Delicious and skillfully prepared - loved it

Le Grain de Sel is a small, boutique gourmet restaurant located in a quiet neighborhood, perfect for an intimate romantic dinner or a small group. The venue is a simple one-room dining room, decorated with large pop art prints and a few smaller modern oils. The dining area is separated from the kitchen by a wall of glass block, silhouetted... plus

Surf & Turf

This is a local restaurant that uses products from local producers. Menu is constantly changing but is always fresh and tasty!
We were a group of 8 and everyone was very pleased with the services and the food! They have great sauces and yummy boudin!
The most exciting part is when it gets to the dessert, not only because they... plus

My lucky day

Flew into Montreal from Wash DC and we had just about 24 hours in town. Birthday gift from my husband to visit Montreal to have dinner. Never been to Montreal and we had very little time, so restaurant choice was very important. Chose this restaurant from the reviews on trip advisor. Either Montreal has hundreds of superb chefs or I... plus

Nothing can compare

This must be the best meal I have ever eaten. It is difficult to put the feeling into words... I read the tripadvisor posts....and chose the restaurant on that basis. No description here could do justice to the experience we had. "Experience" is a deliberate choice...it was not just a meal. This is a relatively small restaurant where you get... plus

Really good value

We tried during the taste montreal event. Long time we wanted to go and were not dissapointed.
Service is really, really nice. Cook came to ask if we liked his plates and this is always great to see.
With one bottle of wine, it cost us 120$, add probably another 40-50$ if it's not during the taste MTL event.
It's... plus

Best soup ever

We tried this restaurant as part of the Taste Montreal event. The amuse-gueule was a squash risotto that was tasty but a bit dry to my taste. Then my wife ordered the creamy leek soup, cheese and crunchy granola. It was DELICIOUS. The best soup I have had in a while (well, my wife had it). I had ordered the... plus

Great food, great service, great atmosphere

My girlfriend and I (who don't speak a word of French) stopped in here after reading some positive reviews and were very happy to find that they weren't at all misleading. Our server was very friendly and while her English was far from perfect she was more than happy to switch to it. The food was delicious and well presented,... plus

Awesome

The beet salad, the foie gras, the fish and chips and the surf and turf were amazing!! Great dining experience: great food, great place, great service, pretty good price! The deserts were not fantastic, and its the only negativ aspect, but the rest was excellent!!

Not your typical French restaurant, creative, tasty, fast polite service

Our first visit, with 6 adults and 2 kids. The restaurant is located close off the Jacques-Cartier bridge, so fairly easy access for South Shore folks. Parking is OK on the streets, found space less than a block away, and the neighborhood is bohemian chic.
The resto has a main room, and a smaller enclosed room in the back -... plus

Great restaurant

A little out of the way in east montreal but food was excellant and well prepared a very good restaurant with good wine list would go again in a minute sit back and injoy

Not welcome here

Celebratory dinner out with daughters and friends as university graduates went seriously off course when our server ( man in blue shirt) decided to treat us poorly because we didn't speak French. It was clear to all of us we were not being treated the same as others. Service was the worst I have ever had. Our second bottle of... plus

Best meal I have eaten in Canada

My husband, daughter and I came for the first time tonight. It was recommended by a colleague who is from Montreal, as well as the concierge in our hotel, and the great reviews on TA. The friendly hostess welcomed us right away, led us to our table, and offered us the choice of English menus even though we were being... plus

Our favorite

This is "out of the way", but do not miss ths place! The best meal we had in Montreal, and the price is very reasonable for the quality. Our waitress was great and the chef came over to make sure we were enjoying his food. We aren't the most adventurous eaters, but we ordered the house specialty appetizer which is... plus

great food, great service

I have nothing but good things to say about this restaurant: the service was on point, the food was well worth it, and the wine was good and not horribly expensive. I am generally not a very easy person to please but Grainn de Sel is a winner. I will be returning when I get back to the city.

Best quality/price restaurant in Montreal

I found this restaurant through Trip Advisor and it lived up to it's ranking as one of the top in Montreal. I had actually tried others with an even higher rating but I feel that Grain de Sel deserves top place since the experience was all around perfect.
The food is of gourmet quality with blend of savors that only... plus

Best meal I've ever had

This was really the best meal I've ever had. Some reviews said the area was shady. I felt comfortable walking to and from the subway. Not as nice as other areas of the city, but I felt safe.

Beautiful food and a wonderful restaurant

I am writing this few months after I visited this restaurant but the memory of the food and good service remains. I had crab? stuffed courgette flowers with a beurre blanc and my partner had mini pork burgers with black pudding (sounds rubbish, but soooo good). The mains was a cured belly pork with huge crevettes and a beautiful sauce.... plus

A fantastic restaurant to celebrate a special occasion

Eight of us at a long table in the back, past the open kitchen. Service was perfect, very accommodating, knowledgeable and friendly. Food was excellent - try the braised bison cheeks, oysters two ways, wild mushroom ravioli, the list goes on and lots of plates not on the online menu.
It was a perfect evening, highly recommend this restaurant.

A real gourmet experience

This was our first visit to this exceptional restaurant. The food is exquisite and very well presented. As an appetizer, the "foie gras poêlé" is a real delight. I highly recommend the Surf and Turf with "boudin" and scallops. Blood pudding, boudin, may not sound too appetizing but this one will change your opinion forever. The desserts are inventive and... plus

Beautiful food, even better service

My husband and I make sure to visit this establishment whenever we're in Montreal. The atmosphere is warm, and the service equally so. The food is served impeccably, but simply. Our last visit, we had the venison, and it was one of the best things we ever tasted. The pumpkin Creme brûlée was a nice seasonal touch and delicious. What... plus

A wonderful place

For our first time here. Wow.
Great food and great service. I came with some friends, and they were welcomed to Montreal by staff.
Lots to recommend. We liked the steak tartare. Also tried the bavette and frites. And the boar sausage.
More like a bistro atmosphere, but much to be enjoyed here! Still I think this is Montreal at... plus

Excellent french cuisine and friendly service

We had lunch there and felt like friends more than customers. The food was excellent and the wine recommended just a perfect match. Will go back for sure.

Glad I followed the positive reviews as this resto did not disappoint

I just enjoyed a fantastic meal at Le Grain de Sel. I am always looking for a different menu that offers fresh, local produce - a menu does not need to be extravagant to offer good food. Plates were carefully designed, service was fantastic and we really appreciated that the chef visited the table.
To add - I am a... plus

Wonderful Dining Experience, Will Repeat

Trip Advisor rank is well-deserved. Enjoyed everything about this place. Will absolutely return here next time in Montreal. Changing menu, unusual and delicious; warm welcome, server showed genuine interest in our experience without hovering. Easy enough to get to from business district by either cab or Metro. Tasty bread, wonderful amuse bouche, fantastic appetizer, a beet salad like no other.... plus

Fine dining and terrific service

Terrific Experience that I will most certainly return for in future trips to Montreal! The food was amazing, prices were fair, and the service seemed like we were guests at a home rather than a restaurant. It can be tough to find this, but I will say it is at Grain De Sel. I highly recommend to anyone traveling as... plus

Excellent restaurant; unpretentious and top notch food

Very nice experience; helpful and knowledgeable serving staff, intriguing good value menu and really good food.
It's like unpretentious fine dining; the presentation is slightly plainer and the portions slightly bigger but the tastes, textures and menu is very much fine dining.
Highly recommended; the chef personally thanks you for coming and checks everything is OK which is a nice... plus

A very fine restaurant without having to pay premium prices

A beautiful little bistro away from the downtown riffraff and congestion, this place doesn't disappoint in any way. As a main I had the deer and foie gras and it was very delicious and there was a nice amuse bouche that was very fun as well. I didn't take any dessert because I was too full.

Nothing special

The dishes here lack subtlety, the wine selection is unremarkable, and the service is only adequate (we must have waited for a half-hour before finally managing to catch the eye of our waitress to request our bill).
Note too that the restaurant is located in a grungy area a considerable distance east of the heart of the city, not somewhere... plus

For the Inexperienced

I agree with those who are underwhelmed with this restaurant. Le Grain De Sel has very limited menu. Their pretentious service is trying to make up for inadequacies of the kitchen.
We asked for simple pasta for our 6-years-old and they couldn’t make it. Any restaurant in the world would have the ability to serve pasta with olive oil, not... plus

Fantastic Dinner Experience

My boyfriend and I went to this restaurant for dinner our last night in Montreal. We had a fantastic bottle of wine and a wonderful dinner. The restaurant makes new sauces all the time, and they are fantastic. They gave us food that they explained that they were trying out. Everything about the service and the dinner was fantastic. It... plus

First trip to Montreal

This was our first trip to Montreal and we had a great meal at Le Grain De Sel! It is a short cab ride there but well worth it. The staff was exceptional including the chef that stopped by our table. We ordered the a bottle of wine, Wild Mushroom Ravioli and the Beef Short Ribs and they were both... plus

just ok

I expected a lot given the reviews. I was underwhelmed. I thought the food was average. I was there less than 10 days ago and I can't remember what I had. I guess unremarkable is a good way to sum it up. Good service.

Good food but worth the cab ride

This was my first time in Montreal & we stayed in Old Montreal near the Port. While I enjoyed the food (the bread probably the most), the menu was small & the location not the easiest to get to. Our cab was about 14 Canadian dollars not the most expensive cab ride I have ever taken but given all the... plus

Wonderful authentic cuisine

What a delighful experience we had here for our final dinner in Montreal. This restaurant is located a few blocks from the village. The staff were all very friendly including the Chef whom visited tables. We started with the Wild Boar and Black Pudding both were delicious. For dinner we had the Smoked organic Pork Shoulder and the Veal Spider... plus

A place to discover

This is a great little restaurant a bit outside the touristic downtown area, but easily reachable by subway (Papineau station, and a 5-min walk). Food is sublime: I had the mushroom ravioli, which was by far the best pasta in my life! Staff is very professionnal and friendly, and prices are reasonable, especially if you go for lunch.

fabulous food

delicious cooking by a wonderful chef. no airs, no hype - the absolutely best sweetbreads (riz de veau), amazing halibut, mindblowing risotto w/wild mushrooms and imagine homemade ketchup with anise! Perfect service. A 5 minute taxi ride from jazz festival, do not miss!

PRO/CON - Expected the Best but was treated to the Average

INTRO
-I booked reservations well in advance in lieu of taking my girlfriend on our first visit to Montreal. The reviews of the restaurant on Tripadvisor made this place seem like the best place on earth with a diverse menu and superb attention to culinary detail.
However, upon conclusion of my meal, I felt it was only average.
First, the... plus

Very Good

Excellent overall experience! Food was superior, staff were exceptional, and the atmosphere was welcoming. While it is a little further up St. Catherine st, it was well worth it! Take negative reviews with a" grain of salt" Check it out!

way over rated

yes the food is good but you can get just as good for much less in this city.

woudl give it 10 stars if I could

I have previously reviewed Le Grain de Sel in 2010. As soon as I knew that we were going to be in Mintreal last week, I contacted the restaurant for a reservation. Yes, it is a little off the beaten track BUT that is part of the charm, it is a cheap cab ride. The food is so delicious and... plus

A Wonderful Restaurant - Classy, Quaint, Creative and VERY Friendly

My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed everything Le Grain de Sel had to offer. We were greeted very warmly by the staff -- who also kept checking in with us regularly during our meal and appreciated getting our feedback on the various courses. We felt very "at home" and well looked-after in this small and welcoming restaurant.
In our opinion,... plus

Doesn't deserve #1 spot on TripAdvisor

Montreal is full of awesome cuisine options. This restaurant's location is rather far from action and while the food is good, nothing memorable. Please don't make your mind on Montreal food based on this place.... Much better options to discover

Great first experience

I went with a friend who was coming in from out of town. I personally loved all the food and service. The home-made accompaniment to the breads was really interesting and creative, and I had the mushroom ravioli for my main course. Everything tasted so fresh and flavorful! My friend on the other hand remarked how "strong" the meat tasted... plus

kid friendly

We went for our long Memorial day weekend to Montreal. On our second night there we had an excellent meal. Even my 7yr old was enjoying every part of it, including the amazing desserts. The restorant is high end, but the wait staff makes you feel most welcome, and the end result is amazing food in a fun and intimate... plus

Great food and great staff

Went here our last night in Montreal, based on Tripadvisor reviews. Though I can't say it was the best French meal I have had, we fully enjoyed ourselves. The location is in a Francophone part of Montreal, but the staff did not treat us (non-French speaking) as idiots as often happens. With a reservation in place, we were seated in... plus

Heavenly French food

+ I am so glad we found this place!!! We tried 2 appetizers, 2 entrées and I had dessert. The veal was (pardon my French) freaking amazing! As were the sauces for the bread. I licked those mini glasses clean!!! Their lemon -ginger dessert= amazing!
- Unfortunately, no reservation = a c@!%!y table in the back. :-( So, do make... plus

Superb

We had dinner here on a Friday night, making our choice as others did by the consistent high ranking on TripAdvisor.
This was our last night in Canada on a week-long trip, and we consider ourselves fortunate to have saved this for last - it was a memorable dinner.
While waiting for the appetizers to come out, the chef sent... plus

Finely executed dishes

Very delicious! We found this ranked #1 restaurant in Montreal from tripadisor.
Recommend:
- Calamari 2 ways
- Quebec Wagyu baby beef tartare
- Prawn and Pork Belly Duo
- Beef steak with smoky favor

Agréables retrouvailles

I ate at this place some 20 years ago and decided to come back upon a family member's recommandation.
The decor has changed, the menu and also the team, but it was a pleasant moment, we had a good meal, serviced by a very charming and warm team.
I recommend the beef tartar and the lemon mousse for desert.

Wonderful

We took the metro here based on the reviews we read - definitely lived up to the expectations. It was the best meal I have had in memory. The chef was gracious enough to translate the menu for us (only in French). The wild boar mini-burgers were SO GOOD!! They melt in your mouth!!! And, the chicken wrapped in bacon... plus

Sometimes it pays to be in larger groups when the bill will be larger and provide bigger tips.

My wife and I seemed to be overlooked, especially towards the end of the meal. Took 16 minutes to order dessert. Way too long.

The ravioli was great and pork belly was tender. Ther prawns were a little over done. I would try going here again to see what happens. I was not going to cause a scene, but... plus

I dined at Le Grain de Sel with some friends to celebrate my birthday last week, and it sure did not disappoint! The food was lovely. The waitress brought us fresh bread with an array of condiments including an orange pesto and a caviar jelly. So yummy! I shared the seafood bisque as an entree and it was good- but not quite hot enough. The mains at our table ended up mostly being the wild... plus

I go to Montreal twice a year for the day for shopping. As much as I love the city and the shopping at Simon's, I love to source a new place for an indulgent lunch. This year I stumbled on this place, and with a $12 CA cab ride arrived here, alone, ipad in hand.
The owner seated me and offered apologies for the all french menu. He returned for an interpretation, but alas while I don't speak... plus

my buddy, my fiancee and i came here for dinner recently.. i usually plan everything on my trips but since my buddy did all the research on montreal.. i let him steer us around for dinner..

needless to say.. his choice in cuisine is quite impeccable..

we grabbed a bottle of beer cultivated by the master chef (ferran adria) and my fiancee got a glass for wine.. we started off with a wild... plus

Excellent service. Excellent food. Cozy ambiance. Reasonnable prices. Will be going back for sure!

SEATTLE FOODIES - if you are in Montréal, GO HERE. I have been cooking organic & eating well in Seattle for over 5 years. I created a Yelp account just now to write about this place, so take that into consideration.

Menu is largely current with other recent posts. A few notes: The rum-soaked and GRILLED watermelon opener was unexpected and set the tone. Don't order the fresh & positively... plus

I was in town for a conference a business partner set this meal up; i'm thrilled she did. Our meal was one of the best I've had. The chef, Jean Francois, combined fresh ingredients with various spices for an amazing culinary experience. Our waiter was very knowledgeable about the food and the wine, with an enthusiasm when explained that made JF's food come to life.

This is a gem in Montreal, a... plus

Lovely little gem of a restaurant
Grain De Sel on St. Catherine east of The Village
Still undiscovered but not for long. I organized a dinner here for twenty and I was amazed at the chef's ability.His menu is market driven and very creative without being too far out there.
In the 10 years I have been coming to Montreal I have never been this far east on St. Catherine. A cab is suggested-but it... plus

This comfortably elegant restaurant is well worth the trip to a somewhat isolated part of Ste Catherine, well beyond the buzz of the Village. We were group of twenty who sampled all over the menu, from arctic char to black pudding. Food was consistently excellent and beautifully presented. Servers were somewhat overwhelmed, but I'd guess that with a smaller group or a slower night, they'd do... plus

I went to the "Grain de Sel" with a group of 8. We had a wonderful evening. The cuisine is tasty and spicy to perfection. The selection is limited but covers all taste. Wine selection is not to extensive but again, covers all for any budget. You can expect to pay about 70$ (+tx and service for 2 person), which is a bargain for what you get. Service is excellent, discreet and efficient.