Restaurant Toqué!: An Unmissable Montreal Institution

The restaurant Toqué! is a Montreal institution that has been around since 1993. It is also one of the best fine dining restaurants in the city and a true must-visit in Montreal.

Since opening, Toqué! has always championed the importance of small-scale producers—at a time when the restaurant industry was less recognized and product traceability was still a vague concept. Toqué! is built around market-driven cuisine, showcasing local Quebec terroir products at their very best. From the very beginning, owners Normand Laprise and Christine Lamarche have brilliantly risen to the challenge of running a high-end gastronomic restaurant in Montreal.

Toqué! began its journey at 3842 Saint-Denis Street, in a space with about ten employees and fifty seats. Just over ten years after opening on the Plateau Mont-Royal, the restaurant relocated to Place Jean-Paul-Riopelle in Old Montreal. “We chose the space for the large windows, the easy parking, and because the building was new. We didn’t want infrastructure problems anymore.” The décor was designed by Jean-Pierre Viau: chic, elegant, and refined. The current Toqué! originally had 105 seats, including a beautiful bar. “Guests can sit at the bar for a few appetizers or a main course, enjoy a glass of wine, and leave—it’s less intimidating and works very well.” Toqué! also offers two semi-private rooms: Salon Saint-Antoine, which can host up to 30 guests, and Salon Jean-Paul-Riopelle, which accommodates up to 16. The entire restaurant can also be reserved for special occasions.

Toqué! remains a temple of gastronomy, but it is also a place of training, learning, research, and development for young chefs. The restaurant is included on our list of Montreal’s eco-responsible establishments. Chef Normand Laprise has implemented rigorous waste management practices, sources as much as possible from local producers, and strongly supports sustainable fishing. The restaurant has even eliminated disposable paper towels in its restrooms—hats off!

In 2005, one year after moving, Toqué! earned the prestigious Relais & Châteaux designation, bringing international recognition to Montreal’s gastronomy. “It’s certainly a mark of distinction—it’s a selective club of the world’s greatest tables welcoming us into its ranks.”

In the fall of 2012, Toqué! released its beautiful book Toqué! Les artisans d’une gastronomie Québécoise, which explores the company’s philosophy and highlights the artisans who contribute to the renown of Quebec’s terroir.

In summer 2014, Normand and Christine once again renovated the dining room to give it a fresh feel, making it smaller, more intimate, and warmer. The restaurant was reduced to 80 seats, closer to its original size on Saint-Denis Street. “It allowed us to focus on what matters, to improve management and provide better service. A restaurant is like a home—you have to take care of it every year to ensure everything is still appropriate and to improve it when necessary.”

The kitchens at Toqué! have welcomed talents such as Martin Picard (Au Pied de Cochon) and Charles-Antoine Crête (Montréal Plaza), among many others. Today, a young and dynamic team of passionate chefs leads the kitchen. “We’re fortunate to work with young people. The mix of generations is very stimulating—everyone learns from everyone.”

Despite its prices, you get what you pay for. The restaurant is not inexpensive, but it remains honest and transparent. Guests pay for the quality they receive: “We offer truffles at the price of truffles—that’s why people have followed us for more than 25 years.” Toqué! is full every lunch (the house offers a reduced-price menu) and every evening, welcoming guests from ages 5 to 95—a memorable experience for all. And notably, it serves some of the best desserts in the city.

What makes Toqué! a must-visit is its quality, consistency, resilience, and lasting impact on Montreal’s restaurant scene. To everyone’s surprise, Toqué! did not receive a Michelin star—only a recommendation—despite having played a key role in the evolution of Quebec’s gastronomy. “It’s easy to open a restaurant; it’s much harder to make it work and make it last.” Indeed, bravo. Montreal needs strong flagship restaurants that lead the culinary scene and continue to evolve. Toqué! remains one of the city’s best restaurants and an essential Montreal address.

© Photo Hans Laurendeau, Shoot Studio

Written by Élise Tastet


Updated on February 14, 2026

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