Vargas delivers a sophisticated fusion of classic steakhouse traditions and contemporary sushi preparations. The menu features premium cuts of beef grilled to exacting standards alongside an array of precision-crafted sashimi and maki rolls. Patrons encounter an environment centered on high-quality proteins, emphasizing the natural flavors of seasoned grilled meats and fresh seafood selections. The culinary approach balances the intense heat of the grill with the clean, refined textures characteristic of Japanese culinary techniques. Each dish reflects a technical focus on ingredient integrity and consistent preparation methods. The space is designed to support a streamlined flow between the robust steak offerings and the delicate presentations found at the sushi bar. This establishment maintains a disciplined dedication to these dual culinary pillars, ensuring each component remains distinct yet complementary within the overarching menu structure.
Vargas is widely regarded as a sleek, upscale downtown Montreal destination that excels at providing a sophisticated atmosphere for both business meetings and celebratory occasions. Many patrons praise the quality of the steaks, noting that the meat is often cooked to perfection and full of flavor, while the addition of fresh, high-quality sushi adds a unique and enjoyable variety to the menu. While the service is frequently described as professional, attentive, and charismatic, some visitors have reported inconsistencies regarding wait times, occasional errors, or frustration with tipping and pricing structures. Despite a few mixed experiences concerning specific dishes or side options, the restaurant consistently earns high marks for its vibrant environment, excellent drink selection, and the welcoming nature of its staff.
Great steakhouse. The Caesar salad was crisp, with the perfect tang & just the right amount of Parmesan in the dressing. The calamari, foie gras, lamb shank, & beef tartare were all delicious. The others in my party ordered steaks & said they were cooked perfectly, accompanied by textbook-classic sauces.
La table d'hôte du midi est vraiment une aubaine. Avoir une salade & un prime rib pour 30$ est vraiment unique. La qualité de la nourriture est bonne, mais j'ai été un peu déçu du service. Le service était un peu froid & on ne m'a pas proposé de dessert à la fin du repas.
I'll get to the food in a bit, but first I'd like to talk about the service.
I believe anyone can be a waiter. Anyone can bring the food to your table, fill your water, check in to make sure you're doing fine. These are the basics & any half-caring waiter could achieve. What is difficult is the charisma. Being able to make your guest laugh while also knowing when to give them space, to have such a knowledge of the menu to describe sauces as'to die for' & be correct.
Let me introduce you to Raph. A brilliant waiter whose humour & ability to read the mood elevated the meal to a place a chef cannot take it. These are skills that separate the regular chains to the restaurants that you reserve to celebrate. Raph, if you're reading this, thank you for the amazing service.
My partner & I celebrated our 3 year anniversary here! This is what we ordered
The VIP Platter for 2: incredible, if you're going with someone who doesn't mind sharing, this is perfect for you. The peanut butter jam was my highlight
The 12oz Filet Mignon: Our waiter suggested the'Dion' sauce. Amazing, no notes, cooked perfectly, absolutely get the Dion sauce & garden salad.
The Creation Sushi plate: another banger, each bite unique & REAL GINGER!! Which is always a nice touch.
My partner got a Dirty Martini & I a simple gin & tonic, both delicious.
To end our meal, we each had an espresso, a perfect way to end a lovely experience.
Including Tax & Tip, our total was around 250$ (worth it)
Some smaller notes. It really irks me when you ask for a takeout box & the service will make you pack your own, Vargas avoided this which my partner & I really appreciated.
All in All, a wonderful experience. Will for sure be returning for other big celebrations.
Hier fut ma 3e expérience à ce restaurant & chacune de mes visites était en lien avec un événement corporatif. L'accueil est très chaleureux, débutant avec un cocktail 🍸 préparé par une équipe au bar, très compétente & sympathique. Ensuite, temps de passer en salle à manger avec des tables bien espacées & bien dressées. Un menu 4 services est servi, en plus de paniers de pains chauds. Le service de vin inclus par l'événement est bien respecté avec le remplissage fréquent de nos coupes. La nourriture est servie à une température parfaite pour les repas chauds, le tout est bien présenté & les aliments sont frais & savoureux. Le menu corporatif de cette visite consistait d'un choix de salade 🥗 César ou jardin, suivi d'un carpaccio de boeuf ou dumplings 🥟 frits aux crevettes 🍤. Ensuite, mon choix de repas principal s'est arrêté sur le filet de morue noir & pour clore la soirée, on nous a servi un bon dessert, frais & léger, au chocolat noisettes. Je conclus mon avis en remerciant l'équipe de service & celle de la cuisine qui ont très bien préformé tout au long de la soirée 💯
Steak was fantastic, need more selection of apps & need a Caesar salad.
Update: Either they did not give me my Caesar salad that came with the steak or changed their menu & now claim they had it when I was there. Either way I got screwed.
Pour une côte de boeuf rôtie pas cher, il n'y a littéralement pas mieux que la table d'hôte de Vargas à midi en semaine. $30 pour un Prime Rib, une salade, de la purée de pomme de terre & un café (à midi en semaine), c'est l'une des meilleure valeur du centre-ville. Surtout que la côte de boeuf est vraiment excellente. Le service est je trouve par moment prétentieux cependant.
We had family visiting from Florida & they wanted steak dinner. We used to go to Moishe's before it was sold. It appears to have been bought by a Conglomerate which is akin to Loblaws buying L'Express on St. Denis...they actually moved this iconic restaurant to the Biz district of Montreal. C'mon, the ambiance & history were part of the attraction. Not to mention the prime cuts of beef & Yiddish menu. Vargas appealed as an option. The Service was impeccable for our table of 6. They had a small but excellent wine list. The decor was spacious, the coffered ceilings were high, with lots of Art Deco finishes, plus views of the Mtl skyline. I loved the touch of specialty bottled & well chilled H2O. I shared the Mediterranean Salad, it was big enough for 4. I'd love to know where they sourced such luscious tomatoes in February. The sprinkling of dried grapes offered an nice crispy texture to the juicy tomatoes, & it was a nice fresh appetizer to contrast with the main course of Ribeye I chose. The others had Onion Soup which tasted sweet & everyone finished to the last drop. Everyone enjoyed their choice of Sirloin, which was very tasty. No one actually used the different sauces on the side, as the steaks did not need any accompaniment. My only complaint is that my steak was medium rare & not rare as I chose, & was lukewarm on arrival. The desserts were absolutely divine. I shared the Chocolate souffle with dark thick chocolate syrup & the most heavenly ice-cream, surely home-made. I am not a fan of overly sweet desserts, & Vargas did not disappoint in that regard. We had polite, attentive & discreet service throughout.I took one star off due to the lukewarm steak - but this would not prevent me from visiting this lovely & elegant restaurant in the future.
Food - their Lamb shanks, BBQ ribs, salmon plate are great. Tried their sushi for the first time, not bad at all. Onion soup is delicious with the old gruyere cheese. Cesar salad never disappoints. Their portion size varies from one dish to another. Service- nothing to complain about. Always good. Atmosphere- if you want a quiter ambience, do not sit near the bar. Otherwise, the ambience is great.
