Restaurant Grinder centers its culinary focus on high-quality cuts of beef and fresh seafood selections sourced for maximum flavor. The establishment prepares various steak cuts utilizing specialized grilling techniques to ensure consistent texture and charred exteriors. Beyond the meat offerings, the menu incorporates a diverse array of fish and shellfish prepared with classic French-inspired techniques that prioritize natural ingredients. Patrons observe an industrial aesthetic characterized by exposed brick walls and high ceilings that frame the open concept layout. The drink selection features a robust variety of craft cocktails and spirits designed to complement the heavy proteins and rich sauces found throughout the kitchen repertoire. This venue maintains a commitment to ingredient-driven plates that highlight the technical precision required for effective open-fire cooking and traditional preparation methods.
Restaurant Grinder is frequently praised for its exceptional food, particularly the high-quality steaks, surf and turf platters, and popular sides like the pudding chômeur. Many guests highlight the vibrant, moody atmosphere and the professional, attentive service provided by the staff, which often makes for a memorable dining experience. While the majority of visitors have a fantastic time and look forward to returning, some patrons note that the restaurant can be quite noisy and that table spacing may feel cramped during busy periods. Occasional inconsistencies in service speed and food preparation have been mentioned, but management is noted for being responsive to feedback and dedicated to ensuring guest satisfaction.
Ate here our first night in Montreal & it really set the bar high for the rest of the stay. The food was amazing, had the Short rib, hanger steak, green beans, Brussels, & a side of 3 scallops. The short rib came with a perfect slaw which tasted similar to Vietnamese dishes Ive had before. Only call out would be drop the green beans, they lacked seasoning, especially when compared to the Brussels (which were delicious). For dessert we had the bread pudding & it was the perfect non-fussy finish to a very rich meal.
The service was great, very attentive & would 100% go back if we had time.
The only downside was the table location, we were 10minutes late so maybe thats why, but seated in a spot that you couldn't see much of the rest of the restaurant, which sucks for people watching. Didn't dampen the actual meal through.
We ordered the surf & turf for two & chose the ribeye, which was excellent! The sides were very good as well, & while everything else was solid, nothing particularly stood out. It's nice to have a variety of options, but overall it didn't quite feel worth the price.
The staff were amazing & great vibe!
Le rib eye & le short ribs was veryyyy good! Les calamars frits était tendre & goûteux! Par contre, nous étions assit au bar & le service était pourri, on a attendu au moins 10 mins pour demander un menu, on nous a donné un menu d'alcool uniquement… on a du redemander pour un menu nourriture. La serveuse nous regardait même pas, servait tout le monde autour sauf nous, expérience assez désagréable pour le prix qu'on dépense à ce restaurant. J'imagine que le service au table doit être définitivement mieux.
Mar 7, 2026
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
I came last week & the service & food were amazing. I had the ribeye & it was perfectly done. My server Julia was attentive & made us feel extremely welcome & taken care of. Would recommend.
Delicious food overall, it was pricey but fair & the atmosphere was rather rustic in a nice way. The waitress did end up forgetting one of our entrées but in the end we were full so it wasn't so bad. Highly recommend the beef short ribs.
We've been to Grinder twice now, this time for Mother's Day, & both visits were fantastic. The food, service, & atmosphere all hit the mark.
My favourite thing on the menu has to be the Hamachi, so fresh & flavourful. This time around, we ordered the Wagyu carpaccio, Hamachi, French onion soup, steak (which came with a flight of sauces, loved that touch), & the short ribs. For sides, we had the sweet potato fries & mushrooms. The only small letdown was the mushrooms, not because they weren't good, but because they were different from the ones we had the first time, which we absolutely loved. Still tasty though!
Everything was delicious & well-executed. I'd definitely recommend trying this spot.
The last photo is from our first visit, surf & turf platter with those amazing mushrooms I was hoping to have again.
Update:
The owner was sad to hear about our experience & wanted us to leave with a better impression. He suggested we come a second time, on the house. Our second visit was very enjoyable, we opted for smaller appies & main meals instead of the larger sharing plate. Tuna tartare, fried calamary, NY steak & short ribs were all 10/10. To finish the night, the manager offered us dessert. We appreciate the time & effort the staff took to turn the situation around. I will be coming back. Thank you
_______________________________
Came for a steak, stayed for the suspense. After a 90-minute wait, my food arrived cold, impressive, really. The steak was so rare I almost named it & let it go. Sent it back, but it returned just as raw, only angrier.
Great place if you enjoy long waits & plot twists.
The owner reached out to my boyfriend to understand what had happened during our first visit. He offered to have us come back for a second time, on the house, to make up for it.
We went back about a month later. We were greeted by Alejandro, the manager, who offered us a first round of drinks - just as good as the first time.
For starters, I had the tuna tartare & my boyfriend went with the fried calamari. Both were very good. For the main course, I had the short ribs (super tender) & he had the NY steak, cooked medium. Everything was solid.
The manager checked in on us without being overbearing, & he wrapped up the meal by offering us their pudding chômeur with soft-serve ice cream. Great dessert.
All in all, a much better experience than the first time. Thanks to the restaurant for taking the time to make things right. It doesn't go unnoticed
----------------
My boyfriend & I were really looking forward to trying this spot, but unfortunately, it was a letdown. We ordered the rib steak for two ($120) & asked for it medium rare.
We placed our order around 10 PM, when things were winding down, but waited at least 45 minutes without any updates. During that time, the waitress didn't check on us once. I eventually flagged her down, & she mentioned the delay was normal due to the size of the steak - fair enough, but a quick update would've gone a long way.
When the food finally arrived 10-15 minutes later, the steak was cold & extremely undercooked - basically raw. I asked to have it cooked a bit more, & surprisingly, the waitress admitted she knew it was undercooked when she brought it out. Her explanation? Their medium rare leans'on the rarer side.' That's not reassuring when you're paying top dollar. The table beside us had also returned their steak, not once but twice.
The steak came back slightly warmer, but still incredibly raw & tough. My boyfriend lost his appetite after a few bites & decided to take it home to finish cooking himself. I ate a little more, but felt like I got robbed of an experience. The sides didn't redeem the dish either - the mushrooms were way too salty & the mashed potatoes tasted like cardboard.
On the other hand, the drinks were very good & enjoyable.
When the bill came, I asked the waitress if it was normal for their steaks to come out like that. She admitted it was undercooked & apologized awkwardly, but no compensation was offered - no discount, no complimentary drink, nothing. For a $120 dish we barely touched, that was incredibly disappointing. After the drinks, our bill was way over 200$
As someone who works in the industry, I'd never serve a dish I knew wasn't right, especially after a long wait. I would have gotten the manager involved the first time the food was returned to the kitchen. It's better to communicate delays than to disappoint with poor food & service. Sadly, this experience missed the mark on both.
