The food here was fantastic. I’ll start there. The branzino en croute was a particular standout. But the service was ROUGH. Our 7-course meal took nearly 4 hours, with long, sometimes 20-minute gaps between courses. Tables seated nearly an hour after ours received some courses before we did. I had the wine pairing, and they completely forgot to pour my wine for the fish course. Some dishes were explained well, others were confusing. The chefs generally explained the dishes well, but the waitstaff seldom checked in, which made it difficult for my partner (who doesn’t drink) to order mocktails. I don’t know if this was an off night or what, but it seemed like they desperately need to streamline service from what we saw. I will say that Massimo himself was fun and delightful, and clearly enjoys interacting with his customers, but for what ended up being nearly $700 CAD after tip, I expected to be taken care of with a little more attention and intention.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 2
Jade Doucet-Martineau
Wow! Experience is super cool! I’ll be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tasha
Incredible experience from beginning to end. From the service to the food to the presentation and vibes. Perfect way to spend a snowy evening with loved ones. Every staff member attentive and thoughtful. Chef Massimo born for hospitality!
valéry
Nous avons eu la chance d'essayer le restaurant en avril 2025, et nous avons répèté l'expérience vendredi dernier. Honnêtement, la musique , l'ambiance et le côté chaleureux des cuisiniers étalent exceptionnels , tout comme leur plats. Nous avons particulièrement apprécié la touche mexicaine, les piments, et que dire du mole & ancho... absolument délicieux! Le pain maison et les pâtes étaient renversants. Définitivement notre découverte de l'année . Nous y retournerons sans hésiter !
Benoit
Cabaret l'enfer is always a 10/10. Massimo and the team make you feel at home, the service and the food are flawless. Do yourself a favor and go try this spot before they get a michelin star and it's impossible to book a table.
Cindy
Très belle expérience! Nous sommes bien sûr des gens ouverts à des styles différents! Gastronomique mais pas guindée, musique rock, nous on a aimé, ça met de l'ambiance. 10/10
Andrew
Excellent attention to detail on the food. Great pacing and course sizes. Wonderful service.
koko T
I’m visiting Canada from Japan. In Japan, I truly believe that the level of customer service in restaurants is among the best in the world. Even in small bistros—not just high-end places—you receive exceptional service. Because I’ve been so used to that standard, I honestly couldn’t give very high ratings to some of the restaurants I visited in Toronto. Sometimes the service ruined the experience, even when the food was great. There were moments when I thought, “Do I really have to tip for this?” and it made me miss Japan.
But then I visited Montreal and came to this restaurant — and I was stunned. Not only were the servers friendly, but even the kitchen staff were incredibly warm and kind. Every single person working there made us feel welcome.
And the chef… absolutely incredible. I’ve never met a chef this funny, kind, and entertaining — even in Japan.
Thanks to this place, we had the most amazing night in Montreal. Thank you ❤️
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Derek
I reserved here because usually Icon open table restaurants are great but we were a little disappointed this time. Wasn't very busy, service was slow and the food and wine pairing weren't to our expectations for a seasonal local food restaurant. Only drank one red wine with all our seven services which would have liked to have at least two red wines served. Overall overpriced for what we were served and the ambience wasn't great since the restaurant was almost empty. Usually am not this critical on my rating, but wasn't impressed.
Steff Mazerolle
I dined at this restaurant when it first opened and had a good experience. almost 2 years later I can attest that everything is on the decline, minus the price. Sad to experience given the potential. the sommelier was lovely, she was knowledgeable and attentive.
What a delightful experience! Visited after attending a conference, and the experience offered just what I needed to relax and enjoy visiting Montreal. The staff is delightful, the way they interact with us and the menu descriptions add great value to the experience. Thank you all for one of the best dining experiences I have ever had
Food: 5
Scott Goodson
Cabaret L’Enfer, Montreal is my favorite resto in the city.
Montreal has always understood that sin requires good production values.
Cabaret L’Enfer sits in the Plateau, that neighbourhood where bohemian aspiration meets francophone grit. The name promises hell. The experience delivers theatre.
This is burlesque reclaimed from kitsch—intelligent, subversive, occasionally profound. The performers understand that the art form is about power, not exposure. About narrative, not nudity. Each act tells a story; some funny, some fierce, some genuinely unsettling in the way good art should be.
The space itself is deliberately gothic: red velvet, dim lighting, baroque excess tempered by irony. It knows what it is. It doesn’t apologize.
The crowd reflects Montreal’s particular alchemy - artists and accountants, queer kids and visiting businesspeople, all complicit in the evening’s transgressions. French and English blur in the darkness. Categories dissolve.
The drinks are strong. The music ranges from torch songs to punk. The stage becomes a space where bodies refuse conventional meanings, where desire gets complicated, where laughter and discomfort coexist.
In a city that has perfected the art of being both Catholic and libertine, Cabaret L’Enfer celebrates the contradiction.
Worth the descent.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Barbara
Massimo and his team made my birthday celebration extra special by offering excellent, creative food and fun banter. The meal experience was unrushed and relaxing. We look forward to our next visit.
Opentable Diner
Such amazing creations. A culinary experience. What a trip. And amazing decor downstairs. Boom
Kyle Wilson
I went here as I watched Top Chef and saw Massimo on the most recent season. This was our Anniversary meal, and though we didnt see Massimo, the staff treated us exceptionally well.
We were greeted with a welcome cocktail and the meal progressed from there. Our menu was fairly seafood heavy, which was great for me, but not ideal for my wife. The food was all fantastic from start to finish, and I highly recomend the wine pairing with each course.
The restaraunt itself was beautiful, and I loved all the candles throughout.
A perfect place to splurge and enjoy an anniversary (or date night). The menu changes daily, so keep that in mind when you visit.
The food here was fantastic. I’ll start there. The branzino en croute was a particular standout. But the service was ROUGH. Our 7-course meal took nearly 4 hours, with long, sometimes 20-minute gaps between courses. Tables seated nearly an hour after ours received some courses before we did. I had the wine pairing, and they completely forgot to pour my wine for the fish course. Some dishes were explained well, others were confusing. The chefs generally explained the dishes well, but the waitstaff seldom checked in, which made it difficult for my partner (who doesn’t drink) to order mocktails. I don’t know if this was an off night or what, but it seemed like they desperately need to streamline service from what we saw. I will say that Massimo himself was fun and delightful, and clearly enjoys interacting with his customers, but for what ended up being nearly $700 CAD after tip, I expected to be taken care of with a little more attention and intention.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 2
Wow! Experience is super cool! I’ll be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Incredible experience from beginning to end. From the service to the food to the presentation and vibes. Perfect way to spend a snowy evening with loved ones. Every staff member attentive and thoughtful. Chef Massimo born for hospitality!
Nous avons eu la chance d'essayer le restaurant en avril 2025, et nous avons répèté l'expérience vendredi dernier. Honnêtement, la musique , l'ambiance et le côté chaleureux des cuisiniers étalent exceptionnels , tout comme leur plats. Nous avons particulièrement apprécié la touche mexicaine, les piments, et que dire du mole & ancho... absolument délicieux! Le pain maison et les pâtes étaient renversants. Définitivement notre découverte de l'année . Nous y retournerons sans hésiter !
Cabaret l'enfer is always a 10/10. Massimo and the team make you feel at home, the service and the food are flawless. Do yourself a favor and go try this spot before they get a michelin star and it's impossible to book a table.
Très belle expérience! Nous sommes bien sûr des gens ouverts à des styles différents! Gastronomique mais pas guindée, musique rock, nous on a aimé, ça met de l'ambiance. 10/10
Excellent attention to detail on the food. Great pacing and course sizes. Wonderful service.
I’m visiting Canada from Japan.
In Japan, I truly believe that the level of customer service in restaurants is among the best in the world. Even in small bistros—not just high-end places—you receive exceptional service. Because I’ve been so used to that standard, I honestly couldn’t give very high ratings to some of the restaurants I visited in Toronto. Sometimes the service ruined the experience, even when the food was great. There were moments when I thought, “Do I really have to tip for this?” and it made me miss Japan.
But then I visited Montreal and came to this restaurant — and I was stunned.
Not only were the servers friendly, but even the kitchen staff were incredibly warm and kind. Every single person working there made us feel welcome.
And the chef… absolutely incredible. I’ve never met a chef this funny, kind, and entertaining — even in Japan.
Thanks to this place, we had the most amazing night in Montreal.
Thank you ❤️
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I reserved here because usually Icon open table restaurants are great but we were a little disappointed this time. Wasn't very busy, service was slow and the food and wine pairing weren't to our expectations for a seasonal local food restaurant. Only drank one red wine with all our seven services which would have liked to have at least two red wines served. Overall overpriced for what we were served and the ambience wasn't great since the restaurant was almost empty. Usually am not this critical on my rating, but wasn't impressed.
I dined at this restaurant when it first opened and had a good experience.
almost 2 years later I can attest that everything is on the decline, minus the price. Sad to experience given the potential.
the sommelier was lovely, she was knowledgeable and attentive.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 2
Restaurantji Recommends
What a delightful experience!
Visited after attending a conference, and the experience offered just what I needed to relax and enjoy visiting Montreal. The staff is delightful, the way they interact with us and the menu descriptions add great value to the experience. Thank you all for one of the best dining experiences I have ever had
Food: 5
Cabaret L’Enfer, Montreal is my favorite resto in the city.
Montreal has always understood that sin requires good production values.
Cabaret L’Enfer sits in the Plateau, that neighbourhood where bohemian aspiration meets francophone grit. The name promises hell. The experience delivers theatre.
This is burlesque reclaimed from kitsch—intelligent, subversive, occasionally profound. The performers understand that the art form is about power, not exposure. About narrative, not nudity. Each act tells a story; some funny, some fierce, some genuinely unsettling in the way good art should be.
The space itself is deliberately gothic: red velvet, dim lighting, baroque excess tempered by irony. It knows what it is. It doesn’t apologize.
The crowd reflects Montreal’s particular alchemy - artists and accountants, queer kids and visiting businesspeople, all complicit in the evening’s transgressions. French and English blur in the darkness. Categories dissolve.
The drinks are strong. The music ranges from torch songs to punk. The stage becomes a space where bodies refuse conventional meanings, where desire gets complicated, where laughter and discomfort coexist.
In a city that has perfected the art of being both Catholic and libertine, Cabaret L’Enfer celebrates the contradiction.
Worth the descent.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Massimo and his team made my birthday celebration extra special by offering excellent, creative food and fun banter. The meal experience was unrushed and relaxing. We look forward to our next visit.
Such amazing creations. A culinary experience. What a trip. And amazing decor downstairs. Boom
I went here as I watched Top Chef and saw Massimo on the most recent season. This was our Anniversary meal, and though we didnt see Massimo, the staff treated us exceptionally well.
We were greeted with a welcome cocktail and the meal progressed from there. Our menu was fairly seafood heavy, which was great for me, but not ideal for my wife. The food was all fantastic from start to finish, and I highly recomend the wine pairing with each course.
The restaraunt itself was beautiful, and I loved all the candles throughout.
A perfect place to splurge and enjoy an anniversary (or date night). The menu changes daily, so keep that in mind when you visit.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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