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.
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.
Aug 2, 2025
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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.
We had a wonderful lunch at Monarque & were truly impressed by the entire experience. The service was excellent, every staff member was friendly, attentive, & constantly smiling, which made us feel so welcomed.
Both the cocktails & mocktails were well-crafted & reasonably priced, adding a refreshing touch to our meal. The food was absolutely fantastic & surprisingly affordable compared to similar fine dining spots in Toronto. My top favorite was the bone marrow, only $24 for a huge portion & packed with flavour. A must-try!
Highly recommend Monarque for anyone visiting Montreal. We'll definitely be back again in the future!
We did not expect to like this restaurant as much as we did! It's our new'coup de coeur'. Booked a table online for the bar section (brasserie), which was surprisingly easy.
Everything was delicious & the service was efficient. The cocktails were great, creative, & perfectly adapted to the dishes. The bone marrow dish is a must, with the richness of the marrow perfectly balanced by the acidity of the red wine jus, & the crunchiness of the toast underneath. I'm still dreaming about that dish! The pepper sauce of the pork chops was fantastic, a nice Asian twist to its classical version. Bouillabaisse was very good, if one likes this type of fish stew. The seafood inside was plentiful. The rouille served on toast was a tasty accompaniment. Highly recommend their tea-flavored crème brûlée. The pistachio cake was good, but not a standout.
Overall, we were very impressed by this restaurant's food pairing. The portions were also generous, & the price fair, for such a restaurant. It's on our favorites list now!
Jun 9, 2025
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This was one of the best restaurants I have ever been to in Montreal. It makes complete sense why it was one of the top restaurants in Canada (#17). Service was top tier & the atmosphere was a vibe. The food was absolutely incredible & I had the best time eating here. I can't say enough good things about all of the dishes. Underrated dish of the night was the morel mushrooms, asparagus & fiddleheads. They were cooked to perfection. The bone marrow & snails were chefs kiss. All of the mains were to die for & you can't go wrong with choosing any of them. The desserts were wonderful. The passion fruit pavlova was the perfect combination of tartness from the passion fruit & the airy sweetness of the meringue. The rice pudding was really sweet but the flavour combo was great. The maple crème brûlée was a standout with the maple flavours. Overall I had an amazing experience with the food, service & atmosphere. Highly highly recommend!
This restaurant had been on our list for a while, & our visit was well worth it. The welcome was warm & professional, & the service was attentive without being intrusive. The wine recommendation was perfect & beautifully complemented each dish.
We started with a delicious foie gras, followed by the evening's special: a tender & flavorful short rib. The meal ended on a sweet note with refined mignardises, perfectly balanced in taste & texture.
The restaurant's aesthetics are impeccable, but one small detail slightly affected the experience. From where we were seated, we could hear the staff exchanging unprofessional remarks about some customers. It didn't impact the service directly, but a bit more discretion would have made the experience flawless.
That said, with its excellent cuisine & elegant setting, this is a place I highly recommend.
Visiting the city & decided to dine with them for a birthday celebration. It was highly rated on Google & recommended by many. But our experience was quite bizarre.
First of all, we walked in & were guided to our table. Our server never made an appearance or introduced herself. Some other staff helped us with our coats. We were seated for a while & she was no where to be found, another staff swung by to give us the wine list & menu. She was no where to be found. Finally, she came by. She didnt know the menu well enough to answer our questions (she was honest abt it. But that doesnt make it ok). Idk if she was that busy or just avoided our table & eye contact at all times, very inattentive. It took her so long to come to our table, other staff had to step in & come check on us.
The food itself was ok. Impressed with some dishes more than others. But they mixed up our main courses. & they dont reli explain the dish upon serving, so thank god i know what i ordered. Plus the super long waits in between. Our dinner was 3+ hours for 3 courses.
Our server didn't come back to take our dessert order or the bill. Two other different staff stepped in…
Overall, very mid experience for what we were paying for.
Had dinner at Monarque while visiting Montreal since it's ranked the #1 restaurant in the city & made Canada's Top 100 list. The vibe was great-elegant but not stuffy-& the service was super attentive. The food is classic French, really well done. Highly recommend the bone marrow escargot & foie gras-both were rich, flavorful, & absolutely delicious. If you're looking for a solid French dining experience, this place is definitely worth checking out!
Feb 23, 2025
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Wow 🤩! Du début à la fin nous avons eu une expérience culinaire de haut niveau. & le sommelier nous a recommandé des vins tout aussi exceptionnel. Avec un service impeccable. Nous vous remercions pour avoir fait de notre anniversaire de mariage un moments hors norme. Félicitations à toute votre équipe!
Gloriously designed with an attention to detail, I loved this place. The food was a taste buds explosion of complex flavours. The drinks were refreshing & with a twist. I loved the Monarch design linked from the drinks to the glass bottle & as a pin on the server's uniform. The viewing into the kitchen was entertaining & impressive. I did not have a single bad dish to eat. We tried every starter with the exception of one. Loved them all. The Rabbit special was so good. The veal cheek melts in your mouth. Our server was so good & I appreciated her attentiveness. Highly recommend this restaurant.
Tellement une belle expérience! J'ai été avec mon copain & le service de Colin était impeccable. Il nous a fait de très bonnes recommandations & il était très professionnel.
La nourriture était excellente & le vin que nous avons pris également.
This was our first visit to Monarque, & it certainly won't be my last! From the moment we walked in, the service was exceptional. They even offered to take our coats, which was such a thoughtful touch. For starters, we had the bone marrow with Burgundy snails & the grilled octopus-both were beautifully presented & absolutely delicious. For our mains, we tried the fish & seafood bouillabaisse & the special braised rabbit thigh, which were equally impressive. To pair with the meal, we ordered the Goa & Pomchata mocktails, & they were just as amazing as the food! The staff were incredibly patient & gave us plenty of time to make our choices, creating a relaxed & welcoming atmosphere. This place is perfect for a date night-I would highly recommend it to any couple looking for a memorable dining experience. I'm already looking forward to returning & trying more dishes from their menu!
Jan 25, 2025
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We went to Monarque on recommendation from a bartender at another Montreal restaurant. It's a gorgeous twinkling restaurant with delicious everything. Lots of typical French stuff on menu. If you're a fan of simply dressed excellent lettuces, the green herb salad excels. Super bouillabaisse & steak frites. Best martini I've ever had (went with bartenders rec for locally produced gin from a Quebecois microdistillery - wow). Special. Absolutely recommend.
Had an amazing experience at Monarque - the service was attentive, the food superb, & the cost very reasonable. We shared the chicken soup which is triple boiled & dressed up with all sorts of herbs which really hit the spot on the chilly day. For the main course, my spouse had the cod with a risotto which was delicious & I had the pork chop with a japanese peppercorn sauce that was among the best meals I've had in a considerably long time. I usually don't spring for dessert but every plate was excellent so I decided to go for the mango pavlova which was presented well & baked perfection. Can't recommend this place strongly enough.
Dinner here was delightful! Service was top notch & attentive & we enjoyed the recommended three courses (four, if you add dessert). We found the portions small enough to accommodate all three although the third course could have been split. Our favorite dish was the miso black cod! Would strongly recommend for a birthday dinner or anyone traveling from out of town!
