Place Carmin — Restaurant in Montreal

An absolute disappointment today This is my second time visiting because the first visit was really good. It was my friend’s first time and I feel really bad recommending this place now……

I don’t know what went wrong tonight

Everything went smoothly until the mains came. One of us ordered the beef with foie gras and upgraded to get a second piece of foie gras. When the order came, it only has one piece so we asked the waitress if they forgot the upgraded extra piece. Which we were told by the waitress that it is on its way separately because they could not stack the extra piece on top of the beef so they are coming out separately Extremely strange reason but whatever, as long as it’s coming.

Waited another 20-30mins, still nothing and no update from the waitress. We called the waitress over at least twice to ask because she is not updating us on anything and it is now almost an hour (I see that the owner replied to some comments below with false information - 5 of us were at the restaurant 7:00pm sharp and ordered by 7:15pm - please pull out your security camera if you want to lie about this. 2 came late, around 7:20pm and ordered by 7:30pm)

Third time we called the waitress over, she said it’s coming in 3 mins. We said we just want to cancel it at this point since we already finished the meal. Then another 20-30mins later (after we asked to cancel), the extra piece of foie gras came …….

Another friend waited for his meal until the very end when all of us finished already …..

Manager/owner offered free dessert as a courtesy - waited another 20-30mins for the so call courtesy dessert, we all got forks but no cake lollllll

We asked the waitress again who looks like we owe her money the whole night - finally the manager came with the dessert My friends explained to him the whole experience tonight was a huge disappointment His attitude was a bit better Maybe it was too busy? Was definitely very very disappointed being told that this is a MICHELIN recommended restaurant Like … recommended for what?? Pricey food and service that is way below expectations??

Total bill was approx. $980 Left a 12% tip (really didn’t want to) The owner’s reply to my friend’s review was false information. Release your security footage since you believe we are being difficult here

5 of us arrived 7:00pm, ordered by 7:15pm 2 arrived 7:20pm, ordered by 7:30-7:40pm (could be earlier if the waitress can come) Starters came at reasonable time

7:45-8:00pm 6 of us got our mains (one missing extra foie gras, one ordered cod and it was salty, one still missing his main)

8:30-8:45pm the cancelled missing foie gras came idk why and last person got his meal finally.

Left 9:30pm after being stalled to wait for the courtesy dessert and bill. 2 and a half hour of disappointment.

Never...

Tucked away off the street is Place Carmin, with both an outside Al fresco and inside options to dine. We went with a party of 10 and were promptly sat outside. Despite the road only a few feet away it was surprisingly quiet and did not disturb us too much.

Expecting big things I started with a nice glass of Rose and we shared some of the canopies. All were delicious and worth the try. I couldn't help feeling that the sweetbreads would have been delicious also!!

I followed this with the Duck and Brussels. The duck was slightly tough and over cooked in my opinion. No redness to the middle and toughness was akin to a cheap rump steak. However, the Brussels charred and served with pancetta and I'm assuming some sort of soft cheese was divine and I could have eaten them alone.

All this was formality as my only really aim was to try the Maple Crème Brulé....as a stickler for crème brulé I had to try it and it didn't disappoint. Hard, crackly top, smothered in maple syrup gave way to a soft (slightly over cooked) vanilla centre. Really good, really really good!

I decided to try their artichoke vermouth to accompany this and although too bitter for me it worked as far as accompaniments go.......

Now to explain this was all served with a rather relaxed temperament. I don't mean relaxed as in take your time but more as, have they forgotten about us!

Waits between courses and orders were tiring and gave an impression of being understaffed rather than immersive. One of our party was due to leave after 2 hours and he wasn't going to get desert if he did .....

One of our table was vegetarian and despite only having one option, they delivered Brussels with ham to accompany.....such a shame.

Outside was bland and lacked any atmosphere. Lighten was non existent and no background music to pacify the traffic, which was a bit of an oversight . Inside, while I just used it for the very disorientating toilets (watch the mirror at the top of the stairs), it was souless and boring. Felt like I was in a church cafe, with little to no atmosphere and basically nothing in the way of illuminations.

I'd like to say I loved it, I mean, I did, but I think if I had been on a date I would certainly not be quite so upbeat. Having 10 friends distracted me from criticising and drawing attention some more but....that's just my opinion man!

See...

Tucked just a stone’s throw from Montreal’s vibrant city center, this restaurant comes with an enviable location and solid reputation, making it an attractive choice for dining. However, when our group of 20 gathered there to celebrate a birthday, the experience revealed both the restaurant’s strengths and some significant shortcomings.

Due to our large party size, we were seated in an upstairs room—functional, but undeniably lackluster. The space felt dated and underwhelming, hardly the setting one might hope for in a celebratory gathering. Downstairs, the ambiance was visibly more polished and sophisticated, but for the upstairs, it seemed the focus had been on capacity rather than charm. Perhaps with fewer guests, we would have enjoyed a more atmospheric space.

But let’s talk about the food—the one area where the evening truly shone. The dishes, particularly the beef cheeks and salmon tartare, were executed with finesse. Both were well-prepared, flavorful, and offered excellent quality given the price point. From a culinary perspective, the restaurant exceeded expectations.

Yet, where the kitchen excelled, the service fell short. Despite genuine effort and an overall willingness to please, the waitstaff were clearly overwhelmed by our group size. The service was stretched too thin, leading to delays and lapses—bread missing from one table, items needing to be requested, etc. Though accommodating, the staff struggled to manage the two separate tables, leaving a noticeable gap in coordination and attentiveness.

In sum, this restaurant delivered a strong culinary experience but stumbled in service execution. If you’re considering it for a large group, it’s worth confirming in advance how they handle sizable parties and whether they can provide the seamless experience you’d hope for on a special occasion. A few logistical improvements could easily elevate what was an enjoyable evening into something...