Reviews of Garde Manger (Restaurant)

Marine

This is the best restaurant I have been to in Montreal. We went for a Wednesday dinner at bar, had amazing experience. I’d recommend old Montreal MUST go. Location: old Montreal. Note the restaurant does have name by the door it only has the number 408. Later we learned from the bar tender - when chuck originally open the restaurant there was no name but not for popular so quickly so they kept that way. All there is a rust sign “old bright idea” - see photo. Atmosphere: lively and loud in the outside room, we sat in the small room bar it is quiet comfortable and not noise. Open kitchen so cool to see all the action happening. Very tastefully decorated overall. Food: the best! ???????????? we had chef menu, that allow us try out everything. Started with lobster, pastor and smaller raw fish dishes it taste out of this world , the chef and waters explain each dishes. In our set we got steak and scallop as main. The waitress is very kind to ask what we like and she purposely arranged our fav ❤️ Price: $120/160/180 3 level chef menu we went 120 it is plenty of food, especially we were not too hungry next time we will try another level ; compare the food the price is very fair Service: top level. Attentive abs informative ; love they all speak English with french accident so cute . On our way out the chef offer take our photo inside the kitchen it is so sweet ❤️ Tips: sit in bar is really fun as u got to see the action happen. Book early! This place hard to get reserve soon try at least 2 weeks, my friend said some time can also go early like 5 ask to sit in the bar u might get lucky This is must go place! I highly recommend!

P Sud (Patron876)

We took the $160 menu and added truffles, overall it was a good experience the service was excellent, the wine list was extensive and we enjoyed all the wines that we tried. Seafood platter was nice, all the dishes were good but nothing we had had a wow feeling that would make you have to comeback a second time which is the only thing missing for that price

Henri Thai

Pretty fine dishes, good vibe and atmosphere and very friendly staff. All my dishes were superb. Though quite expensive!! They charged me $98 for Orecchiette (Pasta)!!!

Brittney & Rocco Micucci

Food was good, not overpriced for the quality. Steak was cooked incredibly well. Descriptions of menu items could be more specific and menu could be slightly bigger. They don’t have the lobster poutine anymore so that was disappointing. It is a nice atmosphere but the name is not on the building so it was hard to find.

David Mintz

Wow. Simply sensational. The chef's menu was tremendous. Every single dish that came was perfectly done. Seafood was top notch. Smoked Sturgeon mousse was a show stopper. Wine selection is extensive, and varied. Had some delicious orange wines. While the food and drink were excellent, the service made the night. Nicholas was a first rate server with a great knowledge of the wine list and and great personality. Doing the chef's menu, we were lead through the meal by him and it exceptional. This one of my favourite restaurants in Canada.

Dev VanCity

A cozy establishment with great character located in the heart of old Montreal. Excellent food and service I highly recommend this joint.

JOHANNA A.

#chuckhughes what a place! Shout out to chef Chris and the great mixologist Sam. Delicious food and great drinks. Worth every dime!

W Gmail

Gorgeous restaurant in a very charming part of Montreal. The seafood was super fresh and the presentation was on point. Staff were very friendly. Great desserts too so make sure you save room for those!

Alexa Maag

Unfortunately I didn’t have the best experience with the staff there. It was my best friends 30th birthday. I called in to offer to buy a nice bottle wine for their table. The staff who picked up the phone was incredibly rude. I was a bit taken aback on the phone as I was not expecting to get a nasty response like that. A bit disappointing for a restaurant of this quality

Wai Chan

This restaurant is tucked away, without signage. Service was good. Pricing was fair. Food was interesting. The menu looks like it changes often. They suggest the tasting menu when we first entered. That was fine by me, as that's what I tend to order when I go to a restaurant for the first time. I would hope they are presenting the best there is to offer. It was priced at $100 per person that night (price was not mentioned to us at the time). It comes with a seafood starter, appetizers, mains, and dessert. I am unsure if there was issues with how loud the restaurant was or what, but 2 important things were not noted for our dinner. One of which was, we requested no red meat, but still received the beef carpaccio. I found the food interesting. The best was the pork that night. For other dishes, there were parts of the dishes that I liked, but not always in its entirety. I gave it 4 stars because, I did not find our meal as fantastic as some of the other ones I had while in Montreal. Its about a 4.5 for me. Maybe it was just unlucky picks. Its a beautiful space though, and if I return, I'd be happy to try them again.

George Giannou

We hesitated to come here for a long time because we heard it was very overrated, but it was truly a special experience. The food was excellent, the ambiance was nice and cozy and the service was also superb. This is on eof the best restaurants in the city and totally worth the weeks of wait to reserve.

Jasper Chou

Our 3rd time return after covid. Gone with their Chef Menu $120 per person and has been consistently tasty and creative. Good customer service and money worth definitely. Was honoured to be greeted by Chef Chuck making sure we have a positive experience and spending quality time with us.

Michael Colatruglio

We got the tasting menu and it was absolutely worth it. All the food was delicious and the dishes were very unique. Great service too!

Alexander Kjerulf

The food and the service here are both outstanding. Book your table now and get ready for a truly memorable experience.

Jessica Wong

Unreal place for dinner. We had the special seafood Platter as an app, and although pricy, honestly I have not been that wowed by something in a long time! Their main dishes were very delicious, especially their seafood ones. All in all, a must try. Careful, because reservations I heard are yard to come by.

Peter Verikokos

Amazing food, ambiance and service. The caviar, shrimp, oysters and sturgeon paté we're beyond delicious, as were the scallops and QC char with caviar butter sauce. Our server Cindy was fantastic. The cooks were killing it in the kitchen, we ended up buying a round of drinks for our server and the entire back of house ream. Such a great vibe in the restaurant, overall a wonderful dining experience. Cannot wait to dine here again on our next trip to Montreal.

Karen Lee

For summer of 2021, Garde Manger offered lobster pogo sticks. Which sounds novel and super yummy! Don't get me wrong, it was yummy. There was chives and a lovely mayo sauce with grated lemon zest on the pogo itself and it was a nice mix of flavours. However, the price was super steep--especially for something that can be perceived as street food (it's also during Covid so there was no way one can sit in). One pogo was $27. In comparison, the day before I had this, I had 2 lobsters for $40 at Keung Kee (different class, different location, I get it. Just leaving this here given it was definitely lobster season and other places reflected the market price more fairly).

Taylor Stevenson

Definitely be sure to get a reservation well in advance. We had to defend a 9:30pm bar reservation on a Sunday. Got called twice during the day to confirm we were still coming. Still had to wait a half hour for our table when we got there. The menu items looked good and we were excited to try them. I was pleasantly surprised by the extra salty bread we received at the beginning of the meal. I thought they intentionally over salted as an starter to help wake up the pallet. By the time our mains arrived, I was guzzling water to compensate. I don't know if it was a fluke, but everything from the artic char to the pork loin had a thick layer of salt. Pricing was reasonable, but it's way to much of a hassle for the quality of the food.

Amanda Krishnakumar

One of the best dining experiences that I've had. We got the $160 chef's course and asked for a drink pairing. There was so much food and at times, I was at a loss for words. We started with the lobster with caviar, scallop crudo, then the seafood platter, 3 appetizers, 3 mains, and 2 desserts. Suffice to say, that it was a very filling meal, but everything was so good! My stand out dishes were the lobster with caviar, the lobster with butter and old bay seasoning, the beef tartare, and the mushroom with poached egg. Everything just had layers of flavours, which I really appreciated. I definitely recommend visiting!

David Bobbe

The food, the atmosphere, the energetic server all excellent! We loved the whole experience. The building that the restaurant is located in and the whole aurrounding area were built in the 1700's. Really cool!! Only problem is, you have to fly all the way to Montreal to go there.....

Scarlett James

OMG! Such great food. My heart skipped a beat for the salad with blue cheese. I must say that when i go back, i will just have the appetizers. I ordered the scallops for a main and was too full to appreciate. Keep some room for desert.

doris chang

Amazing food and services Tasting menu was very good and very filling

Glen Watson

What a great find! This place is nicely tucked away on rue St-Francois Xavier. It was a last minute reservation. It did not disappoint. Great food. Octopus, heirloom tomatoes, smoked sturgeon pate and char. My basic description and photos do not do them justice. You really need to read the menu descriptions to capture the detail. The blending of various food items and textures was amazing. Great service. A real treat. No room for dessert. Had eaten at Chuck Hughes ‘Le Bremner’ when in Montreal before. So glad we found his other restaurant. A true gem.

Shoroni Ashraf

This little hidden gem gave me the absolute unique dining experience. The cocktail was so delicious; even though I don’t like alcohol much, the bartender whipped out a tasty one for me. The steak, the coffee cake- everything was delicious. Highly recommended.

Graeme Marchand

Just amazing…food…service…the entire experience was amazing

Rikki Wright

Incredible food and atmosphere. Well worth a visit if you're lucky enough to get a reservation. Whoever had DJ controls over the playlist for the evening had good taste too.

Andrea D'Ambrosio

wow!!! ???? Absolute hidden gem! The best restaurant we experienced on our trip to Montreal! The Ricotta Gnocchi was fantastic and so flavourful with the fresh peas, sauce and perfectly seared scallops. The dessert was a coffee cake and raspberry shortbread. It was flavourful and extraordinary baked. Can’t wait to come back and try the tasting menu.

Joe Anthony M

The Seafood platter is to die for!!! Love this place and loved Bremner back in the day.

Aim Buranakarn

Amazing food and great service from Vito the bartender. Sit at the bar and ask for Vito... you won't be disappointed!

Erin Mistry

Excellent dinner at Garde Manger! We had the Chef’s tasting menu and it was amazing. The staff are passionate about food and the service was wonderful. Can’t wait to go back!

Alan Fregtman

Best seafood restaurant in Montreal hands down! Everything is super fresh, the dishes are inventive in the balance of ingredients and the music playlists you hear at night are fantastic. ????

Lukasz Krukowski

The place is invisible, nothing that indicates that you're at the right place. The restaurant is dark and cozy and the food was incredible. We took the "menu du chef" @ 100$/person and it was totally worth it. I won't spoil the surprise, take it!

Alex Moroz

Wonderful experience at Garde Manger! Incredibly inviting and staff is knowledgeable about all the dishes. We ordered many of the seafood dishes and our server Claudio, guided us all the way through. For this level of service, quality of seafood, and innovative dishes, Garde Manger takes the gold prize. We both loved the mussels. Arctic Char (with black truffle) was my favourite dish, my partner’s was the octopus. Thank you again for the incredible meal!

Andrew OT Hui

Another fantastic dining experience in Old Montréal ! My friend made reservation said I wouldn’t be disappointed, was he right! Place was cozy, staff was very friendly, our server was incredible. She recommended the menu like she was the chef and bought the ingredients from the market, detail and mouthwatering☺️! We followed her advice, I picked the wine..... Montréal is heaven for dining, no doubt about it!????????

Aldo Goegan

Hadn’t been here in ages and forgot how absolutely delicious the food is. Service was impeccable too!

Trang Tran

Love the experience! It was my 3rd time and I’m so happy to be back after the lockdown. The seafood platter is definitely a must and always ask for their dishes of the day! The only downside is that our menu was 120$ per person and the waiter promised us the truffles would come with that menu, but we didn’t get any. So we could’ve stuck to the option of the option 100$/person and would still have the same experience.

Warner Boss

We decided to just order off the menu. It changes daily to accommodate seasonality and availability. In hindsight I would reccomend the chef tasting option. Not for the bargain concious. You will spend some money here. But if you are looking to be wowed with culinary treats, this place is for you. Excellent oysters too. They may not be on the menu, but if available they will accommodate you. Great wine selection. The staff is very helpful, knowledgeable and attentive. Give this place a try. Easy to miss, no real signage on exterior.

Flora

Delicious place for food. Nice ambience. Book far in advance. Great service. Ceasar has crab legs. They don't have a English menu, you'll need to ask the server

Shay Brittingham

Absolutely phenomenal meal. Highly recommend the Grand Tasting menu, especially at the bar next to the kitchem. Service was incredibly knowledgeable and attentive. Don't forget to buy the kitchen a round of drinks too!! Merci!

Melissa Tirado

I can’t even begin to express how much I loved this place. I had the cauliflower followed by the duck and everything was absolutely perfect. I sat at the bar and the staff was so welcoming and fun. To drink, I recommend the Paloma - it’s out of this world. I need to plan another trip to Montreal to eat here again.

My Vo

Ordered for takeout. Loved the unique combination of ingredients. Small portions but very filling. My partner and I had two appetizers and one main and we were so full after that! The dessert was just okay though.

Thomas Tiedemann

Had always wanted to go to Chuck Hughes restaurant since seeing Chuck's day off on the Food Network. Had heard good reviews from people that had been there. A little hard to find with all the street construction, but fortunately we had a great can driver. If you are going with a couple of other people or a group I would certainly recommend the Chef's menu. It is a sampling of that days menu, served family style. Service is first rate. Do t be afraid to consult with the sommelier. He will recommend a great wine to match your meal ( the price was reasonable) Take time to watch the kitchen staff. 6 people in a small space in perfect sync. If you really enjoyed the meal then make sure to buy the kitchen a a beer, although they seem to Negronis

Jeff S.

Amazing service, food and ambiance. The chef’s choice was a great experience

David

Amazing food and great atmosphere. Quality ingredients and fresh seafood. Impeccable service, a must try for locals and people visiting.

Mandart Chan

Where can I start? The decor - amazing. Service - superb. Food Quality - FORMIDABLE!! Thank you to Chuck Hughes and his team for a fun night of food and drinks! (And that focaccia bread is KILLER!). The menu changes constantly and it's amazing! Plan ahead and book one month in advance!

Mark Greenberg

Remains one of my favourite restaurants in the city. Delicious meal last night - tomato salad with halloumi and peaches was one of many highlights!

Jonathan Barnes

Amazing service and atmosphere. Incredible assortment of foods from the Chef Menu. And great wine selections. Definitely did not disappoint for our last night in town. Would absolutely go back to Garde Manger on our next visit to Montreal!

Greg Rajewski

After finding the establishment because of the little"New Bright Idea" plaque on the wall next to the door -- what happened to the "Garde Manger" sign anyway? ;-) -- my party of 4 settled ourselves in for an awesome Chef's Platter that completely satisfied and left us bursting by dessert. Fair Warning: It's on the pricey side and not something we'd splurge on at each visit, but definitely worth trying at least once! Service and ambiance were top-notch and we'd love to experience it again.

Kenny Sullivan

Food here was really good, service was on point, and atmosphere was really lovely. You’ll need a reservation. The wine is delicious. You really have to go! I loved the scallops.

Edward De Groot

An amusement park for the senses! We thoroughly enjoyed the Chef's Menu, with the presentation of each course matched in perfection with its delicious flavours. Highly recommended.

Bryan Kamanjian

Exceeded expectations. Great atmosphere, very cool and friendly staff, and the food was on another level!! Great place for a formal night out

Brandon Gray

Impeccable food and service. World class meal.

Chris Law

I would like to say thank you to Alexander, Nick, and the rest of the Garde Manger family. I came in with my kids specifically to celebrate a milestone at the restaurant. You lived up to my hype and as usual, exceeded expectations! To anyone going, let the staff guide you and surprise you! You have my respect and gratitude, Chris.

Pete Smith

Been to Garde Manger several times but unfortunately my last. Great food of course (thanks to the kitchen), and atmosphere, but our host 'C' displayed an attitude which essentially ruined the evening. Awkward introduction and never seen heard from him again until we had to wave him down to ask what happened to our wine as we were finishing our mains. All servers basically dropped the dishes off without any confirmation towards our satisfaction. His delay ended our meal and surprisingly he escalated his unprofessional attitude with us by quickly getting us settled and out of the restaurant without any apology or indications he had any concern for our sentiment on the poor service. Time for 'C' to clean up his game or move on (try telling the truth too). Trust me when I say he was over the top in a negative way.

Dawn Gibb

The food was top notch! David, our server made us feel so Welcome and like we have been friends forever! Will always come back when we visit Montreal!

Mackenzie Cameron

Cindy our server was extremely knowledgeable on both the wine and food menus. We ultimately went with the chefs tasting menu, which I would 100% recommend. Being a foodie and traveller the 5 star does not come lightly. It is certainly deserved, the food, service and atmosphere was outstanding. I’d recommend to any and everyone who would listen!

Rob Mackie

We chose to do the chefs tasting menu and are very happy we did. Our server asked us about our preferences and they nailed everything we ate and drank. We started with a scallop crudo and a seafood platter that was amazing. We then had an octopus dish, a tomato peach and fried cheese salad, and cordon bleu croquettes. The mains were hanger steak, scallops and a grilled cucumber salad. And for dessert we had peanut butter profiteroles and pistachio cake. Everything was unreal. Definitely an experience. Be prepared to spend a lot!

Bernice Ho

The best restaurant I’ve been to in Montreal and possibly the world. The food is spectacular and service is impeccable. Highly recommend the chef’s tasting menu - well worth the value as everything is delicious and portions are large. You will leave very full and happy. Staff were very gracious and able to accommodate some limiting dietary restrictions. Reserve in advance as it’s a high demand spot. Recommend the seafood platter, croquettes, octopus, steak, and flourless chocolate cake, but you really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. Hi

Marc Smith

We were a table of four who were in town for a couple days and very excited to dine at a Chuck Hughes restaurant. Staff at the door were very friendly and sat us at our reserved table. The server, Alexandre was friendly in the beginning when we were ordering drinks and explaining the menu. However this all changed when we chose to not order from the chef's tasting menu. My future mother-in-law could not eat much of what was offered on the tasting menu so we asked if some of us could do the tasting menu and others order à la carte. Alexandre told us absolutely not, it would be too difficult for the kitchen. At first greet, Alexandre asked if we preferred English or French and we said we were bilingual. My father-in-law who is a francophone would speak to Alexandre in French and Alexandre would answer in English. When we had decided to opt for à la carte, Alexander's attitude changed and treated us as if we were a nuisance when ordering. Staff would come by to clear drinks that were half full, not asking if we had finished them first but instead putting their hands on the glasses. Not a good look during Covid. It got so bad that at one point my MIL had to "hide" her cocktail and glass of wine at the end of the booth so staff couldn't take them. The general demeanor of Alexandre was unwarranted as we spent more than what a tasting menu would have added up to. With fifteen years experience in casual fine dining, I found this experience to be deplorable. The food was amazing and the kitchen should be commended for it. The dining experience however, does not reflect the brilliance of the culinary creations of Chuck Hughes and the dishes we were served.

Nick Sousa

Out standing. The food here has to be the best fine dining food I have ever had. You will not go hungry after you leave here. The service is above and beyond top notch. Wine selection is amazing and has a range of prices. While there we had four mains and an app and having tried all four of the mains. If you can get a reservation definitely worth the money and the challenge of getting a reservation.

Francesca Mendaglio

My husband and I had such a fantastic time at Garde Manger! We've been there in the past and were somehow even more impressed this time! We sat at the bar and I couldn't be happier we did because Sam took such good care of us and really elevated the whole experience! Amazing food, phenomenal service and a superb atmosphere! Any time we're in Montreal we'll be back!

David P

I've been here a few times. In July 2018, I was here twice in one week. Once on my own where I got the $100 tasting menu (a sample of over half of what the restaurant has to offer), and second with a couple of family members who I insisted try the food here and where we ordered appetizers, drinks, mains and desserts. Food here is amazing. Service is excellent. Some of my best dining experiences have been here. Regular and virgin cocktails both great. Favorite dishes are the scallop main, pork chop main, duck appetizer, mushroom and gruyere fondue appetizer and porchetta appetizer. Food takes a while to prepare because it is made to order but it is worth the wait. Worthy of note, there is no sign to the restaurant on the outside of the building so keep an eye out for the physical address!

Matthew Howell

Pricey but great food and service. Drinks were nice but nothing special. Food truly is amazing though.

Andy Olson

What a great seafood dinner. I enjoyed from beginning to end. Great bar service. Friendly staff. Was an excellent birthday celebration for myself.

Matthew Flood

I came here for the Lobster Poutine, and asked Sam, my bartender about it when I did not see it on the menu. Come to find out, the dish had been removed because of the cost. However, I stuck around because Sam made me one of the best Old Fashioneds I've ever had and talked me into the seafood appetizer, which was stellar! I followed that up with another cocktail from the second bartender Kate, which was also top notch, and the Zucchini Flower, Buffalo Mozzarella and Lobster plate was amazing!

Debbie King

This was my 3rd time there, but my 1st time by myself. The staff went above and beyond to make sure I had an enjoyable experience. And as always, I don't have anything to say about the food, other than it was perfect! Thanks

gina v

The owner was nice enough to find us a table on a Saturday night! Amazing seafood, exceptional service and the best hot sauce I've ever had. We tried there tasting menu and it was so much fun and so delicious. Highly recommend.

Karina Di Giovanni

The food, service and music were amazing. Great evening out!

Helena King

Loved this place. Waiters were super friendly and knowledgeable. Great wine suggestions. Food was delicious and larger than expected portions. Would definitely recommend as a top Montreal place to go if visiting.

Dimitris Gian

Lobster was very good with melted old bay butter. Next dish was sturgeon (river fish) with caviar. That was cold and mediocre in my opinion. I had a very good canadian pilsner beer called bierbrier. The dessert was profiterols with salted caramel. It was ok. Very friendly and helpful waiters.

Steven C

Beautiful restaurant and friendly and attentive staff (David). Music was great and it had a great atmosphere. Everyone having a good time and really enjoying heir food, as did we.

John Bemis

Fantastic experience!! The food and service exceeded all of our expectations. We chose to have the chef's tasting menu, starting with the seafood platter with an amazing selection of raw and prepared seafood. The smoked fish spread was the best I have ever had. The selection of courses followed with a wide variety of tastes. Highlights included a chicory salad and a sweetbread appetizer. To add a cherry on top the staff let us in the next morning to retrieve my wife's misplaced glasses.

C Rae

Had dinner here on a Saturday night. Great wine recommendations, great food & impeccable service. Due to the fabulous wine consumed, I can't recall our bartender/server's name but it was a more unique name that started with an "L" (I think). He was fantastic & hope to see him again on our next visit. Collectively, we highly enjoyed the heirloom tomato salad, croquettes, QC Char & troffie pasta. Can't wait to come back for another dinner.

Michel Champagne

Place hard to find.once inside, service was a1. We were 4 people and decided on Tasters Menu. Phenomenal food and plentiful. Definitely a class restaurant. A bit noisy but well worth it. Our server Claudio was great. Chuck Hughes has a winner.

Ed

Best meal of my life. Buy the kitchen a round of shots before the meal :)

Haqeem S

It was very disappointing considering the price and hype. We ordered the steak, tartar and other dishes. It was incredibly salty to the point where we can't even taste the ingredients anymore. Save your money and go elsewhere. Other than that, the service and ambiance was ok. Only the food was not good at all, which I would say is the most important part of any restaurant. It says something when fast food we ate after was a lot more satisfying than this restaurant. I hope the restaurant will take this critic seriously and actually try to rectify the issues.

f g

Amazing food. Every bite was better than the last, no joke. Great menu. Great service. A bit pricey but highly recommend if you don't mind the price. Food is well worth it.

Tasso D

Absolutely AMAZING!!! Highly recommend the seafood platter and oysters. Also good was the pulled pork.

Benoit Ladouceur

Absolutely fantastic experience. Delicious food and attentive service. The chef's menu is highly recommended.

Mohammad Bilal

I have been to This restaurant quite a few times and amazing food and environment However had a very bad experience with reservation staff this weekend. Had to cancel the reservation due to medical emergency. Person on phone was very unprofessional and disrespectful and without listening to reschedule the reservation just hang up Certainly reservation staff needs proper customer training and improve there ways of handling their clients on phone