Megan the bartender, she is an angel. Such a beautiful place, highly recommend!
Oct 23, 2025
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A really amazing experience for some birthday drinks & sushi. I would recommend this place simply for their adorable bird cocktail glasses but everything from the drinks to the food to Diana's excellent service was top tier.
Je suis allée il y une semaine & Charly ma serveuse ma trop bien servi!! La nourriture etait super bonne & le vibe est vraiment original! Parfaite place pour prendre un drink le personnel est vraiment top :)
Sep 11, 2025
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You won't get a table!!!
We had reservations for 3 at 9pm on a Saturday. First they made us wait in a table outside. Then we waited at the bar for 1h when we eventually figured we were not going to get a table because of the lack of organisation. The vibe, music & food is okay here. The service I wouldn't say as much. The owner was kind enough to offer us something to drink. It was shots & we didn't feel like drinking shots so we asked for'cocktails' instead, which were the shots with pineapple juice. I found that to be very cheap considering the prices on the menu. Overall me & my friends were disappointed with our experience here.
This resto is a sham your instagram videos are nothing like what you serve , this is the worst place i ever ate in montreal ! I actually came home & cooked food !!! your salmon tartare is just salmon there is no other flavors we were charged for two tartares . There was only 3 little tostios chips
For the tartare .. i took your signature drink it was less than good Im sorry $250 for entrees & 2 drinks now i know why the place was empty
Ce resto est une arnaque ! Vos vidéos Instagram ne ressemblent en rien à ce que vous servez. C'est le pire restaurant où j'ai mangé à Montréal ! Je suis rentré chez moi & j'ai cuisiné ! Votre tartare de saumon est juste du saumon, il n'y a pas d'autres saveurs. On nous a facturé deux tartares. Il n'y avait que trois petites chips Tostios.
Pour le tartare… j'ai pris votre boisson signature, c'était vraiment pas bon. Désolé, 250 $ pour les entrées & deux boissons. Maintenant, je comprends pourquoi l'endroit était vide.
Pretentious attitudes, bordering on rude. Slow service. Took a while just to get a menu. Cocktails not that exciting. Was served drinks with no cocktail napkin, no water. The vibe of the space itself is cool, fun DJ, but it didn't make up for the bad energy from the staff who all seemed to not be getting along amongst themselves. If you've been there too long without spending they will ask you to pay your tab & leave. Seems to prioritize young women. Trying to be a night club but it's just a small bar with food. Could be better in so many ways. Skip.
Sep 1, 2025
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Had a reservation for 7pm, at 8:40pm when we went to order a 3rd drink (every round took about 30min to come out) they told us that there was a 1h45 limit on the tables so we had to go. Decor is cool but very disappointing experience & wouldn't recommend. Service was very slow & poor.
You're really just paying for the vibe here, not the quality or taste of the food.
The music was good & our server was nice, but everything else was disappointing. We had a reservation for 7 people at 9pm, & while eating, the restaurant slowly started letting people in to stand around & drink. It was super uncomfortable having people standing right next to our table while we were trying to have dinner.
On top of that, a lot of items on the menu weren't available, including sushi, which was one of the main reasons we came.
The food we did get was just mid at best, definitely not worth the price.
Great music, but not somewhere I'd come back to eat.
I had a reservation for 10h30,they kept me outside for 45mn.
Once inside I waited for another 20mn before having my 20$ drink that was nasty.
Also very small inside.
