See what to expect from Le Violon Menu and Prices, last verified in September 2026, before booking a table at one of Montreal’s most talked-about fine dining spots. Le Violon opened in June 2024 in the Plateau-Mont-Royal neighbourhood, led by chef and co-owner Danny Smiles alongside co-executive chef Mitch Laughren, and quickly became one of the city’s most acclaimed new restaurants.
Unlike a fixed fast-food menu, Le Violon runs on a short, frequently rotating menu built around seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, mixing Italian, French, and Spanish influences with a seafood-forward focus. This guide covers what the menu looks like, roughly what to expect to spend, and what makes the restaurant worth the reservation.
Le Violon Menu With Prices
Le Violon doesn’t publish a fixed, itemized price list online, which is typical for a restaurant at this level, since the menu changes with the seasons and available ingredients. Based on published reviews and the restaurant’s own pricing tier, here’s a general sense of what to expect:
| Tasting menu | Starting around $63 CAD |
| Average price per person (à la carte, with wine) | Roughly $90-100+ CAD |
| Overall pricing tier | $$$ (Michelin Guide classification) |
Dishes That Have Appeared on the Menu
Since the menu rotates, exact dishes and prices change regularly, but recent write-ups have featured items like:
Bluefin tuna, tomato, and olive oil, prepared in the style of a gourmet pan con tomate
Potted Newfoundland mussels with cheddar custard
Agnolotti del plin alla Milanese (house-made pinched pasta with braised meat filling)
Charred lamb chops from Ferme d’Orée, served with chickpeas and a tomato broth
Fish and chips reimagined with monkfish in a gribiche sauce
Beef cheek bordelaise with a Joël Robuchon-style potato purée
Onglet steak with potatoes and peppercorn sauce
Chocolate Basque cheesecake
Carrot cake with cream cheese icing and butterscotch sauce
Note: Prices and specific dishes are not fixed and change seasonally. Contact Le Violon directly or check their website for current offerings before booking.
What to Know Before You Go
If you’re planning a visit, here’s what’s worth keeping in mind:
Book ahead. As one of Montreal’s most in-demand tables since opening, walk-ins are unlikely to get a seat, especially on weekends.
Expect a rotating menu. Ask your server what’s currently available rather than looking for a specific dish you read about online, since the kitchen changes things often based on what’s in season.
Budget for a full evening out. With tasting menus starting around $63 and average per-person spend closer to $90-100+ with wine, this is a special-occasion spot rather than a casual weeknight dinner.
The wine list is compact but deliberate. Reviews consistently highlight a well-curated, mostly Canadian and natural wine selection that pairs closely with the food.
How Le Violon Compares
Le Violon sits in the same pricing tier as Montreal’s other top-tier fine dining spots, generally in line with what you’d pay at a similarly ranked restaurant on Canada’s 100 Best list. Where it stands out from many contemporaries is its seafood-forward focus paired with open-fire cooking, and a more intimate, 50-seat dining room compared to some of the city’s larger fine dining venues.
About Le Violon
Le Violon was opened in June 2024 by chef Danny Smiles, who took over the Plateau-Mont-Royal space previously occupied by Maison Publique after it closed in September 2023. Smiles built his reputation in Montreal as a finalist on Top Chef Canada and later as chef de cuisine at Le Bremner, the acclaimed restaurant he ran with fellow chef Chuck Hughes. Before opening Le Violon, he also spent time reviving the kitchen at The Willow Inn in Hudson, Quebec.
The restaurant’s name comes from Smiles’ childhood violin lessons. He co-owns and runs the kitchen alongside co-executive chef Mitch Laughren, with Sara Raspa as chef de cuisine and Esme Millar as sommelier, and partners Andrew Park and Dan Climan rounding out the ownership group. The elegant, light-filled dining room was designed by Zébulon Perron in collaboration with Climan, replacing the more rustic, cottage-style décor of the previous restaurant on the site.
Why Le Violon Is Getting Attention
Rapid critical acclaim. Within months of opening, Le Violon earned national recognition and was named Best New Restaurant by Canada’s 100 Best in 2025.
Celebrity visibility. Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau brought pop star Katy Perry to Le Violon on a dinner date in summer 2025, which drew significant online attention to the restaurant.
A seafood-forward, open-fire kitchen. The menu leans into coastal Canadian ingredients cooked with European technique, including dishes finished over open flame.
A design-forward space. The room’s look, created by Zébulon Perron, has drawn nearly as much attention as the food itself.
FAQs
No, the menu changes regularly based on seasonal ingredients and what’s available from local farms and fisheries, so it’s best to ask your server about current offerings rather than expecting a specific dish.
Tasting menus start around $63 CAD, and reviews suggest an average à la carte meal with wine runs roughly $90-100+ CAD per person, placing it in the higher end of Montreal’s dining scene.
Yes, reservations are strongly recommended given the restaurant’s popularity since opening. The restaurant manages its own bookings rather than using a third-party reservation platform.
Danny Smiles and Mitch Laughren serve as co-executive chefs and co-owners, with Sara Raspa as chef de cuisine, alongside partners Andrew Park and Dan Climan.
Le Violon is located at 4720 Rue Marquette in Montreal’s Plateau-Mont-Royal neighbourhood, on a quiet residential street near Papineau Avenue.
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Official Links
- Le Violon Official Website
- Address: 4720 Rue Marquette, Montreal, Quebec, H2J 3Y6, Canada
Have you dined at Le Violon recently? Menus and pricing can change seasonally, so let us know in the comments if you spotted something different, and we’ll update this page.
My name is Lucky Sharma, a B.A. graduate with a strong passion for food, travel, and discovering new experiences. I enjoy exploring unique dishes, street food, and culinary traditions from around the world. Sharing these adventures through writing allows me to connect with fellow food enthusiasts and inspire others to try new flavors and destinations. Whether I’m tasting something new or traveling to a different corner of the globe, I’m always on the lookout for exciting stories to share. Join me on this flavorful journey and let’s explore the world one dish at a time.