Restaurant Candide

Bernard

5.0

There is probably nothing I got for my meal that I would have ordered on my own al a carte but I knew it was a fixed menu & knew ahead what I was getting , didn't understand but knew. For example yogurt peas & crab served hot are something you wouldn't think goes together, but yes it does. Fresh ingredients is an understatement (actually watched the staff go to the side of the building to cut herbs growing there.) Probably not worth talking about individual menu items because they change every month but it was a great experience & all excellent food.

Brock

5.0

Candide is a spectacular restaurant. We wanted something special for our last night in Montreal, & Candide delivered. From the moment we walked in the door, we felt welcome & at home. The service team works in beautiful harmony to ensure a seamless experience. They hit every step of service, with everything that touched the table being considered &, if needed, explained. Items were provided without asking, & drinks & bread were refilled before I even noticed they were gone. Other restaurants could learn a thing or two by watching this team work. Since there were two of us, we tried everything on the tasting menu. My partner's allergies were handled without hesitation. We started with the seasonal strawberry mocktail, which was a burst of flavor to welcome us to the space. The optional asparagus starter was perfectly cooked & seasoned, with the sorrel leaf adding a nice "wrapper" & flavor. The little gem salad was like a fresh take on a Caesar salad; the herring really came through, & the cheese was divine. The house bread was a perfect specimen of baking acumen, & they kept it stocked, which I appreciated (bread course is my favorite course!). The sweet peas in a mussel broth were a standout & unexpected. The mussel flavor was present & well balanced. House-made yogurt added cream & texture, with the peas being at peak freshness for that seasonal taste. Crispy rice finished the dish, adding just the right amount of crunch. This was one of the best things I've eaten all year. Bravo! The mains were both excellent. The halibut was perfectly cooked, paired with spinach & fresh shiitakes. The pork was perhaps the weaker of the two, but it was still perfectly cooked & paired with fresh seasonal vegetables. Both desserts were great & complemented each other well. The cheese-stuffed zucchini blossom with cracker was my favorite. They offered a half wine pairing, which is something I wish every tasting menu would take note of because, while my partner & I love wine, we simply can't drink very much of it anymore. The half pairing allowed us a sip to savor & a few sips to try with the food. The sommelier offered elegant explanations & painted a beautiful picture of each varietal we tried. The coffee & tea service was excellent as well, with each being brewed in a small Chemex & paired with fresh milk & maple syrup. All in all, this is a meal I will remember because of the food, service, & ambiance. It will be at the top of my list to return to on our next visit, & I highly recommend anyone who is interested book a spot at this restaurant. It's one of the best I have experienced.

Shah

5.0

Been here a few times over the years & the experience is always impeccable. The food is inventive, fresh, & delicious with a continuously changing menu. The staff are beyond sweet & knowledgeable. Absolutely recommend going whether you're a local or a tourist!

Vlad

4.0

Came here with friends, tried to enjoy it but just had an okay time. This place needs to be booked in advance. However, the menu changes often, so you never know what you are going to get. The menu is just two choices (fish or meat & for dessert either sweet or one-piece of cheese). I was faced with really tough choices as I immediately did not like either choice in our case, Peckerel fish or Guinea fowl. There are NO other options you can order, if not for our friends, I probably would have left before ordering. We had Brussel sprouts as first, & mussels over a bed of yogurt (what a wired combination of ingredients!!) For main course my wife chose Peckerel ( I personally don't like fresh water predator fish) & it was barely eatable with little fish meat & lots of skin fish , I chose guinea fowl (it was stiff like yesterday's reheated chicken). The tasting menu is offered with wine paring ($56) , i asked the waiter what are the wines & she could not recite it from memory, but said that there were 4 glasses of 3 oz each, one of them was a sweet wine & one orange. That sealed a d decion for me not to take parings. We decided to just order wine by glass, although they have quite an extensive wine list. There is only 1 white, 1 red, 1 rose, & 1 bubbly on the list by glass. For dessert, i took cheese (way too salty). I probably should have chosen the sweets. The only dish I really enjoyed was the Brussel sprouts appetizer. On the positive note, all the waiters & chefs were SUPER nice, friendly & accommodating. Not sure i will be back soon. Either I need a more predictable menu choices at the time of booking a few days in advance or more choice besides the tasting menu. Last point ... although set in historical building, the cieling in dining room is low, with full attendance it is hard to hear people even across the table & the noise is amplified by low cieling & close proximity of other diners.