Monarque

Angela

1.0

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.

29 déc. 2025

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Megan

5.0

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.

12 déc. 2025

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Amine

5.0

The execution of the dishes was flawless; true technical skill.

12 nov. 2025

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Micah

5.0

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 :)

6 nov. 2025

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Kyla

5.0

Made a reservation for my boyfriends birthday dinner & had a lovely evening in the salle à manger. Highlights included the morue charbonnière, tartare de thon, & le tomate. From the host to the support staff running food, to the cocktails & our server, everything was thoughtful, delicious, & efficient. Despite the fact we were too full to have dessert as planned after the côte de boeuf (it's huge), our server still brought my boyfriend un mélange de petits morceaux with a candle in it for dessert!
Lastly, they were very accommodating with my difficult dietary restriction which demands little to no salt added to dishes. I am so grateful they made it possible for me to enjoy celebrating my boyfriend on his day!
We will absolutely return.

11 sept. 2025

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Sakura

5.0

We made a reservation for our family of five, including my 8-year-old son & my parents who are in their 60s. For appetizers, we ordered bone marrow, beef pot, foie gras with bread, & grilled octopus - all were absolutely delicious. For the main dishes, we had lobster, duck leg, & lamb, which was especially tender & flavorful.

The service was excellent as well. Our waiter was very friendly & took the time to explain that all the ingredients come directly from the owner's farm to the table, which made the experience even more special.

The whole dining experience was comfortable & enjoyable. We did not encounter any of the discrimination mentioned in some previous comments; on the contrary, everything felt professional & welcoming. Overall, it was a truly wonderful meal, & we're very grateful to the team for making it so memorable.

22 août 2025

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Satya

5.0

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.

2 août 2025

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Deanna

5.0

Delicious dinner with a great lively vibe on a Monday night! We ate in the bistro. Two of us must eat gluten-free, which was easily accommodated with many dishes (including 3 desserts) being gluten free. While all meals were terrific (lamb, sausage, fish of the day), be sure to order the fresh garden vegetables. Cooked so simply with butter & salt… a great way to enjoy the summer produce! Pictured is the (GF) raspberry pavlova.

22 juil. 2025

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Eric

4.0

I've been there on several occasions & I would say it is one of the most overrated restaurants in Montreal. Some dishes are way too'American' or'experimental' & don't go well with the ingredients. For a $100+ 3-course dinner, at least every course should taste ok.

1 juil. 2025

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Lenny

4.0

I'd say the ratings for this restaurant are a bit overhyped. While the overall quality is solid, it's not necessarily a must-visit spot.

That said, a few dishes stood out:
• The bone marrow with Burgundy snails was a great fusion - the richness of the marrow paired beautifully with the wine-infused snails.
• The fish & seafood bouillabaisse was surprisingly light & fresh - not salty at all, with a sweet, almost pumpkin-like orange broth. The mix of scallops, shrimp, & fish made it quite hearty & well-balanced.
• The morel mushrooms with asparagus also offered a fresh & flavorful combination.

Good food overall, but not quite as unforgettable as the ratings might suggest.

21 juin 2025

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Joana

5.0

(Late review, we went in Feb 2025.)

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!

9 juin 2025

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Rachel

5.0

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!

2 juin 2025

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N

5.0

We went as we saw that Chef Nancy Oakes was there Friday night.
My friend had been to the restaurant before, but it was my first visit. It was a bonus to be seated next to the window that allows you to see the kitchen staff in action.
The service is excellent. Very attentive & friendly staff, who , when I mentionned I felt some dishes too salty, made sure I was given a new dish with less salt & that all subsequent ones were made accordingly.
The food was excellent, the portions just right for a 7 course meal.
We were surprised though with the dessert: un chocolat fondant was a bit « ho hum » for a menu of that caliber.
The restaurant was full that night so the noise level was a bit high, but overall a pleasant experience.

10 mars 2025

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Anne

2.0

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.

25 févr. 2025

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Brian

5.0

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!

25 janv. 2025

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Jennifer

4.0

I went on a Friday night, great service & they were accommodating as we were late for our reservation. As for the food, the appetizers were the standouts. The bone marrow dish is a must & was the best dish of the night. We also ordered the octopus which was very tender but a little too smoky. For the mains, the Bouillabaisse was a tad fishy for my taste however the seafood was fresh & perfectly cooked. The rabbit, was not on the regular menu but it was very moist & perfectly seasoned. Great quality-price & portions were very fair. Would definitely go back to try more of their dishes!

25 janv. 2025

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Amanda

5.0

Favorite restaurant in Montreal. Dishes are delicious, visually stunning, & well executed. Staff are efficient & friendly. Make sure to save room for dessert.

11 déc. 2024

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Felipe

5.0

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.

10 oct. 2024

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Leon

5.0

I go to this restaurant every Christmas. Their service & dishes are excellent. Remember to make a reservation in advance.

26 sept. 2024

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Eve

5.0

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.

20 sept. 2024

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