Jack Le Coq — Restaurant in Montreal

The mark is 4 stars due to the frozen fries and below average non homemade gravy.

This Verdun cute 50’s style décor fried chicken restaurant, once a Dunkin Doughnuts location, has quickly made itself a good reputation in the Verdun neighbourhood.

FOOD: Chicken: I tried the two piece chicken box that included a delicious highly seasoned thick gravy, a generous portion of the « Mac n cheese » as my side, and two pieces of chicken - a drumstick and a thigh. The Mac n cheese was creamy, the noodles were a little soft which added to the smooth texture while still having a little bite to the noodles. The sauce was very similar to KFC, and you can easily tell that this is not home made as it was overly thick and not physically like a gravy. It was a very strong seasoning similar to KFC, but more spicy and peppery. It was actually decent when dipped with the chicken but not a sauce I would brag about. The chicken was the star as it was perfectly cooked, crispy, had some crunch, and nicely seasoned. It’s so well seasoned it really does not need the gravy at all. The seasoning of the breading actually tasted similar to KFC (like the gravy) but it was little more spicy than KFC. The big difference is KFC had a gross amount of breaded fat and chicken and the pieces are very small as well as greasy and often KFC chicken is just unpleasant to eat. I don’t know about the white meat or strips, but I did notice the french fries and they looked just like the cheap average frozen (McCain like) fries at Au Coq - I suggest avoiding the fries and go for the Mac n Cheese.

The restaurant was in good order, service was friendly and genuine while also being exact and prompt with the order. I had a chance to speak with Tony, the owner of this Verdun franchise location and he genuinely wanted to know how i enjoyed the food, made a genuine effort typo speak about how proud he is of his franchise and how much he loves the organization and the products he serves - and his children love it as well “kid tested and approved”.

So I think this place is a defined repeat.

I would also say to the parent company (Le Groupe Abbatiello), the choice of french fry is the weakest link in the offering and given the love of fries and poutine, whatever your sales are - i would almost guarantee you that if you would provide a real frenchfried potato or a close enough frozen product your sales would increase by at least 22%. I do not know what gravy is being used for the poutine, but if it is the same as the chicken - again, another weak point. Your gravy should not giggle, it should move in a naturally liquified manner. My guess is that it is a powder mix or some prepared product to reduce franchise error and quality control issues… I strongly urge you to improve on the gravy and think about something that people would at least believe was a fresh product.

So to all, good eating and be patient with your servers.

And thank you Tony for...

I am really impressed by this restaurant JACK LE COQ, I left with the idea no judgment, but I liked the experience, when I came in they immediately asked me if I wanted to order within 15 seconds, I ordered to go, I liked that they asked me if I wanted a trio and specifying and "a drink" they also asked me for my name in period of rush it will greatly avoid to be mistaken in the order of the customer at the same time it is a personalized touch. I noticed while unpacking the package that the chicken box was sealed especially during the COVID-19 period, the customers at home will be happy. Their packaging from A to Z is sustainable, compostable, nowadays when we see written on the packaging of a straw "renewable and compostable" we expect a cardboard straw, my worst nightmare but I was surprised to have a plastic straw that is compostable THUMBS UP !!! I was also surprised by the chicken, the crust and I also like that it is not too greasy, there were spices but nothing to pronounce I did not have the impression that in the kitchen they had dropped the spice box in the chicken, the potatoes were crispy, light nothing heavy and especially nothing greasy. Knowing a little of what the owners do and have done in the past (BUONANOTTE, LA BELLE ET LA BOEUF, RESTAURANT BEATRICE and MARCUS) I was surprised by the simplicity but taking it to another level. I paid 15$ but the experience was worth it, it makes all the difference. This is just a goodbye and I will be back very soon to try something else on the menu. I can't wait for them to open their restaurant in Laval, it's only a matter of time before it explodes like CHOCOLAT FAVORIS, MR PUFFS and...

Was great when they just opened, but my last few trips have been utterly disappointing for many reasons:

First, the chicken I got were still red in the inside, not thoroughly cooked and sizes have been drastically reduced from when they first opened. Another time I could taste/smell that they were past due (that thin pungent smell if you ever had chicken sit in the fridge a bit too long)

Second, they changed from criss cross fries to regular ones and the ones I got (in separate orders, different days) were oily, saggy and tasteless.

Third, the tenders were so small it's not worth the price. Tasteless as well, not even salty. The dips are bang average.

Fourth, the spicy coating option isn't really spicy (to me at least) and just super acidic in taste, I couldn't finish them and was enough to give me acidic stomach.

Lastly, the staffs looked tired and are not nice anymore (used to be around their opening).

The salad is pretty good but not enough to redeem a "fried chicken" place. I doubt they're even made in house.

Unfortunate review since I really enjoyed my meals when they just opened. As a local, I'm saddened by this incredible decrease in quality (and quantity). After coming back multiple times, trying different offerings, hoping that there's some positives that I can take, still I can't give more than 2 stars for what they serve today.

Spend your money somewhere else. There are better fried chicken (or other meals) in the neighbourhood.

May 2023 update: menus with boneless chicken are pretty good but the boned fried chicken still comes out undercooked....