Vraiment ordinaire ! Il y a tellement de restaurants à Montréal qui ont mieux à offrir. Surévalué.

Went there with a friend from Australia. We were both very delighted by the food and service. I will certainly go back.

super

Some of the best foods available in Montreal. i highly recommend this place.

Best value in Old Montreal for lunch, but a bit overpriced in the evening.

Good diversity of dishes, great taste, friendly staff and top decoration. Did I mention the food was excellent?

Très déçu de la nourriture. Le service était très bon par contre, mais définitivement je n'y retournerai pas. Cher pour ce qu'on sert. Very desappointed of the food. The service was great though. Will never go back. Expensive and NOT worth it.

Good food. Excellent service. Warm atmosphere.

Refused service

After reading great reviews about this place, we decided to check it out one Sunday evening while visiting Montreal. The attending staff asked us how many we were, took a good look at us (we were a group of 4 Indians visiting from the US - smartly dressed), and simply said "No". This was followed by a limp, half-hearted "Sorry". There were many tables that were empty - far too many to have been... more

My first night in Montreal I spent at Chez L'epicer. The service was wonderful. It was about 10:30pm and they didn't hesitate to seat us. We decided to order the seven course meal with wine pairing. I usually don't order set meals but thought why not try something different. It offered a full tasting of almost the entire menu.1.) Hot broth with lemongrass and tomato, kampachi fish, yuze... more

Execution is great, but the magic is missing

This is the second time i've been here, the first time was a few years ago. I was somewhat disappointed with the overall experience although nothing was specifically "wrong". The place is beautiful, the service was warm and personable, while being excellent and precise. The kitchen executed every dish just right. But the expectations from the dishes were different. The beet ravioli with goat... more

I am so glad I dined at Chez L'epicier during my stay in Montreal, it really solidified the message that Montreal is one of the top cities in Canada for some of the best food you will ever taste!The ambiance alone in this place is astounding. Old brick walls, a cozy and candlelit atmosphere ... Chez L'epicier seems to achieve a romantic old-world feel so easily. The wait times for seeing your... more

L'Épicier translates into grocer in English.  Although you won't find aisles of fresh produce or a meat counter here, you will find walls adorned with various oils, jarred vegetables, and condiments available for sale.I've often heard people say that you should pick a wife who knows how to pick good produce, because its a sure sign that she will know how to cook good food.  Well, Chef Godbout... more

Generally underwhelming given the hype. Well-executed and beautifully presented dishes, but nothing that really surprises or delights.

The food was divine.  I took away one star for the attitude.  We didn't have a reservation so we inquired as to availability on a lark as we walked by and were intrigued by the menu. Acting as though it were a hardship, the hostess grudgingly seated us at the (empty) bar.  When we left, there were still empty tables.  The service we got from the bartender herself was just fine.

Great location, nice looking place. Took the 7 course tasting menu - some winners and some duds. The winners were very good though.

It looks great and some dishes really sing but it's Russian Roulette and the wheel comes up average too often for my liking

excellent quality with the opportunity of buying and taking home the base ingredients for later

Mobile review

Very expensive, but definitely worth it! Had the poached salmon and I swear, the most perfect poached salmon I've ever had. Delicious!

Let me start by saying I guess I just don't care much for Contemporary French food.  My girlfriend and I chose here as our Montreal special dinner.   We are both disappointed. I went for the tasting menu, nothing impressive, the taste is average and presentation is so-so.  The wine paring is a joke, it is basically whatever wine they offer by glass. My gf ordered the duck breast, overcooked.The... more

An old standard in Old Montreal. Very touristy.

All the Ingredients for a Successful Lunch

A lunch at l'Épicier is what a successful grocery experience should be: you don't really have to buy the ingredients and a Chef works his magic in the kitchen to suggest a straighforward but mouth-watering happy meal. The decor is old-school yet trendy with the brick walls and high ceilings. The large corner windows offer a view on St-Paul Street in the Old Montreal which in my opinion screams... more

Local place with character

Laurent Godbout shows his talent in a casual and comfortable venue... Don't miss the home made marshmallows as you leave..

Traditional french but inspired. The food was so good (braised veal cheeks) that I asked a complete stranger to describe what it tasted like as I waited for my plate....wife wasn't happy... more

Gorgeous locale has you munching on beautifully-plated experiments with local flavors in a spice store market store-front... more

"""More of a deli than a restaurant, but some lovely gourmet food."""

Some restaurants are all about taste and presentation is an after thought. Some restaurants are all about showing off visually at the expense of flavor.  L'epicier has it all.  The food is not only artful in presentation, but delivers memorable, still-thinking-about-it-a-week-later tastes.  Even the butter (fois gras/paprika) stood out.  Highly recommended.

We chose Chez L'epecier as our "blowout" meal of our trip to Montreal. And by "blowout" I mean both in quantity and quality of the meal and budget. And yay! It was worth it! And definitely make a reservation. We called about 5 days in advance and got the exact time we wanted.We thought we'd get the tasting menu with wine pairings, but after hearing about it... we were both very meh. So, we... more

Ate there a couple months ago and am just getting around to writing a review. The appetizer I had at Chez L'epicier was the best course I have ever had in my entire life. I had the Steak Tartare on some sort of Asian Fried Leaf thing. I eat very quickly... too quickly in most instances... I hadn't finished my appetizer of Steak Tartare by the time some people had finished their main course... I... more

Very Disappointed

Went there for my bf's bday. Was really looking forward to the 7 course tasting menu. Service was great, food was really disappointing. The free starter, an asparagus pana cotta w/ an orange & asparagus topping was good. Everything else not only did not have any Wow factor, but they were rather substandard. For that price, you'd expect slightly above avg.1) home-made armenian bread + mushroom... more

Horrible service. Tasty meals, but don't go unless you have plenty of time to sit with an empty table.

I really enjoyed this restaurant. I love it for the décor, the chef, the servers... It was my first time there and it was my friend Holly's birthday and we got to sit by the window next to their various containers of salt. I loved the chalkboards, the plants, the brick, the displays. I loved how unpretentious it looked.It wasn't too loud of ambience, but didn't make you feel like talking would... more

Great restaurant in old Montreal.  Went for dinner based on a recommendation of a local. Thoroughly enjoyed the menu selection, wine list, quality of food, service and ambiance.  When it came to my food sensitivities, the chef made accommodations that were over and above most chefs/restaurants.  Entirely enjoyable experience.

We got a reservation, same day,  for 9:30PM on a Saturday night during the Grande Prix. Rather amazing considering how packed the entire city is.The food wasn't as good as I had hoped for after reading the reviews here (maybe 4 stars out of 5) but the service was really quite attentive while not being obtrusive. Our waiter was fabulous and took the time to explain the dishes, the preparation,... more

Montreal Chronicles

A cool-looking dessert at Chez L'Epicier in the Old Port area, that tries to look like a club sandwich. The "fries" are particularly well done (it's actually fried pineapple). And this... more

Fantastic dinner, great setting, the best meal I had in Montreal. The food is presented in an upscale manner and tastes as good as it looks.

We stumbled into this place by accident (and I'd say we lucked out) while wandering in Old Montreal this weekend.  We were looking for a dessert spot, and despite our being somewhat underdressed, without a reservation, they welcomed us to sit at the bar for dessert.  We had the chocolate club sandwich (served with a melon salad and some amazing "pineapple fries"), and the hazelnut-praline and... more

I really wanted to give 4 1/2 stars.  We've been there twice and it seemed so close to the perfect experience.  The food is outstanding.  The ambiance upstairs is warm and cosmopolitan, downstairs is meh. Crème brûlée is exceptional.

Perfect for a date

Saturday night dinner was at Chez L'Epicier, an upscale French bistro in Old Montreal. Stone walls, exposed brick, dark woods, and white table clothes make for a comfortable yet romantic atmosphere. The menu items were creative and complex and presented beautifully. We started with some sort of delicious tiny meatball concoction, and of course, bread with dill-butter and a bottle of wine. I... more

One of the best meals of my life (and I REALLY like to eat well:).  We stumbled into a tasting menu from a world renown chef.  It wasn't cheap ($150 for 7 course tasting menu and $80 for wine pairing each), but it was world class.We didn't have a reservation, but we were there at 5:30 - so we were offered a spot at the bar, despite the restaurant being booked for the evening.Our bartender was... more

Very nice ambiance and great food! Went for lunch and they offered the set menu. Ordered the four grad... Delicious. I would go back.

what would alix do?

From the street we walked up the short flight of stairs into white tablecloths, dark wood chairs and floors, cylindrical mesh-covered light fixtures, and a tremendous amount of exposed... more

I was invited to a restaurant for the holidays, having zero knowledge of it prior to setting foot inside. I had heard some murmurs of it but nothing solid. Chez L'Épicier (The Grocery Store in French) looks like a very upscale grocery store with canned goods, oil bottles and such all set in a charming Old Montreal where the old bricks and rock walls of the historical site give it its rustic... more

Chez L'epicier has a classy decor and menu, but I find the food to be artsy to the point of not really being food anymore. If you want to look at the food and not eat it you will really like this place.The price structure is staggered so you can spend anywhere from $20 to $80 on your entree depending how fancy you want to get. The seven-course tasting menu is at the top of the tree. One problem... more

Great Restaurant.  My sister and I saw this place during the day and decided to go at night.  We looked up reviews and it seemed great.  My sister is a pastry chef and loves French food, so it was a good choice.  We got the halibut and the filet mignon.  Both were delicious as was my pre-main course salad.  Dessert is always the tell-tale sign of whether we like a restaurant and we were fairly... more

It's been so long since I've eaten here...

but I have not been able to forget my perfect, succulent scallops served atop separate dabs of different sauces, all equally delicate and complementary, and colorful like a painters' palette. It was an excellent choice for someone who could not decide what to order because everything sounded perfectly divine.

Maybe 4.5 stars. Went here for lunch. I had the penne with pesto and cherry tomatoes, which was very good. Also had a good green salad. Hubby had a wonderful cheesy squash soup that I ended up stealing, then the cod wrapped in ham with salted walnut butter, which was delicate and complex and really good. Service was excellent. This is just a nice little restaurant, with good cooking and... more

I really wanna give it 4 and a half stars, but chose to round up instead of down because this place does not deserve a 1 star downgrade.  The food was excellent.  Every single dish.  We had the tasting menu and I lost track of how many things they brought us.  Everything was superb... but we must have been there for 3 hours.  Now, I noticed that in Montreal the dining pace is a little slower,... more

I had the pleasure of dining here during a recent business trip. The food was superb.  The menu was creative and this was obviously a hot local spot.  The salad portion was enormous.  The pistachio crème brulee was to die for.  I would recommend trying this restaurant when in Montreal.   However, before I comment on service, I want to note that service in Montreal in general is exceptionally... more

Excellent

One of the best spots in the city.

Outstanding

The decor of the place gives a very respectful update to the Montreal's Old Port architecture: discrete, confortable and relaxing even in a 42 C. afternoon. Even though the place is usually packed, it is never too noisy, one can always enjoy a good conversation to enhance our meal.Unable to choose among the suculent offers in the menu, we decided to try the lobster bisquet another time and go... more

No thanks

Ravioli starter came to the table with Saran Wrap over the plate. The waiter kindly removed it when the other dishes were served. Strike one.Really nothing special or exceptionnal in the main meal: I had pavé de saumon.I also agree with previous reviwer that the names in the menus seem over the top for what you actually get in your plate.Left there hungry, and a few hundred$ poorer.

Best French food I've ever tasted

I have been disappointed with French food, even in France. I know there must be good restaurants out there but until now, had not found any. I chose the degustation menu. The staff were fantastic and knowledgeable and I grilled them on every detail as if I were a food critic. The atmosphere was warm, inviting yet casual, the restaurant overlooks Marche Bonsecours. I splurged on the degustation... more

chic little city

Well-known chef Laurent Godbout (Version, La Fabrique) mixes a comfortable and relaxed decor with complex and creative dishes to make for a wonderful dining experience at Chez L'epicier... more

Mobile review

Oh my gosh....amazing. Absolutely amazing food and service.

Mobile review

went a while back. Wanted to love it but could not. The plates were beautiful, but the taste did not win me over. It is criminal to put foie GRAS on a lollipop stick and serve it with caramel sauce. That destroyed the rest of my meal

OMG THEIR FOIE GRAS IS THE BEST!!!!!! some places can't make it right and has that fishy or stinky smell but this place sure does know their food!!!!!I got their special for the night...it was canard and foie gras with potatoe and a canard cake!!! this place is good and reasonable!!! must try if you are visiting!!!

Mobile review

Very popular place - super crowded. I am about the food though and while it is good especially the sald with extra duck it really is overhyped you can eat better in Montreal.

Deceptive menu descriptions

I have some discomfort with a restaurant that shows creativity with the names on the menu and does not show the same creativity on the plate.Gambas three different ways are nothing else than big shrimps.Three different ways means: one way of cooking with three different sauces, stretching very little from the definition of three shrimps with 3 different dipping sauces. If customers look for one... more

Candy vs. Medicine

My boyfriend surprised me with reservations at Chez L'Epicier no311 in the Old Port, so romantic and thoughtful! Like theatre for your mouth.

On a visit to Montreal, my wife and I had an amazing time here. The food was sublime, and the presentation was artful and playful. The service was fantastic as well. This is a great place for a celebration.

Great!

FOOD=====Started with the foie gras: not greasy at all and incredibly succulent. The accompaniments were a mix of hits (the fresh light taste of pear was an excellent and interestingly add-on to that succulent foie gras), but the few other accompaniments were just ok (at least you can see that they try pushing the limits of flavors/savors, which I truely liked).Main course was roasted scallop +... more

We ate here in December of last year and I can't recall exactly what we ate. I do recall that the food was super tasty and very well prepared. The restaurant is pretty stylish, but laid back and not too pretentious. When we ate, it was mostly a business crowd, but as we were enjoying a romantic evening meal they let us sit at the other side, near the bar. We were totally alone, and had a great... more

Ok, I love anything Laurent Godbout makes, but this is a great place! Did the set menu with the wine pairings and my ONLY complaint, was that it ended up being too much food. I was really forcing myself by the end. My girlfriend  had asked if they could change one course because she didn't like duck, they switched it up for her no problem, no fuss. Changed her wine on another course because she... more

This place was amazing.  My wife and I were walking around Old Montreal and we noticed two restaurants, Version and Chez L'Epicier.  After hitting the web on my phone we realized that they were both owned by Laurent Godbout.  So when we got back to our hotel, we asked the concierge about both of them.  She responded that Chez L'Epicier is more traditional French so we went with that one.  When... more

I'm surprised this place only has two reviews! This place is in the heart of Old Montreal. I was happy houring and in dire need of food in my system, so thus started looking for places to chow. Chez L'Epicier it was with no reservation. Walked inside to a quaint cozy place to our hostess asking if we had a res... I said no. Then she asked me if I had tickets to the circus, and I said no again.... more

Perfection

Great service and even better food. The house bread is always great since it comes in different flavors. I've been quite a few times and would suggest a main dish of any kind of meat from venison to filet mignon. The fish is also pretty good if you must have that. The mushroom and beef tartar is stellar. Save room for dessert. Anything on the menu is to die for. The quality and innovation never... more

I like Chez L'Epicier and it is a nice place to go for tasty food. Cute presentation of food on the dish too. Nice atmosphere. Great place to order lots of dishes and eat. Portions are small so order a lot if you are hungry. It is best if you sample just about everything on the menu to get a sense of the full range of flavors here. Oh yes, once they had a Peach Mojito that was very tasty.

Looks better than it tastes...The attention to detail is excellent. But it's one of those experiences, where you feel bad eating it because you have to ruin the presentation. The restaurant itself is cozy and unpretentious, and doubles as a market and deli (interesting oil selections).  As far as the taste, I wasn't too thrilled. Amuse-bouche was a nice touch, but it came as a cheese that was... more

Oh. My. God.

Pricey? Yup.  Incredibly chic?  Yup again.   Waitstaff so goregeous you feel as though you should be waiting on them?  Yup.  Unforgettable meal experience?  OH HECK YES!!Last Thursday, a group of us went here for a friend's goodbye party and let's just say that L'Épicier didn't disappoint!  I had the sweet crab spring rolls, the deer with a mocha raspberry marsala (indescribable - slightly... more

Excellent service, excellent food... Good prices... Good decor. Everything was perfect.

Horrible Restaurant in Montreal
Waited over one hour to get seated and the worst part is that we actually had a reservation. Once seated, I was so upset it was hard to enjoy the food. Unfortunately, it just got worse and worse as the night went on. The red wine was served cold and in the wrong type of wine glasses. The food was subpar at best and the wait staff and management were running... more