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.
One of my favourite spots in Montreal to go when I'm feeling hungry. The efficient & friendly service combined with the clean interior make Monarque an absolute must-try!
Beautiful restaurant, the food was delicious, the service was extraordinary, the staff was super friendly. Ranked one of the best restaurants in Canada, the visit is totally worth it. They have an interesting menu of food & a very extensive wine menu. I would recommend this restaurant for any special occasion or for a nice dinner with friends.
Oct 11, 2024
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Even when we only decided to take two courses & the dessert, instead of the recommend three, we left fully satisfied. The dishes were amazing, tasteful, beautifully prepared. A fantastic experience that we fully recommend. We will come back.
Exceptional food, ambience & service. Restaurant has to sections: formal sit down & more chilled brasserie. Food is phenomenal throughout. vast wine selection & great cocktails. Best meal we've had in a while from start to finish.
The restaurant provides a good dining experience with decent atmosphere. We came for a business dinner with a guest speaker. It also seems like a pretty nice place for dates. The food is decent, but obviously portion is relatively small as a tradeoff for the experience.
Superbe endroit! Gastronomie fantastique! Même si les portions paraissent petites, elle sont très bien faits, pas de sensation de faim ressentie. Cependant, les tables sont très proches, je ne suis plus ma conversation, & j'entends le dialogue des autres ce qui perturbe l'atmosphère.
Sep 25, 2024
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We went there for lunch, restaurant part. The food was excellent, I'm picky & I can say that it was very good. I took : the cauliflower soup : creamy with chunks of cauliflower a little bit sour (excellent) veal cheek : extremely tender, the sauce is excellent Atmosphere is nice, not too loud even if we were in a corner, that helps. Expensive around 50$ for my share before taxes/tip, they could improve the best value. I will come back.
Great experience. It's pricey but we really enjoyed it. Pretty formal & upscale vibes with a huge wine selection. We sat in the dining room (menu is very different from the bar) & had the scallop crudo, grilled sweetbreads & the cote de bouef for 2. Our server was attentive but not intrusive which was great. Did a good job of explaining the menu & helping pick a wine. Fair warning - if you get the cote de bouef you may want to consider not ordering from every course as the portion is massive! It was a perfectly cooked giant steak with really great potatoes au gratin & a simple salad. Would like to go back & try the brasserie menu as that looked excellent as well.
Outstanding. Lobster farro was amazing. The braised veal cheeks were the most succulent thing I've ever eaten. Awesome cocktails & cool vibe. I would go back in a heartbeat the next time I'm in Montreal.
Sep 22, 2024
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Dined in the back section. Atmosphere was a bit more formal than the front: swanky dinner. I was surprised that the menu was not completely classic French, but that there were dishes with Japanese or other influences. The dishes were all well done, nicely balanced, with a little inventiveness about them. Duck - always one of the tests - was very good. I also really enjoyed the cold scallop starter with its tomato water. Star dessert was the strawberry tart. Our waiter started out a little cool as probably matches the atmosphere but soon started engaging with us, which was nice. The couple sat next to us were having some personal drama at their table. The restaurant staff were SUPER professional about handling their table, which I'm sure everyone appreciated. Not a cheap dinner but would return if I lived here.
This is a true culinary experience. They recommend you take one course per section of the menu but as a big group, you could easily manage two & be perfectly full & delighted. The service was friendly & warm. We even got a tour of one of the 3 kitchens! Very high end & delicious Montreal restaurant! Very recommended
This was a disappointing dinner. The service & atmosphere were good but the food did not live up. I had the ribeye. It was unseasoned, too thin & really just not a very good cut of beef for the price. Other dishes were mixed. The drinks were pretty good. The presentation was good as shown by the pictures I took. But it just didn't deliver on food.
Nice place with nice design. The reception was very good, but service afterwards ( different person ) could improve. Food is ok, but nothing crazy, except the " charbonnière cod " which was above. Very expensive for what it is. I am sure the rent is expensive in this location, but food is " regular " & not worth what I pay for. For the same quality, there are similar places very close by, but half the price. Salle a manger dinner! Verdict : give it a try.
Vacationing in Montreal, found this Fodor's guide. Better than the description. The food was delicious, the service was great, & the atmosphere is dynamic. This is the kind of restaurant that can only be found in a great city; the number of people taking care of us was amazing. The people who work here are were fabulous. The organization is impeccable. The prices are worth the quality of service & food. You will not be disappointed.
