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.
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).
Best French food I've had. The staff was very kind to adjust us to the Brasserie from Selle a Manger upon request because of the confusion in reserving. The Foie Gras is perfection. The main entrees (duck confit & fish of the day) are fantastic. We especially enjoyed all the little vegetables in the main dishes, although they are not the star of the show but every single one of the vegetables (turnips, brussels sprout, potatoes, eggplant, etc) are just little jewels of nuanced natural flavor by themselves. We finished everything on the plate & would hope to come back in the future.
Enjoyed some excellent vegetarian options while celebrating an anniversary. My husband had the bone marrow with escargot as well as the duck confit & enjoyed those as well!
Mar 27, 2026
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We had an amazing night dinning here. There was a great selection of creative dishes but they also have classic ones which tasted fantastic as well. I especially liked the aged steak, it had great texture & great flavours. The balance between fat & meat was great, the mix of chewiness & softness was great as well & the pepper sauce that came with the steak complemented it quite nicely. The duck was pretty delicious too! The crispy skin paired so well with the tender meat & the flavours were nice as well. The service on the other hand varies quite a lot. We had a warm welcome initially from the waitresses & then some waiters were quite clumsy & rough which made it a bit less enjoyable. The contrast was too big not too notice. The atmosphere itself was great. There were so many customers that were enjoying the food, the vibe was just great. I do feel like the tables are a bit small making it feel a bit cramped but it was still quite nice.
Yesterday, my husband & I visited Montreal for the first time & chose this restaurant based on its many positive reviews. Unfortunately, it turned out to be one of the most disappointing dining experiences we've had.
I don't usually leave negative reviews, but the food quality was genuinely hard to believe. My husband's dish was excessively greasy. We started with the winter salad - the lettuce leaves were so large they were difficult to eat, the cheese was overwhelmingly heavy, & the vegetables tasted neither fresh nor crisp, but rather soggy.
We also ordered the bone marrow. While it looked large, there was actually only one or two small scoops of marrow inside, which felt misleading.
For the main courses, we ordered the duck & the ribeye. Both meats lacked freshness & flavor, tasting more like pre-packaged, previously sealed meat rather than freshly prepared dishes. Even basic seasoning like salt was unevenly distributed.
Overall, the experience was very disappointing, especially given the restaurant's reputation & large kitchen. I truly don't understand the glowing reviews, but this was our honest experience.
This review is for the Brasserie. I especially wanted to try this place to get my foie gras fix & it was really good! I only wish the foie gras & the bread were served warm. The bone marrow with snails was also good, but the combination was a little weird. I liked the bone marrow. I liked the snails. But served together took away from enjoying each part on its own.
The duck was roasted to perfection. The skin was so crispy & the meat just fell off the bone. Same goes for the braised veal cheeks. There was no bone to fall off of, but the meat was so tender & just came apart as soon as I pressed down with my knife.
I can't wait to come back to try the Salle à Manger since it's a different menu.
We were able to get a reservation for the same day. We tried duck confit, deer, veal cheek, salad, gnocchi, tartare, for dessert we had the Pavlova, sticky toffee, & the chocolate cake. Everything was very good, the suggestions we got from the waiter were accurate & the serving time was short. We would comeback & we do recommend it.
Paid 140$ to get food poising. Every meal was worst that the last. I don't know why every single dish was salty & sweet at the same time. Mozzarella cheese & an orange slice… yeah I think not. The tuna was mushy & stringy & don't get me started on the duck… I've had better airplane food. idk the flavour combo of every meal was just off. The first bite of dessert was good but then it got really heavy. Trying too hard to be different & miserably failing. The servers were really nice though.
Had dinner here in the main dining area, & it was exceptional across the board. Very extensive wine list (think >500 options) for those who know their way around a bottle. Service was attentive & friendly but not overbearing. Favorite main dishes were the tuna tartare, venison, braised leek / tortellini, & roasted duck, but the single best thing I ate was probably the passion fruit pavlova - still dreaming of it!
We are Anglophones & had some reservations that we might not get great service at a higher end establishment in Montreal, but it was not an issue at all. The staff clearly take their jobs seriously - if you reciprocate by appreciating the experience & being engaged (i.e. not staring at your phone all evening), you can expect to receive good service :)
