En créant Toqué!, il y a plus de vingt ans, nous tenions à mettre en valeur les produits du terroir québécois et le travail de ceux qui nous ravitaillaient. Nous tenons plus que jamais à souligner la contribution de ces fournisseurs qui méritent le titre glorieux d’artisans. Nous leur devons le foie gras de canard ou la salicorne; l’agneau ou les petits légumes, les fruits de mer ou les fines herbes. Ces infatigables artisans inspirent la cuisine de Toqué! à laquelle ils apportent des saveurs, des textures et des arômes naturels d’une irréprochable fraîcheur. Nous sommes membres Relais & Châteaux et des Grandes Tables du Monde.
Détails
Nos Spécialités
Foie gras, pétoncle, cerf de boileau, magret de canard & flétan de l'Atlantique.
Toqué. est largement reconnu comme une destination de premier plan à Montréal, célébré pour sa constance culinaire, son engagement envers les produits de saison du Québec et son atmosphère sophistiquée. De nombreux convives soulignent la qualité du menu dégustation et des accords mets et vins, notant une présentation artistique et une précision technique rigoureuse dans chaque assiette. Bien que le cadre soit décrit comme élégant et raffiné, le personnel est fréquemment félicité pour son service chaleureux, attentif et professionnel, contribuant à rendre les célébrations et les occasions spéciales mémorables. Si certains visiteurs considèrent le prix comme un investissement important, la majorité estime que l'expérience est à la hauteur de sa réputation d'excellence dans le domaine de la gastronomie.
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.
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.
We ordered the seven-course Tasting Menu with wine pairing. The service was very slow making the dinner last 4-hours. Our server, Eve, spent most of her time re-filling our water glasses. The venue was a bit dated. Finally, the design of the coffee cup with no handle, delivered at the end of the meal, was just plain silly.
Very good tasting menu & wine pairing on an enjoyable night out at Toque. The first couple dishes were seafood forward with two well matched white wine pairings (dry German Riesling & Austrian Chardonnay). The next course was a transition from sea to land, which was a nice touch, as such the wine also moved from white to Rose, nice attention to detail. Moving onto red wines, the dishes evolved to land based ultimately finished with a rich foie gras, short rib, & loin paired with a Bordeaux from Pauillac. Continuing the trend of transitioning we were given the option of sweet or savory before the final dessert, my wife & I chose different, which was a nice option. All in all was a very attentive staff, great explanations from the Sommeliers, & good quality food. Would definitely recommend Toque as a quality option for food & wine pairing in Montreal.
My partner & I have visited Toqué three times over the past couple years, & it seemed high time to leave a review. All three experiences have been excellent. We get the tasting menu every time & are never disappointed. I would highly recommend adding the wine pairing to get the full Toqué experience. Some highlights of this establishment: - The tasting menu varies seasonally, showcasing different local ingredients. - Each dish is flavourful & beautifully arranged, with every ingredient--no matter how simple--playing a role. The focus is on discovering & appreciating high-quality local foods. They do this so well that my partner & I have found that we even enjoy ingredients we normally would not. I don't usually care for raw tomatoes, but I would eat this season's fresh tomato salad by the bowl, given the opportunity. - The staff are knowledgeable & attentive. A big part of the experience here is the staff's presentation of the dishes (& wines, if applicable) as they are brought to your table. They pay close attention to you without being obtrusive, making the pacing of the meal feel perfect as they bring out the next dish not long after you finish one. If you get up from the table, a staff member seems to magically appear to fold your napkin & pull your chair out for you as you return. - The staff are bilingual & can provide excellent service in either English or French. - They have been wonderfully accommodating of my dietary restrictions (more on that separately) & never made me feel like an inconvenience. For prospective diners, here are some points to help shape your expectations: - Interaction with staff is a big part of the tasting menu experience. If this isn't your cup of tea, the tasting menu may not be the best choice. - The focus here is on quality, not luxury or decadence. Toqué does not try to impress its guests with exotic or flashy ingredients. Expect local fruits, vegetables, & proteins, presented elegantly, with natural flavours. You will likely not be served a plate swimming in truffle oil & gold leaf. You may, however, eat the best parsnip purée of your life. - The price of the meal reflects the quality of both the food & the service. For most of us, eating here is a rare treat, but it is a treat indeed, & I have never regretted a dime spent at Toqué. All in all, Toqué has offered my family & me a delightful experience time & time again, & I cannot recommend them highly enough. My only regret is that I have not yet had the opportunity to enjoy each of their seasonal menus.
We just finished a superb supper at Toque in Montreal! We had the tasting menu & every dish was spectacular! The wine pairings were expertly chosen & the service (Benoit, Sam & Frédéric especially) was stellar!
Fantastic dining experience! Attentive & well paced service. Food was exceptional, from the presentation of each dish, to the high quality ingredients & wine pairings! Highly recommend for a special event, important business lunch or simply to treat yourself for a great dining experience.
