Croquette: a gorgeous modern restaurant in Saint-Henri

Croquette sits on rue Notre-Dame Ouest and serves the kind of unfussy cooking we love. It’s the latest project from David Schmidt (Café Cadence, Marci, Fleurs et Cadeaux, among others) and Romain Peynichou: a modern diner, in their own words, designed for everyone, where you eat really well without overthinking it.

At Croquette, you’ll find all the classics we love — burger, hot chicken, club sandwich — but pulled off with far more finesse than you’d expect. Everything is carefully considered, yet never complicated. The result is as comforting as it is impressive, thanks to the talent of executive chef Charles Dumais.

The restaurant’s name, “Croquette,” sums up the philosophy of the project perfectly. “We racked our brains so hard looking for the perfect name, one with real meaning, hidden references, something deep… And we finally told ourselves that a restaurant is supposed to be fun, convivial and bringing people together. I blurted the name out in the middle of a brainstorm,” says David Schmidt.

A true Quebec diner, brought up to date

The idea behind the project is simple: create a restaurant you can come to with family or with friends, eat a good meal without blowing your budget, and rediscover the flavours that are part of our culture.

In the kitchen, executive chef Charles Dumais (Nolan, Toqué!) puts the experience of the past few years to work. His fine-dining background shows in the details, but never at the expense of the fun. He’s backed by sous-chef Jean-Philippe Pelletier, while Charlotte Maurin handles the desserts.

“You quickly think of a 2026 version of the Greenspot: a warm, Québécois gathering place, in the atmosphere as much as on the plate,” adds Charles.

A room you’ll want to move into

The décor, designed by David Schmidt, is simply gorgeous. Warm wood, burgundy tones and retro lines: everything recalls the diners of old, but with a resolutely current touch. It’s elegant without being pretentious, and you feel at ease quickly, in a lively, welcoming atmosphere.

Within the same room, everyone will find their favourite spot. Some will settle at the counter to watch the chefs at work, others will prefer the comfortable banquettes for a group meal, while the beautiful U-shaped bar is the perfect place to grab a cocktail or close out the evening.

One especially interesting feature is the aging room for poultry, visible from the dining room. Guests can even pick out their own piece before it’s cooked — a lovely way to showcase the work behind every plate.

Classics executed with care

The burger is, without question, one of the dishes we’ll likely recommend often. The patty is cooked over coal, topped with a peppered onion compote, Charlevoix emmental and a horseradish mayonnaise, all served in a house-made bun with thick fries that are meltingly tender yet crisp.

Our other favourite was the beef tartare, served with a marrow bone, poultry stock, rosemary and house-made chips. A generous, indulgent dish, perfectly balanced. The menu stays deliberately simple: a few starters, mains, sides and desserts. On the sourcing side, the team works notably with La Rosace for vegetables and Full Pin for mushrooms.

Prices range from $15 to $55, which strikes us as very reasonable given the quality of the experience.

Accessible cocktails and a well-built wine list

Same philosophy on the drinks side. Thomas Soares has put together a cocktail list designed to pair with the food, including an $11 martini — a rarity in Montreal. The wine selection, curated by Maya Stinson of Fleurs et Cadeaux, leans mostly toward natural wines while remaining very accessible.

Why we love this place

What we love most is that the restaurant never tries too hard. Everything is thought through, yet everything stays accessible. You can drop in for a burger after work, have a family supper with the kids, or simply settle at the bar for a cocktail.

Croquette is an address that celebrates Quebec classics with plenty of know-how, without ever forgetting that the most important thing is to give people a good time. We have a strong feeling it will quickly become a new Montreal haunt.

Written by Jean-Philippe Tastet
Photography by Scott Usheroff

Updated on August 11, 2026

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