VANDALE commands a bold presence through a menu centered on fresh seafood and expertly charred grill selections. The kitchen emphasizes high-quality market ingredients, transforming raw components into sophisticated plates with precise cooking techniques. Guests encounter a diverse array of oceanic delicacies alongside robust proteins seared over open flames to achieve perfect textures. The aesthetic reflects a modern approach to culinary preparation where natural flavors take precedence over unnecessary ornamentation. Every dish demonstrates a commitment to ingredient-driven cooking, ensuring that the essence of each element remains prominent on the plate. This establishment bridges the gap between traditional market sourcing and contemporary grill methods, creating a focused experience for those who appreciate direct, flavor-forward cooking. The environment supports this culinary philosophy by maintaining an atmosphere dedicated to the appreciation of fundamental food preparation.
VANDALE offers a consistently memorable dining experience characterized by its unique, hidden entrance and warm, immersive atmosphere. Guests frequently praise the creative and delicious French-inspired cuisine, noting that portion sizes are generous and dishes are crafted with high-quality, flavorful ingredients. The cocktail program is widely celebrated for its originality and complexity, often enhanced by professional and passionate staff who excel at recommendations and pairings. While service is generally described as attentive, friendly, and professional, the overall welcoming vibe and distinct decor make it a standout destination in Old Montreal. Whether visiting for a special occasion, a group dinner, or an engaging mixology workshop, visitors consistently recommend the restaurant for its excellent value, vibrant energy, and high standards of hospitality.
My wife & I had a bit of time to kill before our dinner reservation & we randomly came across Le Speakeasy on our walk through the area. They had just opened for the evening & were very kind to accommodate us without a reservation.
We really enjoyed the ambiance & vibe & our server was world class. We only had time for a cocktail each but wished we could have stayed for more.
No spoilers from me....just come & experience what Le Speakeasy has to offer. You won't regret it.
I got the gnocchi & creme brûlée which were delicious. The wait staff was excellent, some of the best service I've ever had. The vibe of the place was fun & different than many places I've been before.
The service was great, our servers were super easy going & kind. The mocktails were very delicious, would definitely recommend the mango tiki for something refreshing! Portions were quite generous & food was really filling. They made the appetizers to be generous enough to share with your whole table without problem. The vibe was very relaxed & inviting, with some good music & cosy decor. If you want some place to enjoy a good conversation & great food with friends this is perfect!
My partner & I came here for the MTL à Table 2025 edition & I wasn't disappointed. The food was good & the service was great. We were super full as the portion was quite big & that was definitely worth $50/person. I love the atmosphere & the decoration were quirky but in a speakeasy-ish cute vibe. The only downside was the drink; I think I got a very average Nestea taste-like iced tea while I ordered a special mocktail.
Also:
-Paid-parking on the street
-Super cute menu printed on vinyl disks
-Tricky speakeasy entrance from the street, you gotta know how to get in
Group of 3, we went for MTL à Table! It was a very good tasting menu! The portions were pretty big considering it was 4 courses. The gnocchi & short rib were fantastic! The Staff, decor & vibe are great- there was just a super extra loud table next to us. All in all a very pleasant discovery !
Overall, our night for 2 was amazing. We went on Friday April 11th from 7pm to 9h30.
Excellent: service was truly amazing (she was funny, kind, attentive), ambiance & vibes were immaculate, our gravlax entrée left us speechless, good portions for tapas style, the matcha crème brûlée wow!, cocktails are expensive (?20$) but definitely worth it, & 3 course for 25$ was a steal. Focaccia was amazing too.
Good: the main dishes lacked a little flavour… the pasta was good, but nothing that can't be whipped up at home under 30 mins.
To be improved: our main dishes took quite a long time to arrive, but understandable as it was busy & the server made sure to check up often.
Disappointed: we were left disappointed by the Asian short ribs that really lacked flavour & sauce. Mainly we were disappointed because the rice was quite undercooked.
But we left this place happy, we ate well, had great cocktails, & for 150$ in total it was worth it (tip & taxes incl.) for 2x 3 courses, 2 cocktails & a beer, foccacia & saucission extra (great portion). We'll come back :)
Great vibes, unique marketing & atmosphere & reasonable happy hour prices. There are $1 oysters Thursday happy hour (only?) & the staff are quick & friendly with the service. The menus are delivered in fun record sleeves & the murals of the space are colorful & pop! The space is not wheelchair accessible, there are a few steps to enter the first door, & heavy second door & stairs required for the bathrooms. There are multiple seat options with different levels of back rests for the bar versus table, & different levels of light & noise depending on where you are in the space. Overall I would recommend for the happy hour special but seemed pretty average for the normal bar/food service.