Restaurant Jérôme Ferrer - Europea

We went, my niece and I, into its deliberately styled Canadian interior where servers materialize like benevolent spirits, then hover perhaps a beat too long.

A multi course dinner starring venison which arrived as venison should: having surrendered gracefully to its fate. The seal - yes, seal - carried with it the weight of controversy and the Arctic, tasting of decisions made long ago about what constitutes food. One doesn’t encounter seal casually. The lobster bisque came disguised as cappuccino, a trompe-l’oeil that pleased in its deception, foam concealing richness beneath.

They brought us a medley. Medleys are democracies of the plate, each element granted equal space, if not equal impact.

But then: the caviar. Those small black pearls had committed the sin of desiccation, had become hard little accusations on the tongue. Too hard actually! We mentioned this. Twice. The response: a shrug. Not even a Gallic shrug with its implied philosophy, but a shrug of indifference. Some bargains, it seems, cannot be renegotiated.

Still, the evening held. My niece laughed. We ate what was good and noted what wasn’t, which is perhaps all one can do in restaurants as in life, bear witness, decide what to swallow, what to leave behind.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Best meal I've ever had. The 12-Course tasting menus was a once in a lifetime experience!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Welcome to another level of fine dining. The michelin star is well deserved. An artistic presentation of Quebec inspired courses flows through the evening, activating every sense. Creative and unusual dishes compline flavour, texture, smell, sight and even sound. Amazing dining experience. If you are still game at the end, ask for a glass of the Louis XIII, 100 year old cognac.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

2 thumbs up. Just a little suggestion the courses are rushed a bit, there should be a little pause till the guest finishes the glass of wine paired with the course.

There are restaurants & there are dining experiences, this was the latter. Took my folks here from NYC for Thanksgiving & we were very pleasantly surprised with not just the world class menu, but the way everything was presented to us. They say you eat with your eyes first, and these folks make sure to feed your eyes before anything else. Don't want to leave any spoilers, but this place is highly recommended for first time Montreal visitors!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I’ve been enjoying meals at this restaurant for almost two decades, but my recent experiences have brought that to an end.

During my three visits over the last six months, the food remained excellent, but the service left me with a bitter after taste.

On the second visit, dishes were rushed out as if to remind us we were part of the first seating, and the staff hastened through the dining room, coordinating among themselves, creating anything but a relaxing atmosphere.

The third visit confirmed the downward trend. When we requested wine pairings, I was taken aback when it was bluntly presented as: “There is one at $60 and one at $90.” No descriptions, no explanation of the differences—just the prices.

When I asked for more information, the only clarification offered was: “The ones at $90 are of better quality.” Unsurprisingly, none of the wines were described before being served. I couldn’t help but laugh when one was introduced simply as “A red, because red goes well with meat.” At that point, I realized this had to be deliberate. They just couldn't care less.

We had to flag down waitstaffs twice for missing utensils. I was grateful that two water bottles were left on the table, since we ended up serving ourselves throughout the evening. When my partner’s water ran out, we chose not to bother waving down yet another server for a refill.

Then came the champagne, served well before the desserts, which were delayed long enough for the flutes to go dry. This naturally signaled the end of our meal, and my companion requested the check, which was promptly brought and settled—at the same time as the desserts were finally served. The flutes remained empty; we quickly sampled the desserts and left.

Dinner for two with the $90 pairing, with 20% tip (my companion was far more generous than I would have been) totaled $600.

While the food remains creative and delicious, the service no longer reflects the standards expected of a restaurant of this caliber. It has become a caricature of its former self.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 5

Service: 2

I feel so bad writing this review because I know everyone at the restaurant works very hard and with the best intentions but this is NOT a one star Michelin restaurant. It has the template of a one star restaurant but the service is not quite there and the food is definitely not there. We had the 10 course menu and there was not a single thing I had that I thought was outstanding. I would describe them as ranging from unremarkable to somewhat gross. Everything was drenched in cream or foam and we felt slightly sick afterwards. Probably the single most disappointing item on the menu was the $45 up charge Kobe steak, which is one of the most disappointing pieces of meat I’ve ever had. It just was not flavorful at all and like everything else was served in a cream sauce that ruined it. As many other reviewers have said the service feels rushed, and it’s just not quite on par of what it needs to be. The food was not explained very well and we often weren't sure what we were eating. Our table was left cluttered at many points. Even the wine pairing was not great. Like the food it ranged from unremarkable to gross. The wine that was served with the oyster course was almost undrinkable. The main reason for my two star review is that at this price point, the food needs to be memorable not unremarkable to bad. This restaurant has the potential to be a Michelin star restaurant, but they need to rethink the menu items and tighten up the service.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 2

Service: 4

We went to this restaurant a few nights ago for my birthday and chose the Michelin star menu, La Grande Table Gastronomique, and I’m still dreaming about it! Everything was perfect from the moment we arrived. The girl at the front took our coats, wished me a happy birthday, and even complimented my shoes.

The service throughout the night was flawless, the presentation of every dish, and the little touches were top notch. The food, decor, and overall atmosphere were incredible. They even gifted me the chef’s homard oil for my birthday!

Truly worth every penny. We were completely in love with everything, service, taste, presentation, and attention to detail. 100% recommend :)

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

This was a fantastic experience for our family. We had wonderful attentive service with explanations of everything. It was fantastic interesting food, with a great variety of items and so much creativity put into everything. We had the Signature Menu and loved every bit of it. We were definitely full, and could have done with several less courses.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

An amazing service at La Grande table Gastronomique. Friendly waiting and kitchen staff, very accommodating on extra needs or allergy concerns, and the food blew me away. To be honest, I usually expect to get ripped off at dining establishments like this, but I genuinely think that the money was very well spent! The experience feels very personable and friendly. Would strongly recommend for anyone looking for a special evening on a special day.

Une superbe expérience, autant gustative que visuelle. Tout les services étaient pensés jusqu'au dernier millimètres permettant une expérience parfaite. Nous avons eu un super service avec des serveurs professionnels et sympathiques. Une soirée dont nous nous souviendrons longtemps !

I am grading a little harsh due to the price and star rating. It was a very good experience. Our primary server was excellent. Most were actually. There is so much going on with presentation and courses that at times there was some staff confusion and logistical issues.

An experience everyone should have at least once in their life time. It was my second visit at your establishment and would definitely go a third time and more.

We opted for the gourmet experience ($120 per person)each with the wine-pairing selection ($60 for three glasses—white, red, and a bubbly for dessert). The presentation throughout the evening was elegant, and several dishes truly showcased the kitchen’s creativity.

However, not everything landed. The scallops, though beautifully plated, were overwhelmed by assertive flavours of star anise and orange rind, masking the delicacy of the seafood rather than enhancing it.

The service at times felt rushed. In a Michelin star restaurant one should have proper time to enjoy a glass of wine without being rushed.
We do not visit Michelin star restaurants often. This one is the only in Montreal. However, in example, we visited a Michelin stared place in Bilbao, and let me tell you… nothing pretentious, simple food well prepared. In Europa everything was pushed to the limits…

But the real low point of the evening had nothing to do with the food. The hostess was unexpectedly rude, unwelcoming, and generally unpleasant—despite our making every effort to speak French and be polite. Her attitude at the end of the night left a sour taste that no dessert wine could erase.

After spending nearly $600, we walked out disappointed. Unfortunately, we won’t be returning. A message to the chef: your craft deserves front-of-house staff who elevate the experience, not diminish it. Your cuisine warrants appreciation—your guests should feel it too.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 3

My expectation was great food which we got on our date with my husband! The whole experience was amazing. Being an Inuk, I really appreciated the cultural acknowledgement and education around food sustainability and the integration of seal meat in particular. The food was phenomenal and the price is very acceptable for the 10 course meal we had. Wine Paring for the four glasses I do not regret but I must send caution to the price, that's where you pay. Also the welcoming drink, the champaign; $50 a glass. BUT, just do it, how often are you at a high end restaurant like JF-Europea?

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5