Restaurant L'Orignal
Restaurant L'Orignal 479 Rue Saint-Alexis, Montréal
Review summary

What guests say about Restaurant L'Orignal

Restaurant L'Orignal receives plenty of praise for its flavorful food, with several dishes often mentioned such as the oysters, bison burger, poutine, and some desserts. The atmosphere is described as warm, cozy, and welcoming, with service often attentive and friendly. A few reviews do note uneven portions, dishes that were sometimes disappointing, and a few less-than-great service experiences. Overall, it is a well-liked choice for a friendly outing in Montreal, especially if you're looking for a distinctive atmosphere and carefully prepared cuisine.

Summary based on 35 reviews.
4.7
50 evaluations
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Reviews / Ratings for Restaurant L'Orignal

Photo of Mariale Cottoni
22 Oct 2026
Source: Google
4.7

Delicious food and and affordable budget! I really like it!!!

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Photo of Karen Arenson
11 Oct 2026
Source: Google
5.0

Michael was fabulous! Great sense of humor and incredibly attentive, especially for how busy it was. The oysters and duck were particularly great.

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Logo of Restaurant L'Orignal
Restaurant response
Response added on 12 Oct 2026
❤️
Photo of Lishana Sellan
10 Oct 2026
Source: Google
5.0

The food was amazing! Everything tasted so good and very fresh. The place is very cozy and the whole staff is super welcoming and attentive! Looking forward to going back again!

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Photo of Joanna Dołęcka
10 Oct 2026
Source: Google
5.0

Such a wonderful experience! A huge thank you to Mike - the owner for taking such great care of us! The food is truly out of this world! absolutely delicious & the warm, welcoming atmosphere made us feel like home. You can really feel the love and passion in everything they do. We can’t wait to come back! Highly recommend!

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Photo of Chao Jia
10 Oct 2026
Source: Google
1.0

I ordered a bone marrow dish at this restaurant, and what I received was basically just a bone with almost no marrow inside. When I brought this issue to the owner, he told me that they couldn't control or guarantee how much marrow would be inside each bone. I'm sorry, but how is that a reasonable explanation? Customers come to a restaurant to enjoy FOOD. If you serve a bone with practically no marrow inside, what exactly are we supposed to eat? The bone itself? And somehow, we're expected to pay dozens of dollars for this? Absolutely ridiculous. What made the experience even worse was the owner's attitude. Instead of addressing the actual problem, he told me that the dish was meant for one person, not for four people to share. That completely missed the point! We never expected one order to feed four people. The issue was that there was barely any edible marrow in the first place! Whether it's for one person or four, there should actually be something to eat!So basically, I paid dozens of dollars for a single bone and four slices of bread. What an absolute joke! The whole experience was beyond ridiculous. The owner's arrogant and dismissive attitude made me feel like I was being discriminated against because of my race. Absolutely disgraceful. What a terrible restaurant! I do want to make one thing very clear: our waitress was absolutely wonderful. She was extremely friendly, professional, and attentive, and everyone at our table really appreciated her service. Our complaint has absolutely nothing to do with her. The problem was the disappointing food and, most importantly, the owner's arrogant and dismissive attitude toward us. She deserves recognition for her excellent service, and I sincerely hope she is not blamed for this experience.

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Photo of Pam Zacharuk
1 Oct 2026
Source: Google
5.0

Such a unique location and cozy atmosphere. Staff was very friendly. The smoked scallops were exact and I highly recommend the burrata, it was delicious.

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Photo of Ronnie Chuggybamba
28 Sep 2026
Source: Google
5.0

The service and food here were good. The oysters were amazing and so was my bison burger. I will definitely recommend this place to my friends.

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Photo of Mike B
28 Sep 2026
Source: Google
5.0

Stopped in for a drink and a light bite before heading elsewhere, but now we wish we had stayed for dinner. The bartender was a true pro, and they have a great wine selection. The oysters were good, and the chicken liver parfait was awesome. Plus, the dining room has a fun, stylish Canadiana decor. We will definitely be heading back.

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Photo of Jvsw Hocs
28 Sep 2026
Source: Google
5.0

Visited L'Orignal in Old Montreal—cozy chalet vibes, warm lighting, and a relaxed yet lively atmosphere. Not too busy during our evening visit. The staff were attentive and friendly, though a bit rushed at peak times. Portions were generous, but prices felt steep for some dishes (the lobster risotto, for instance). Parking nearby was tight, but worth it for the ambiance. A small suggestion: try the bison burger—it’s a standout.

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Photo of Andrew Maskery
24 Sep 2026
Source: Google
2.0

The worst service ever. The host was totally disrespectful and clearly only wanted us to eat at the bar. Such an awful attitude

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Photo of Joachim Quoden
12 Sep 2026
Source: Google
5.0

Authentic place. Great and kind team. Good food!

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Photo of Rob Fargnoli
7 Sep 2026
Source: Google
5.0

Had my parent’s 50th anniversary dinner for 16 of us this weekend. Could not have had a better experience! The food was phenomenal, the service from Elisa second to none, and absolutely everyone had a blast! Thank you for taking such great care of us and making my parents and their friend and family feel so welcome!

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Logo of Restaurant L'Orignal
Restaurant response
Response added on 7 Sep 2026
❤️
Photo of Mark Olwick
2 Sep 2026
Source: Google
5.0

One of the best meal experiences I’ve ever had. A unique “Quebecoise funky” atmosphere, fabulous service, and the food was absolutely incredible. This chef really knows what he’s doing, especially with sauces. Everything is sustainable and locally sourced, when possible. The flavor combinations of ingredients really bikeways us away. Highest recommendation.

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Logo of Restaurant L'Orignal
Restaurant response
Response added on 3 Sep 2026
❤️
Photo of Ed Weeks
1 Sep 2026
Source: Google
5.0

An absolute gem of a place. Michael and his team take fantastic care of you. The food is hearty, flavoursome and on point. Their poutine, ooh-la-la. The last time I went I had their bavette steak with fries and, my gosh, easily one of the best cuts of meat in the city. Fork tender, perfectly seared and doused in an instantly delicious green anchovy sauce. The UMAMI. Place is cozy, warm, inviting, quintessentially Québécois. A joint I will always come back to.

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Logo of Restaurant L'Orignal
Restaurant response
Response added on 1 Sep 2026
❤️❤️
Photo of Pro
28 Aug 2026
Source: Google
5.0

Great character surpassed only by the quality of the food.

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Logo of Restaurant L'Orignal
Restaurant response
Response added on 28 Aug 2026
❤️
Photo of Adrienne Hancock-Brown
25 Aug 2026
Source: Google
5.0

Cozy little bistro with great food and an awesome cozy alpine vibe. Food was delicious but it is a more limited menu. Would recommend reservations and I wouldn't bring a very picky eater.

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Photo of Pascal Brisset
19 Aug 2026
Source: Google
5.0

I've been coming here for close to 15 years and it's never let me down. The food is simple, well made, and consistent every single time. The owner Mike works behind the bar, and his sister Monika covers whatever needs doing, the floor, the bar, or the kitchen. You can tell that hands on approach is why this place has lasted while so many others in the city haven't. Service is always friendly and I feel welcome every time I walk in. A dependable spot I keep coming back to.

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Photo of Patrycja Drazkowiak
4 Aug 2026
Source: Google
5.0

I had such a lovely meal here and would definitely come back. The restaurant is beautiful inside and has a really warm and welcoming atmosphere. The interior is elegant without feeling too formal, and it made the whole experience even more enjoyable. The service was excellent from the moment we arrived. Everyone was friendly, attentive and made us feel very welcome. The staff checked in throughout the meal and were happy to answer any questions, which made the experience feel relaxed and enjoyable. I started with the salmon tartare, which was absolutely delicious. The salmon was incredibly fresh and the flavours were perfectly balanced. It was light, fresh and a great way to start the meal. For my main course, I had the pasta of the day and it was amazing. The pasta was cooked perfectly and the sauce was full of flavour. It tasted fresh and homemade, and every bite was just as good as the last. To finish, I ordered the sticky toffee pudding, which was the highlight of the meal for me. It was warm, soft and covered in a rich toffee sauce that wasn’t overly sweet. It was the perfect dessert and a great way to end the evening. Overall, I had a fantastic experience. The food was excellent, the service was outstanding and the atmosphere was lovely. I would happily recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a great meal and I’ll definitely be coming back.

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Logo of Restaurant L'Orignal
Restaurant response
Response added on 5 Aug 2026
❤️
Photo of Anna Anna
4 Aug 2026
Source: Google
5.0

An absolute gem in Old Montreal!I had an incredible dining experience at Restaurant L'Orignal. The cozy chalet atmosphere is amazing. The burrata appetizer was incredibly fresh and delicious, and the Bison Burger was hands down one of the best I’ve ever tasted—so juicy and flavorful! Great service and fantastic vibes. Highly recommend!

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Photo of Richard Ribicki
22 Jul 2026
Source: Google
4.7

My dinner companion and I spent a pleasant evening at this intimate dining spot in Old Montréal, a first for both of us. The ambience was warm and welcoming, as was the greeting offered upon arrival. The lighting was subdued, and the cosy bar looked perfect for a solo diner or even a couple if intimacy was not an objective. Staff were very friendly and affable both at the bar and serving the table. We asked our server, Lianne, for recommendations and took her advice for the three appetizers we decided to share. The Kale Caesar salad was delicious, as were both others, the Smoked Bone Marrow amd the Fish Cake. We also very much loved the Chocolate Salt Caramel Cake and Ice Cream. The bottle of Bordeaux Superiere I selected was excellent. Unfortunately, the Tomahawk steak we ordered as our main, was a disappointment. It was quite sinewy which made it difficult to cut and chew. Now, I dine out frequently, and I know that each cut of meat a restaurant procures cannot always be guaranteed to be perfect, so I don't blame them. In fact, they went above and beyond by comping our dessert as well as the Tomahawk. That was unexpected, but very much appreciated. To me, that demonstrated that they were also disappointed in not having delivered the perfect meal that evening. Their service recovery ensured that we would be left with a positive impression, which was exactly the case. I'm very happy to have discovered this venue, and I'm anxious to return. I found their prices and wine markup to be very reasonable, especially given their location. À la prochaine!

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Photo of Jarek Klyncypar
19 Jul 2026
Source: Google
3.3

To be honest, I don't understand why this place has a 4.5-star rating. My wife and I ordered a few dishes and a couple of cocktails. Starting with the cocktails, they were terrible. We've ordered the same cocktails at other places before, and these were nothing like they should have been. The food was below average and, for the quality, way overpriced. I had the lobster risotto, a $50 dish that I honestly wouldn't pay more than $15 for. My wife ordered the braised beef tagliatelle. Good luck finding any beef, or even the flavor of beef. It was basically just pasta in tomato sauce. We paid $160 for dinner and left very disappointed. I can't recommend this place.

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Photo of Doug Collitz
17 Jul 2026
Source: Google
5.0

My wife and I are visiting from out of town. We grew up in Montreal and always enjoy returning. We just happened upon this wonderful establishment and were very fortunate to have found it. The tasting menu was absolutely on point - every single morsel of food was spectacular. And...the most endearing part of the evening was having the good fortune of being hosted by one of the owners - Michael. A super entertaining, witty and super accommodating host. He was a gem of a person to interact with throughout the evening and we can't wait to return. What a fabulous night.

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Logo of Restaurant L'Orignal
Restaurant response
Response added on 17 Jul 2026
Being blessed with wonderful guests brings out the best in me !!! Great to meet you guys look forward to next time
Photo of DG Cafe Carleton Place
8 Jul 2026
Source: Google
5.0

Our first time visiting! It was my birthday dinner and it did not disappoint. The food is amazing, love the atmosphere and the service was fast and friendly. Can't wait to go back.

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Photo of jrathbone21
1 Jul 2026
Source: Google
5.0

L’Original is a nice respite in a busy city. The food is amazing and the staff is welcoming and knowledgeable about their food and wine offerings. Mike is a great bartender and makes your dining experience familiar and yet unexpected. We will definitely be coming back!

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Logo of Restaurant L'Orignal
Restaurant response
Response added on 1 Jul 2026
❤️

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Opening hours

Dining room
  • Sunday 17:00 - 22:00
  • Monday Closed
  • Tuesday 17:00 - 22:00
  • Wednesday 17:00 - 22:00
  • Thursday 17:00 - 22:00
  • Friday 17:00 - 23:00
  • Saturday 17:00 - 23:00

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