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.
Definitely make reservations, we made reservations a little before we came on Open Table & while we were waiting to be seated two other groups came & were turned away since they didn't have reservations.
The wine collection on shelves over the bar was very impressive. I normally don't see that much wine in a restaurant.
I got their special appetizer of the day with tuna, & it was fresh, delicious & plenty for me to have as an entree with the addition of the potatoes au gratin/scalloped potatoes side. It was enough to share & had paper thin slices of potatoes in a delicious white sauce. It was even better than mom's!
We were at a table across from the bar, & they are pretty close together. There is another bigger dining section in the back. Really good food but it was a bit noisy with the packed bar & restaurant.
Amazing! Best oysters & lobster of my life! I didn't care for the escargot paired with the bone marrow. I think my personal preference is the more traditional preparation. But this is fantastic restaurant!
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!
Une belle ambiance, des plats de bonne qualité, même si j'ai trouvé mon entrée (des sucrines aux crevettes) très froid & servi très rapidement. Je crains que ce type de plat sont préparés en avance & placés au frigo. Je note aussi que les crevettes sont toutes petites & probablement congelées.
Le gros étonnement est la carte des vins, elle est enorme & extrêmement chère. Je n'irais jusqu'à reprocher les marges du restaurant mais la sélection est très, trop élevé, il est impossible de trouver un vin à moins de 60$ CAD, il y en a que 4 ou 5, la moyenne est plutôt autour de 120/150 $ CAD. C'est un peu ridicule pour le niveau de ce restaurant qui est loin de valoir une étoile.
Jun 5, 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!
Très beau restaurant avec un service impeccable. Les assiettes sont bien présentées, on sent que les couleurs & les textures sont soigneusement choisies. Je dirais que tout était intense en saveurs, un peu trop, surtout côté sel. Je ne mange pas souvent de la fine cuisine, alors je ne suis pas particulièrement à la recherche d'un goût aussi intense salé si j'ai l'attente de déguster les ingrédients mis de l'avant. Cela a été le plus marquant, pour un repas dans les 250$/2 personnes.
Expectations were high but they were definitely met. Food, service & atmosphere all terrific. I will visit again next trip as well as their Brasserie side.
Went for a lunch with a bunch of friends. Honestly can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Everything ordered was exceptional & the service was amazing!
May 27, 2025
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We were really looking forward to our dinner at Monarque after glowing recommendations from friends who had lived in Montreal. We booked the Brasserie months in advance during a conference trip-but sadly, the experience didn't live up to expectations.
The Brasserie was only half full, yet service was slow & inattentive. Our server, while polite, barely engaged with us & seemed more focused on older or more formally dressed guests. It took 45 minutes just to place our order, & no one asked if we wanted drinks.
We ordered gougères (delicious), olives, & croquettes to start-followed by excellent appetizers (bone marrow with snails, & octopus). Mains were beautifully plated but uneven: the duck confit was overly salty & unbalanced, though the ribeye & halibut were solid.
The worst part? A fellow diner changed their toddler in plain view of the room-& no staff intervened. It felt like Brasserie guests weren't treated with the same care as those in the Salle à Manger, which seemed much livelier.
We still tipped well, but didn't feel the service earned it. Disappointed overall-we won't be returning.
Une superbe expérience culinaire, le service peut être lent (à certains moments, sur une durée de 3 h), mais demeure exceptionnel en tout point. L'expérience salle à manger a été faite; la prochaine sera la bistro !
