Restaurant 1881 receives consistently strong praise for both food and service, with many reviews calling the dishes fresh, well balanced and beautifully presented, featuring items like duck salad, tartares, shakshuka, tuna tartare, beef, salmon, and a highly regarded breakfast and brunch lineup. The atmosphere is described as modern, cozy, and welcoming, suitable for business lunches, dates, or casual meals, with attentive, friendly staff and smooth service at quieter times. Several guests highlight generous portions and good value, while a few note occasional issues such as slower service during busy hours, minor hiccups with table setup or wine service, and one or two encounters with less attentive staff. Coffee is praised by some and criticized by others, but overall the cafe style breakfast and brunch are repeatedly celebrated, including standout items like the classic breakfast, croissant breakfast sandwich, shakshuka, and duck salad. Overall, Restaurant 1881 is regarded as a reliable, high quality spot in downtown Montreal with standout food and solid service, particularly for brunch and casual dining.
Took a colleague out for lunch & we ordered the table d'hôte with a delicious fresh salad & tasty cod with vegetables. It was so good! We both enjoyed our food & the service was friendly.
Mar 21, 2026
on Google
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The chef, Garry, is one of the best in town. The food is delicious, the tartares are the best! & the service impeccable! Despite the restaurant being in the high end MAA sports club, it has its own entrance & its super easy to meet up. It's my favorite place for business lunches or meetings. The music is soft & can talk (thank god) while having great good. Love this place!
We were nearby & decided to have lunch at a new place, so we checked Google & this restaurant had a very high rating. When we arrived, we waited to be welcomed, which was not a pleasant start. The tables were small, & the items on them weren't complete for all tables. We ordered from the menu, but things only got worse. The bottle of wine was almost empty, & the server shook it just to fill the second glass - very disappointing for the price, especially for less than 5 oz.
The burger was tasty but nothing special, & the steak was bloody even though I specifically asked for well done. It was also served as three small pieces of meat instead of one proper cut.
To make things worse, one of the waitresses was spraying detergent to clean the next table, & it splashed onto our table & even on my hand. Overall, I felt like my job was just to eat, pay, & leave so that I wouldn't bother them. This place is far from a 4.9-star experience, & I will not waste my time or money here again. I hope more people share honest reviews so the rating becomes realistic.
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Nous étions dans le coin & avons décidé de dîner dans un nouveau restaurant. Selon Google, celui-ci avait une très bonne note. En arrivant, nous avons attendu pour être accueillis, ce qui n'a vraiment pas donné une bonne impression. Les tables étaient petites, & il manquait des éléments sur plusieurs d'entre elles. Nous avons commandé, mais les choses ont empiré. La bouteille de vin était presque vide, & la serveuse l'a secouée pour remplir le deuxième verre - très décevant considérant le prix, surtout pour moins de 5 oz.
Le burger était bon mais sans rien de spécial, & le steak était saignant même si je l'avais demandé bien cuit. En plus, il était servi en trois petits morceaux au lieu d'une seule pièce correcte.
Pour couronner le tout, une des serveuses vaporisait du détergent pour nettoyer la table voisine, & le produit a éclaboussé notre table ainsi que ma main. Honnêtement, j'ai eu l'impression que mon rôle était simplement de manger, payer & m'en aller pour ne pas les déranger. Ce restaurant est très loin d'une expérience à 4,9 étoiles, & je n'y retournerai pas. J'espère que davantage de personnes laisseront des avis honnêtes pour que la note reflète la réalité.
I've enjoyed lunch here several times. Friendly service in a pleasant setting, not too crowded. The food is excellent. The pasta dishes are flavourful & filling. Tuna tartare is delicious. There's always a fresh fish of the day. Every dish is freshly prepared. Even though it's located at the entrance of a sports club, it's open to the public. Coffee is excellent too. Don't hesitate to come here for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner. You won't be disappointed.
Very nice lunch here. Duck salad was excellent & the club sandwich was a bit too bready but delicious nonetheless. Great service & atmosphere too. Good date spot.
Aug 10, 2025
on Google
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The food here is fantastic & they have a great selection of wines & other drinks. I come here every day for smoothies & the staff always remembers my order. Everyone here is extremely kind & professional. It is also a great place to grab lunch while getting some work done. Could not recommend more.
Really nice & refreshing new restaurant downtown (with all the closing during the pandemic). Wetter for a business lunch walking distance from the office, a good diner with friends or just a quick bite or smoothies after a workout, 1881 has it all. Chef Gary's & the staff's smiles & warm welcome makes for a great atmosphere. The menu is well balanced with great food. Love the place. Give it a try!
Feb 29, 2024
on Google
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