Brasserie Le Réservoir : New life at a beloved bar

Le Réservoir, on rue Duluth just south of boulevard Saint-Laurent as we know it today, has a rich history, if only thanks to the talented people who have passed through it, leaving good energy within its walls. In the kitchen, some very fine chefs: Mehdi Brunet-Benkritly, Dany Bolduc, David Pellizari and Marc-Alexandre Mercier, and wonderful front-of-house staff: Ariane Lacombe, Dominic Goyet and Vickie Cartwright. Today, only the latter remains, managing the dining room and much more with flair and dedication. In the kitchen, Simon Leblanc is making sparks fly.

For over 20 years (!), people have been coming here for a drink and a bite; one drink or several, and snacks in generous quantities. The décor has changed very little and the overall atmosphere is warm and welcoming. On fine days, a street-level terrace joins the one upstairs. In fact, this address is featured in our guide to Montreal’s most beautiful terraces! At lunch and dinner, the guests seated at tables or perched at the bar seem to appreciate this modest establishment, and you’ll often spot regulars who have made this place something of a second home.

Le Réservoir bills itself as a microbrewery, and that’s only part of the story, because the food here is genuinely excellent. One is always amazed by the impressive range of beers on offer, especially given how compact the brewing space at the back of the room actually is: a dozen classic or highly creative beers, following current trends, all brewed on-site by head brewer Steven Thibault and Antoine Michel. The drinks menu also features beers and ciders on tap, bottled ciders, a thoughtfully curated wine list, cocktails, mocktails and other delights. You’re sure to spend some wonderful evenings here.

On the food side, chef Simon Leblanc and his colleagues pull off remarkable feats, given that their kitchen is similarly sized to the brewing area, that is to say, very small. Passionate people always manage to accomplish great things in tight spaces.

The dishes at Le Réservoir are delicious, in every season. At lunch and dinner, a menu of around twenty appetizing options, some of which have been there since the very beginning, often kept on at the insistent demand, if not outright insistence, of regulars: devilled eggs, smoked herring, fried grains, butter lettuce with buttermilk dressing and clos des roches; haddock accras with coriander mayonnaise; fried chicken with cheddar, pickles and ranch; or a croque-madame with cheddar and radicchio, all likely to spark your enthusiasm as well. Two delicious little desserts at lunch, one at dinner, equally satisfying. In a commendable effort to reduce waste, bread (from Boulangerie Guillaume) is offered for a few dollars, avoiding unnecessary waste and helping to maintain that athletic physique everyone takes such pride in.

Le Réservoir continues to appear on several of our lists: best and most beautiful microbreweries in Montreal, bars with the best food, where to eat delicious fried chicken in Montreal, where to have Sunday dinner in Montreal, affordable business lunches in Montreal, the best restaurants on the Plateau-Mont-Royal, and happy hour spots on boulevard Saint-Laurent.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Written by Élise Tastet
Photography by Alison Slattery

Updated on April 17, 2026

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