Monarque operates as a versatile culinary destination blending the traditional elements of a classic French bistro with modern preparation techniques. The menu centers on meticulously crafted tartares that highlight seasonal ingredients and precise flavor profiles. Patrons encounter an expansive interior layout that separates distinct service styles, ranging from a casual brasserie atmosphere to more formal, structured dining experiences. High ceilings and industrial architectural details define the space, creating an environment focused on efficiency and culinary consistency. The kitchen emphasizes technical mastery through refined sauces and expertly executed proteins sourced from high-quality suppliers. This establishment maintains a rigorous standard for ingredient freshness, ensuring that every dish reflects the core principles of French cooking. The overall operation functions as a sophisticated nexus of regional gastronomy within a bustling, high-traffic urban setting.
Monarque is widely celebrated as a premier dining destination in Montreal, offering an exceptional experience defined by its elegant atmosphere, professional service, and high-quality French cuisine. Guests frequently praise the restaurant for its vibrant, dual-concept layout, which features both a lively brasserie and a more formal dining room, each providing delicious, well-executed dishes crafted with meticulous attention to detail. Standout items like the bone marrow with escargot, duck confit, fresh tartares, and creative desserts consistently receive high acclaim for their balance of flavors and refined presentation. Many diners highlight the warm and knowledgeable staff who contribute to a welcoming and memorable visit, making it a top choice for special occasions, business meetings, or a sophisticated night out. Overall, visitors appreciate the restaurant's consistency and its ability to deliver a polished, world-class culinary journey that keeps patrons returning time and again.
Most of the food we ate was a hit or miss, the duck confit was so tender & so delicious ( definitely recommend) but the steak was just not standing out as much. Or the tuna tar tar which is my favourite had so much flavour. There was an English menu which is helpful, but their service was not the best. The entire experience was not bad.
Great location & nice space. There are two different menus b/t the Bar & dinning table for dinner. Only had the duck confite, a big dry to my taste but still better than many other places. Will come back to try different items next time in town.
The trout tartare was the highlight of the meal. It tasted fresh, & the combination of flavors & textures was unique & really well done.
The duck confit was too salty. I liked how crispy the skin was, but I couldn't finish it. The octopus was tender, but it wasn't anything special. I wasn't a fan of the sauce. It wasn't the green sauce shown in some photos I had seen on Google.
The service was efficient, but it wasn't particularly warm or welcoming. Overall, for the price, I expected a better experience.
Sat at the bar is the brasserie side. Make aure you have a reservation as it books up solid & there is no wait list for walk ins.
Steak frites & duck confit were absolutely amazing. Among the best, if not the best we have ever had. Grwat cheese & the pate / terrine / rillets were amazing. The bartender chose awesome wine pairings too. Gorgeous space as well.
We were a little reluctant about a spot in the touristy area, but so glad we went!
Had our anniversary dinner here on our trip to Montreal. We came early & were seated right away. Nice ambiance, not too loud for a dinner date. Friendly wait staff.
Food: Started off with the escargot over bone marrow & foie gras. Great presentation & nicely cooked escargot. Personal preference I like my escargot to be swimming in hot garlic oil. Escargot here was room temperature & placed on top of the bone marrow where you mix into the bone fat. Foie gras was standard.
Highlight of dinner was the entree!! We got the lamb & duck confit. Duck confit was cooked to perfection, buttery, crispy but melts in your mouth with the right amount of seasoning.
Dessert we got the passion fruit pavlova. It was nice & light after a heavy meal.
All in all I had a wonderful dinner experience.
I love this restaurant from ambience, service to food. My table was served by 4-5 waiters/ waitress. A gentleman served water, another one served us wine, they let me taste my wine to make sure I'm satisfied with my choice before serving it! I picked Vin de Franz, white wine as I had seafood bouillabaisse for main course. We had a bone marrow & French snails cooked with red wine for appetizer, it was excellent. The bouillabaisse was amazing too! I will definitely come back for duck confit & lamb shoulder. Really highly recommended!
Classic brasserie dishes but executed to perfection. We got the hangar steak, the confit duck, & the veal cheeks. The steak was cooked to perfection but the confit was duck was excellent. Probably the best confit duck I've ever had. The sauce for the veal cheeks was a little bit salty but flavour was good & the meat was tender. The portions for the main course are quite large, so you would be full even if you just ordered a main but we loved the food so much we also got dessert. We got chocolate cake, the Queen Elizabeth, & an eclair for dessert. All of them were excellent but my favourite was the Queen Elizabeth as it comes with sour cream ice cream which I thought was a very creative addition.
A lively spot for dinner with all the French classics. A little something for everyone. My boyfriend wanted to have a steak & I wanted something other than a steak. Did not disappoint. We had the most tender grilled octopus here (melt on your mouth), crispy cod fritters, striploin & fries with a side of sauteed mushrooms, duck confit & finished off the evening with an eclair. I would come back here just to devour a plate of their fries. Crispy on the outside, creamy & soft on the inside & bursting of potato flavor. They have a fantastic wine list also. Highly recommend the Hidalgo Albert Fina (red wine).
