Montreal’s dining scene is so competitive that great food alone no longer cuts it, and Lemeac is a perfect example of where that equation breaks down. The food? Genuinely excellent. Michelin-worthy, no argument there. But the service? It felt like a glorified casse-croûte. It started at the door, where the hostess couldn’t acknowledge us for a full two minutes eyes glued to a screen. We were then seated and left completely unattended for over 15 minutes. When we finally flagged someone down to ask if we had a server, she arrived and opened with “Prêt à commander?” — no greeting, no introduction, no offer of drinks or a mention of specials. Just: ready to order? When I expressed surprise and asked about beverages and specials, she flipped open the menu to the daily pâté insert and said flatly, “Just what’s there.” No warmth. No hospitality. Nothing. Looking around the room, I noticed a very specific — and aging — demographic. And honestly, it made sense. A younger crowd won’t tolerate this. In a city with this much culinary talent and this many options, good food paired with indifferent service is a business model with an expiry date. A Michelin star deserves Michelin-level hospitality. Until then, this one’s a hard sell.
