Monarque opère comme une destination culinaire polyvalente fusionnant les éléments traditionnels du bistrot français classique avec des techniques de préparation modernes. Le menu se concentre sur des tartares méticuleusement élaborés qui mettent en valeur des ingrédients saisonniers et des profils aromatiques précis. Les clients découvrent un aménagement intérieur vaste qui sépare des styles de service distincts, allant d une ambiance de brasserie décontractée à des expériences plus formelles. De hauts plafonds et des détails architecturaux industriels définissent l espace, créant un environnement axé sur l efficacité et la constance culinaire. La cuisine souligne une maîtrise technique à travers des sauces raffinées et des protéines expertement exécutées provenant de fournisseurs de qualité. Cet établissement maintient une norme rigoureuse pour la fraîcheur des produits, assurant que chaque plat reflète les principes fondamentaux de la cuisine française. L opération globale fonctionne comme un centre sophistiqué de gastronomie régionale dans un cadre urbain.
Monarque est largement reconnu comme une destination gastronomique de premier plan à Montréal, offrant une expérience sophistiquée qui marie les techniques classiques françaises à une touche culinaire moderne. Les convives louent régulièrement la grande qualité des ingrédients et la précision des plats, citant fréquemment des incontournables comme l'os à moelle aux escargots, le confit de canard et divers tartares. Bien que l'atmosphère soit décrite comme élégante, magnifique et animée, certains clients notent que le lieu peut être bruyant et que l'éclairage de la section brasserie peut paraître trop intense. Le service est globalement perçu comme professionnel, attentionné et soigné, bien que quelques visiteurs aient rapporté des incohérences dans le rythme ou l'accueil selon la zone ou l'heure de leur visite. Malgré quelques critiques mineures concernant la taille des portions, l'assaisonnement de certains plats ou la variété des desserts, la majorité des clients considère cet établissement comme une adresse exceptionnelle, idéale tant pour un repas décontracté à la brasserie que pour une expérience gastronomique plus formelle.
Monarque was easily one of the strongest meals of the trip. The veal cheek was ridiculous, genuinely the clear standout & one of those dishes that makes the whole dinner worth it by itself. It was rich, tender, deeply savory, & had that slow-cooked comfort without feeling heavy or sloppy. 100/10 dish.
The cod croquettes were another highlight, crisp on the outside with a clean, salty bite, & the hummus was way better than a simple starter has any right to be. The side of mushrooms was also excellent, earthy & buttery in a way that fit the meal perfectly. The octopus was the only dish I had mixed feelings on. It was cooked beautifully, tender & clearly handled well, but the smoke was intense enough that it started to overpower everything else.
Service:
The meal felt polished & professional, with the kind of pacing you want from a nicer dinner without making the experience feel stiff.
Summary:
Monarque absolutely delivered. The veal cheek alone would bring me back, but the croquettes, hummus, & mushrooms all helped make this feel like a complete, memorable dinner. Only real knock was the overly smoky octopus, but even that was cooked perfectly. Overall, a standout.
Classic brasserie dishes but executed to perfection. We got the hangar steak, the confit duck, & the veal cheeks. The steak was cooked to perfection but the confit was duck was excellent. Probably the best confit duck I've ever had. The sauce for the veal cheeks was a little bit salty but flavour was good & the meat was tender. The portions for the main course are quite large, so you would be full even if you just ordered a main but we loved the food so much we also got dessert. We got chocolate cake, the Queen Elizabeth, & an eclair for dessert. All of them were excellent but my favourite was the Queen Elizabeth as it comes with sour cream ice cream which I thought was a very creative addition.
Best French food I've had. The staff was very kind to adjust us to the Brasserie from Selle a Manger upon request because of the confusion in reserving. The Foie Gras is perfection. The main entrees (duck confit & fish of the day) are fantastic. We especially enjoyed all the little vegetables in the main dishes, although they are not the star of the show but every single one of the vegetables (turnips, brussels sprout, potatoes, eggplant, etc) are just little jewels of nuanced natural flavor by themselves. We finished everything on the plate & would hope to come back in the future.
30 mars 2026
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Service was fantastic. Some of the best I've ever experienced. All servers are very attentive at Monarque.
Food was tasty. I got the trout tartare, octopus, & lamb dish. My favourite was the trout tartare. It's divine - very fresh & full of unique textures & flavours. The other two dishes were good but too salty for my personal preference. Everything served was made of high quality ingredients, beautifully presented, & made with intentionality.
In terms of ambiance, Monarque is well decorated & sophisticated but lacks cozyness. I felt that the temperature of the restaurant could have been slightly warmer & lights dimmer. The lighting especially in the Brasserie is far too bright. I was noticed it as soon as I walked in.
We had an amazing night dinning here. There was a great selection of creative dishes but they also have classic ones which tasted fantastic as well. I especially liked the aged steak, it had great texture & great flavours. The balance between fat & meat was great, the mix of chewiness & softness was great as well & the pepper sauce that came with the steak complemented it quite nicely. The duck was pretty delicious too! The crispy skin paired so well with the tender meat & the flavours were nice as well. The service on the other hand varies quite a lot. We had a warm welcome initially from the waitresses & then some waiters were quite clumsy & rough which made it a bit less enjoyable. The contrast was too big not too notice. The atmosphere itself was great. There were so many customers that were enjoying the food, the vibe was just great. I do feel like the tables are a bit small making it feel a bit cramped but it was still quite nice.
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.
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.
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 :)
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.
