Restaurant Candide - Montreal, Quebec

Candide is a spectacular restaurant. We wanted something special for our last night in Montreal, and Candide delivered. From the moment we walked in the door, we felt welcome and at home. The service team works in beautiful harmony to ensure a seamless experience. They hit every step of service, ... with everything that touched the table being considered and, if needed, explained. Items were provided without asking, and drinks and bread were refilled before I even noticed they were gone. Other restaurants could learn a thing or two by watching this team work. Since there were two of us, we tried everything on the tasting menu. My partner’s allergies were handled without hesitation. We started with the seasonal strawberry mocktail, which was a burst of flavor to welcome us to the space. The optional asparagus starter was perfectly cooked and seasoned, with the sorrel leaf adding a nice “wrapper” and flavor. The little gem salad was like a fresh take on a Caesar salad; the herring really came through, and the cheese was divine. The house bread was a perfect specimen of baking acumen, and they kept it stocked, which I appreciated (bread course is my favorite course!). The sweet peas in a mussel broth were a standout and unexpected. The mussel flavor was present and well balanced. House-made yogurt added cream and texture, with the peas being at peak freshness for that seasonal taste. Crispy rice finished the dish, adding just the right amount of crunch. This was one of the best things I’ve eaten all year. Bravo! The mains were both excellent. The halibut was perfectly cooked, paired with spinach and fresh shiitakes. The pork was perhaps the weaker of the two, but it was still perfectly cooked and paired with fresh seasonal vegetables. Both desserts were great and complemented each other well. The cheese-stuffed zucchini blossom with cracker was my favorite. They offered a half wine pairing, which is something I wish every tasting menu would take note of because, while my partner and I love wine, we simply can’t drink very much of it anymore. The half pairing allowed us a sip to savor and a few sips to try with the food. The sommelier offered elegant explanations and painted a beautiful picture of each varietal we tried. The coffee and tea service was excellent as well, with each being brewed in a small Chemex and paired with fresh milk and maple syrup. All in all, this is a meal I will remember because of the food, service, and ambiance. It will be at the top of my list to return to on our next visit, and I highly recommend anyone who is interested book a spot at this restaurant. It’s one of the best I have experienced. Read more

Good food & nice service. Very cute and cozy atmosphere. The perfect balance in between chic and cozy. Loved the decor and vibe. Not a fan of Canadian wines, so would have loved a bit more European/French options, but we did end up finding something to our liking. Bread was ... amazing. Food was very good but not exceptional. We will come back. Read more

What an amazing restaurant. Tasting menu has a lot of quality and seasonal ingredients. The highlights of the meal for me were the crab and carrot dish as well as the mushroom oat porridge. I visited Montreal during the snow crab season, so the crab was out of this world. ... The porridge was savory and hearty. Service was attentive and friendly. The waitresses were so nice and sweet. One of the waitresses was also in charge of making cocktails, and the drink that I got was delicious. The restaurant is in the back of an old church and has a very unique vibe. Read more

Really really good. A little hard to find but very interesting food and so good. The parsnip in tomato sauce appetizer was incredible. So was the arctic char. But the really killer part was the honey as the final, final course. Paired with a ... honey wine. Worth the price of admission itself. Highly recommended. Would absolutely go back. Read more

Pro tip: Don’t be an idiot like me and try going through the front doors. Candide is situated at the back. Facing the front there’s a walkway to the left that will lead you to a porch with an outdoor patio with hanging lights. We really appreciated our experience ... at Candide. From the locally sourced produce and livestock to the every changing menu you have to appreciate their mission to provide the best available options in a sustainable manner. From beginning to end our four course meal provided hit after hit. There were no bad plates and we made sure to clean our plates as best as possible. We were extremely satisfied after our last bite and would definitely consider going back the next time we visit Montreal. Read more