Reviews portray Monarque as a refined Montreal dining destination that blends a chic brasserie vibe with a formal dining room, offering an elegant yet lively atmosphere. The cuisine is repeatedly described as superb, with standout dishes including bone marrow with escargots, bouillabaisse, tartare, duck, veal cheeks, and a highly praised seafood selection, though a few items are noted as overly salty or uneven in texture. The presentation is praised, ingredients are described as high quality and carefully balanced, and the open kitchen and kitchen-facing tables are frequently highlighted as special touches. Service is described as professional, attentive, and knowledgeable, with many guests feeling well taken care of, while some reviews mention variability in service levels, language gaps, or occasional delays. The wine list is extensive and a strength, though prices can be high. Ambiance is consistently described as beautiful, classic, and Montreal style, with some comments that the space can be loud or the temperature a bit cool, and a few complaints about dessert quality or portion sizes. Reservations are recommended given popularity and the two-menu structure, and many leave eager to return for another memorable meal. Overall, Monarque is viewed as one of Montreal's top dining experiences for technique, presentation, and hospitality, albeit with occasional inconsistencies in service and value.
Très belle découverte ! Le restaurant a une super ambiance & le service est vraiment chaleureux. Les plats étaient délicieux & bien présentés, on voit que les ingrédients sont frais. L'équipe prend le temps de s'assurer que tout est parfait pour les clients. Je vais définitivement revenir & recommander la place à mes amis.
Had an absolutely wonderful dining experience here! The atmosphere was warm & welcoming from the moment we walked in. Our server was attentive & knowledgeable about the menu, offering great recommendations. The food was exceptional - fresh ingredients, perfectly seasoned, & beautifully presented. Every dish we tried was bursting with flavor. The portions were generous & well worth the price. The restaurant was clean & well-maintained, & despite being busy, we didn't feel rushed. The dessert was the perfect ending to our meal. We'll definitely be returning soon & would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a great meal & excellent service. Five stars!
Mar 3, 2026
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The food & service were excellent. I recommend the wild mushroom gnocci & the braised veal cheeks, the flavours & the meat tenderness are unreal. If you can, ask for a table facing the kitchen in the brasserie, those are the best spots. Finally, we very much appreciated that the payment terminal didn't have preset tipping amounts. We will definitely come back soon.
Pour mon anniversaire, je suis invitée au restaurant Le Monarque. Un excellent apéritif, mais le plat principal est une catastrophe - on a dû retourner deux plats. Une pièce de viande dure difficile à couper malgré de très bons couteaux & sans goût. Un plat sans légume, mais de frites à profusion. Non, je ne recommande pas ce restaurant.
Très très belle restaurant. La nourriture était exceptionnel, je recommande la pieuvre elle est magnifique. L'atmosphère & la service était aussi très acceptable. Assez silencieux pour une propre conversation.
We came here for my wife's birthday. It's a nice place. Love the atmosphere. The open kitchen. The less formal vibes. It's really nice. However, it's also a pretty expensive place. Our bill was almost $300 before tip. & when we eat at places like that our expectations are high. & in this case Monarque didn't live up to our expectations.
They brought out bread & butter before the meal. Which was nice. But both the bread & the butter were cold. Would have expected warm bread & soft butter at a place like this.
I ordered the venison steak which was on their special menu for the day. Server recommended it medium rare so that's what I took. It came out blue. It was delicious & I ate it happily. I told the waiter'I trust the kitchen. I just want to make sure that this is how they meant to send it out.' & he confirmed. But again, when you pay $300 for dinner you expect the kitchen to cook your steak the way you ordered it.
Portions are small.
Drinks were good. Service was good. Vibes were good. But not worth the price. Probably won't be back.
Dec 21, 2025
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This restaurant will be at the top of my list for'Worst Restaurants in Montreal.'
Food: absolutely garbage.
Service: trash.
The only flavor you can taste is salt. I honestly felt like my tongue was destroyed, & I probably consumed an entire year's worth of my normal salt intake in one meal. If salt were as expensive as gold, one serving of your lamb could buy two Teslas - the company, not the car.
Service can't even be rated, because there was no service. Nobody talked to me. I was ignored like I didn't exist. Nobody asked how the food was (which explains why it's salty as hell - the waiters never ask). Nobody recommended anything, food or drinks. Nobody asked if I wanted dessert.
I'm genuinely shocked by how bad the service was. This isn't just one of the worst in Montreal - it's genuinely hard to find a worse place in Quebec, let alone Canada.
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.
Heard such good thing about this resto so booked a table at the brasserie. We ordered the bone marrow, ravioli, steak & the special of the day which was lamb shoulder. All dishes were well seasoned & delicious. Honestly for the quality & portion, I think the price is VERY reasonable especially for a restaurant in the old port. I really enjoyed the richness of the bone marrow & the steak was perfectly cooked & seasoned. Dare I say better than Gibbys. The fries were also perfectly crispy & seasoned. The lamb shoulder was also fabulous!! Would recommend the steak & bone marrow. Service was also very accommodating. Will come back again for a night out with friends or for a date.
LOVED this place! Everything was great, from food to venue to staff & cocktails. We had an amazing time & even recommended it to friends visiting from the US. They also had a great time. Cant wait to go back!
Oct 25, 2025
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Incroyable! Le service, la nourriture, l'esthétique, tout est peaufiné aux petits soins à ce restaurant. Moi & ma partenaire avons beaucoup apprécié & nous reviendrons très bientôt;)
Mention spécial au Sous Chef Julien, à qui j'ai pu serrer la main, & son homard si délicieux & exquis. Une forte recommandation pour quiconque veut passer une soirée haute en saveurs
Exécution à la perfection: entrées exquises, cuisson à la perfection, ambiance chaleureuse, & service impeccable. Dans le haut de gamme, le Monarche offre une excellente valeur. On était du côté brasserie. Je recommande!
Excellent moment pour une occasion particulière un anniversaire!
Nous étions servis comme des rois, repas pris en face du bar c'était très original & une belle ambiance.
J'ai adoré leur nourriture de qualité! Surtout l'agneau qui était excellent, je recommande vraiment ce restaurant sur Montréal.
Grandiose !
Très bel accueil dans ce chic établissement, le service y est chaleureux & le repas tout simplement excellent.
Le prix y est très correct pour la qualité de l'expérience proposée. Je recommande !
I went here for a group event. The waiters were super attentive & it was a very nice evening. I loved the food from the menu we got. All the dishes were delicious. I really recommend the restaurant for group events. It was perfect.
I visited Monaque today after an 8.5-hour drive, really looking forward to dining at their main kitchen. However, due to my misunderstanding of French during the reservation process, I ended up booking the wrong kitchen. I was quite disappointed, as this was one of my most anticipated spots in Montreal.
Feeling quite disappointed, I explained my situation to Louis, who warmly listened & introduced me to Oliver. Thanks to Oliver's efforts & coordination, I was finally able to get a seat at the kitchen I truly wanted. Sophie then took over our table with impeccable service - she was friendly, knowledgeable, & made excellent recommendations throughout the evening.
While the food didn't quite live up to my very high expectations, it was still enjoyable & definitely worth the price. The fish Sophie recommended turned out to be the highlight of my meal - absolutely delicious!
Thanks to Louis, Oliver, & Sophie, I experienced the true charm of a French restaurant. Their warmth & hospitality made this meal the perfect ending to my trip to Montreal.
