Oorja serves a distinct culinary fusion that bridges traditional Indian spices with vibrant Chinese cooking techniques. Patrons encounter a robust menu featuring clay oven delicacies alongside wok-fired specialties that highlight bold flavors and fresh ingredients. The kitchen emphasizes high-heat preparation methods, resulting in aromatic curries and savory noodle dishes that define its unique grill-based profile. Each plate maintains a balance between the heat of classic tandoori preparations and the distinct umami profile inherent in regional Asian stir-fries. This establishment operates as a functional hub for those seeking diverse flavor profiles in a singular setting. Consistent seasoning and authentic spice blends serve as the primary focus, ensuring that every dish meets precise standards of preparation. The setting remains focused on efficient service while providing a comprehensive selection of fusion-oriented main courses and appetizers for interested guests.
Oorja is widely recognized as a standout destination for Indo Chinese fusion cuisine in Montreal, frequently praised for its innovative menu, flavorful dishes like the majestic chicken, and exceptionally well-crafted, creative cocktails. Most guests appreciate the cozy, lively, and welcoming atmosphere, which is often enhanced by live music and professional, friendly service. While the majority of visitors have stellar experiences, opinions on the service and portion sizes are somewhat mixed. Some patrons find the portions to be on the smaller side for the price, and others have encountered occasional inconsistencies with service speed and order accuracy during busy periods. Despite these isolated critiques, the consensus remains that the restaurant is a hidden gem that delivers a unique and highly enjoyable dining experience worth returning to.
I was rather excited about eating here. But I have to be honest, the overall experience was rather underwhelming ans I don't plan on coming back. At 6:45pm, the kitchen was already out of 1 dish, the meal was tasty but not anything beyond, couple of the dishes tasted generically similar, the cocktails were ok at best, & the service, though quite polite was rather slow & unremarkable. The location itself is cute.
The food is amazing! It had the right amount of spice. The paneer in the paneer chilli was crispy, I felt the paneer was not fresh but the sauce was sooo good. I also liked that there were vegetarian options. The atmosphere is very loud as it’s a small restaurant & the tables are quite close to each other. I would have given it 5 stars if the service was good. Our server messed up our order & we didn’t receive our food at the same time. My partner had ordered an appetiser for themself & I had ordered a main dish; we had clearly told our server while placing the order. She brought the appetiser first & the main took almost 40-50 mins. We were also not checked upon during this time, I had to personally call someone & ask where my food was. She was checking on other bigger tables frequently, we were only checked in at the beginning. She did apologize to us, however it was supposed to be a celebratory dinner & it ruined the experience.
The food was good, but the service was atrocious.
We waited about 30 mins before someone came to take the drinks order. We asked for the wine selection, it took another 20 mins before the waiter came back with options, only to propose only one option of bottle of wine, for 85$ the bottle. Since we had been waiting for so long, we decided to take the bottle. The server didn't know how to uncork the bottle, we had cork pieces in our glass, & he didn't even check if the bottle wine was corked before serving. If I'm paying for an 85$ bottle, I'm expecting the service to follow. If not, put 45$ bottle on your menu!
Then I find out later through our research that this bottle retails for 19$. I find it appalling to sell a 19$ bottle at 85$ in a restaurant.
The food was delicious, but we wanted to order some more because the portions were small. The waiter brought us back the menu & never came back for the order. After 30 minutes of waiting, we decided to just ask for the bill & leave. After another 20 mins of waiting for someone to bring us the machine to pay, we decided to just get up & go to the bar to pay, otherwise we would have waited forever.
So basically, my experience consisted of waiting for service & obtaining bad service.
I do not recommend this restaurant, & I will not go back.
An incredible experience! Some of the best food in Montreal hands down! The spring rolls, duck & braised pork especially stand out. The dishes are original & flavourful, anything my company or I ordered was delicious & did not disappoint. The drinks are also unique & very pretty, & they compliment the dishes well. The service was very good too, not once did we have to ask for water & some of these dishes are authentically spicy :). They're also great at guiding you through the menu if you don’t know what you want to order. Even for a nightcap, their desserts are great, plus the vibe is very classy & laid back. Definitely a spot to hit if you’re in the city.
Terrible experience at this restaurant. Waiters were not attentive. Had to call them over to order mains. Half the table received mains 1.5 hours into our reservation & the other half got their meals 45 minutes later. No one ate at the same time. Food was mediocre & had small portions. They forgot one person's order completely. Had to send back an order as well because they didn't follow what was asked. Waited for the bill & when it came there was no acknowledgment of the poor service. We didn't receive any compensation either. This dinner was for a special occasion & we were all very disappointed & wanted to leave as soon as possible. I would not recommend & I would never go back. I don't see how this place has such good reviews on google.
Terrible experience at this restaurant. Waiters were not attentive. Had to call them over to order mains. Half the table received mains 1.5 hours into our reservation & the other half got their meals 45 minutes later. No one ate at the same time. Food was mediocre & had small portions. They forgot one person's order completely. Had to send back an order as well because they didn't follow what was asked. Waited for the bill & when it came there was no acknowledgment of the poor service. We didn't receive any compensation either. This dinner was for a special occasion & we were all very disappointed & wanted to leave as soon as possible. I would not recommend & I would never go back. I don't see how this place has such good reviews on google.
Had high hopes from this place, unfortunately, not impressed. The portion of the noodles for the 3 main courses we ordered fluctuated with each dish. Noodles were tasty though. The veg manchurian did not meet my expectations, the veggies didn’t have any texture. The chili momos were decent. Only the chicken manchurian had the perfect gravy to noodles ratio & was the best out of what we ordered.
I see this place is really popular, but the tables are too close together & it can feel over crowded. Not a family restaurant for sure.
We arrived 45 mins before our reservation & thankfully were seated promptly but the service definitely needs improvement.
