Maison-Publique - Montreal, Quebec

Fantastic eating experience here, we made reservations about 2 weeks in advance and only early or late times were available. We arrived right at opening time (6pm) and it was already buzzing. They have a chalkboard/index card menu in the middle of the restaurant so if you can’t see it ... from your table, you just have to take a picture to study! The dishes are pretty much tapas style (but slightly bigger portions) so we got 4 things to share - asparagus, baked oyster, calamari, and gnocchi with morels (see details below). Everything was delicious, especially the baked oyster, which is their signature dish and indeed quite unique in preparation, taste and presentation! Ambience was very laid back and fun, the bathroom was very dark though (watch out for the step down), staff was very friendly and knowledgeable but service was quite slow (so don’t come here when you’re in a rush!). Definitely recommend! Asparagus - the garlic aioli is one of the best ever, perfectly creamy, I could just eat it on its own. Asparagus was tender and delicious as well especially with crunchy bread crumbs on top. Baked oyster - this is a MUST HAVE. So special and unique and amazingly flavored. Even if you don’t like marmite, don’t let that turn you off! Gnocchi with morels - the morels especially were delicious and the sauce was excellent with crispy sage on top. Didn’t love the peas. Calamari - I almost always order calamari so I’m kinda an authority on this topic. And these were good but not super special and not the most tender (certainly beats the fried version though, and the capers and sauce were a nice touch). Read more

A hidden gem, in Montreal’s Plateau-Mont Royal. Service: 5/5.  Servers have eyes on the floor, genuine smiles, and heartfelt pride in accommodating your needs and listening to your questions. Food/Wine: 4.5/5. Simple concepts.  Delicious flavors, and creative experimentation.  Only 3 cooks in the kitchen. I was amazed.  Great wine list; I had ... “orange wine”, from Italy, and the bartender treated me to a shot.  What a guy!  Dessert: delicious butterscotch cream thing and a Spanish cheesecake.  Two thumbs up! Atmosphere: 4/5 Rustic and comforting.  Tucked away in a safe neighborhood where locals frequent the outside patio and bring their friends to the bar.  Odd kick knacks on walls, and inconsistent music (sometimes no music, or too loud) seemed out of place.  Dining room used to be a butchery for horse meat, many years ago. Overall my experience with memorable.  I enjoyed my conversations with the waitstaff, who work in seamless harmony with each other, the customers, and the kitchen.  This place truly seemed magical to me.  A PERFECT place to dine out.  Don’t miss it. Overall score: 9.5/10 Read more

Very good food, excellent service, and lovely low-key neighborhood vibe. Loved the vegetable dishes and the halibut fritters we had were excellent, among the best fish fritters I’ve had—light, crispy, and flavorful, with an excellent tartar sauce. This was a special, as were the roasted mushrooms, which were excellent. Porchetta was ... tasty and surprisingly large serving after the other small plates. Crudo was alright. Service was excellent, very friendly and accommodating in English, with good drink recommendations. Would happily come back. Note: can be noisy once it fills up, which happens around 7:30 when we were there. Read more

Had a amazing dining experience here at Maison Publique. Make sure you have a reservation so they can accommodate you well! (Maybe 2-3 months in advance) The food tasted incredible and the staff (esp JP or was it PJ? I can’t recall) was so kind and accommodating all night. The food ... was nothing I’ve ever tasted before. Their menu changes from time to time so you’ll never try the same thing twice! I definitely want to come back here when I’m in Montreal again. Read more

Delicious creative food in a neighbourhood restaurant setting. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable, walking us through the menu and recommending good natural wine. The dishes are all sharing and ideal for 2-4 people. Sleeper item on the menu are the roasted carrots which are very sweet and taste as good as ... any barbecue meat. Will definitely go back again. Read more