Siam Centre-Ville — Restaurant in Montreal

I’ve been to Siam about four or five times now, and overall, I would say it’s a solid, well-rounded restaurant. The space itself is elegant without being over the top. You can tell the restaurant is aiming for that more elevated dining experience, and in most ways, it succeeds.

Let’s start with what keeps me coming back: the table d’hôte. It’s kind of their signature offering, a generous spread of five to six starters, two mains, rice, and either tea or coffee to wrap up for 90$. It’s a great format if you want to explore the menu in one sitting. You get variety, consistency, and good value for what you receive.

The appetizers are solid across the board. From crispy spring rolls and chicken satay to those coconut shrimp skewers and dumplings, everything comes out fresh, well plated, and balanced in flavour. The sauces are well thought out, sweet chili, peanut, nuoc cham, and the mango salad adds that much-needed crunch and acidity. It’s not reinventing anything, but it’s all well executed.

The real star, though and I don’t say this lightly is the beef red curry! It’s phenomenal. The beef is so tender it literally melts in your mouth, like butter on a hot skillet. The curry itself is rich, velvety, and full of depth. You get layers of flavour: creamy coconut, a punch of chili heat, those unmistakable notes of lemongrass and kaffir lime, all balanced in a way that hits the palate just right. I’ve had it every single time I’ve gone, and it’s one of the few dishes I’d actually describe as addictive.

Now... the less exciting part. The table d’hôte hasn’t changed in at least three years. Same starters, same mains, same everything. And while it’s comforting to know what to expect, I do think the menu could benefit from a bit of seasonal rotation or at least one or two new additions. For a place that positions itself on the higher end, a little evolution would go a long way. When I go out for this kind of dining experience, part of the joy is in discovering new things... and right now, that’s missing.

That’s where the five-star rating drops a bit for me. It’s not the quality, that’s there. It’s the lack of freshness in the offering over time.

The drink menu is solid but leans expensive. Cocktails are well made and beautifully presented, tropical, often layered with Thai flavours like basil, ginger, or mango, but again, it adds up quickly, especially if you’re doing the full menu.

Service is generally great, professional and warm, and the pace is well managed. You can feel the intention of offering a more refined experience. That said, I did have one visit that really missed the mark. One of the mains came out bland, which was a shock given how flavourful the food usually is. The dish was genuinely disappointing, and unfortunately, the staff didn’t acknowledge it or offer anything to make up for it, which, to be honest, was a bit of a letdown at this price point. But in fairness, it was a one-time thing out of several great meals.

Most recently, I brought my partner, who’s from Asia and usually quite tough to impress when it comes to Southeast Asian cuisine. He was genuinely impressed, with the flavours, the attention to detail, and the plating. That reaction alone gave me some reassurance that despite the stagnant menu, the core quality is still there.

So yes, Siam is still a place I would recommend. The dishes are consistent, visually beautiful, and generally packed with flavour. It’s just time for the menu to get the same kind of attention the plating and...

Siam: Charm and Flavour but a Tricky Lunch Menu!

Siam seemed to be an ideal place for an overdue catch-up and lunch with my longtime friend and colleague, both of us having recently returned after long trips away. Our choice was a way of prolonging the flavours of my recent visit to Thailand just weeks ago.

Heading up to the mezzanine terrace off René Levesque Blvd, we climbed a flight of carpeted stairs patterned with a verdant, summer motif. Hanging lanterns and greenery added a tropical vibe. With the patient assistance of an attendant, we quickly surveyed three options before settling in. Our reconnect, sharing travel mementos, stories and pics, began in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere at a corner table. Dishes on the neighbouring table looked appealing and well presented. Our own selections, later, were satisfying – mildly spiced but flavourful, reasonably portioned and accompanied with friendly service.

But the first discordant note had already seeped in when we first explored the menu. A notable and seemingly calculated aspect was its presentation. On the two-page, fixed-price (Table d’hôte) offering, a choice of soup or salad appeared in small print at the top of the first page, followed in larger, eye-catching print by a list of appetizers, each with an additional price. The second page listed the mains, also with prices.

While offering select appetizers at extra cost is neither uncommon or inherently wrong, the menu design almost obscured the included soup or salad, making the larger print, priced appetizers appear to be the default starters. It felt like a deliberate attempt to make the set menu appear more affordable than it really was. Another source of dissonance was the wine special advertised as $10 a glass until 3 p.m.—an undeniably reasonable price. Yet as the server poured, she paused, as if incidentally, to mention that the standard pour was 5 ounces, and that an upgrade to a larger serving was available for $17. There was, of course, no pressure but since we likely would have had a second glass anyway, we both succumbed to the larger pour.

The menu could—and should—have been more clearly presented, and the wine special more transparent and explained upfront, not suavely dangled at mid-pour when the inclination to indulge was already whet, and obviously more fluid. Such strategies, seemingly minor, reflect a mindset that customers won’t notice they’re being angled to spend more.

As we wrapped up and I suggested getting the server’s attention to settle the bill, my friend, who had stepped away from the table for a while, casually said: C’est déjà fait (It’s a done deed)! – a quiet gesture of friendship that framed our afternoon in a genuine meet-up against a backdrop of commercial cunning.

Despite the charm of the setting, the relaxed meal and the pleasure of good company, we walked away with a lingering sense of unease that we had been played a little.

A memorable experience in more senses than one. We liked the place but not...

The food was delicious, but this was some of the slowest service I've ever experienced. I had a reservation on the 11th of June at 6pm. My friend and I had a concert to attend at 8pm. We thought this would give us ample time to eat before the show, but we were still late because of the lack of service.

They had a special menu prepared for those attending Lizzo. I was disappointed I couldn't order the duck confit, but I understood a smaller menu would help the kitchen/staff. Truly didn't make a difference for us. It took maybe 20 minutes for us to get anyone to come to our table. We had a manager in a suit serve us and we were reassured we'd make the concert at 8pm. It took another 45 minutes for someone to take our order. We got our appetizers but then our main meals were served to us at 7:45pm. Even getting the bill took forever! The waiter couldn't find our order in the system. By 8:30 we paid.

I didn't want to ask for the manager but it was shocking how slow everything was. The manager who came (Ricardo) was incredibly defensive and rude. He basically told us it was our fault we didn't tell anyone we had a show/somewhere to be by a certain time. Which didn't make sense since we were presented with a specialized menu. It showed that there was a lack of communication between staff. Who were we supposed to notify since it wasn't a waiter who initially took our order but another manager?

We were berated until Ricardo offered free drinks the next time we came. No apology. Honestly being comped for the meal would've been more helpful/meaningful. Not only that, the ONLY time staffed actually paid attention to us was when my friend was in the washroom and I was waiting for her. As I was putting on my jacket, a hostess rushed over to ask if we paid yet (we had).

With so many incredible restaurants to experience in Montreal, why would I...