Vin Mon Lapin

Memorable dinner at Vin Mon Lapin. This restaurant often tops Canada’s best lists but after a disappointing time at Le Violon (probably victim of its success after Trudeau’s visit), I was skeptical but man did it deliver. First the service, something which is very hit and miss in Quebec, this was the definition of attentive service without being over the top. The wines were fantastic, and well-deserved Michelin blessings to the sommelière. We tried yellow wine which was quite unique and honestly this spot could easily become my favourite wine bar in the city. The food - Flawless experience. Unique flavours and methods, chicken in a sourdough crust was spectacular, the pork cheeks was melt in the mouth, the beetroots were fresh and creamy, the mousse in little rabbit biscuits was cute but delicious. Special mention to the sea urchins, I couldn’t help exclaim my joy when the table next to us ordered it but they were non-chalant. This one is a repeat and definitely a spot not to be missed.

Exceptional meal! The food was very creative, thoughtful and delicious. It did a great job showcasing local ingredients. The service was on par to Michelin places we’ve been - very attentive and warm. Great wine. Cost atmosphere on a snowy winter night. Would definitely visit.

We visited Vin Mon Lapin on April 7 as a party of 4. Atmosphere: Lovely restaurant with charming decor. Warm and relaxed atmosphere. Wish the candles were real, not battery powered! Service: Overall, excellent. Our main server and sommelier was wonderful - passionate, friendly, and had wonderful suggestions for wine for the table. The other servers (I believe we had 5 total?) were friendly as well, except for one - he seemed rather unhappy to be there! Food was thoughtfully brought to the table and explained, they seemed to have had the food before and genuinely enjoyed explaining every dish to us. Plates and cutlery were changed with each course. The service added positively to our overall experience. Some minor notes (as this is the #2 restaurant in Canada!): - we noticed staff taking out the garbage in view of diners - pacing of the dessert course was lost in translation. We ordered a savoury with our desserts and were told it would come first - instead, it came with all our dessert at once Food: The food was excellent. We ambitiously ordered every dish on the menu, and 3 of the desserts. We also shared two bottles of wine at the recommendation of the sommelier. The dishes were very thoughtfully coursed and well paced, we ended up having approximately 4 savoury courses. All dishes were solid, some were exceptional. The crab salad and bone marrow, linzer, mushroom, duck agnolotti, sea bass, ice cream sandwich surprise, chocolate tourte and sarrasin cake were all wonderful, the entire table raved about them all. We appreciated the use of local ingredients, as well as the beautiful presentation of each dish. Other dishes were well prepared but not to our taste. The leeks felt like a bit of a miss, but overall nothing truly failed. Our two wines, one white and one orange, paired beautifully. Overall: This restaurant is worth a stop. The reservations are hard to get, for good reason. It’s a wonderful dining experience showcasing local ingredients to their fullest. Service is excellent. We all thought that in a few more years, with ironing out of some service kinks and balancing out of some flavours, Vin Mon Lapin could be worthy of a Michelin star.

We had their December lunch as first experience and it was sublime. Impeccable service, delicious food, nothing else to say. Took their time to explain the menu. Knew how to pair the dishes we ordered and when to serve them. Can’t wait to try their regular menu. Definitely worth the hype!