Pub John Michaels
Pub · Vieux Montréal ·

Pub John Michaels

Pub · Vieux Montréal ·

Pub with Canadian fare, cocktails, and poutine

poutine
friendly service
great location
smoked meat sandwich
good food
burgers
french fries
patio
Pub John Michaels by null
Pub John Michaels by null
Pub John Michaels by null
Pub John Michaels by null
Pub John Michaels by null
Pub John Michaels by null
Pub John Michaels by null
Pub John Michaels by null
Pub John Michaels by null
Pub John Michaels by null
Pub John Michaels by null
Pub John Michaels by null
Pub John Michaels by null
Pub John Michaels by null
Pub John Michaels by null
Pub John Michaels by null
Pub John Michaels by null
Pub John Michaels by null
Pub John Michaels by null
Pub John Michaels by null
Pub John Michaels by null
Pub John Michaels by null
Pub John Michaels by null
Pub John Michaels by null
Pub John Michaels by null
Pub John Michaels by null
Pub John Michaels by null
Pub John Michaels by null
Pub John Michaels by null
Pub John Michaels by null
Pub John Michaels by null
Pub John Michaels by null
Pub John Michaels by null
Pub John Michaels by null
Pub John Michaels by null
Pub John Michaels by null
Pub John Michaels by null
Pub John Michaels by null
Pub John Michaels by null
Pub John Michaels by null
Pub John Michaels by null
Pub John Michaels by null
Pub John Michaels by null

Information

458 Pl. Jacques-Cartier, Montréal, QC H2Y 3Z2, Canada Get directions

CA$20–30

Order delivery
See Menu
Restroom
Accepts reservations
Cozy
Trendy
Good for groups

Information

Static Map

458 Pl. Jacques-Cartier, Montréal, QC H2Y 3Z2, Canada Get directions

+1 514 903 6998
johnmichaelspubmtl.com
@johnmichaelspubmtl

CA$20–30 · Menu

Features

•Restroom
•Accepts reservations
•Cozy
•Trendy
•Good for groups
•Good for solo dining
•Touristy
•Credit card accepted

Last updated

Jan 6, 2026

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Old Montreal Restaurateurs Are Agitating For Permission to Reopen Dining Rooms | Eater Montreal

"As one of several Old Montreal restaurants whose owners marched from Place Jacques-Cartier to Montreal’s city hall banging pots and pans, John Michael’s Pub was represented among proprietors demanding clear information from the Quebec government about when dining rooms can reopen. The owners are clearly eager to operate during the warmer months when business is strongest, but they face the same anxieties voiced in a provincial survey — many want to reopen even at reduced capacity yet fear they wouldn’t survive long-term at 50 percent seating and depend heavily on tourist dollars. The broader municipal response — encouraging outdoor dining and slashing terrasse permit fees in Ville-Marie for the season — offers some relief, but ultimate reopening authority rests with the province." - Tim Forster

https://montreal.eater.com/2020/5/28/21272959/covid-19-montreal-restaurant-reopening-protest-old-port
Pub John Michaels

Millie

Google
The smoked meat poutine was great, however I couldn't finish all of it. Staff were accomodating after we asked to move outside, partially due to the questionable choice in background music. Great atmosphere and some good options. Would recommend.

Gerd G.

Google
Beautiful location across from City Hall and in the heart of Old Port. In summer, try to get a table on the patio. Inside is nice too, with traditional pub atmosphere. Food is good, not fancy but tasty. Service is friendly, consistently. One of my favorite places for a relaxed dinner and a drink to wind down.

dea

Google
A nice spot away from the weekend crowd. Not too busy but still lively! Typical sports grill atmosphere with sports playing on big screens and groups of people talking and laughing. Fast service and good food! The fries weren’t anything special but the cheeseburger was very delicious!

Xiomara Vera W.

Google
The staff is absolutely nice. The guy who served us was really helpful and nice. We asked for nachos but they weren’t that good compared with the price, but for the main dish we asked for Philly cheese and John Michael’s Burger and they were amazing!! Big portions.

Dr. Maggie A.

Google
My daughter is very picky and she loved the burger here. Husband ordered the fire burger and he said it wasn’t very spicy; but he eats ghost peppers for breakfast. Great experience, friendly service!

Vanessa G.

Google
They were gracious enough to put the game on for me on all TVs. The fish n chips was excellent as well as the burger. Take the time and stop by while I'm Montreal.

Kiarash R.

Google
We were welcomed warmly and the atmosphere was perfect. We received our cocktails and I was thinking to give 5 stars. Unfortunately our burgers were at burger king level not a pub. The fries were the worse I had ever tasted . I think I won’t try here again.

Lindsey V.

Google
First place we went to on our vacation, and they had a great poutine & overall great atmosphere!
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Deborah H.

Yelp
So he wanted to stop off and just have some poutine while we were in Montreal so I walked down the cobblestone around the corner near our hotel and this place is really cute. It's like a sports bar so we sat outside because it was the perfect day and I have to tell you that was the first poutine I had since we had been there for the weekend and it was amazing And chopped up with a salad. It was perfect. Like all restaurants in Montreal, the customer service is so nice and so great. They really know how to treat their customers
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Kim U.

Yelp
We did not have any food but the service was great. Our server, Sandrine, was great. A man named Costa, told us all about the town and other places we should go to. Loved this place. Omg. They even had the Los Angeles Dodgers on TV! You need to come here.
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Chloe T.

Yelp
If you're in Old Town Montreal, make sure to stop by John Michaels at least once! We are here two days in a row for lunch. The grilled chicken sandwich, club sandwich, fish and chips, and salad were all some of our fan favorites. Food does take a while to come out even when they are not crowded but the staff is very friendly.
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Jennifer E.

Yelp
We had just gotten into town and began exploring. We hadn't made a reservation for dinner and figured we could sit outside and grab a quick bite. We came.upon John Michael's Pub, and it looked like seating was available. We were seated outside, as long as we were going to order food. Our waitress was very friendly and got us started with drinks. An Italian beer and an aperol spritz. Looking over the menu, it was typical of a pub, with basic burgers, sandwiches, and poutine. We decided on a chicken sandwich and a steak and cheese. We also had to order poutine. This is Montreal! We shared the poutine. It was plenty and it was delicious! It was also very filling. My husband ordered his steak and cheese without onions, and it arrived with onions. He didn't say anything, but later he commented that they were sweet onions and actually went very well in his sandwich, loving every bite. The fries were also yummy and crisp. I expected my chicken sandwich to be an ordinary grilled chicken sandwich. However, it was very juicy and well seasoned, on a very fresh, delicious bun. The salad was decent, too. The seating was outside on a busy walk way. There were musicians playing on the sidewalk and people walking by. It was lovely to sit there for dinner. The staff was great and friendly.
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Leo D.

Yelp
Great location for people watching, live music in the open square and decent grub. We both had fish and chips and it was good. One large piece of cod and a lot of fries. Good observant service. Total without tip $68 CAD.
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Laura A.

Yelp
This place was quite good! Cozy and friendly, with good food. A nice stop on a cold day.
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Jeremy K.

Yelp
3 stars, average with pros and cons well, the view is worth the loonies, speaking of which the view was what's this place was aboot. that square right next to the deck, well very alive to say the least, you get street musicians, wedding parties, we also had some activists in lingerie walking around toting their cause...which was....erm....cant recall, but we did look ;) the food was so so, nothing to yelp about, but its all about the deck. cost us a tonne, Canadian ton, so 70% of a US dinner, but add on VAT/tax, etc, came out to be about 180 CDN for 5 of us with no beverages. staff were very nice and it was quick and nothing overbearing, but be prepared. i mean, there are MANY more expensive options in this area too. in sum, view, good, why you would eat this inside is beyond me, cost, not so good. almost done with the trip.....
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George B.

Yelp
Good food and service on a busy afternoon. Reasonable prices. My wife mentioned her fish allergy and the cook came to our table to suggest specific dishes for her which we greatly appreciated.

David W.

Yelp
Great location and exceptional pub food! We at lunch here while vacationing in Montreal.
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Cindy M.

Yelp
Waitress stood over me with the card reader expecting a 20% tip for serving lukewarm food and making me wait 20 minutes for the check lmao. Food was pretty good but beer could have been colder. I had poutine with smoked meat and husband had smoked meat sandwich. We would try a different place next time.
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David B.

Yelp
We had the "Pig" poutine which was very good! The service was nice and "down to earth." Ambience is that of a neighborhood bar.
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Danielle D.

Yelp
Great for kids. Friendly service Salads were great and of course the poutine. Great place to grab a table for a quick bite
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Anna W.

Yelp
This place is under construction yet it allowed me to make a reservation and texted to confirm...avoid.
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Teena D.

Yelp
Gord and I had supper this evening at John Michael's Pub. We choose this place because the patio was jammed ... the patios of the other restaurants in the area were empty. We sat on the patio ... the heat lamps kept us warm. It was pretty full inside too. We were entertained until 7pm by Chris Verrillo, who played in the square next to the restaurant. We both ordered burgers ... Gord got cheese on his. They were really good burgers. And the fries were tasty too. We'd get them again.
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Toshio M.

Yelp
I have never entertained the idea of walking out of a restaurant after having ordered a meal, but that's what I was about to do a couple of weeks ago. After having waited for over an hour for our meal (4 dishes), I proceeded to enter the pub to tell the waiter we were about to leave. At that moment, our food came out. There was nothing difficult about our order: salad, two chicken sandwiches, and fish and chips. The food was fine--nothing spectacular, but the wait was simply painful and overtly rude. I say overtly rude because as we waited for our food (at that time we were sitting for 45 minutes or so) a gentleman--who seemed to be a regular--sat down next to us, ordered fish & chips, and got his food within 15 minutes!!! Food = average. Food being served in a timely manner = abominable.
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Denis L.

Yelp
My wife and I went there last night. The food was good, the service also. For a pub the drinks were very disappointing; my wife asked for a vodka martini and the little glass was barely half full and did not have much vodka. I asked for a gin and tonic; they asked which kind of gin so I chose Hendricks. Hendricks has a very distinctive taste and I didn't taste it! They also used soda water instead of tonic. All I tasted was the soda water; no tonic no gin.

Sophie B.

Yelp
Tourist pub. Cider was $10 for a can that was just placed on the table and not even opened. And it was awful btw. My companion ordered poutine for the first time and for over $20 the curds tasted like mozzarella not cheddar curds and they didn't squeak so they were not fresh. Fish tacos were horrible for the nearly $20 price tag, and minuscule! They had no guacamole as stated and there was just some vinegar coleslaw with no salsa. They tasted weird. Onion rings were the same ones I had as Harvey's the other day. Ok for a people watching drink but otherwise I'd skip it.
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Nicole L.

Yelp
They've got to have one of the best locations in old Montreal with it being in Jacques-Cartier square. It was a cold day so I opted to forgo eating on the patio although they do have heat lamps, and went inside. Not the nicest decor. Kind of has a tavern/sports bar vibe. I counted six TVs on the walls and it's dark. I'm not a fan of TVs in restaurants myself but the place was convenient I thought it was going to be a tourist ripoff place and yes it is a little pricey (8 for the soupe du jour, 4 for a soft drink) but it is a touristy area and is no doubt comparable to other places in the vicinity. And the good news is - the food was terrific. Had a big bowl of lentil soup and one of the best smoked meat sandwiches ever. See pic. Generous amounts of smoked meat, hand cut fresh fries and they toast the rye bread...it's the little things that count... The staff were very nice and service was great. I would definitely go back

Dallas J.

Yelp
Good food and service. Late night snacks and beverages. Great atmosphere. Good sports bar to watch latest event.
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Khalil P.

Yelp
This place has a great location but it really goes down from there and becomes a tourist trap. The waiter was pretty nice and patient but at the same time the food took long even though it looked like inside was empty and everyone was sitting in the terasse. The whole menu is pretty overpriced due to the location so I went with the chicken poutine which was $18. The chicken was pretty dry and the whole poutine was below average. Overall, I would not come back.
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Laura K.

Yelp
Good beer and french fries! Bloody Mary was fire and has a fun time with our family. Would highly recommend..fun atmosphere
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R S.

Yelp
I came in because of the diverse music. While taking a guided tour of East Montréal, I was greeted by the sound of diverse music from old school to new school. I watched people dance down the street and decided the moment I passed by that I had to stop in once the tour was done. The music was great.. the burger not so much. Ordered a Mojito, wasn't a good drink at all. Weak with the pouring. Ordered a shot of Jack Honey so that I cold feel a little buzz. The music did not disappoint but the burger wasn't good to me.. had a weird flavor to it that I couldn't get with.. maybe I'm used to eating tainted meat in the US and this had a raw farm flavor which I should be cool with but it was not my thing. If the music stays great and you drink beer this could be your spot. I'd recommend it!
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David B.

Yelp
It was a cold Sunday afternoon in December , and I was exploring Old Montreal. Many restaurants were closed, much to my disappointment. Not Jon Michaels. The friendly waitress recommended a local beer, and I ordered the salmon. I'm not exaggerating when I say that it was the best salmon I've ever eaten. It was served with grilled vegetables and rice, although French fries were an option. I stayed for dessert: cheesecake and a coffee. The cheesecake was a little dry; maybe that's how it is in Quebec. I don't know. The coffee was on point. Five out of five stars.
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Catherine C.

Yelp
Stopped at this pub for a quick dinner after spending the day being tourists. She got the short ribs with fries special and I got the Mussels in a cream sauce with fries. Short ribs, eh , not much to rave about but that's okay because everything else was great :) The mussels were sooooo good! The sauce was creamy and flavorful , we even used it as dipping sauce for the fries. Server Lisandra was attentive and patient as we couldn't decide what to eat. She made sure to come check on us and made sure she nurtured our every request. Very glad we stopped by. Great place right down the block from the Metro station. Definitely recommend for service quickness , food quality and convenience :)
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Bob N.

Yelp
Visting Montreal from States first time, first meal here. After a fun brew stop found this welcoming pub and of course had to have some Poutine! Enjoyed this very filling meal - service great, had a really good twist on an old fashion too! Craft beers not a specialty here but otherwise enjoyed!

Pati F.

Yelp
Was just there for lunch. The staff was very nice and attentive. Food was excellent and the best coffee we have had since arriving in Quebec. (Meaning Quebec City And Montreal)
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Miss.T W.

Yelp
Do not eat here or order a mixed drink! 1) the lime in my Cosmo was so dry I was only able to squeezed three drops out of it. 2) food arrived and I had to ask for utensils 3) there's salt and pepper shakers on the table, because the foods so bland and you will need to pep it up. 4) the hostess looked like she was hungover- her long hair was stringy and not brushed...eww. 5) our bill was $55.17, we paid with a $100 bill and the waitress cringed and replied saying "I don't know if I have enough cash to break that". 6) the staff was friendly in welcoming, but that quickly wore off once we placed our food order....guess they figured we were 'hooked'. 7) the waitress opened the cheque book at out table, in front of us- to see if we had tipped her. (We did, tipped here $8 for our horrible time) 8) I didn't even finish my food, it was dull.

Alina K.

Yelp
I'll start with its a great location and amongst many bars and restaurants in the area this one isn't fancy but it's clean and simple and exactly what I was looking for. Outside on their patio is busier when the weather is nice and you can hear the street performers and people watch, etc. Inside you have the benefit of a relaxed environment where, personally, I preferred because I worked on some things I've had to get done on my laptop the last three days with excellent wifi and some of the friendliest staff I've encountered. Drinks are good- draft beer was cold and delicious, mixed drinks no complaints, sangria very yummy. The food- Mediterranean salad: one of the best salads I've had! Loved it. Poutine was okay. No complaints but didn't rock my world. Definitely enjoyed my time in Montreal and my afternoon work sessions at this laid back pub in a popular area.
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Ian M.

Yelp
This is easily one of the best places to eat that I've found in Montreal so far. A very pleasant surprise after some really lousy experiences. The food portions were quite large and of a quality that easily outclassed anything else we've bumped into here. The place is unpretentious and pleasant. We weren't treated like tourists ripe to be fleeced - take note Montreal pubs and restaurants! Alisha was a lovely host who made us feel right at home - way to go John Michael's - great food, great staff!
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Tyler W.

Yelp
Had an awesome meal and experience at John Michael's! Delicious food, awesome drinks and amazing service! Great location as well! Thanks.

Shalini M.

Yelp
Took an hour for our food to come out! The fries were brown... it looked like old fries were refried. The sandwiches were heavily mayonnaised on greasy buns. The service and food was disappointing indeed.

Nabila F.

Yelp
The food was amazing and the beers too , but the most awesome thing was the service thanks to Ileandra and Armando Att. ( Dominicans Tourists in a Chinese Tour )
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Bill D.

Yelp
Went here with my family because Le Fripon wasn't open. Sad to say that the trade off wasn't great. Service was adequate. And my veggie burger was pretty good. But $16 is overpriced, even for a tourist spot. Add to that the $4 sodas--and a beer menu that was apparently drawn up by someone who either hates or doesn't understand beer--and you make this reviewer very sad. This is 2017 and adjunct lagers and Murphy's do not a draft list make. Probably one of the worst values for money deals to be had in Old Montreal.

Chris P.

Yelp
Went there yesterday. Blonde waitress very snooty and they did not have many of the beers and food that was advertised on the sign outside. We ended up just leaving. Big waste of time.
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Bridget Y.

Yelp
If I can choose zero star, I would. We walked quite bit tonight, most restaurants were packed and almost nobody sitting at this place. We kind of figured out that this probably not a good place but it was late and we were tired so we sit down here. We ordered fish chips and some fries and asked for ranch dressing. In the beginning the waitress told us there is "NO RANCH DRESSING HERE!". I was shocked cause there are salad on the menu. When my fiancé asked another waiter, he said there was ranch dressing but tiny dressing cup dressing (roughly two table spoon) would cost $2. We were so shocked and we ordered anyway. I made a comment about how shocking i was. The waiter decide not checking us anymore until we asked for check. So DO NOT come to this place!!!
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Sarah M.

Yelp
OMG avoid at all costs. It looked packed when we got there at 1:30 for lunch but it was empty on the inside. We placed our order, nachos to start and then burgers/sandwiches. It took 30+ min for the nachos to come out, then another 45 for our entrees. We almost walked out. The food was edible, but if you like your burger not charred to a crisp I'd skip this spot. Getting any of the staff to come to your table was a hassle too. We waited 20 minutes for the check and had to wave down the hostess to get it. Such a tourist trap because of the location. Avoid it at all costs.
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John S.

Yelp
I tried this place on my last night based on reviews and wanted a pub setting. I was taken care of by Julian. It was a Sunday night and pretty dead. The wings were very good but a little small. I moved on to the ribs. OMG fall of the bone and seasoned just right with not too much sauce. The fries were perfectly cooked. Place has a small bar with a nice selection of draft beers and six TV screens. The location can't be beat, right in the heart of the Old Town. I will be back on my next trip here. Oh yeah, they got wifi
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Kyra J.

Yelp
They did not charge a cover to come here during the New Year and we able to just order drinks. Several other places would not let us order drinks unless we bought food so I appreciated that. It had a cute feel and we were served rather quickly. We did not order food, but they had a decent beer selection. Overall, I had a pleasant experience and our waiter was very quick especially considering it was December 31st! I will be back if I am in the area again.
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Ruel G.

Yelp
We ordered fish and chips, extra fries, and sweet potato fries. The fish was tasty. However, both fries were flavorless and hard from being over cooked. They looked burnt concerning for not using fresh cooking oil. Staff was friendly.
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Corey D.

Yelp
I wasn't expecting much and they delivered that. It's mainly a tourist restaurant on the most touristy street in the city. I got the impression it was an Irish pub, but it's just a pub. No Guinness on tap, they do have another dark alternative on tap. All beers are Molson varieties. No micro breweries which would have been nice. We were 8 people and it took over an hour to get served. I had a fish and chip. A generous portion of fries and the batter was crispy on the fish. Friend ordered a sub and the bun wasn't toasted, so bread got soggy quick. Salmon tartare had a lot of julienne veggies and wasn't anything special. Service was friendly.
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Joanne C.

Yelp
Initially I was upset about not being served however I would give this restaurant another go after Don immediately messaged me. I want to thank him for handling the matter professionally. Few restaurant owners and managers take the initiative to apologize to their customers on yelp so I very much appreciated the gesture. The restaurant is in a beautiful location, it is clean and the interior and patio had a nice warm feel.
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Wissam H.

Yelp
Worst food ever. It's a shame because it's a great location. Burger was over cooked and meatballs were dryer than a sponge
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Cor V.

Yelp
It's the Fourth of July in the states and we are in Montreal. But we are here also to celebrate 150 years of Canada. We were looking for an easy dinner. We came upon the John Michaels Pub (JMP) in the square known as Place Jacques Cartier for the street entertainers. We took a front seat and watched as a dancer did her Spanish flamingo and a guitar player strummed his music in another corner, while a saxophonist blew soft and slow melodies. I ordered the famous Montreal smoked meat sandwich and the lovely missus had the cheeseburger. We didn't mind waiting for our order as the crowd got larger and larger. It is the peak of dinner time. The young girls waiting on us were busy and finally our orders came. I was definitely disappointed. Smoked meats were not piled high as described and the thin slices of rye bread was old and chewy. I didn't know any better until much later that this is not the way to serve the smoked meat sandwich. The cheeseburger, however, came as it should, a mountain of a burger with plenty of cheese and burger patty. The top bun was nicely burned with the JMP logo. So, a review half and half would make it two and a half stars. The front seats to a crowded plaza made it barely a three.

Alison K.

Yelp
Came here after the Science museum. What a mistake. I wanted a burger but for some reason couldn't get medium rare. I ordered the Caesar wrap instead. This was nothing more than dry chicken breast and cucumbers in a tortilla. For $17. My husband got fish and chips and the inside of the fish was cold. For $20. Avoid this place.

Aaron W.

Yelp
Like many restaurants in Montreal, they do not have the most diverse menu available. The selections are limited, so you need to make sure you'll find something you'll like. But, what they have, they do well. The location is great - right along a pedestrian walkway that ends towards the waterfront. The food is good. The Louisiana Chicken is grilled and has a good sauce on it. The Salmon was a bit under-seasoned. They have really good French Fries though, so bonus points. The outdoor seating is a little tight. The service is a bit slow. But, overall, it's a decent option.
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D K.

Yelp
These people do not know the first thing about running a restaurant. Here's our story. My wife and I went there on a Monday around 3:00pm. There were only a few tables filled. The greeter was yawning and said she was out partying late the previous night. Should have ran.... Anyways, we were seated and were brought a couple of waters and my wife ordered a drink. She said it tasted like something premixed. Not good at all. We then ordered our lunch. Finally it came. The poutine was less than acceptable, the cheese sticks and smoked meat sandwich I'm sure we're bought at Costco. And the romaine on my Caesar Salad was limp and not crunchy. It the meantime my water had been sitting empty for most of the meal. When we got the bill, and I was going to pay in cash, they weren't sure if they could make the change. They did. I did tip the waitress about 15%, probably shouldn't have, what did it for me was she was already counting the tip before she left the table. If the restaurant wasn't in a touristy area, they would have been long gone. Definitely not up to Montreal standards.
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Robin P.

Yelp
Came with 6 friends Took a long time just to get our orders in.. Got 5 poutine orders and 2 cheeseburgers. Weren't asked how we would like our burgers and they came Out super well done and dry and the poutine seemed like it was all microwaved and then just thrown together..spend ur money elsewhere

Stacey V.

Yelp
Awesome spot. Good service. Just adjacent to the plaza with live music. . Absolutely beautiful. Must see

Dedd D.

Yelp
Good service but some of the worst food ever eaten, Louisiana chicken was burnt and bland