Toqué! — Restaurant in Montreal

Before I start this review, I want to acknowledge something: it takes a lot of work to run a restaurant. I wouldn’t know this personally, as I am just someone who loves food experiences, but I respect the effort. Food is an art form that, at its highest moments, tells a story. The best restaurants weave this story seamlessly, from the moment you are greeted by the maître d’ to the time you sign the check. The food should justify its place on the plate, the art should be meaningful, and the ambiance should tie it all together, saying, “Thank you for choosing us. Here’s why it matters.” Unfortunately, Toque’s story was incoherent, like the ramblings of someone lost in a drunken stupor, clinging to a reality that exists only in their head. Upon entering, the décor felt like a relic of the early 2000s—a carpeted (why carpet?) time capsule. It reminded me of someone who over-prepped for Y2K, only to be left with stacks of toilet paper in their closet. My spouse and I were there to celebrate a special occasion. Having dined at similar establishments in New York, we were excited to see what Toque would deliver as a supposed bastion of fine cuisine.

THE BREAD The bread was one of the only highlights—a mix of sourdough with a chewy crust and impossibly soft interior, paired with butter that could have sparked wars in earlier centuries. 9/10.

THE TRAGEDY The rest of the meal spiraled into chaos, beginning with an amuse-bouche. The server offered a “surprise” or foie gras, and we opted for the surprise, only to receive lobster in a buckwheat shell—despite my well-communicated shellfish allergy. After a brief “oh…sorry,” they replaced it with hastily thrown-together tuna salad. No apology beyond that, not even a simple glass of champagne to acknowledge the mistake. Here’s the breakdown of the courses: First Course: Trout ceviche in cold miso soup. A confusing pairing that felt random rather than intentional. (4/10) Second Course: Trout (again), with beurre blanc, walnuts, and trout roe. Not terrible, but shockingly underseasoned—I had to request salt. (5/10) Third Course: Walleye from Lake Erie with black garlic sauce, confit pear, and pickled radishes. Fish was fine, pear was great, sauce needed salt. (5/10) Fourth Course: Young rooster with vegetables. Chicken on a tasting menu needs to be magical, but this was bland beyond forgiveness. (3/10) Fifth Course: Sirloin the size of my index finger (and I’m not a large person), served lukewarm with yet another forgettable sauce. (2/10) Sixth Course: The pre-dessert “surprise” was purple ube ice cream, poppyseed cake, and chocolate in a pool of Minute Maid lemonade. It was shocking, in the worst way. The cheese dish—a brie with spelt cracker—was utterly forgettable. (1/10)

THE DESSERT FROM HEAVEN The seventh and final course was miraculous: a white chocolate mousse with soaked pear, chocolate bark, and citron sorbet. It was thoughtful, balanced, and decadent, erasing—almost—the disaster of previous courses. If the rest of the meal had been even a fraction as inspired as this dessert, Toque might have redeemed itself. But one great dish cannot carry a meal that failed at nearly every other step.

WHAT MORE?

The service lacked the attentiveness expected at this level. The manager’s “gift” for our celebration—a stock card signed by the chef—felt hollow. No creative dessert, no thoughtful keepsake menu, just an afterthought. The inconsistent music—alternating between too loud and imperceptibly soft—only added to the disjointed experience.

And so, we left wondering what story Toque was trying to tell. In the end, we had to make up one ourselves: Toque is an establishment so convinced of its greatness, it doesn’t feel the need to explain why its food matters. Instead, it says, “We thought of this yesterday—eat it and go.”

Overall Rating: 2/10.
The bread and dessert were phenomenal, but I would have been happier at a bakery with a pint of Häagen-Dazs. After all, man cannot live on...

My gf really wanted to eat here for a while, so I surprised her by taking her here for our anniversary. Considering this is the #1 rated restaurant in Montreal, expectations were high. There's valet parking for $19 but sometimes you can find metered parking around Palais des Congrès. Service is exceptional here, and we were well greeted as soon as we entered. Our coats and umbrella were taken care of right away, which is nice. We were seated by the table in front of the glass case that goes down to the wine cellar, which looked impressively stocked. Our waitress was very attentive throughout the night, and took time to understand our needs before suggesting options. We opted for the 7-course tasting menu for $136, and since we felt the wine pairings option would be too much Al alcohol for a long drive back home on a Monday night, the sommelier gave us amazing advice and we selected an amazing bottle of natural red (4kilos from Mallorca). My gf was thoroughly impressed by the sommelier's knowledge and explanations, and this was a clear highlight of her night! The wine was excellent, and clearly the sommelier's choice nicely accompanied all 7 courses (quite a challenge for any sommelier). The tasting menu was good overall, but honestly this is where Toqué loses a 🌟 in my rating. The pre-starter was very good, and starter (pétoncle in apple cider and lemongrass mousse) was excellent, but the appetizer (octopus with potatoes) was horrible (potatoes were OK, but octopus was too chewy and tasteless). The main course made up for it; arguably the most tender tasty cut of meat I have ever eaten, a beautifully seasoned and seared longe of deer. The pre-starter dessert (chocolate mousse) was good but unimpressive for a chocolate lover like me, and the dessert (blueberry cake with white chocolate flakes) was very good. Furthermore, for the price you pay, I expected a more elaborate presentation of some of the starters or desserts; most courses were served on regular plates, the only exception being the 2 macarons and 2 sweets served on a rock at the end. Lastly, despite the 7 courses courses, we are quite hungry when we arrived and I felt the overall quantity of food served was a little unsatisfying; I could have eaten a few more amuse-bouches (and I only weigh 155lbs). The Europea's 7-course tasting menu was tastier overall, more elaborate (varous kinds of after-dessert served on trees and a bigger more varied box to take home...), more generous (more amuse-bouches), and better presented (pre-started hung on a wire nailed onto a wood plank), not to mention cheaper, so I have to be fair and give this a 4 star. But nonetheless, one of the best dining experiences...

My partner and I have visited Toqué three times over the past couple years, and it seemed high time to leave a review. All three experiences have been excellent. We get the tasting menu every time and are never disappointed. I would highly recommend adding the wine pairing to get the full Toqué experience.

Some highlights of this establishment:

The tasting menu varies seasonally, showcasing different local ingredients. Each dish is flavourful and beautifully arranged, with every ingredient--no matter how simple--playing a role. The focus is on discovering and appreciating high-quality local foods. They do this so well that my partner and I have found that we even enjoy ingredients we normally would not. I don't usually care for raw tomatoes, but I would eat this season's fresh tomato salad by the bowl, given the opportunity. The staff are knowledgeable and attentive. A big part of the experience here is the staff's presentation of the dishes (and wines, if applicable) as they are brought to your table. They pay close attention to you without being obtrusive, making the pacing of the meal feel perfect as they bring out the next dish not long after you finish one. If you get up from the table, a staff member seems to magically appear to fold your napkin and pull your chair out for you as you return. The staff are bilingual and can provide excellent service in either English or French. They have been wonderfully accommodating of my dietary restrictions (more on that separately) and never made me feel like an inconvenience.

For prospective diners, here are some points to help shape your expectations:

Interaction with staff is a big part of the tasting menu experience. If this isn't your cup of tea, the tasting menu may not be the best choice. The focus here is on quality, not luxury or decadence. Toqué does not try to impress its guests with exotic or flashy ingredients. Expect local fruits, vegetables, and proteins, presented elegantly, with natural flavours. You will likely not be served a plate swimming in truffle oil and gold leaf. You may, however, eat the best parsnip purée of your life. The price of the meal reflects the quality of both the food and the service. For most of us, eating here is a rare treat, but it is a treat indeed, and I have never regretted a dime spent at Toqué.

All in all, Toqué has offered my family and me a delightful experience time and time again, and I cannot recommend them highly enough. My only regret is that I have not yet had the opportunity to enjoy each of their...