Garde-Manger Montreal Review by Guest Reviewer Dubers
Garde-Manger….so many evenings, so many blurry memories. Whenever someone asks me for the hippest restaurant in Montreal, my answer is always inevitably Garde-Manger. Originally opened as an “anti-scene” joint in Old Montreal, this small resto / lounge has now been adopted by the Montreal foodies, bar flies and hipsters alike. No other place can you enjoy fine dining, a well selected wine list, beautiful cocktails and the opportunity to get naked.
If you are looking for runway waitresses that don’t know how to do wine service, overpriced martinis, Eurotrash and food that sucks, then St-Laurent Blvd. is slightly north/west. Garde-Manger boasts some beautiful staff but all are knowledgeable, quick and friendly (Julie and Jessica, you rock). Owner/Partner Kyle is always around either pouring libations or mixing the tunes, never missing an opportunity to mingle with his loyal clientèle.
With a menu that changes daily on the chalk board, past favorites and must haves are:
Large Seafood platter: Also lovingly referred to as the trough, this is SICK ACTION!!! This baby takes up your whole table and then some. For $125 bones, it’s the biggest and baddest in Montreal. A must for 4-6 people.
BBQ baby back ribs (I love you with your side of succulent potato salad) Is it wrong to suck on your neighbors saucy fingers?
Their fish and seafood is always fresh. Nothing like getting a “Loup de Mer” served on your plate while it’s still starring right at you. Delicious but creepy.
Atmosphere is very loud and not for the faint of heart. If you are looking for a quiet, uneventful evening, try Holder restaurant. It’s real tough to get a table at restaurant Garde-Manger and reservations are a must. Call in advance but drop in anytime for a martini.
Wearing the Trough’s decorative seaweed on your head to look like a Rastafarian 10/10
Tastiness: 9.99999999/10 (Deduction for that imperfect oval-shape olive in my martini, OK…10/10)
Getting a table on a Thursday night unless you call 16 weeks in advance/10
Garde-Manger Restaurant Information
408 St-François-Xavier, Old Montreal
Phone: 514-678-5044
Hours: Tue–Sun 6 pm – 3 am
Payment: Cash, Credit Cards
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21 responses so far ↓
1 Chef Deck // Aug 16, 2007 at 10:20 am
Needed to explain the half eatin picks of the food and the missing pick of the trough. When you go to garde you get very drunk. Being drunk has a direct correlation with memory lost, which directly translates into forgetting to take pictures of the food until you reach into your pocket and realize the errors of your ways.
Chef Deck says he will try and remember to take pictures tonight.
2 Emma L // Oct 13, 2007 at 9:07 pm
Tim Rozon owns the restaurant. I am gonna fly over just to go there!!
3 Wanda // Oct 27, 2007 at 3:50 pm
The food is good at Gare Manger i cannot deny but the prices have gone up alot since they have opened. Also be prepared for a loud, crazy, crowded environment. Don;t say I didn’t warn you.
4 caitlin // Mar 6, 2008 at 11:36 pm
im going to go to montreal soon so i was realy hoping on getting to go there so mabey i could get a glimps at tim rozon hes suchh a hottie
5 alicia // May 19, 2008 at 10:03 pm
I’m going to Montreal at the end of June and I’m so excited to go to Garde Manger !!!! Is Tim Rozon there a lot? Cause I was wondering what my chances are of seeing him hahaha .
6 Mary Jane // Jun 3, 2008 at 1:25 pm
I really want to go here, not just for the food but to see Tim Rozon lol, but he says he’s hardly ever there. I wrote down the number of the restaurant cuz he said girls call there all the time and if he’s there and not busy he talks to them lol so i’ll just have to call everyday until he’s there lol. I’m not a stoker i swear just a HUGE fan of Instant Star and his other work and i bet the food would be great =0)
7 stef braun // Jun 3, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Great for parties….love the open-kitchen…honestly a bit too loud sometimes. If im still enjoying my shrimp, i dont want to hear Beyonce wailing.
The food however, is pretty good.
8 sallyboombally // Jun 11, 2008 at 5:03 pm
I am turning 21 in July, and we are planning a trip to Montreal to celebrate. I heard this restaurant was exquisite but I had no clue that Tim Rozon owned it. I wonder if he would meet me as a sort of birthday gift. LOL
9 Stewart // Jun 13, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Is Bomombally really your last name? Cool!
10 ambrosia copperfield // Jun 20, 2008 at 4:18 pm
i wish i could be that lame.
11 Ashley // Jun 30, 2008 at 2:49 am
If Tim Rozon’s restaurant is half as good as he looks I’m definantly going!!!
12 Lana // Jul 1, 2008 at 3:26 pm
I read you have to be over 18 to go. I am going to have my parents go in and get an autograph of Tim Rozon when we go to Montreal.
13 Kelly Chance // Jul 1, 2008 at 5:17 pm
OMG Tim Rozon is sooo awesome
i cant believe that he has a resturant
i want to meet him one day is here at the Garde-Manger at lot no that Instant Star is done filming
14 Lana // Jul 4, 2008 at 10:06 pm
Yeah. I want to go real bad. But in Canada, when I went to Vancouver you had to be 18 to go into resturants that had bars! I really want to go, but I am only 13. I am going to meet him, no matter what it takes. Even if it’s just on the phone.
15 holly bemko // Jul 5, 2008 at 2:01 am
my favourite dish right now is the ribs
i love the salad with the green beans that comes on top of the ribs it as well
the seafood platter is a must and try the drink of the day
i’m very proud to say that my cousin charles owns this resturant with timmy and kyle
the place is livin’ loud in old montreal
16 chef deck // Jul 5, 2008 at 6:09 pm
In Montreal you can go to any restaurant with a bar no matter what your age is.
17 lissette // Jul 12, 2008 at 12:06 pm
I am going to Montreal in August!!! I cant wait to go to Garde and maybe get a glimpse of Tim hope he’s there!!!
18 Lana // Jul 21, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Oh. Thanks. I didn’t know that you could go in under 18. Sorry for the mis-under standing. Thanks chef deck.
19 Candy // Aug 6, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Shouldn’t the focus be more on the food that Garde Manger has to offer rather than who owns. Granted Tim Rozon is beautiful person but its just a thought.
20 Jenette // Aug 6, 2008 at 8:53 pm
I want to go to Canada so incrediably bad! I’ve called the resteraunt before, but no Tim!
I dying to visit! Is the food good? I hope, just seeing Tim would make my day perfectly!
21 The DeLish Bite » Blog Archive » Old Montreal Food Special // Aug 20, 2008 at 2:08 am
[...] of our favorites included: Garde Manger, 408 St. Francoise – Xavier, Old Montreal Often referred to as the hippest restaurant in [...]
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