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.
Brasserie française. Excellente adresse du vieux port. Plats magnifiquement exécutés. Goûts & saveurs au rendez vous. Pieuvre exquise. Asperges blanches & sauce gribiche s'agrémente bien avec la verdure bien citronnée. Joue exceptionnelle, mais j'aurais pris plus de purée. Effiloché d'agneau super savoureux. Un peu déçu par le
Side de chou-fleur beurre de sauge. Il y avait plus de verdure ( épinard?) & de câpres que de chou-fleur. Déception aussi pour le gâteau reine elisabeth. Mon conjoint, lui, l'a apprécié. Ce gâteau est lié à beaucoup de souvenirs & cette version froide ne m'a pas plu.
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.
Apr 7, 2026
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I have been to both rooms in the past, but only returned recently given how long it has been since last visit. Sincerely, took for granted how stunning the decor this restaurant is. The service is top notch, the food elevated & overall just an amazing dining experience. The mushroom gnocchi & the dry aged rib eye were just fantastic, & the fries were incredible. There is a reason why it is so often fully booked. This place is professionally run & it shows in the consistency over the years.
A very cool restaurant - split into a Brasserie & a tasting dining room, it has a very beautiful layout. This review is for the dining room.
The food tasted great, everything was delicious. I think because we went for lunch, the service was a bit more spotty - we had to flag our server multiple times for more water, among other things, so that was a bit of a miss.
The food was amazing though. Every dish was tasty, perfect cooked, & beautifully presented.
Paid enough to fine dine in Manhattan, but the size of meat that came was smaller than the butter they brought for the bread..it took me a single bite to finish the most expensive plate in the menu. Felt like a fancy scam in a great ambience. Atmosphere was great not gonna lie if you want photos for Instagram you can still go.
Great first experience dining at Monarque after hearing so many good things about it. Did not disappoint. The interior was classy & the service was excellent. We especially enjoyed the fois gras & the lamb. Highly recommend if you're looking for great French cuisine in Montreal!
A lively spot for dinner with all the French classics. A little something for everyone. My boyfriend wanted to have a steak & I wanted something other than a steak. Did not disappoint. We had the most tender grilled octopus here (melt on your mouth), crispy cod fritters, striploin & fries with a side of sauteed mushrooms, duck confit & finished off the evening with an eclair. I would come back here just to devour a plate of their fries. Crispy on the outside, creamy & soft on the inside & bursting of potato flavor. They have a fantastic wine list also. Highly recommend the Hidalgo Albert Fina (red wine).
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.
Mar 30, 2026
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Enjoyed some excellent vegetarian options while celebrating an anniversary. My husband had the bone marrow with escargot as well as the duck confit & enjoyed those as well!
We had a really nice experience overall at Monarque. The starters were absolutely amazing , both the cold & hot appetizers were delicious, so much so that we ended up ordering two of each. Every bite was full of flavor. Dessert was also excellent & definitely a highlight of the meal.
That said, the main courses were a bit disappointing compared to how strong the beginning & end of the meal were. The veal, unfortunately, wasn't very good in my opinion. The sauce felt lacking, & the veal had a slightly too earthy taste for my liking. The fish was okay, but nothing particularly memorable.
Overall, the appetizers & desserts really stood out & made the experience enjoyable, but the mains didn't quite live up to the same standard. A little disappointing, but it is what it is.
Mar 27, 2026
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Nous étions venus au Monarque avec une idée enthousiaste de l'endroit, & nous en sommes repartis non seulement confortés, mais ravis au-delà de nos attentes. Dès les premières bouchées, nous avons compris que cette adresse était bien plus qu'un simple restaurant : c'est une véritable célébration de la gastronomie.
Nous avons eu le plaisir de déguster une succession de plats tous plus remarquables les uns que les autres : les gougères légères & savoureuses, les huîtres fraîches & iodées, le tartare d'une finesse rare, l'os à moelle farci d'escargots de Bourgogne (un délice audacieux & parfaitement exécuté), le boudin des Bastiens riche en saveurs, & enfin la joue de boeuf braisée, fondante & généreuse. Chaque bouchée était une révélation, tant par la qualité des produits que par la maîtrise technique évidente de l'équipe en cuisine.
& que dire des fromages ? Même si nous ne les mentionnons pas en détail ici, ils restent, comme toujours au Canada, une valeur sûre. - un incontournable qui mérite à lui seul le détour.
Côté desserts, l'éclair & le fondant au chocolat ont clos le repas en apothéose : des textures parfaites, des équilibres de saveurs subtils, & une présentation soignée.
Ce qui nous a le plus marqués, c'est l'excellente « machinerie » qui se cache derrière cette expérience. Tout fonctionne à la perfection, comme une horloge suisse, mais avec une âme & une chaleur bien québécoises.
Nous étions venus pour profiter d'une expérience digne d'un grand restaurant, & nous avons été comblés. Un grand bravo à toute l'équipe du Monarque ! Nous reviendrons sans hésiter & recommandons chaleureusement cet écrin gastronomique à tous ceux qui recherchent l'excellence.
Without doubt the rudest, most high on their own supply Maitre'd ever encountered, who is a detriment to an otherwise adequate showing worthy of a cold night with little on the calendar. Food good if not inspired, winelist a gem or two. Bar staff knowledgeable & friendly.
