This restaurant is stunning. I can’t get over how delicious the food is. The service is attentive and approachable. We didn’t have a bad dish. Let the chef guide your experience. You won’t be disappointed. We will come back to Montreal just to return to this restaurant. Chef Danny Smiles is exceptional.
We had been looking forward to dining here because of all the great reviews, so unfortunately the experience didn’t quite live up to our expectations.
The atmosphere was beautiful and the food was well prepared, but nothing really stood out as particularly memorable or innovative. The dessert was much sweeter than we expected, and the wine pairings didn’t complement the dishes as well as we had hoped.
What disappointed us most was the service. It felt rather cold throughout the evening, and we never felt genuinely welcomed. Great hospitality can completely elevate a meal, and unfortunately that was missing for us. Overall, it was a good dinner, but with so many outstanding restaurants in Montreal, this wasn’t one we’d rush back to.
5
Absolutely fabulous place. We had beef tartare, white asparagus, pork, ravioli, and for dessert we had marenque and citrus tart. Tried 2 different white wines and 2 different res wines. Excellent recommendations by the staff. Dong Ding tea was delicious, reminded me of oolong tea. High quality service and sooo comfortable ambiance and energy. Just fabulous!
3
Visited Le Violon on a Wednesday evening after hearing plenty of praise and recognition. We were seated at the bar with a view through the window of the kitchen.
The food was good, but arguably safe and one-dimensional. Everything was very well cooked; the fish was flaky with a crispy skin, and the gnocchis very soft and peas still fresh with a light pop. Yet, each dish felt like it was just missing an element of surprise, whether a contrast in texture, flavor or aroma; something that stands out to make the dish more memorable for the price point.
The decor and the vibe of the restaurant is undoubtedly beautiful. Le Violon embodies the ambiance of an elevated resto de quartier. That said, the noise level was high and at times, it became difficult to have a conversation.
All in all, Le Violon was good, but perhaps not good enough to justify the cost. I was more blown away by the bill than the food.
5
Amazing food and service! Allie and McKenzie were great! Super attentive and knowledgeable! The food was the most homey, approachable food for a fine dining experience! Beautiful surprise was the Guinea fowl - lots of umami and great portion! Favourite dish: white asparagus, Rimouski crab and hollandaise - pay extra for the crab, u won’t regret it! Very approachable wine list!
