Garde Manger

Seafood restaurant · Vieux Montréal

Garde Manger

Seafood restaurant · Vieux Montréal

5

408 Saint Francois Xavier St, Montreal, Quebec H2Y 2S9, Canada

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Garde Manger by null
Garde Manger by null
Garde Manger by null
Garde Manger by null
Garde Manger by null
Garde Manger by null
Garde Manger by null
Garde Manger by null
Garde Manger by null
Garde Manger by null
Garde Manger by null
Garde Manger by null
Garde Manger by null
Garde Manger by null
Garde Manger by null
Garde Manger by null
Garde Manger by null
Garde Manger by null
Garde Manger by null
Garde Manger by null
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Highlights

Seafood-focused with creative dishes and a lively atmosphere  

Featured in The Infatuation
Featured in Eater
Featured in Conde Nast Traveler

408 Saint Francois Xavier St, Montreal, Quebec H2Y 2S9, Canada Get directions

gardemanger.ca
@gardemangermtl

CA$100+ · Menu

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408 Saint Francois Xavier St, Montreal, Quebec H2Y 2S9, Canada Get directions

+1 514 678 5044
gardemanger.ca
@gardemangermtl

CA$100+ · Menu

Reserve

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Last updated

Aug 18, 2025

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@eater

The Best Restaurants in Old Montreal | Eater Montreal

"Canadian celebrity chef Chuck Hughes and chef de cuisine Chris Merrick run the ship at this seafood spot, dishing out oysters, Nordic shrimp, razor clams, and octopus, plus a decadent range of desserts. With the demise of Le Bremner, Hughes’s other restaurant in the area, snagging a table at Le Garde-Manger has become all the more special." - Eater Staff

https://montreal.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-old-montreal-vieux-montreal-old-port
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@cntraveler

25 Best Restaurants in Montreal | Condé Nast Traveler

"Since Garde Manger opened in 2006, the small nook in Old Montreal is always abuzz with folks clamoring to experience Chuck Hughes' cooking. Today it's still one of the best spots in town, and a big part of that is the food: The ever-changing blackboard menu is a giant invitation to feast. Try the lobster salad, the short ribs with cauliflower mash, or the pan-fried sea scallops with bacon Romanesco, buttercup squash, and black truffle. The foie gras appetizer is a stunner, too. And under no circumstances leave without drinking at least one Bloody Caesar." - Todd Plummer, Isa Tousignant

https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/best-restaurants-in-montreal
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@cntraveler

Garde Manger - Restaurant Review | Condé Nast Traveler

"Unique ambience and bright food The vibe As festive as the food The crowd Relaxed and fun-loving The drinks A gargantuan Bloody Caesar The food Decadent" - Isa Tousignant

https://www.cntraveler.com/restaurants/montreal/garde-manger
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@infatuation

Le Bremner Review - Old Montreal - Montreal - The Infatuation

"Located between the tourist traps and supper clubs that dominate Old Montreal, Le Bremner is a nice break and exactly where you should be eating when you’re in the area. The menu changes monthly, but the seafood platter and lamb neck cavatelli are classics, and if you don’t finish your meal with the stacked pancakes with maple sauce and whipped butter, you will have seriously missed out. They don’t have a sign and the entrance is hidden down a set of stairs, so make sure you have the address written down, or you might end up somewhere you can’t end your meal with pancakes." - Ashley Joseph

https://www.theinfatuation.com/montreal/reviews/le-bremner
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@eater

Queer Eye’s Antoni Porowski on His New Restaurant, Recipes, and More | Eater

"The Montreal restaurant where he worked as a waiter under Chuck Hughes, notable for an everyday-changing chalkboard menu and a playful, experimental, low-pretension approach that drew on Quebecois roots and accessible ingredients." - Greg Morabito

https://www.eater.com/2018/9/25/17896724/antoni-porowski-queer-eye-nyc-restaurant-village-den
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Gina Lewis

Google
I’ve been coming here for years, and it never disappoints. The quality is always outstanding, and the creativity in every dish continues to surprise and impress me. It’s one of those rare places where you feel the passion in every bite. The tasting menu is, in my opinion, an absolute must. It’s a beautifully curated journey through inventive, seasonal flavors – each course more intriguing than the last. What sets the experience apart even further is their thoughtful wine pairing by the glass. The staff takes the time to match each pour perfectly with your food, enhancing the whole experience in a way that feels both refined and personal. The service is always warm, professional, and genuinely welcoming. The team strikes that perfect balance of attentiveness without being intrusive. They make you feel like a regular, even on your first visit. In short: amazing food, impeccable pairings, and a staff that makes you want to come back again and again. A truly special place.

Jessica Best

Google
Lovely service in a very cool environment. Simple flavors but tasty. I could have used a bit more salt but my friend thought it was all good. Small but fun wine list by the glass. Favorite bites were the focaccia and the green goddess salad (though I had to shovel off some of the dill) :) Friend loved the shrimp paste crusted cod.

Ben Oit

Google
Exceptional food and service! The portions were generous, especially for fine dining, and the multi-course meal was beautifully balanced. Every dish was full of flavour and thoughtfully presented. The cocktails were top-notch—creative, well-crafted, and delicious. A truly memorable dining experience!

Demetri

Google
My wife and I celebrated our 7 year anniversary here and it was nothing short of amazing. The food was incredible BUT the highlight for us was the exquisite customer service from the gentleman who sat us down to our amazing waiter Loris to every staff member we interacted! Each plate we received told a story and delivered flavor that felt like fireworks going on in my mouth! I highly recommend this gem! We tried the 6 course chefs menu and it did not disappoint. My wife does not eat meat so they curated a culinary experience that fit the bill! The cocktails were vibrant and exquisite! I had to try their lager and it paired well with each plate. The beer was crafted specifically for this restaurant! A must try for anyone visiting the city and for anyone who is from around!

Ed Grimly

Google
Stripped down non-pretentious atmosphere, great music with excellent staff. Menu is expensive and mostly worth it, with a few exceptions. We got the $220 Chefs menu. Everything was great except the pasta was under cooked and the steak was a bit tasteless. I am nitpicking, but we spent $600 for two people so I am going to be critical. I would go back, definitely. Maybe stick to the menu next time.

Carl Wong

Google
This is a wonderful restaurant in Old Town Montreal. We're so glad we were able to make it as we had a transit at YUL Airport. Our waiter was very helpful to help us with the menu recommendations. The ambience is really cool and takes you back to yesteryear. Would definitely visit again when we're in Montreal. Highly recommend the sourdough foccacia and the Octopus.

Kyle F. Finan

Google
Truly one of the best dining experiences I’ve had. Everything was perfect, the person who met us at the door was kind and friendly and got us drinks while we waited. Once seated our server, Louis, was great! The atmosphere is a bit on the louder side, which we loved. Everyone on the team was a joy and was very educated on the menu. Louis walked us through our entire meal! 5 stars all around. Must try when you are in Montreal and be sure to get the mushrooms!!

Alicia Chin

Google
This was my third time going. The restaurant has a tavern vibe to it, but the chef's menu always blows me away. At $125 per person, you get a seafood platter, multiple apps, multiple mains, and a dessert per person. We did the second tier at $175 adding on the amuse bouche starters. The service is great, the cocktails are fun, and they're great at accommodating dietary restrictions.

Anthony D.

Yelp
If your visiting Old Montreal the go to spot for dinner is Garde Manger. A small restaurant in the heart of Old Montreal reservations are a must. We were a big group and sat in the back and did the top tier family style dinner. Every dish of the meal was excellent. It started of with two amuse bouches (lobster tempura with caviar and live scallop), seafood tower, a series of appetizers, a pasta dish, a series of entrees, and two desserts. The highlights of the meal; Live scallop - fresh and deliscious. Seafood tower - regardless if you are a big group or not this needs to be on your table. Every piece of seafood is delicious, fresh, and top grade. It includes - lobster with a brown butter dipping sauce, shrimp cocktail, razor clams (this was included with the top tier menu), two styles of oysters, mussels, cured salmon, and a white fish spread to accompany homemade chips. Fried Sweetbreads Dressed In Buffalo Wing Sauce - this was the favorite dish of the meal. Garde Mangers version of buffalo wings except with sweet breads. It's a great way to try sweet breads if it's your first time. Beef Carpaccio - excellent. Duck - excellent. Scallop With Gnocchi -probably my favorite entree course. Scallop was delicious and the gnocchi was pillow soft decadence. Coffee Style Cake With Coffee Ice Cream - our favorite of the dessert offerings. The service was nothing but outstanding. It never felt stuffy, yet every dish was explained in detail, the staff was attentive and on point. Amazing restaurant.
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Ginger S.

Yelp
The Scarlet Vetter says.....this is quite simply the best seafood I have had! The service was amazing as well. I was dining alone in Montreal and emailed to find out if there was a bar I could sit at and eat, and I received a prompt reply indicating there was. I went and was seated in the back bar, which was the seafood bar. I loved the room, both the atmosphere and the lighting. I decided to select an excellent bottle of red wine and the chef's tasting menu. I listed my "no can dos" of brains, headcheese, insects and pets (horses particularly) and off we went. The food was just delicious. There were so many dishes I can not even write about them all. Julian at the back bar made a fabulous seafood plate with oysters, shrimp, crab, razor clams, mussels and sea snail with an accompaniment of sauces. Yum yum. Gian was one of my servers, as was Elyssa, and they presented the dishes with great explanations regarding ingredients and preparation. The amuse bousche lobster morsel with caviar was delicious. The foie gras with apple slivers on homemade sourdough was also a standout. The following dishes were also simply scrumptious: salted cod croquet with chipotle mayo and dill sprig, albacore tuna with fried pork skins and a hot sauce, Homemade pasta special butter and shaved truffle were also simply scrumptious. I just can't say enough good things about this establishment and the food.
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Ivan K.

Yelp
Real wanted this to be a 5 star review but it missed the target a bit. Service was friendly. Food had potential but was served a bit cool. Really loved the Octopus. Angoletti were a bit firm not sure if dried out prior to cooking or. Not Cooked enough (I do love Al dente) the braised beef cheeks were great. Oysters are amazing. Wine list was nice. Atmosphere was cool. Just didn't get a warm vibe !!
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Paul C.

Yelp
A charming, ancient stone building in Montreal's old town houses famed Canadian tv chef Chuck Hughes' flagship restaurant Garde Manger. We made reservations months in advance and we were not disappointed. The seafood-heavy menu has a wide variety to choose from and I started with the Nordic Shrimp salad which is a serving of small poached shrimp bathed in what looks like a green goddess dressing (but tastes far better) covered in a salad of herbs and lettuces. My main course was a generous portion of Garde Manger's version of sautéed scallops. Delicious. Dessert was a delectable banana-and-chocolate flavored preparation that was so good. The wine list was great. Super service was provided by our waiter Gian. Highly recommended. Best to make reservations in advance.
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Greshka P.

Yelp
This, IMO, is a MUST in when in Montreal. The ambiance, the service, food and drinks are all FANTASTIC! To start, the location has a speakeasy vibe. Not obviously marked we almost passed it would it not be that we were looking at the numbers and one of their staff immediately opened the door for us and welcomed us. From there on we were all in love with this place. Dim lights, very attentive service, interesting and delicious menu. And you can tell it's a local favorite too, as there was not a moment they were not busy or people walking in for tables. We started with some specialty cocktails, then wine, and ended with an espresso martini. All excellent. Deciding on food took a bit more since all sounded amazing but I finally decided on the steak special. Loved the mushrooms in it, the steak was perfectly cooked, and the sauce was so flavorful. The string cut fries with the sauce were another experience on their own. The Octopus appetizer is another thing I would recommend. Fresh, delicious and great for sharing. As mentioned, service was part of the mix to make our visit here so memorable. They take the time to have conversations with you, recommend dishes and drinks/ wines, laugh and joke with you and all in a very professional manner. Honestly one of the best dining experiences I've had!
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Tonia L.

Yelp
Lovely waiter and bartender Accommodated us with no reservation 5:00. Food was excellent. Got the lamb- ahhhh yum. Hubster got the chicken(rare order for him) it also was yum yum! Cool vibe going on. Dude at the door was super inviting and welcoming
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Jamie S.

Yelp
Garde Manger has its own lane as a restaurant. The seafood options are exquisite. We tried the razor clams, regular clams, smoked char, cucumber appetizer as our starters. Everything was phenomenal and what stood out the mood was the halibut. It's the best I've ever had...excellent crust on the outside and perfectly cooked in the middle. My colleague also enjoyed his meal, which I believe were the scallops. Wine list was extensive. Service was excellent!!! The ambiance is definitely speak easy vibes...you have to know where you are going to find the entrance. Definitely check it out!
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Seda K.

Yelp
The best culinary experience I've ever had and never had better anywhere else. We didn't have a reservation and sat at the bar like a rookie but it was perfect. I cannot stop talking about this place and I certainly cannot say enough good things. From the atmosphere to friendly staff, we were impressed. I will go back to Montreal just for this restaurant
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Anne K.

Yelp
A huge disappointment with our selection of The Tasting menu option we ordered ours @gardemangermtl and the 4 lonely shrimp were dry and small I've had better from the freezer from the local supermarket, overpriced overhyped big letdown with a hefty bill, the mussels were absolutely meh, 1 dozen oysters for 4 in the pricy Tasting menu tray and they were tiny....not going back for sure, staff kind and polite but they are overly present wiping cleaning pouring every 5 seconds they are sweet but it really is too much constant pampering and unnecessary, it impeded us to experience the meal having the team members alway around.

Katie S.

Yelp
Ordered octopus as starter and the cocktail was good but the main dish Hanger steaks were so tough. My jaws were hurting keep chewing so couldn't finish even half of it.

Alyssa B.

Yelp
best dining experience I've ever had. From the food to the service, the ambience, the music, the drinks, it was an absolute delight. highly recommend the chefs tasting menu. I can't wait to return
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Yongyi C.

Yelp
Made reservations for this place (Saturday night), which was definitely a good idea because it looked like a full house. The bartender was super friendly and offered great drink recommendations based off the food we ordered. Overall great atmosphere and delicious food!

Markos P.

Yelp
Excellent restaurant! Superb food and service... Great ambiance. It has some of the best seafood and duck I've ever tasted in my life. The presentations of the meals are artistic and creative as well! I simply cannot say enough wonderful things about Le Garde Manger! There was nothing to criticize. I highly recommend it to all!
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Erika D.

Yelp
After the lockdown, I FINALLY got to try out Garde Manger! It's run by a very popular TV Canadian tv chef named Chuck Hughes - I used to watch him on Food Network. Apparently you can often see him in the kitchen cooking (unfortunately not this evening though - hopefully next time!) They're well known for their seafood dishes. We ordered the Chefs Menu and everything was delightful. It's really hard to pick a favourite dish but everything (and I mean everything) was perfect. The Chefs menu is a lot pricier but you get to try out everything - they make the choice for you and you just sit there and enjoy. They let you know about what you're eating of course and explain everything to you. It's a great way to try everything out and see what they're most known for. If you have a night to celebrate, this is definitely the place and the menu to do so! Service was impeccable. The servers were super friendly without being suffocating, and they made sure to ask about allergies beforehand to ensure you have the best experience possible. We were checked in for our vaccination passport and they had a nice hand sanitizer at the front. Please do make a reservation though! It's a busy place.
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Sue T.

Yelp
Our second time dining while in town for F1, it was even better than our first time. The food, service and vibe was delicious, fun and lively. We went with the tasting menu, top tier which are seafood focus including lobsters sand razor clams, pasta, duck and dessert. Total of ten courses. Our server, Claudio was attentive and friendly. The head host, David was friendly and was apologetic for the late seating due to reservation delays which I am sure it wasn't under his control. Definitely one of our top 3 restaurants in Montreal!
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Kelly C.

Yelp
Really enjoyed our dinner here, food was fresh and cooked perfectly, the sauces were the highlight, enhancing every dish.
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Mike H.

Yelp
Such a great experience! Sit at the bar for the BEST interaction with the staff. Such a great time. Food is outstanding and the drinks are awesome. Love love LOVE this place!!!!

M. Jonathan H.

Yelp
Great food, service and ambience was had here tonight. The octopus, chicken, fish selections, and hanger steak we're all very very delicious, going well with their Pilsner beer... making for a great meal. Our waiter was very informative and knowledgable and had much great things to say about his Chef who prepared the dishes. " Enjoy !"
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Todd C.

Yelp
Wow, this place rocks! From the second we walked in we were treated like VIP's despite the fact it was our first visit. We sat at bar seat 29 which was serving double duty as the DJ booth. Classic rock filled the small space with a super cool mix of Hendrix, The Stones, Led Zeppelin, you name it and they were playing it. We started with cocktails on the rocks. Barb had an Orange Crush and I settled in for L'Affaire Jaune. Both were fantastic and set the stage for shared appetizers of mussels and QC snow crab. What a great start, the apps were relatively small but packed with flavour. I loved the touch of smoke flavour on the mussels! Barb opted for another app for her entree, the spaghetti squash Caesar which was reportedly excellent. I had the hanger steak with mushrooms which was served medium rare to borderline rare. Wow!!! Everything on that plate was delicious and I uncharacteristically finished every morsel. Be forewarned the chef is fairly aggressive with the seasoning but wow it was great! The nice part about ordering A la carte was that we had room for dessert, in fact we ordered two. The pastry chef personally delivered the MUST TRY Coffee Cake and the equally delicious Profiteroles. Those desserts were worth saving room for! We had a very memorable experience and can't wait to return!
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Dom B.

Yelp
I visited Montréal for the first time and this was by far the best food I had during my stay. The service at Garde Manger was exceptional. The server knew exactly what I should try and he did not fail. It was a great blend of flavors with an ambiance to match. I 100 percent would recommend!!
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Anna F.

Yelp
This place is fantastic. Food is beautifully prepared and beautifully presented. Everything was very fresh and flavors are great. The menu is very eclectic and different. You won't find these dishes in many places. It was definitely worth the experience. However make sure to reserve a table at least a few weeks in advance. Spots fill up fast and you may be waiting for a reservation that will only be available after 9 pm. I definitely recommend coming here and checking this place out though, very different and delicious
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Lisa C.

Yelp
Excellent food and service with a great ambiance to boot!! Awesome wine and cocktail list too. My favorite was the sea bass special, but the octopus app and duck breast close behind. If you have room, the chocolate cake with sour cream icing is divine! Highly recommend.

Kristi J.

Yelp
The food and service were absolutely excellent. We sat at the bar (as that was the only reservation available) and still had a great experience. We ordered a cocktail that was delicious. Appetizer: crudot Main course: halibut and side of mushrooms Dessert: key lime pie All of the food was excellent. I would come here again and would recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting Montréal.

Wm A.

Yelp
Excellent food, incredible staff, top notch cocktails and wine menu. Worth every penny. Absolutely amazing experience.
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Karen L.

Yelp
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).
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Jared B.

Yelp
Garde Manger sits behind an unmarked doorway off a side street by the Montreal waterfront. It holds what I can only describe as quite possibly the best tasting food we experienced during our time in Montreal. Upon walking into the restaurant you are greeted with a small but packed dining area that abuts a bustling open kitchen - a feature I always enjoy. Waitstaff and cooks are a blur of activity always moving, but making it look effortless. further back in the restaurant just past the kitchen you'll find the bar area. A quieter and more intimate section where you can enjoy the cocktails and the amazingly crafted tastes of the meal to come. We ordered the black cod and the arctic char and both were splendid. Perfectly cooked, exceptionally flanked by the flavor profiles of their sides. My only knock on the experience was that our food arrived cool, but our experience was still stellar.

Yanina M.

Yelp
I can't understand all the 5* reviews!!! We had the most disappointing experience. First the positive: attentive staff; beautiful food presentation The negatives: 1. the dining room is so dark we needed to use a light from our phone to see the menu. Looking around, most people did the same. It is one thing to create a cosy atmosphere it is another to be in a murky room! 2. The food just didn't taste good! The best dish was oysters and if they are fresh usually that is sufficient. The smoked char was ok but nothing special that definitely didn't command the price of $15 for a tiny ramekin. The clams were chewy and too salty; the crudo of turbot was fresh but under seasoned ( no acid at all) and was overpowered by the slices of jalapeño. The tomato and peach salad with holumie was ok, the best part being the ripe peaches. 3. The chicken main course was ok but the lobster sauce was too salty, it felt like someone was trying to justify the price of $56 for chicken by adding expensive ingredients like lobster and scallops but it just didn't taste great. We felt disappointed and a bit cheated after reading all the great reviews and paying over $260 for a bellow average experience.
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Cherry C.

Yelp
Food was impeccable, ambiance was classy without being stuffy. Service was great. Highly recommend!
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Regan H.

Yelp
Food was unreal - no surprise. Service was also amazing. I sat at the bar and ordered a variety of appetizers and dishes from the seafood bar. See you soon, Chuck!
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Elle W.

Yelp
We had a lovely dinner. I accidentally made the reservation for the wrong time but they were able to seat us at the bar, which was even better. The bar tender was so friendly and gave great recommendations. The food was delicious, from the smoked char and tuna appetizers to the scallops entree.

Guillermo G.

Yelp
Chuck Hughes's restaurant is a hidden gem in Montreal, fresh products, innovative cuisine, efficient service delivery. The elegant decor creates a relaxing ambiance.
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Matthew H.

Yelp
I've had two of my favorite meals here. Do yourself a favor and go for the chef's menu and put yourself in the amazing chef's hands. 12 dishes that included oysters, raw scallop, an amazing tomato and peach salad, burrata and focaccia, Arctic char and bland cod. Mind-boggling good. Great ambiance and spectacular service in a casual and warm environment. Every trip to Montreal required a night at Garde Manger...two trips will now be mandatory.
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Bonnie C.

Yelp
If you've never been to Garde Manger, here are two things to note: 1) reservations are highly recommended as they book up veeeeery quickly, and 2) don't be confused when you walk by and don't see an actual sign that says Garde Manger. Well, you can still be confused, but just know that there won't be an actual sign outside. This place is like a hidden gem in the rough, and yet it's still bopping and so incredibly popular. Service is 10/10, the staff are down to earth and so personable. Genuine individuals, and their bartender and chefs are truly next level when it comes to drink and food preparation. This was my first time here, but friends who have been here before in the past shared how the food has only gotten better with time. My most favourite dishes would have to be the Wild Mushrooms and the off menu roasted vegetables. The pumpkin cheesecake paired with a decaf americano was just perfect. My friend got the coffee cake and said that it was really sweet on its own - if you're getting dessert, highly recommend pairing it with a beverage unless you have a sweet tooth. Can't wait to go back again!
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Miriam C.

Yelp
Amazing experience at the Garde Manger. Everything was top notch, from the service, ambiance, to the food. We got the chef menu and all the dishes were great - lobster bite with caviar, seafood tower, octopus... everything hit the spot. Highly recommend this spot for a date night.
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Julie C.

Yelp
Came here for a dinner in September 2020 right before the restaurants closed for the second wave. I'm a fan of Chuck Hughes so I was quite thrilled to finally dine at Garde Manger and had a great experience despite the steep bill. We were a group of 3 and took the bigger chef's menu (I believe it was around $130-150 per person) along with a bottle of wine to share. The portions were decently sized and all of the dishes were fresh and flavourful. As expected, many dishes were quite rich so it's not something I could eat every single night but each dish and each bite was a pleasant surprise and overall a great experience. I especially enjoyed the beef tartare, seafood tower (and the razor clams) and the hanger steak with hickory sticks. I would strongly encourage you to take the Chef's menu despite the price being a little bit higher. You end up trying all of the "hit" dishes as well as saving a few bucks at the end. The service was attentive and atmosphere is extremely cozy. Food is on par with Joe Beef & Liverpool House, and I think this place is one of Montréal's staples! We were a group of 3 and split the bill equally. I think my bill was just north of $200 after tip and tax. Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Value: 4/5 Atmosphere: 5/5 Overall: 4.75/5
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Jessica W.

Yelp
I had the best dinner here during my last trip to Montreal. They offer a tasting menu or you can order a la carte, and they do take Amex unlike most other restaurants in Montreal . We had oysters to start, they were all east coast, salty but super fresh and lots of flavor. We then had the tuna carpaccio, which was delicious, and we split the hanger steak. The sauce on the hanger steak was super peppery but I liked it a lot. They had really great glasses of wine, and the meal overall for the amount of food was super reasonable. I will definitely be coming back next time I come!
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Oso L.

Yelp
Phenomenal seafood experience. The oysters were bonkers good. I mean, they went toe to toe with the ones I had in Vancouver and exceeded any that I have had back in San Diego. The service was top notch. Create your own seafood platter, you won't regret it. Also the scallops main course was just wow! And don't skip the desserts either.
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Howard K.

Yelp
This is a MUST VISIT seafood restaurant! Chef Whalen is a genius as every dish of the Chef's Menu was so unique and flavorful. Never had we enjoyed mussels, clams, snow crab and oysters with signature touches making each morsel unique. The smoked sturgeon pater and the albacore tuna were heavenly. The Chef's Menu is a prix fixe multi-course extravaganza. We almost didn't order it because we were concerned it would be too much food for both of us.....and there were good size servings of each menu item! After gorging on the raw fish platter (for 2) we were served with plates of Arctic Char, Black Cod and Monkfish. OMG each was a freaking masterpiece of taste, presentation and uniqueness. We enjoyed the Sauvignon Blanc house wine very much. The waitstaff was friendly and couldn't have been more helpful with explaining each and every course - the seasonings and preparation methods. There is an open kitchen which we stood at and watched their food preparations, It was amazing to watch. In Montreal there are a number of 4-5 star options, let Garde Manger be one on yours too. A memorable dining experience in an almost hidden 18th C. Building on a small side street in the Old Port area. A wonderful area to walk around working up an appetite. Bon appetit!
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Jessica G.

Yelp
Heat food experience I've had hands down. The waiters where amazing and attentive. The decor was intimate we opted for the tasting menu which was perfect it started with a seafood cold platter perfectly portioned with a little of everything - highlight was the oysters and lobster butter. We then went to appetizer which was this impeccable salad and beef tar tar impeccable at that point we where full. Then came the main course the beef cheek and scallops with truffle phenomenal followed by a carrot cake which was impeccable. The drinks where phenomenal including the ipa. I would come back here just for this meal. Highlight of the trip.
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sweet s.

Yelp
Horrible service and horrible food.... I went for dinner last week with 3 others and the service was absolutely horrible. We arrived at the restaurant and mistreated everyone in our group and were rude. I would never recommend anyone to go there as they don't know how to treat their customers with proper care . The host said he was surprised our table showed up and had already given away our table. On top of that, one of us wanted to exchange a drink and the waiter told "us Thats because we have no pallet" I was extremely appalled by the disrespect and the snooty attitude from all the staff. I will never return and will never recommend this place. The food was mediocre and overpriced. Wished I had tipped 0$. Chuck Hughes should be ashamed.
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Andrea D.

Yelp
First time back since the pandemic and I must say that Garde Manger has kept their wow factor. We were feeling adventurous so tried the tasting menu, and that was a great call. First, we had the seafood platter :5/5. Honestly, everything on it was amazing... oysters from NF and PEI, lobster with a butter-Caribbean spice sauce, jumbo shrimp with homemade cocktail sauce, marinated salmon, sturgeon, muscles, and tuna rillette. Every item on this platter was to die for. Gets a perfect score obviously. Then, the entrees: endive salad with apple, candied pecans and blue cheese. 10/5. Yes. For someone who doesn't like endives nor blue cheese. This blew my mind. I would come back just for this. Tuna crudo with sundries tomato fried garlic. 5/5. Another amazing dish. I wish we had more of this. Steak tartare : 4/5- it was good, but the endive salad was just wow and I couldn't get my mind off that salad. Then the mains: Root vegetables in a mushroom sauce. 5/5. I normally don't love this sort of dish, but this time I did. Arctic char in a creamy sauce. 4/5 the fish was perfectly cooked and don't get me wrong this was delicious just not my favourite dish since it had a lot of dill and I'm not a dill fan :) Duck breast in a cardamom sauce, over pumpkin purée. 5/5. This was amazing. It was a warm and cosy dish, with a slight Asian twist!! We were too stuffed for dessert so had only Ice cream profiteroles with salted caramel on top. But that was the perfect ending to our meal. Overall - highly recommend this very Montreal restaurant by Chuck Hughes. It's pricey but worth it ! Pro tip for extra local flavour - sit at the bar and watch them as they prepare the cocktails (which were also excellent)! (Forgot to take pictures of the mains - was too busy eating haha)
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Arun P.

Yelp
Sometimes the hype around a restaurant kills the actual experience of being there. This is probably true of Garde Manger. Food was fine but the experience did not meet the raving reviews that I had heard. We made a reservation in advance but ended up in a corner booth which was not comfortable. The idea of not having a menu bothered some of the folks in the group but I was cool with the idea of reading off the black board. Service : Our waitress was phenomenal! She was efficient, funny and kept the conversation going as we placed our orders. Definitely a highlight! Food : We tried a lot of appetizers - portions were small which led us to order more. For an entree, I tried the pork tenderloin with jalapeno grits which was the only dish i really liked. The rest of our group tried their different offerings - seafood, steak. Food tasted good but the overall experience did not live up to the expectations. Ambience : For a fine dining restaurant, our table for 5 was too cramped and we did not enjoy it. The restaurant is highly sought after and is crowded at all times. Its not easy to find the restaurant since they do not have a sign upfront. Its an unassuming door and just follow your GPS. Pricing : Expensive. Don't mind paying the price as long as there is value in the experience. Will I return? : Maybe, to entertain.
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Donna S.

Yelp
My first visit to a Chuck Hughes restaurant and it was great!! The service was absolutely awesome. The guys at the bar made me feel more than at home. Thank you again!! The shrimp hush puppies were super delicious with a honey sauce. my next favourite dish was the mushrooms with gorgonzola cheese, great flavors. I also had the scallops with gnocchi which I thought was tasty but overly salty. The scallops were cooked to perfection. Just don't expect too much in terms of the amount of gnocchi, they were sparse on the plate. To finish it off, I had the brownie with white chocolate mousse, a very sweet and decadent dessert, even for me and I'm a chocolate lover. And team Chef Chuck Hughes or Chef Bobby Flay, you ask? (Iron chef circa 2011- YouTube it) I say Chef Hughes!!
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Yvonne M.

Yelp
We had an amazing evening at Garde Mange!!! It's a small quaint restaurant where they make you feel at home. Alexander, Lawrence and Nick took excellent care of us. It's not a big place so, reservations are a must! We went on Sunday night. We decided on the chef's menu so we could sample nearly everything and we were not disappointed. From the seafood platter to appetizers, entree and dessert, everything was an exquisite taste explosion. Bonus, I forgot my glasses on the table and Nick reached out to my husband and dropped them off at out hotel. Wow! What wonderful kindness!!! Bon Appetit! You can't go wrong here, if you can get a table! The bar was also very lively!

Barb L.

Yelp
My favourite spot in town for fresh seafood. Food and service always spot on. I normally opt for the chef menu to enjoy a bit of everything without having to do any thinking. Extensive wine list with a little bit of old, new, natural and traditional.

Sarah K.

Yelp
I am currently sitting in this restaurant in awe. I rarely give restaurants a 10 but this is easily a 10. The casual atmosphere mixed with the high end tasting food and the extremely great service. This is easily one of the best restaurants in Montreal and definitely need to be gone too. We had the chef special there are three levels we went with the 180 per person - And let me tell you I would have paid more for it. This restaurant is honestly incredible. From the caviar on the lobster tail to the seafood assortment tower. The steak the mushrooms and even something as simple as a halloumi and tomato salad was incredible.
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Kenneth C.

Yelp
Absolutely delicious meal at Garde Manger, upon the recommendation of a pal who knows what's what I'm Montreal. Cindy, our server/sommelier was especially helpful in helping us sort through an abundance of goodness!
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Lana S.

Yelp
I have had a couple people recommend this place for when we are in Montreal so I made a reservation ahead of time (seating for the bar area which is fine!). We were a few mins late but the host was able to sit us at the bar ahead of time. Our waiter was very welcoming and explained how the menu worked since it was both our first times there (chefs menu vs. a la cart items). He even offered to make us a specialized cocktail based on our taste. For food items we decided to Get the octopus appetizer and both of us wanted the halibut for dinner. Our drinks came out first and mine was delicious! My friend actually ended up like my drink more than hers so she traded her drink in haha. The octopus came out first and omg it was delicious. The octopus was tender and seasoned well. The garnish paired well with the octopus and we basically scraped the dish clean. Next our halibut came out and had this anchovy cream over it. I was afraid the anchovy taste would be overpowering but it was actually super delicious! Halibut cooked perfectly and the potato cake under the fish was also absolutely delicious. Overall with our great service and food/drink this was our best meal in Montreal :)
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Hilary K.

Yelp
This is the second time I come here, I honestly have to say that my experience got better the second time around! Service is exceptional! I came here with my love and we love our oysters. We got a dozen oysters. They easily slide out of the shell and directly in my mouth. Yummmm yummm just remembering it gives me the goosebumps .. I wished I had some right now!! Lol. I had a beautiful meal last time except for the octopus .. I have to say it was not their best meal! The cook was overcooked and it turned out super chewy. It was even very cold. Kind of surprised that it was overcooked at a top executive restaurant owned by the famous Chuck Hughes!! Hmmm bummer. Ok on the pro side Their Mushroom risotto was succulent warm and freshly prepared. I had to order a second order of that amazing risotto! Another thing I don't like is how their menu is written on their board. It's so small I can barely see what they have and theres absolutely no bright lights in the resto. It's kindove a drag having to figure out what the hell is on their menu. I admit its hard to get a hard copy of their menu because they change it daily but maybe they should change their board to a light board with markers instead of the dreadful chalk board. Service was splendid! We always get amazing service over here. I think the manager knows us very well and he always makes sure to get us the best available table and makes sure to get us the drinks we ask for. Overall, it's a very fancy gem in montreal and these minor détails could be totally corrected if they pay attention to these comments hopefully! :p I do recommend this place for their amazing service.
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Kashif K.

Yelp
Poutine and lobster were a match made in Heaven, and the angel in charge of solemnizing the match was named Chuck Hughes. Now, these are facts that the clergy and the texts will not tell you, so you just need to eat the lobster poutine at Garde Manger to be blessed with such divine revelation. I showed up without a reservation at 7:30 PM on a Friday night (what was I thinking?), and was told that it would be 10 PM before I could get seated (at the bar!). I actually ended up getting seated 10 minutes before 10 PM (score!). No, I did not wait around at the restaurant for upwards of two hours; I just provided my name and phone number, and went out for a walk around the lovely city of Montreal on the beautiful summer evening. The daily menu is scribed onto a couple of chalk boards (one in French and the other in English), and the only two items that are constant are the lobster poutine and the jerk spiced crab. Everything else changes regularly. Some nights, they have more exciting items, such as Cornish hen stuffed with foie gras, or a foie gras and short rib waffle; other nights, it's more familiar items, such as Arctic char and walleye. The lobster poutine, in my view, lives up to the hype. The mildly fishy succulence of the lobster claw meat pairs very nicely with the cheese curds, fries and gravy. I noticed that one of the reviewers here thought there was barely any lobster in the poutine. I have to suspect that his dining companion must have stolen all of the lobster when he was not looking, because there really is a very generous amount of lobster on every serving of the poutine that I have seen here. The desserts also change regularly, and my favorite is the peanut butter and nutella profiterole, which is a rich confluence of sweet and salty flavors and smooth and crunchy textures. Service is absolutely outstanding. Everybody is extremely friendly. My server, Awesome Alexander, recognized me from a prior visit to the restaurant (I can't imagine how, given the sheer multitude of people dining here every night), and brought me a sweet gift of complimentary dessert (or, to continue with the theme of divinity, heavenly manna)!