Restaurant in Montreal, Canada
Solid neighbourhood bistro, not a destination meal.
Les Enfants Terribles on Bernard Ave is a neighbourhood bistro in Outremont that's easy to book and best experienced on a warm-weather terrasse. It suits locals-focused dining rather than destination meals. If you're after somewhere reliable without reservation stress in a residential Montreal pocket, it's a practical choice — especially in late spring or early September.
Les Enfants Terribles in Outremont is one of Montreal's more dependable neighbourhood bistros, sitting on Bernard Ave in a residential pocket that draws locals rather than tourists. Booking is easy by Montreal standards — this is not a venue where you need to plan weeks ahead — which makes it a solid option when you want a reliable sit-down meal without the reservation stress that comes with somewhere like Toqué or Jérôme Ferrer - Europea.
The address , 1257 Bernard Ave , puts you in Outremont, a quieter, predominantly Francophone neighbourhood north of the Plateau. The strip has a village feel: independent shops, terrasse seating in warmer months, and a crowd that skews residential rather than destination-dining. If you're coming from downtown Montreal, factor in travel time; this is not walking distance from most hotels. Check our Montreal hotels guide if you're planning a stay nearby.
Because Les Enfants Terribles operates as a neighbourhood bistro in a low-tourism corridor, it tends to be easier to book than comparable spots in the Plateau or Mile End. Same-week reservations are typically achievable, and the relaxed booking window makes it a good fallback if your first-choice reservation falls through. That said, summer terrasse season , roughly June through August , tightens availability on weekends when Bernard Ave fills up and outdoor seating becomes the draw.
The Outremont location's biggest seasonal variable is the terrasse. Montreal's short outdoor dining window (late May to early October) changes the experience considerably: the same meal feels different on a warm Bernard Ave evening than it does in a snow-muffled January interior. If seasonal atmosphere matters to you, target late spring or early September when the terrasse is open but summer crowds have thinned. Winter visits are quieter and easier to book, but the outdoor appeal disappears entirely. For explorers interested in seasonal Quebec dining more broadly, Tanière³ in Quebec City makes a compelling comparison , a destination-level venue that leans hard into Quebec's seasonal larder. Closer to home, Mastard offers a more produce-driven seasonal approach within Montreal itself.
Les Enfants Terribles in Outremont works leading for visitors who want to eat where Outremont residents actually eat, rather than a polished destination-dining experience. It suits groups of two to four more than large parties, and solo diners comfortable in a neighbourhood setting. If you want a higher-stakes special occasion, redirect to Sabayon or Alma Montreal. For a full picture of where this sits in the city's dining options, see our Montreal restaurants guide.
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Awards | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Les Enfants Terribles — Outremont | Easy | — | |||
| L’Express | French Bistro | $$ | Unknown | — | |
| Schwartz’s | Delicatessen | $ | Unknown | — | |
| Toqué | French | $$$$ | Unknown | — | |
| Jérôme Ferrer - Europea | Modern Cuisine | $$$$ | Michelin 1 Star | Unknown | — |
| Mastard | Modern Cuisine | $$$ | Michelin 1 Star | Unknown | — |
Side-by-side comparison to help you decide where to book.
A few days ahead is usually enough on weeknights. Weekends and the outdoor terrasse season (late May to early October) fill faster, so book at least a week out if you want a specific evening. This is a neighbourhood bistro on Bernard Ave, not a high-demand destination, so last-minute spots are often available mid-week.
For a more polished bistro experience, L'Express on St-Denis is the stronger call — it has the track record and the room to match. If you want serious fine dining, Toqué or Jérôme Ferrer's Europea are in a different tier entirely. Mastard is worth considering if natural wine and a tighter, more contemporary menu appeals to you. Les Enfants Terribles sits between these camps: more relaxed than Toqué, more neighbourhood-rooted than L'Express.
Yes, it works well solo. The Outremont location on Bernard Ave has the kind of low-key bistro energy where eating alone at the bar or a small table doesn't feel awkward. It's a better solo choice than a destination tasting-menu spot where the format assumes groups.
Specific menu details aren't confirmed in available data, but as a Montreal bistro operating in a neighbourhood with a largely local clientele, standard dietary requests are generally accommodated at this category of restaurant. Call ahead or check directly with the venue before booking if you have specific requirements — phone and menu details aren't confirmed here.
Probably not your first choice if the occasion needs to feel genuinely special. For celebrations, Toqué or Europea will carry more weight — both are destination-level and built for that kind of evening. Les Enfants Terribles in Outremont is better suited to a relaxed birthday dinner with friends who actually live in the neighbourhood than a milestone you need to remember.
The address — 1257 Bernard Ave — puts you in a residential, predominantly Francophone pocket of Montreal that most visitors skip. That's the point: this is where Outremont locals eat, not where tourists tend to land. Expect a quieter, less performative room than you'd find on Plateau or in the city centre. If you're coming from downtown, factor in transit time.
Dress casually. This is a neighbourhood bistro in a residential Montreal enclave, not a white-tablecloth room. What Outremont residents wear to dinner on a Tuesday is the right benchmark: put-together but not formal. Overdressing would feel out of place.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
