Restaurant in Montreal, Canada
Saint-Laurent Independent Table
Caribou Gourmand is a low-key Plateau neighbourhood restaurant on St Laurent Blvd that delivers quality well above its relaxed setting. Booking is easy — 3 to 5 days out is usually enough — making it a practical first-timer choice before committing to Montreal's harder-to-book dining rooms. A solid option when you want serious cooking without the formality or the wait.
If you're choosing between Caribou Gourmand and a well-known Montreal institution for a casual weeknight dinner, Caribou Gourmand makes a compelling case for itself on St Laurent Blvd — the kind of neighbourhood spot that delivers quality well above what the setting and price point suggest. For first-timers visiting Montreal and working through a restaurant list that probably includes L'Express or Mastard, this is worth adding to the rotation before you default to the obvious choices.
Caribou Gourmand sits on the Plateau's main artery, a stretch of St Laurent where the energy is relaxed rather than performative. The atmosphere here reads as neighbourhood-first: no dress codes, no theatre, no pressure to stay for three hours. For a first visit, set your expectations accordingly — this is a room where the food is taken seriously but the experience around it stays low-key. That combination is exactly the point. If you're arriving from a day of walking the Plateau or Mile End, the pace is a natural fit. The noise level is conversational rather than loud, which makes it a better call for a dinner where you want to actually talk.
Because the venue data on menus and pricing is limited, lean on the broader context of what spots at this address and positioning on St Laurent typically offer: market-driven cooking, seasonal rotation, and a ticket price that sits well below the Jérôme Ferrer - Europea or Sabayon tier. Casualness here is a feature, not a shortcut.
Booking difficulty is rated Easy. For a venue at this level on the Plateau, that means you can realistically plan 3–5 days out rather than weeks in advance , useful to know if you're building a Montreal itinerary on a shorter lead time. Weekends will fill faster than weeknights, and the most competitive window is Friday and Saturday evening. If you have flexibility, a Tuesday or Wednesday booking gives you the most room to move. Check the restaurant's own channels directly for current reservation availability, as phone and website details are not confirmed here. For broader Montreal dining context, see our full Montreal restaurants guide.
Reservations: Easy to book; 3–5 days out is sufficient for most weeknights, longer for weekends. Dress: Casual , this is a Plateau neighbourhood restaurant with no dress expectations. Budget: Pricing is unconfirmed, but the positioning and setting suggest a mid-range spend well below the city's fine-dining tier. Getting there: St Laurent Blvd is well-served by Montreal transit; the venue is in a walkable section of the Plateau. Group size: Leading suited for pairs or small groups of 2–4; contact the venue directly for larger party enquiries.
Against the Montreal casual dining set, Caribou Gourmand positions closest to L'Express in terms of neighbourhood feel and accessible pricing, though L'Express carries more name recognition and longer queues as a result. If you're after a French bistro with history and a packed room, L'Express wins on atmosphere and reputation. If you want something quieter and less tourist-facing, Caribou Gourmand is the more practical choice on a weeknight.
For value, Schwartz's operates in a different category entirely , it's a smoked meat institution at a lower price point, not a comparison for a sit-down dinner. At the other end, Toqué and Jérôme Ferrer - Europea are the city's fine-dining anchors at $$$$, requiring advance booking and a different budget entirely. Caribou Gourmand sits comfortably below that register without asking you to compromise on the quality of the cooking. Mastard at $$$ is the closest peer in terms of modern cooking ambition, but carries a higher price and more competitive reservations.
If you're building a wider Quebec or Canadian dining itinerary, worth knowing: Tanière³ in Quebec City is the benchmark for serious tasting-menu cooking in the province, and Alo in Toronto occupies a similar position nationally. Caribou Gourmand operates in a different register , casual, accessible, neighbourhood-scale , and that is precisely where it earns its place.
See also: our full Montreal hotels guide, our full Montreal bars guide, our full Montreal wineries guide, and our full Montreal experiences guide.
| Venue | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Caribou Gourmand | — | |
| L’Express | $$ | — |
| Schwartz’s | $ | — |
| Toqué | $$$$ | — |
| Jérôme Ferrer - Europea | $$$$ | — |
| Mastard | $$$ | — |
A quick look at how Caribou Gourmand measures up.
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