Taverne Monkland / Monkland Tavern — Restaurant in Montreal

Absolutely stellar, a solid 10/10! If I had to sum up my time here in a single word, it would be "balance".

The culinary creations are not just inventive, they're impeccably balanced. The service is simply outstanding. Corinne and Tom behind the bar were a treat to watch. It almost felt like they were siblings, they were so in sync and they never left anyone waiting. It's clear that every member of the team is not only knowledgeable but operates in perfect harmony.

As for the ambiance, it's a perfect blend of funky, upscale, and casually chic. You could step in wearing your finest attire or rock a t-shirt and jeans and totally feel right at home. I was first welcomed by Barb, one of the owners, who was welcoming, personable and had her finger on the pulse of everything! I love seeing an owner lead by example on the floor.

And I was incredibly fortunate that my dining journey was personally curated by none other than the executive chef part owner, Josh Crowe. Having recently returned from a culinary adventure in Italy, I couldn't help but feel transported back to the streets of Rome and Florence with each bite at Monkland Tavern. Yet it still felt uniquely Canadian as Josh is proud to source a large amount of the ingredients locally.

This experience undoubtedly ranks among the finest I've ever had. I'm already eagerly anticipating my return. Monkland Tavern comes with my highest recommendation to all. A heartfelt thank you to the remarkable staff for making this experience truly exceptional....

If you’re looking to spend a lot of money on average food and for average service this is your place. I liked that they had chefs specials of the day. Although it was all written in-front of us on the chalk board the server re read exactly the 7 dishes that was written in front of us. But I digress, I found the place very loud and when it got a little closer to 10pm they bumped up the volume on the music even higher which made it really hard to even talk to the person next to me. I had the cauliflower steak which tasted really bland with no sauce or side. Just topped with some very tiny cut up veggies and olive oil. For the price I thought it was lacking a lot of personality. The blue cheese broccoli was good. But when the plate showed up the brocolis covered 1/4th of the plate and the rest was empty. I understand that it was more for the aesthetic look but for a 20$ appetizer I was extremely disappointed. The wine was great thankfully. Once it came to paying I barely got a glance or goodbye from our server. After spending five minutes reading to us what was on the board you’d think I’d even get a name but after we paid she scurried off. Kind of felt like service from a fast food restaurant. Over all I ‘liked’ it. It was alright. If you’re looking to spend a little extras for an alright place this...

The Monkland Tavern is a NDG institution. I'm glad to see that it has survived the pandemic and they're thriving again. The service is friendly and efficient and it's always a pleasure to visit.

I had the crudo de doré as an appetizer and the snow crab special as the main dish. It was a sumptuous affair and well worth ordering. The restaurant also has great pasta dishes which they are well known for. They also have a selection of craft food and drink products for sale over the counter. We were treated to their special hot sauce on the way out.

The restaurant is not large, so it's recommended to make a reservation in advance. I found the booking process to be very swift and efficient. You can use Google chat to make a reservation and they will then book you through the Resy app. It's much easier than calling, although you can do that too, as I did when it turned out that I had to make a last minute alteration in my reservation.

Maybe someday the city will finally cover the Décarie highway with some green space and then the short walk from the Villa Maria metro will be more pleasant. It's not the most pleasant walk when you have to cross the highway just to get from the metro to the commercial...