Pichai is widely praised for bold, creative Thai flavors and a shareable, neo-Thai concept that shines in dishes like scallops, pork collar, fermented pork belly, tapioca dumplings, and a memorable Thai tea tiramisu. Several reviews highlight standout plates such as papaya salad, tom yum, and the egg dish that became a showstopper, with many diners calling the flavors authentic, lively, and deeply satisfying. Portions are often described as small for the price, though the quality and variety invite tasting across multiple dishes. Service ranges from impeccable and knowledgeable with excellent wine pairings to rushed or inconsistent, with reports of staff miscommunications and, in some cases, a less welcoming atmosphere. The ambiance is noted as vibrant, cozy, and stylish, sometimes loud, occasionally a bit too dark for reading menus. The menu includes weekly specials and a chef tasting option, with vegan and vegetarian choices appreciated by many. Overall, Pichai stands out as a top Montreal Thai option and a memorable dining experience, worth a visit for those seeking bold flavors, while reservations are advised and expectations should account for occasional service inconsistencies.
Les pétoncles à la menthe *chef's kiss* mais je ne peux pas en dire autant du reste. J'aime manger épicé, mais je trouve que les épices étaient drôlement balancées, voir mal… Un autre des plats très salé pour rien. Service amical mais tout de même professionnel & attentif, je n'ai rien à dire là dessus.
C'est toujours un plaisir d'aller au Pichai ! Notre serveuse était chouette, souriante, & nous a offert un petit shooter pck c'était ma fête hihihoho. Elle nous a aussi fait une super belle recommandation de macération. Donc service ++. La bouffe est aussi incroyable, un expérience de saveurs difficile à recréer à la maison mettons. Niveau alcool, j'aime particulièrement les macérations & je suis toujours satisfaite de ce qu'on m'offre. Je n'ai pas mis 5/5 car je trouve en effet que c'est un peu cher pour la quantité & je trouve qu'il y a peu d'option végétarienne/végane.
Note de 4/5, bon travail sur les plats, le goût est au rendez-vous. La rue Saint-Hubert se développe admirablement bien & cette adresse n'en fait pas exception. Le service demeure leur point faible à travailler lorsque l'on tarif ce montant.
Nov 10, 2024
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Amazing as always! The food is absolutely delicious & the staff is so warm & welcoming. It's my number 1 spot to eat at when I wanna indulge & treat myself to authentic Thai flavors.
Que dire? Sinon que nous venons de découvrir un petit joyau sur la Plaza ! La cuisine d'inspiration thaï est très réussie, pimentée à souhait! Ne pas manquer la bavette en salade ni le crudo de pétoncles des Îles ! On nous a fait patienter 30 min malgré notre réservation mais nos cocktails ont été offerts, c'est trop classe.
Look like a pub more than resto. Som tam is too sour, pork belly is too salty, pork ball is so bland, they use tamrin too much in their food,the rest are ok. Service is polite .
Oct 21, 2024
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We have mixed feelings about Pichai. On the one hand, we enjoyed good personable service (if a tad hurried) though none of the rudeness experienced by some other diners; on the other hand, the quality of the entrees were hit or miss so 100% satisfaction is NOT guaranteed. But perhaps what Pichai may be most faulted for is the poor price-quantity value ratio. It clearly attempts to be an upper-class, fancy, quasi fine tapas eatery but while the prices are premium (other words, expensive), the ambiance, service & overall feeling are not up to expectations & do not warrant these hefty prices. Also, at one point, there was a 25 min wait between the 3rd & 4th dishes which was awkward & broke the rhythm of the evening. The fish ball appetizer ($4/two balls so $12 for three diners, two each) while tasty, was way overpriced & terribly easy to prepare. One could easily purchase an entire 1kilo bag of fish balls for $8 (50-60 pieces) at the supermarket, dunk them in an air fryer, pour over some bottled Thai sweet sauce & sprinkle some fried onion crisps. With this ultra low cost, Pichai could have offered this appetizer as an amuse-bouche & utilized it to elevate the entire Pichai experience instead of it now leaving a bitter after taste. The raw scallops were delicious in every sense. Once again, though, at $28 for a plate of 8 mini scallops, it was way overpriced. The pork collar was absolutely delicious & acceptably priced. The pork belly was so overly salty to the point of being inedible so that was a clear miss. The shrimp with egg was divine & the shrimps were well sized. We were not unanimous on the green curry with bourgot because two of us felt that the curry was overly sweet. The grilled chicken thigh was tasty but not exceptionally so. They also charged us $3 for an extra little bowl of rice. In a nutshell, as much as we would have loved to walk out of Pichau, wanting again to return, we do not collectively believe that we would revisit as there was a serious lack in value. Most dishes, all tapas-sized & single bites, are $25-38 each so the bill piles up very quickly for what are simple snacks. At this price point, the service, ambiance & penny-pinching do not hold water & Pichai fails to entice us to revisit. Pity that.
Très déçue du service que nous avons reçu dimanche dernier. À notre arrivée, aucun sourire & le sentiment de ne pas être les bienvenues. Ce malaise est resté tout au long de la soirée; service froid & hautain. On sent que puisque nous ne dépensons pas 100$ par personne, nous ne méritons pas le respect du personnel. Dommage puisque la nourriture était excellente.
Oct 9, 2024
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Nous avions placé la barre haute pour le Pichai, mais notre expérience a malheureusement commencé sur une note décevante dès notre arrivée dans l'établissement. L'accueil a été très froid : on ne nous salue pas, on nous demande le nom de la réservation & on nous dépose le menu à la table sans contact visuel. Nous avons ensuite demandé 5 plats & une bouteille de vin. Ces derniers étaient satisfaisants, mais sans plus. Le rapport qualité-prix n'est cependant pas au rendez-vous, sauf pour les pétoncles. Le service est efficace, mais on a l'impression qu'il faut manger & partir rapidement. Après une heure passée dans cet endroit, nous avons commencé à nous sentir mal à l'aise & avons décidé de partir avec ce qu'il restait de notre bouteille de vin pour aller manger un dessert ailleurs. Lorsque nous sommes partis, l'hôte, le regard fixé sur son téléphone, ne nous a même pas accordé un regard ni adressé une parole, contrairement à ce qui est habituellement attendu dans un restaurant. Quand les personnes prennent le temps de se poser dans un restaurant pour une heure & y dépenser 250$, saluer & remercier les clients à la sortie est la moindre des choses. Cela donne l'impression qu'on a voulu vite prendre l'argent du client pour s'en débarrasser ensuite. Ce n'est pas digne de votre établissement. Difficile de ne pas comparer avec Pumpui, où l'accueil est beaucoup plus chaleureux bien que cela soit un comptoir & qu'on y reste généralement beaucoup moins longtemps. Il semble que Le Pichai tire profit du même enthousiasme qu'auparavant, grâce à la réputation justifiée d'excellence des services fournis. Cependant, il est préoccupant de constater une nette baisse de la qualité. L'endroit est à éviter, dans les circonstances actuelles. En espérant que les propriétaires corrigent rapidement la façon dont on traite la clientèle.
Great service, weird & wonderful wine list, & the food is incredible - perfectly balanced & beautifully plated. The tapioca dumplings were especially delicious. Can't wait to go back!
I had really high expectations for Pichai, since it was on my restaurant bucket list for some time now. Sadly, it wasn't as good as I hoped. That being said, the Raw Scallops with Mint absolutely blew my mind. The Smoked Hake was also amazingly delicious. If that kind quality continued, I would've easily given Puchai five stars. Unfortunately, most of the next six dishes were so salty that they nearly ruined our meal. With each dish, the saltiness multiplies on your taste buds, building upon the discomfort in your mouth. I've spent a good amount of time in Thailand, eaten in fine Thai restaurants all over the world, (& I really like salt), but I've never had such salty Thai food. On top of that, the music was so loud that it was hard to have a normal conversation. To make matters worse, the food came much too quickly, they removed our plates the minute we finished, & then the bill came immediately after. Of course, all this made us feel rushed, as if they were trying to increase their turnover & profits. Overall, it wasn't a horrible experience, but I don't think we'll be returning.
My girlfriend & I came here on a whim & were sat at the bar. Very, very pleasant culinary experience. Huge, sexy wine list to accompany their menu. The atmosphere is a plus & the servers were pleasant & professional. Hoping to come back & try more of the menu!
