Toqué!
Imaginative touch
Back to Toqué!
It's a beautiful restaurant, yes. The service is excellent, yes. But I have eaten at some of the finest restaurants in the northeastern US and Montreal and found this to be the most overhyped dining experience I've ever had.
Reviewed by: A Yahoo! Contributor from on Jan 21 2008
First of all, when I read the negative reviews on this site, they make me smile. Who would go to such a restaurant, be willing to pay the price (that you know will be high from looking at the menu) and then drink all the degustation wine in a few sips, before the food is even served? Not very clever...
Reviewed by: A Yahoo! Contributor from on Dec 22 2007
Well, where to begin? I live in Alberta, love Montreal and talk about Montreal restaurants all the time....to the point that friends of ours decided to hop on a plane and come with us for a weekend. Toque was first on our list to experience. I was so excited by the reviews i'd read.
Reviewed by: A Yahoo! Contributor from on Nov 26 2007
Well, first of all, my wife and I were actually charged $8 each for the little appetizer offered at the very beginning (which is offered free in other establishments), before ordering; this being some sort of raw, pureed seafood in a very small champagne-shaped glass, a slightly disgusting actually. When I enquired a while later why we were not told that they charged for this, the manager of Toqué responded that it was because people did not want to know the price of appetizers. How's that for arrogance, not to mention dishonesty (a bit typical of Quebec)? I'll leave that up to you. Following this, the food served was fine, very fresh but stricly regaular fare (rack of lamb). At the end, desserts included extremely fat creme brulee, which does not help with digestion. We came out of the restaurant more drunk than anything else..and problaly a little less healthy. One good thing about our visit, it cured us of fancy restaurants for good.
Reviewed by: Infotrad from on Jul 22 2007
Awesome culinary experience. Normand's creations are out of this world. I have been to his restaurant many times (old place and new) and I have never been disappointed. Service is attentive (Vincent is my favourite) and so professional. The ambiance is magnificent. I am planning another visit. Do plan a visit, SOON!!!!
Reviewed by: A Yahoo! Contributor from on Jun 05 2007
I thought Toque was a nice restaurant, however for the price (almost $500 USD with the tip) it was definitely not worth it. We had the 'mystery' tasting menu, which has several courses each paired with a wine. I did not care for several of the courses and was not given a chance to substitue them. I thought the service was o.k., but not excellent. If you go, I'd suggest ordering from the regular menu and not the tasting menu. I find there are many other restaurants in Old Montreal that are just as good, but much less expensive.
Reviewed by: Chris from on Feb 02 2007
My spouse & I found culinary ecstasy with virtually every bite of the "tasting menu" (and every sip of the five wines served therewith). I felt I was experiencing the genius of chef Normand Laprise; how he must 'think' flavors the way you & I think words -- what we tasted truly was that varied & idea-rific. Compared to our "big nights out" in NYC, Paris, and some superb places on Long Island, Toque! sets the highest bar now. I cannot imagine affording to dine-out so well, so frequently, that I could know better restaurants -- unlike one of the reviewers here. Service was appropriately gracious & attentive; we do not rue our three hours & $400 (generous tip) at all!
Reviewed by: Kurt from on Aug 05 2006
I don't understand the negative remarks about this restaurant. I have been twice with my family, and each time the food and service were excellent. I find that there is a distinct lack of haughtiness or superiority complex at this place--maybe that is what is throwing some snobby people off. The decor is classy, with space and privacy being the goal. I feel like I could show up in jeans and the service would still be attentive.
Reviewed by: A Yahoo! Contributor from on Jul 13 2006
The food was more artistic than anything we have ever eaten. Each bite was a perfect medly of flavors, and the wines paired with each course were perfect! We were there for almost 4 hours, so make sure you are ready for a long meal if you get the chef's menu - and the service can be a little slow, as each course is prepared as you are ending your current course - but the service, everything was exquisite!!!
Reviewed by: N M from on Apr 25 2006
This place is a joke. We have eaten in some of the best restos in the US and Canada. We were excited to finally try "One of the best restaurants in Montreal" a couple years ago. The food came in remarkably small portions in painfully long intervals. Much creativity went into producing the long line of mediocre bites that eventually made it to our table. We were puzzled as to how this place got such a rep, it actually worried us with MTL being such a great food city. The general quality of MTL restos is very high,but maybe the city is not capable of carrying a "world class" restaurant. This place would have long been shuttered if it were in NY or any other great food center. I am sorry to write such a negative review but I am a native montrealer (since moved to US) and this place is an embarassement. Don't get me going on what it ended up costing.
Reviewed by: A Yahoo! Contributor from on Nov 16 2005
Imaginative touch
Back to Toqué!
It's a beautiful restaurant, yes. The service is excellent, yes. But I have eaten at some of the finest restaurants in the northeastern US and Montreal and found this to be the most overhyped dining experience I've ever had.
Reviewed by: A Yahoo! Contributor from on Jan 21 2008
First of all, when I read the negative reviews on this site, they make me smile. Who would go to such a restaurant, be willing to pay the price (that you know will be high from looking at the menu) and then drink all the degustation wine in a few sips, before the food is even served? Not very clever...
Reviewed by: A Yahoo! Contributor from on Dec 22 2007
Well, where to begin? I live in Alberta, love Montreal and talk about Montreal restaurants all the time....to the point that friends of ours decided to hop on a plane and come with us for a weekend. Toque was first on our list to experience. I was so excited by the reviews i'd read.
Reviewed by: A Yahoo! Contributor from on Nov 26 2007
Well, first of all, my wife and I were actually charged $8 each for the little appetizer offered at the very beginning (which is offered free in other establishments), before ordering; this being some sort of raw, pureed seafood in a very small champagne-shaped glass, a slightly disgusting actually. When I enquired a while later why we were not told that they charged for this, the manager of Toqué responded that it was because people did not want to know the price of appetizers. How's that for arrogance, not to mention dishonesty (a bit typical of Quebec)? I'll leave that up to you. Following this, the food served was fine, very fresh but stricly regaular fare (rack of lamb). At the end, desserts included extremely fat creme brulee, which does not help with digestion. We came out of the restaurant more drunk than anything else..and problaly a little less healthy. One good thing about our visit, it cured us of fancy restaurants for good.
Reviewed by: Infotrad from on Jul 22 2007
Awesome culinary experience. Normand's creations are out of this world. I have been to his restaurant many times (old place and new) and I have never been disappointed. Service is attentive (Vincent is my favourite) and so professional. The ambiance is magnificent. I am planning another visit. Do plan a visit, SOON!!!!
Reviewed by: A Yahoo! Contributor from on Jun 05 2007
I thought Toque was a nice restaurant, however for the price (almost $500 USD with the tip) it was definitely not worth it. We had the 'mystery' tasting menu, which has several courses each paired with a wine. I did not care for several of the courses and was not given a chance to substitue them. I thought the service was o.k., but not excellent. If you go, I'd suggest ordering from the regular menu and not the tasting menu. I find there are many other restaurants in Old Montreal that are just as good, but much less expensive.
Reviewed by: Chris from on Feb 02 2007
My spouse & I found culinary ecstasy with virtually every bite of the "tasting menu" (and every sip of the five wines served therewith). I felt I was experiencing the genius of chef Normand Laprise; how he must 'think' flavors the way you & I think words -- what we tasted truly was that varied & idea-rific. Compared to our "big nights out" in NYC, Paris, and some superb places on Long Island, Toque! sets the highest bar now. I cannot imagine affording to dine-out so well, so frequently, that I could know better restaurants -- unlike one of the reviewers here. Service was appropriately gracious & attentive; we do not rue our three hours & $400 (generous tip) at all!
Reviewed by: Kurt from on Aug 05 2006
I don't understand the negative remarks about this restaurant. I have been twice with my family, and each time the food and service were excellent. I find that there is a distinct lack of haughtiness or superiority complex at this place--maybe that is what is throwing some snobby people off. The decor is classy, with space and privacy being the goal. I feel like I could show up in jeans and the service would still be attentive.
Reviewed by: A Yahoo! Contributor from on Jul 13 2006
The food was more artistic than anything we have ever eaten. Each bite was a perfect medly of flavors, and the wines paired with each course were perfect! We were there for almost 4 hours, so make sure you are ready for a long meal if you get the chef's menu - and the service can be a little slow, as each course is prepared as you are ending your current course - but the service, everything was exquisite!!!
Reviewed by: N M from on Apr 25 2006
This place is a joke. We have eaten in some of the best restos in the US and Canada. We were excited to finally try "One of the best restaurants in Montreal" a couple years ago. The food came in remarkably small portions in painfully long intervals. Much creativity went into producing the long line of mediocre bites that eventually made it to our table. We were puzzled as to how this place got such a rep, it actually worried us with MTL being such a great food city. The general quality of MTL restos is very high,but maybe the city is not capable of carrying a "world class" restaurant. This place would have long been shuttered if it were in NY or any other great food center. I am sorry to write such a negative review but I am a native montrealer (since moved to US) and this place is an embarassement. Don't get me going on what it ended up costing.
Reviewed by: A Yahoo! Contributor from on Nov 16 2005
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