Leméac: A chic French brasserie and a Montreal institution

Leméac is a chic French brasserie, a true institution in Montreal, and one of the best French restaurants in the city. Having recently passed the 15 year mark, the restaurant is still going as strong as ever. The popularity of Leméac truly reflects the owners’ concern and desire to satisfy their customers and to offer a consistent and high quality product.

Owners Émile Saine and Richard Bastien (Le Mitoyen and Café des Beaux-Arts) opened Leméac in November 2001. “Émile never cuts corners when it comes to the restaurant. He has always lived by putting time, money and energy into his restaurant. You have to be demanding of yourself and always adjust to offer the best quality possible.” Émile passed on his concern for doing things right to his son Maxime Saine, who is now co-owner and is quietly taking over the family business. You can see him on the floor a few nights a week and he also handles the restaurant’s public relations.

Many great chefs have cooked at Leméac – Stelio Perombelo, Charles-Emmanuel Pariseau, Jean-Philippe St-Denis, Eric Dupuis, to name a few – and Patrice Demers (Patrice Pâtissier) is the one who developed the recipes for the restaurant’s pastries; “80% of the desserts are still his recipes”. The place is so well organized that the move to Leméac has been dubbed the “Leméac System”. Chef Oliver Belzile (Le Local, l’Épicier) has been in charge of Leméac’s kitchen since September 2016.

Leméac’s menu hasn’t changed much in the last ten years, but why change a winning formula? A great menu that has developed over the years that allows everyone to find something to their liking. The menu features superbly executed French brasserie dishes: steak frites (some of the best), moules frites, tartare, escargots and more. Note that a set menu is available every night starting at 10 pm. The chefs also offer a table d’hôte for lunch and dinner.

The establishment has more than 100 employees across three departments: kitchen, management, and accounting. Each department is responsible for its own area, which requires both individual rigor and strong team cohesion. At Leméac, several employees have been part of the team for more than ten years — the best indicator of a positive work environment and the respectful treatment of staff.

Designed by Luc Laporte, Leméac’s décor is one of the keys to its success: elegant, chic, and impeccably executed. The restaurant offers around one hundred seats, including a large bar with more than a dozen seats. “A bar is essential in a brasserie — it allows solo guests to enjoy a pleasant moment and couples to experience something a little different.”

Located on the corner of Laurier West and Durocher Avenue, Leméac benefits from natural light all day long. The owners also created a superb terrace seating around fifty guests, ideal for enjoying summer days — and still open in winter, fully enclosed, well heated, and sheltered from the cold. Together, these elements make it one of the most beautiful restaurants in Montreal and earn it a well-deserved spot in our guide to the city’s finest terraces.

Service here is consistently professional and courteous. Proof of this: even today, the establishment serves several thousand guests each week. Leméac is open seven days a week and also offers one of our favourite brunches in the city.

Leméac is a must-visit restaurant in Montreal: for more than 20 years, quality has always been a priority, the service is impeccable, and the atmosphere is pitch-perfect. Everything is balanced just right. It is also one of Evelyne Brochu’s favourite spots!

Note that during the holiday season, the restaurant is open on December 24 as well as on the 31st!

For all these reasons, this establishment is featured on our list of must-visit addresses in Montreal!

Written by Sophie Monkman
Photography by Jimmy Hamelin

Last update: November 28, 2025

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