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.
After a delayed flight, we arrived as the final guests of the evening, not expecting much. To our surprise, every dish exceeded expectations. The fish was delicately seasoned, highlighting its natural freshness, while the duck leg salad was a standout - the meat meltingly tender against the crisp, sweet greens. The thoughtful flavors turned what could have been a tiring night into a warm & memorable welcome, marking the perfect start to our trip. Recommend!
You would never believe 1. that this is a restaurant from the outside & 2. The exceptionally good food that comes out of the kitchen. An absolute gem & seriously good value.
Sep 6, 2025
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Excellent, market fresh, well executed food. You can't go wrong eating here! Downtown seems to be filled with chain restaurants & this is a breath of fresh air!
The rudeness of the staff made me change my review, this place is not very busy , & I used to go at least once a week but 3 thursdays I ve been denied a table because I was alone while the restaurant was pretty empty at 1.30 pm & the same waitress each time , she didn't even care that I leave or tried to find a table . unfortunate.
Fantastic breakfast, skip the typical breakfast places like eggspectation or oeuferier. Go here & be happy. Fantastic choices of all kinds but everyone has to try shakshuka.
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.
Aug 20, 2025
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We had a wonderful brunch experience at Restaurant LE 1881. The dishes were fresh, flavorful, & beautifully presented. The shakshuka was rich & hearty, with perfectly poached eggs in a vibrant tomato sauce topped with fresh arugula. It came with a side of crisp toast & fresh fruit - a refreshing balance to the warm, savory flavors.
The croissant breakfast sandwich was equally impressive - flaky, buttery pastry enveloping fluffy eggs, melted cheese, & peppery greens, paired with fresh strawberries & melon.
The atmosphere was modern & inviting, with plenty of natural light & comfortable seating. The service was attentive, warm, & genuinely welcoming, adding to the relaxed, enjoyable dining experience.
Highly recommend for anyone looking for a stylish yet cozy spot for brunch in the city.
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.
Nous avons mangé un club sandwich & une salade avec canard .
Deux portions généreuses , bien présentées & de bon goût
Service rapide & attentionné.
Salle peu bruyante.
On y retourne sans hésitation
Aug 6, 2025
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A very disappointing experience. Food was average at best, only the soup was delicious, the rest was average, wine was average. Service by the waiter was below average, it's a choice not to smile to customers, a sad one, but not to say thank you for a 20+% tip on a circa $100 is just rude. The manager was the only decent courteous person there.
We were a little unsure when we walked in as the restaurant was empty. We ordered breakfast. It was lovely. Hubby's eggs were perfectly cooked & everything was tasty. I ordered yogurt & fruit. All fresh fruit & lots of it. The service was excellent. We are going again tomorrow. We enjoyed it so much.
We went back a second time & again it was perfection. Best breakfast in Montreal. We talked to the chef/owner. Such passion for creating exceptional food. It is enjoyable eating breakfast where the chef really cares if you enjoy the food. Such a culinary delight.
Excellent!
Très content de mon expérience.
Un brunch très bon & suffisamment copieux.
Service parfait.
Ambiance sereine, calme & respectueuse, à une heure tardive pour un brunch (14h30)
À vous si c'est de même à des heures plus achalandées...
Mais je suis conquis.
Jul 29, 2025
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Very nice cozy restaurant with the most incredibly nice staff ever 😇😇 They really take care of you! We had the salmon tartare with salad along with the catch of the day (sea bass with potatoes & grilled vegetables) & each bite was just Wow! Full compliments to the chef 😇😇 Cannot wait to come back to this 11/10 restaurant as it's the perfect venue for date nights & chilling with friends ❤?❤?
I can see why this is rated 4.9 ⭐! I think they've earned every single review as the setting was nice & comfortable, the servers were friendly, & the food was delicious.
Came here for dinner on a weeknight & it wasn't busy at all. The portions were quite large, & you get some bread as starters. The calamari was done just right, & the sauce was tasty. The chicken club sandwich was very good too, along with the pasta. The burger was alright.
