Toqué!

Karla

5.0

Toqué! was an unforgettable dining experience from start to finish! The staff was warm, attentive, & made us feel truly cared for throughout the whole meal. The cozy yet elegant ambiance tied it all together.

Everything we ordered was amazing, from the scallop to the steak. But the duck confit deserves its own spotlight. The meat was tender, moist, & not at all greasy. The skin was crispy, adding that perfect savory crunch. Each bite was rich but balanced, & you could tell the quality & care that went into every step of its preparation.

But the true highlight for me was the dessert. Not only was it stunningly plated, but it tasted even better than it looked. Layers of texture & flavor that played together beautifully. I still miss that exact taste of jasmine tea & yogurt crémeux.

Every single dish we ordered was memorable in its own way. Toqué! isn't a cheap meal, but it's one of those rare experiences that's worth the money for all the senses, imo. Easily one of the best culinary experiences we've had in Montreal.

Danielle

5.0

Absolutely amazing! The service was exemplary. Simon was gracious, attentive & accommodating. The sommelier was knowledgeable & willing to discuss wine choices. The maitre d'hotel was aware of everything that was happening. The food was a gastronomic delight. The wine pairings, close to perfect. This was a once in a lifetime experience.

????

5.0

The staff were very attentive, even from the message I sent when making my reservation. They also greeted me with a smile & courtesy after I arrived. I chose the seven-course tasting menu. All the dishes were delicately & beautifully presented & delicious. The waitress explained each dish clearly, allowing me to enjoy the meal. I usually pair my wine with wine, but unfortunately I had drunk too much the night before & couldn't enjoy the wine. As I was leaving, they even made a special Japanese menu rist for me as a gift, since I'm Japanese. I really appreciated their thoughtfulness. I'd definitely like to come back & dine here again when I'm in Montreal. I highly recommend this restaurant.

DSP

5.0

Absolutely worth the visit. However, be prepared to spend a fortune at this place. But, your taste buds will be thrilled you did. Plus the attentiveness of the staff makes the whole experience even better.

DMP

5.0

Absolutely wonderful food but not a cheap dinner experience. The cost isn't for just for the food but for the attentive staff as well. You are not dining out to save money at this restaurant but to burn a whole in your pocket. However, the taste experience will stay with you forever. As it ignites your tastebuds.

Matteo

5.0

In a word, outstanding. Great presentation & quality in every dish. Service is very attentive... Wine list is vast

Yousra

4.0

An unforgettable dining experience! The food was delicious & artfully plated! Thanks chefs for adjusting the entire tasting menu to fit my dietary restrictions with care & creativity.Each wine pairing came with a well told captivating story. Our waitress was warm & attentive, & the bartender dazzled us with creative mocktails. The cozy, elegant ambiance made it all the more special. A true feast for all the senses!

While I truly appreciated the experience, the high price point didn't quite match the overall wow factor I was hoping for - which is why I gave 4 stars instead of 5.

Andy

5.0

Lovely experience. The food was delicious & offered a thoughtful journey through in-season Quebecois cuisine, but what truly stood out was the staff. Everyone who took care of me was kind, welcoming, & a joy to talk to-especially the main bartender, who curated a full mocktail pairing to accompany my meal. I really appreciated not feeling left out of the drink experience just because I wasn't drinking alcohol. Their attentiveness made the evening feel personal & memorable. I had a wonderful time.

Loreli

5.0

Literal art on every dish! The tasting menu was a treat for all the senses & soooo good for the soul! Each dish was incredibly delicious, attentive service, & the ambiance so chic & intimate. Truly one of my favorite tasting experiences in Montreal.

Jared

2.0

Before I start this review, I want to acknowledge something: it takes a lot of work to run a restaurant. I wouldn't know this personally, as I am just someone who loves food experiences, but I respect the effort. Food is an art form that, at its highest moments, tells a story. The best restaurants weave this story seamlessly, from the moment you are greeted by the maître d' to the time you sign the check. The food should justify its place on the plate, the art should be meaningful, & the ambiance should tie it all together, saying, "Thank you for choosing us. Here's why it matters." Unfortunately, Toque's story was incoherent, like the ramblings of someone lost in a drunken stupor, clinging to a reality that exists only in their head. Upon entering, the décor felt like a relic of the early 2000s-a carpeted (why carpet?) time capsule. It reminded me of someone who over-prepped for Y2K, only to be left with stacks of toilet paper in their closet. My spouse & I were there to celebrate a special occasion. Having dined at similar establishments in New York, we were excited to see what Toque would deliver as a supposed bastion of fine cuisine. THE BREAD The bread was one of the only highlights-a mix of sourdough with a chewy crust & impossibly soft interior, paired with butter that could have sparked wars in earlier centuries. 9/10. THE TRAGEDY The rest of the meal spiraled into chaos, beginning with an amuse-bouche. The server offered a "surprise" or foie gras, & we opted for the surprise, only to receive lobster in a buckwheat shell-despite my well-communicated shellfish allergy. After a brief "oh...sorry," they replaced it with hastily thrown-together tuna salad. No apology beyond that, not even a simple glass of champagne to acknowledge the mistake. Here's the breakdown of the courses: 1. First Course: Trout ceviche in cold miso soup. A confusing pairing that felt random rather than intentional. (4/10) 2. Second Course: Trout (again), with beurre blanc, walnuts, & trout roe. Not terrible, but shockingly underseasoned-I had to request salt. (5/10) 3. Third Course: Walleye from Lake Erie with black garlic sauce, confit pear, & pickled radishes. Fish was fine, pear was great, sauce needed salt. (5/10) 4. Fourth Course: Young rooster with vegetables. Chicken on a tasting menu needs to be magical, but this was bland beyond forgiveness. (3/10) 5. Fifth Course: Sirloin the size of my index finger (& I'm not a large person), served lukewarm with yet another forgettable sauce. (2/10) 6. Sixth Course: The pre-dessert "surprise" was purple ube ice cream, poppyseed cake, & chocolate in a pool of Minute Maid lemonade. It was shocking, in the worst way. The cheese dish-a brie with spelt cracker-was utterly forgettable. (1/10) THE DESSERT FROM HEAVEN The seventh & final course was miraculous: a white chocolate mousse with soaked pear, chocolate bark, & citron sorbet. It was thoughtful, balanced, & decadent, erasing-almost-the disaster of previous courses. If the rest of the meal had been even a fraction as inspired as this dessert, Toque might have redeemed itself. But one great dish cannot carry a meal that failed at nearly every other step. WHAT MORE? The service lacked the attentiveness expected at this level. The manager's "gift" for our celebration-a stock card signed by the chef-felt hollow. No creative dessert, no thoughtful keepsake menu, just an afterthought. The inconsistent music-alternating between too loud & imperceptibly soft-only added to the disjointed experience. & so, we left wondering what story Toque was trying to tell. In the end, we had to make up one ourselves: Toque is an establishment so convinced of its greatness, it doesn't feel the need to explain why its food matters. Instead, it says, "We thought of this yesterday-eat it & go." Overall Rating: 2/10.
The bread & dessert were phenomenal, but I would have been happier at a bakery with a pint of Häagen-Dazs. After all, man cannot live on bread alone.