Restaurant Ermitage : Authentic European Cuisine and Fine Dining — Restaurant in Montreal

My friend invited me to this place, to celebrate his anniversary. I loved it immediately, even before we sat down. Maybe because I am an Eagles fan and this place has mirrors on the ceiling. For me it wasn't your normal restaurant experience, where you come in, they sit you down, bring you drinks and wait for you menu choices. Everything was pre-ordered - it was a table for 10 and when I came in, wine and hors d'oeuvres were already on the table. Before I get to food though, I'd really like to note the general ambiance which I found very pleasing. The place is small, very tastefully decorated, very clean and has distinct style. It really feels like one of those posh European restaurants out of the 1930-s. Classy, if you ask me. On to the food - we had five kinds of hors d'oeuvres - all very well made and tasty. Food is Eastern European - varying and delicious. I won't go into detail - that could take pages and pages. The owners of the place are from Moldova - country known for it's wine and liquor, so their wine list and their bar was, to my taste, perfect. Lots of variety and lots of quality. Main courses were pork, chicken and fish - all cooked exquisitely, and no surprise. After our dinner I've had a talk with the owner and she said that their chef - her husband, studied fine cuisine for five years in university. I am an old, grouchy man, always looking for shortcomings, but in this place I failed to find one. Chairs were comfortable, tables - steady, linen - spotless, tableware - pleasing. Bathrooms - squeaky clean and odorless. Bill - under a 100, that's with wine and tips. Will...

Food: the food here is amazing. This is the single best Russian/eastern European that I've ever been too. The food was amazing and the recommendations were all spot on. I usually eat meat medium, they encouraged me that the best way for my meal to be eaten (the medallions i belive) was rare and oh boy it did not disappoint, it was one of the best meals I've eaten. I am also a huge hater of zucchini and was not going to eat it when it came with my meal, I ended up trying it and it was cooked to perfection. I split the tasting menu (witc was for two people, costed $110, gave 4 appetizers a main meal each, desert and a drink)and everything on it was made with love and delicious.

Service: The people that work at the restaurant are the nicest workers I've seen. It's clear they care about each consumer and value a nice, peaceful environment. They gave helpful truthful suggestions about what to order, made jokes with my party of four throughout the dinner, and when leaving encouraged us to take a lot of tiny candies on the way out. The service from beginning to end was amazing.

Atmosphere: The atmosphere is very homey and peaceful. Though the restaurant is small, I've never had any trouble with getting a table for four. If anything, the restaurant allows for a nice personal vibe. The lighting dimmed with the light outside, it was made up of warm candle and overhead lighting. The decorations in the restaurant and wallpaper also furthered the homey feeling, it felt like going to a...

Ermitage: More Than Just a Restaurant — A Family Experience!

While visiting Montreal with my husband, we discovered Ermitage — and our experience there exceeded all expectations.

Galina, the exceptional host, along with her friend Nona who was working with her that evening, made the night unforgettable. Their genuine warmth and care made us feel so welcome that we didn’t want to leave. We ended up spending more than four hours there, feeling like we were sharing time with very close friends.

We enjoyed pelmeni, vareniki, medovik, and olivie — every dish bursting with authentic flavors that reminded me of home. As someone from the same cultural background, it was a truly comforting and nostalgic meal.

That evening, two celebrations were happening, filling the restaurant with lively music, sparkling cakes, and golden crowns placed on honored guests. The joyful, festive atmosphere made us feel like part of a big, happy family. We were warmly included in the celebrations, which made the experience even more special.

Wishing Galina, her husband—the talented chef—Nona, their friend, and the entire team continued success and all the best in their wonderful family business. If you want authentic Eastern European cuisine served with heartfelt hospitality, Ermitage is a true Montreal treasure. I highly recommend...