Mon Lapin – Montreal – Concord Culinary Lyceum

In 2023 and 2024, Mon Lapin was named best restaurant in Canada.
It’s not just the food that’s amazing, wines by the glass are a special treat.
Service is nearly perfect with a devoted, passionate staff.

Walking into Mon Lapin feels like heading into a casual neighborhood bistro. By the looks of things it’s hard to imagine that this place has been named the best restaurant in Canada two years in a row by Canada’s 100 Best. But once dishes start arriving at the table, it is clear that Mon Lapin is something very special.

The menu is in French, no English option here, but servers walk you through the options so that a menu is barely necessary. Food is served to share, and that’s good because it gives diners the opportunity to try more. A seemingly simple tomato dish is anything but. What looks like grilled cheese hides scallop mousse. And a duet of lamb surprises with rich sausage brightened up by an abundance of mint.

Service, though unpretentious, nears perfection. When deciding on what to drink from Mon Lapain’s renowned wine list, we asked the server, “We will drink by the glass, serve us whatever you think is best, but never let our glasses sit empty.” To our delight, we sampled several different wines, all excellent, and every time a glass was drained another appeared within seconds. Beyond this, all of the servers were engaging, knowledgeable, and intuitive.

Mon Lapin is outstanding. It is a restaurant that deserves not just one, but many visits. Reservations are not easy to secure, but worth the effort. And while we have only eaten at a handful of Canadian restaurants, it is not surprising that Mon Lapin has been named the best.