Restaurant Héritaj — Restaurant in Montreal

This is a Wednesday evening with temperature just above freezing point and decided to have dinner at Heritaj. It is normal at this time of the year that the restaurant is not overly busy.

We received a very warm greeting in this upscale restaurant with a sophisticated decor and inviting atmosphere.

We ordered the Carré d’Agneau du Quebec Aux Rabioles Biryani, Thon Rouge à La Niçoise, Moules Palourdes & Kebab Masala. Heritaj specializes in Indo-French cuisine and these menus are exactly the chef d’œuvres of this restaurant.

The Carré d’Agneau (Rack of Lamb) was cooked to perfection, so tender and meaty on a myriad of veggies like Brussels sprouts, coriander and pistachios … and a touch of biryani spices.

The Thon Rouge (Is it yellowfin or bluefin tuna?) is lightly seared, perfectly medium-rare, with a delicate crust and a vibrant ruby-red center. Served on top of a crispy papadum, complemented by a fresh herb salad, and a drizzle of zesty emulsion for a bright, citrusy finish.

The Moules and palourdes (Mussels and Clams) is an impressive plate. I mean impressive. Very French Italian spaghetti sauce, meatballs and lots of onions. Did I say lots of thick, finger licking sauce? This is a plate for 2 adults … easily. I have to deduct half a star for some sand in the mussels or clams.

I would have preferred a bit less aggressivity on the salt level. Overall, simply delicious, with good service.

Nothing can be finalized without having a look at the washrooms. There are 4 individual unisex locked cubicles, clean and shiny, with a touch of equipment sophistication, like a feminine hygiene disposal unit and a fresh air dispenser. There is one main dual sink outside the washroom, equipped with touchless faucet, soap dispenser and an automatic Dyson Airblade hand dryer.

I believe there is a paid underground parking that the restaurant would pick up the bill. Totally recommend if you are looking for an upscale...

The restaurant is quite popular, so we made a reservation well in advance. The food was beautifully presented, but the flavors didn’t quite match the hype. The foie gras, a highly recommended dish, was overly greasy, though the flavor was decent. The bagel was a bit tough to chew. One practical issue we noticed was that the plates slid around on the marble table while we were eating; some tablecloths could have easily addressed this.

Unfortunately, there were a few service-related mishaps. A server accidentally spilled water on my mom’s phone—these things happen, and we didn’t make a fuss—but the most disappointing aspect was the long wait. We sat for nearly an hour before our orders were served. What was odd, however, was that all of our dishes appeared right after we inquired about them. This left us wondering if the food had been sitting out, as some dishes were lukewarm by the time they reached our table.

As for the atmosphere, while the space is beautifully decorated, the busyness detracts from the overall experience. The tables are packed so tightly that it feels overcrowded, which not only diminishes the ambiance but likely overwhelms the staff as well. Perhaps this explains the delays in service. Given the high price point of the menu, I’d imagine the restaurant could afford to reduce the number of tables and create a more refined and enjoyable dining experience.

Overall, while the restaurant excels in appearances, it seems to fall short on delivering substance. We had high expectations for this meal, but the experience was ultimately...

I was excited to try this new restaurant, hoping for a unique blend of French and Indian cuisine, but sadly, it fell short of my expectations. As someone with a deep love for Indian flavors and with a partner from Punjab, we were both left underwhelmed.

The concept of French-Indian fusion is intriguing, but the execution felt lacking. The dishes, while well-presented, didn’t deliver the bold and rich spices that Indian cuisine is known for. There was a noticeable absence of depth in the curries and sauces, which left me wanting more flavor. Unfortunately, there was also no dessert with Indian inspiration—something I would have expected to round off the meal and balance the fusion concept.

The round tables made for 4 are way too small; design can feel great but practically it just doesn’t work.

The drinks, which we hoped would creatively mirror the fusion of cultures, felt disconnected from the theme. They didn’t elevate the experience as we anticipated, falling short of complementing the meal or embracing the French-Indian blend.

I wanted to give this restaurant 5 stars for its concept, ambiance, and effort, but the flavors just didn’t meet the...