Île Flottante in Montreal

One of the best meals Ive had in a while. Visited with a group of 6 and they accommodated multiple dietary restrictions without batting an eye. The mushroom dish was one of the best things Ive ever eaten - both interesting, complex, and delicious. Will be making this a regular stop when visiting Montreal. Dietary restrictions: They will do a vegan, vegetarian, and pescatarian version of their tasting menu.

Came here for my birthday and Ile Flottante made it unforgettable. Alice was my primary server and she made me feel so welcome to the sommelier who explained all the wine pairings to me to the manager who regularly checked in. Not to mention the cute waiter and the chef who did shots with me to celebrate my birthday - thank you for an amazing experience, I will have to come back! Vegetarian options: Adjusted the entire tasting menu to be vegetarian and it was delicious

unbearably salty, and even after I complained twice, nothing was done. No apology, no adjustments just three hours of frustration. I drank 10 glasses of water to cope!!!! The service was disorganized, adding ingredient after the dish is served! Whether the chef had an off day or deliberately ignored quality control, I cannot say, and the high prices aren t justified by the quality. I wouldn t recommend this place; it s a waste of time and money!!!!!

Having been a regular patron since they opened, every meal at Ile Flottante has always been a culinary delight, with the goosebump factor regularly exceeding that of Bouillon Bilk and even Toque. As a Michelin-chasing foodie who regularly travels for food adventures, I was excited to hear that Michelin was coming to town, so I thought Ile Flottante would pull out all the stops when we came (Oct 4). If any restaurant deserved a chance at 2 or 3 stars (for food alone), this was it. They dont have the rarified atmosphere or most experienced staff, but their food just couldnt be beat. This time was an unmitigated disaster. The menu was experimental, bizarre and eclectic, in a bad way. The food was good, but it didnt speak of greatness (as it had always done). The dishes that made people always come back (the special home baked bread) were absent. A new manager/waiter seems to have partnered with them who took it upon himself to spill our plates twice, and make us drinks that were not worthy of your name. (He later explained that the bartender was not there that evening). Ile Flottante, if youre listening, I am your greatest fan and acolyte in Montreal. Michelin is in town- this is the one time you shouldnt mess around. Get your act together, pull out your best dishes from the last ten years, and hire the best staff you can afford. (What do you think Bouillon Bilk is doing?) Your food was always been the best in town, it is your one chance to receive the accolade you so deserve.

My husband and I had long awaited to try ile flottante since we had lived in the mile end area a long time ago. When it used to be called singe de montarvie there was such a charm to it each time we passed by. 8 years later on our wedding anniversary we decided to give it a try! We no longer live in the area but felt this restaurant looked delicious and was so charming. We were extremely disappointed by the food and pretty much wish we had read the below reviews before venturing to spend $400 on a disappointing meal. The starter was good although the portion was tiny (tomato fava bean soup) - 3 sips served in a coffee mug with a mini take on grilled cheese. The rest was beyond underwhelming and extremely tiny portions. My husband had some dietary restrictions and basically left eating the total of a plate of vegetables for $150. My family has been is in restaurant business and I ve had the joy to enjoy meals in many places and am sad to sit here and review a restaurant badly but when splurging on a meal I think this experience was extremely disappointing. Tiny portions, some tasty, some way too fatty or basic. I think this current menu is simply not working. I have to say the dessert was good but the 5 meals before would be a hard pass.

Lovely dining experience with fresh and delicious food

Very nice evening. Kitchen up to par.

Atmosphere was nice and service was excellent. It s a pre-fixed menu with no choice. The food was average and dessert was not so good, too many different flavors mixed together. Wine was also good but selection was very small.

The food was good. The service however was absolutely horrible and by that I do not mean the competence of the staff, but duration of the experience. We had 7 courses + a bonus that lasted over 3 hours. I do not want to pay over $200 only to feel impatient to leave. Its absolutely ridiculous to wait this long between each service. I love the company of my wife, but sitting at a table for a little more than 3 hours with no other form of entertainment or novelty other than wondering whats next to eat makes this place hard to recommend.

We had a pleasant and delicious evening. The food and wine pairing was filled with delightful discoveries. THANKS. Dietary restrictions: The chef adapted his menu well to my food allergies.

Great dinner!

Unique foodie experience! Must take the sommelier experience!

Really very good, the reputation is not usurped however the quantities of wine are microscopic and the sommelier had an incompressible and immature reaction when I asked her for fuller glasses (a no would have been an acceptable answer). Damage.

truly 5 stars across the board.

Me, and not just me, found that long in titi, but very good.

We were so excited for the food before we came. Everything was good at first. The first soup is a bit salty but ok. After that, everything became so bad. Everything we had was cheap and not good. It s a 7 course tasting menu but we only had a tiny bit of protein. Everything else was vegetables. The mushrooms were oily and salty. The fish was cooked too old. We were told today was about seafood. However, for one course with oyster, we had three oyster shells with only one tiny oyster meat, even smaller than finger nails. With a set course of 7, we should have something a bit expensive, not cheap food. Most importantly, everything is not only small, but we had to wait for sooooo longggg. We came here at 5:30 and got everything started right away. We finished at 9. Only seven course with 2 deserts, we waited for 3.5 hours. Deserts are pre-made, which means 5 food took so long and not as good as expected. Will never recommend this place to anyone else. I can get a much better experience and food in any other fine dinning restaurant. One more thing, there s a place to put coat because we saw someone else had their coats checked. We had coat. But the server didn t offer us that, so we had to put coats on the chair and bags on the floor.

What happened to our beloved Île Flottante? Five years ago I posted a five star review and could hardly say enough about it, and we ve eaten there a number of times since. But our meal there this week simply didn t live up to its past performance or our expectations. They started us off with tomato soup and grilled cheese, small portions but still far too heavy to start a 7 course dinner. The other courses were mostly mediocre (fish overdone, and little subtlety to any dish) other than the exception of the excellent mushroom carpaccio. Finished with two deserts where one would have been enough, then they followed it with one more! Service could still use a little polish. I was disappointed and will be crossing this one off my recommendations. From five years ago: Weve eaten all over the world and this would be a match for some of the Michelin starred restaurants weve been to. Brilliant meal, with creative contrasts of flavors, textures, colors and spices that surprise and delight. We had the 5 course tasting menu with wine pairing. Staff is knowledgable and friendly (although the sommelier could use a little polish). This restaurant should have a two month waiting list. Highly recommended, and likely among our top 5 anywhere. Chef Serge is brilliant. Congratulations.

Supper. On a technical level, the chefs are on task and the dishes are well presented. In the mouth, I find that the flavors are not always well balanced. In particular, unpleasant hints of acidity or too much salt spoil the harmony of certain dishes, even though the basic ingredients are of good quality. 7-course menu at $125 (110 on the website), so a little expensive, especially since the portions of fish or beef fillet in the main dishes are tiny. Really delicious pumpkin dessert. I regret that there is no à la carte or table dhôte option. Quite relaxed and friendly service. Interesting wines, but the list should be more precise.

My husband and I go to this restaurant every year for our anniversary and I can say without a doubt that it is the best food I have eaten! Also, the service is impeccable. We highly recommend!

Good- All of the food was a 10/10. We were scraping our plates to get more. Restaurant atmosphere was great. Very lively, not stuffy at all Not as good: Meal was over 4 hours. First course served more than 45 minutes after we arrived/ our reservation time. Given the length of the meal it ended up not being super filling. It wasn t that it was not a lot of food, but it was spread over such a long time.

What a fun experience and such delicious food! I am especially thankful - they were able to accommodate nut and shellfish allergies with no hesitation or problem. Dietary restrictions: Asked up front if there was any allergy, and accommodated us kindly.

Wow where do I begin... this meal made me feel so present. Every dish was so innovative and thoughtful. The flowers on the dishes were so beautiful and delicious. The chefs here really are doing something special. Max provided excellent service.

The floating island has been at the top of our gastronomic list in Montreal for several years, but unfortunately this is no longer the case since our last visit. Positive points: the kindness and attentiveness of the service are generally excellent. Work has given a fresh touch to the decor and the result is successful. The atmosphere is good despite the sound volume boosted by the (new?) presence of music that is a little too loud. Negative points: apart from a few flashes of genius which reminded us why we always came back to this restaurant with an impatience to see our palate surprised and happy with each bite, the dishes lack surprises (the endives stunned by the vinaigrette, the zuchinni without surprises, the cafeteria style appetizer, too much fat in the pork, etc.): its good but nothing that justifies the asking price, the trio with the halibut stands out, as do the desserts. ; the wines were not up to par, too homogeneous and lacked character (only one red, cider served (no thank you) and only one cocktail to accompany the 2 desserts (a dessert wine perhaps?); despite the smile and the friendliness, the service was a little messy: a wine was served to us twice by mistake (in a food-wine pairing, not great), the cider was brought to us far too long before the dish that accompanied it, the appetizer was brought 35 minutes after our arrival (we were served wine to wait); food stains on the table during our dinner were not cleaned throughout the meal (in our previous experiences, this was promptly cleaned without having to ask), a waiter who removes my plate before I even had time to put my fork down, etc. I think new customers may love their experience but for those accustomed to the excellence of years past, its a disappointment.

Outstanding culinary experience - do check them out before (and after of course) they get a Michelin star and prices inevitably rise ...

If you only read this far in the review, please know that ÎIe Flottantes staff is so incredibly kind, caring, and accommodating. I visited here with my partner about a week ago, and we accidentally arrived an hour earlier than our reservation due to a mess-up on our end with time zone differences. We were still seated immediately, and they informed us of our error and said they would do their best to get us fed as soon as possible. Our server suggested we start with a drink, so thats what we did. The sommelier brought out two fabulous dry white wines to try, and I chose a glass of biodynamic wine that I would not have chosen had I only read about it and not tasted it. We both have dietary restrictions, but about 20 minutes after we were seated, they were able to bring out the first course. Unfortunately, right before this happened, I began to feel ill with what I would learn later was the start of a painful sinus infection. The first course, a meat, cheese, and fresh produce course, was delicious, but I realized I wouldnt be able to continue eating due to not feeling well. My partner informed our server, and she was empathetic and said she would only charge us for drinks. My partner and I have both worked customer-facing jobs and always try to be gracious and unobtrusive, so we apologized effusively. The chef came out to make sure everything was ok and to ask if there was anything they could do. I apologized again for any trouble that they went to accommodating both our earliness and dietary restrictions, and he could not have been more kind and understanding. It was more than professionalism; it was personal authenticity and kindness. Well certainly be back, next time, for the full meal.

More rustic than super refined. Everything was stellar, as a point of constructive feedback, the plates are busy, pull back a bit and focus on a more minimalistic approach.

Everything was delicious. Suitable for vegetarians (meat replaced by mushrooms). Long wait between services, dont be in a hurry. (4 hours for 7 services in total). The desserts were really good.

I plan my trips to Montreal so Im there the days Il Flotttante is open. Ive been to many countries, paid for fabulous meals, and used expense accounts to do that too. To me: Il Flottante is the top restaurant on this planet. And the food, service and atmosphere are all in that category. OMG Im so hungry right now!!!

They have seven excellent dishes but I couldnt tolerate a 45-minute wait between dishes

Incredible experience. Every dish and wine pairing impressed. Stellar service.

This place is absolutely exceptional! From the service to the mocktails to the ever increasingly tasty pescatarian set menu, we are super pleased. The flavours are wonderful and they are harmonious with each other. Multiple times during the evening, I contemplated licking the plate but didn t want to seem rude. Each course built upon the last and they were all special in their own regard. We also checked whether this place was Michelin guide listed as the food quality was so good and the presentations were so visually appealing. We would absolutely recommend coming back here for any occasion. It was certainly worth the drive from Toronto for this restaurant.

Everything was excellent, I recommend it

Extremely long wait in between courses. Was dining for 3h. Out of the 7 courses, two were desserts and only two were contained a protein (very small portion). The other 3 courses were vegetables The servers were nice. The flavours were decent however I cannot justify paying $120. There are other restaurants that are better.

Heard good things about this establishment, but we left a little mixed. The service was strange, and the dishes hit or miss. For the price it is unacceptable in my opinion. We took the tasting menu with the wine pairing. The wines were uninteresting and bland. The dishes ranged from incredible to mediocre... Ex: incredible and sophisticated starter followed by a duck tartare so vinegary that we couldnt taste anything else. On the other hand, I will only return for the dessert... One of the best I have tasted in my life, it was like biting into Christmas. In short, it s up to you to try (or not)!

I loved the concept of having no choice but to get the tasting menu. Each plate was a masterfully crafted blend of flavours from locally sourced ingredients. They obviously put a lot of thought into what they put in their plates in terms of quality and originality of ingredients (parsley root, an ice cream made with fir and pine tree comes to mind, among other things) They were also willing to take some risk with unusual blends of flavours (coconut ice cream with strawberries and asparagus) which made the experience even more memorable. Other reviewers mentioned that they serve the plates too slowly, which I disagree. Even though we did stay about 2.5 hours in total, I liked the pauses between the dishes as it gave you time to appreciate and think about how incredibly creative the plate you ate was. In summary, I feel privileged to have been able to experience a wonderful dinner at Île Flottante, which I feel was a truly masterful work of art

One of the most famous restaurants in the city. I went there in 2022 so maybe that has changed. It was a magnificent evening and a real pleasure, some of the dishes were divine. Unfortunately I regret that others are not up to the task. The pie for example is very common, good but common even though it would have been possible to revisit it in a much better way. For the price, in my opinion it is not possible to feed just ordinary dishes. I will still go back there perhaps one day.

Great food/cocktails/service

Quality gourmet vegan/vegan menu! (available on request) Vegetarian options: Vegan menu available on request

We went a year ago and it was an amazing experience. We had the 7 services with the wine pairing. Everything was on point and delicious. I was recommanding to a friend and I remembered that I forgot to leave a review. Cheers :)

Absolutely exceptional. The sommelier is charming and brilliant. Original and fresh food. The atmosphere is superb without being too noisy. Not to be missed Parking: Platter = orange cone fest. Do not bring car and take wine pairing

amazing experiences recommend to people who loves plants-centered meals Food

The food was pretty and the taste was nice, but nothing that blew my mind (except deserts, they were outstanding). ... The whole experience was unbearably long though, we were there from 9 to past 12:30, and waited 20-30 minutes between each plate. Each plate is only a few bites, so youre just waiting for food 3/4 of the time. They dont offer any bread or anything similar to keep the hunger down between each plate either The staff was really sweet though! I guess I just expected a lot more from the restaurant that is regularly voted the best in Montreal. Ive you regularly eat for 120$ per person, then it might not phase you to risk having a meh or even bad experience at this place. But if youre going for a special event, there are definitely other restaurants you should consider first.

Highly recommend the tasting menu. The service, unique flavor combinations and presentation make this a place to put on your Montreal restaurant to try list (especially great for celebrations)

Fiona was incredibly rude

Usually like gastronomical experiences, this one not so much. Not the best flavor combinations asparagus in desert? No thanks. Very expensive as well, and don t give any other option than a 7 course tasting menu. Bad value.

Okay food. Great service. But really slow, took more than three hours to finish a 7 course tasting.

I dont think I have ever had a chefs tasting menu where everything was fantastic. We enjoyed everything in front of us. Interesting and delicious.

What an experience! Delicious Super friendly staff Warm and friendly atmosphere, without fuss Excellent place for a special romantic date!

We went there for a birthday. We ate the 7-course tasting menu there with the agreement. Everything was delicious, and the sommelier was very good. Allow $250 (after taxes and tip) per person if you take the agreement

If the Michelin guide wanted to go to Montreal, you would be there, thats for sure. And what about the ranking of the 100 best Canadian restaurants... Having tested several of them, I dont understand why youre not at the top... but so much the better, well keep you for ourselves.

probably the best restaurant i have ever been to. bit pricey but worth every penny

Least pleasant restaurant experience of my life. Got sick and waited forever for food. It took 45 minutes to get the first of the 7 courses, with no communication or snack to chew on while waiting. After 1h40 minutes we were only at our 3rd dish which was... Okay. The first one was very good and the bread amazing. The second one was underwhelming. After that we got both sick at the same time and told the waitress. The manager came to us and eventually offered the meal for free, so we left after almost 2 hours and not even half way through the meal. At least the waitresses and manager were polite. The ambiance is good.

Incredible food. Warm service. Highly recommend.

I have been at least once per year since 2019, including eating on picnic table in street during peak covid, but this will probably be the last. Every savory dish was between over salty and WAAAAAY over salty. All the animal proteins were tiny, the filet mignon (only one cooked to good temperature) especially so can t have been more than 1 ounce, if that. The fish was overcooked and dry, difficult for halibut that has been sous vide, but apparently not impossible. The duck meat was tough with its fat not rendered. Sauces and foams were mostly good, although the jus with the filet mignon was so salty that my lips were stinging. Predessert was very nice and refreshing. Dessert had flavours that were ok, although the rice flour cake thing was dry and all the bad parts of gluten free baking, and the panacotta was unrecognizable as a panacotta: not an expert but it was either underset/broken/something weird, with a texture more akin to an overcooked and scrambled crème caramel than to a panacotta. Service was great. Friendly, patient, attentive. Venue was very loud, and then about halfway through the meal I noticed line cook going to adjust volume and was shocked that he increased it further. Overall, a pale shadow of what it was.

service so slow allow around 4 hours.. cheap food dish in no way looking for by far the worst gastronomic experience I have tried. first one of the courses was a rice with ham and another a small green salad with tiny radish in addition 3 really ridiculous mouthfuls I really dont understand how people leave notes so high there are so many good restaurants in our big city avoid the one if at all costs

Excellent meal, exceptional service, one of the best restaurants in Montreal. To try without any hesitation!

What a wonderful experience - literally an experience; we were here for 4 hours enjoying a delicious, generous tasting menu and wine pairing. The portions were generous, to say the least. The food was creative and very tasty. The wine pairings were perfect. The servers were attentive. Did not feel rushed at all. They even topped off our glasses several times. The vibe was so fun & trendy. They truly wanted you to have a great experience. Would certainly recommend. They are deserving of some Michelin stars!

One of the best tasting menus weve ever had. Phenomenal attention to detail in terms of flavour and plating. The service was great, and the staff did acknowledge that they needed to work on timing between courses (need to be a bit shorter). They really took care of us and we had a great time. Strongly recommend a visit! Make sure you do the wine pairings.

I wish I could give more than 5 stars! Ive been going down the Canadas Best 100 list and Im surprised this place isnt ranked higher. Its by far the best restaurant Ive visited in Montreal and the tasting menu wont even break the bank. Across all 7 dishes, every single dish was a banger. You can see the creativity and finasse of the kitchen shining through the unique use of ingredients and beautiful presentation. It was a good split between salty and sweet dishes. My favourites were the halibut starter with chlorophyll foam and the fried rice. The latter didnt even look like a fried rice dish until you uncover the pork cubes and rice grains below the rice crackers - such clever cooking! So much flavour and all the ingredients resonated well together. Even my least favourite dish, the salad, had a surprise twist at the bottom of the bowl with the caramelized onions and celtuse (which Ive never tried before!). It wasnt that bad and I only liked it less because I dont prefer raw vegetables. The desserts were a little on the sweet side, but hey, thats what desserts are! The mango/passion fruit ice cream dish with the flower was just stunning in terms of visuals and taste. Finally, I would be remiss if I didnt mention the impeccable service of the servers that evening. They spoke perfect English and were very friendly and approachable. They also seemed genuinely appreciative of feedback. Thank you for such a wonderful experience and we look forward to coming back.

This restaurant pushes the boundaries of creativity to the next level. The extra effort in each dish is carefully crafted with intention and elegance. It seems like so many ingredients when the plate is presented, but they all work harmoniously together to give an impactful flavor that feels familiar yet totally unfamiliar at the same time. With the menu changing seasonally, its without a doubt super enticing for me to go back to discover a whole new set of works of art. Because thats what it was... masterpieces!

This is the 3rd time that I have come to LIle Flottante (1st: 2018, 2nd: 2021, 3rd: last night), and the experience and the atmosphere were once again very pleasant, full of discoveries. I think that between the 3 times, it was even the one where the food and wine pairing was the most interesting, the most coherent. The sommelier is incredible and her approach to wines is both exploratory but ensures great cohesion. Favorite for its two white wines from Sicily and northern Spain. I highly recommend, each wine chosen had its place and its little touch . If I put one star less, it is because between 2018 and today, some of the attractions of the Floating Island have been a little lost. The bill really became expensive for rather small dishes (I came home quite drunk, having drunk more than eaten... this had never been the case before where I found that they managed to balance and measure the dishes perfectly ). For a 6 course at $115/person (formerly it was 70 or 80), a little more generosity in some of the dishes (eg: the portion of poutine, the tartare) would have allowed us to appreciate the moment more. The $65 wine pairing, however, is well worth the price. As other reviews have mentioned, you should expect to spend a good time in the dining room (around 4 hours), but for a gastronomic experience, it is not that disturbing. The first course took a long time to arrive, but the sommelier refilled us with wine. (A bread/small appetizer should be provided for customers, however, if the problem of lack of staff in the kitchen persists) Mention the perfect welcome, gentle and attentive, the impeccable service and the friendly and witty presence throughout the meal! Its always good to rediscover what LIle Flottante has to offer us.

I lack words to describe the experience and the service that my partner and I received this evening for her 30th birthday. The evening was simply perfect. There Food with wine pairing was just magnificent. In addition to a divine meal, the restaurant team is just incredible. The entire staff gave us perfect service. A special mention to Fiona the sommelier who was extremely attentive to us. A huge thank you to the whole team, we will be back very soon.

Definitely not what I expected. I was willing to spend money to have an experience, but there you go. No more. The waitress is outstanding. Unparalleled, impeccable service. The culinary experience so praised in other comments was not there. For a bill of over $300 (per person), I was left with a bitter taste of the evening. The plates all had excellent food. The rest was very meh. The potatoes on the duck breast plate were delicious. The duck breast; full of nerves. The time between courses was endless ..from 9:30 p.m. to half past midnight .it s like sleeping on your feet. I felt like I had just been properly screwed.

A legitimate Michelin Star experience and that is no stretch or lie. I ve been to Michelin stars that aren t even as good as this restaurant. From the ambience, to the service, to most importantly the food and drink, every aspect of this restaurant is dialed in. I cannot speak highly enough about the experience I had last night. 10/10. Get the 7 course tasting menu! You will not regret it, every dish tasted better than the last and you truly go on a taste bud journey! Thanks for the experience truly unforgettable!

Food is absolutely delicious, unexpected delicious combinations, very kind people, great service.

We had another fantastic dining experience! Each course had amazing flavors which all came together presented with the utmost attention to details. The sommelier, Fiona is fantastic. Her passion for wine is only rivalled by her fantastic palette and ability to suggest wines according to the patrons preferences. The rest of the team is just as pleasant and an integral part of what makes this one of my favorite dining destinations. Vegetarian options: A vegetarian tasting menu is available. Dietary restrictions: They will accommodate vegetarian and vegan patrons.

Service was outstanding. Fiona is so professional and my husband enjoyed her recommendation for the wine a lot. Alice made us feel so welcome. Overall service was the best part. Food is so so. A lot of ingredients in the dish that didn t speak with each other.

Exceptional experience! When we arrived, our table was not ready, the team apologized and offered us each a cocktail at the bar to wait. Very competent bartender with a varied menu. We even had a very pleasant original creation that was not offered. Each member of the team is breathtakingly kind. The wine list is very good and the sommelier advises with great passion and will be able to meet all budgets without pushing you to choose the most expensive. The service can sometimes be slow but each server will take the time to spend a special moment with you. Each dish is wonderfully presented and portrayed by the servers. The taste has nothing to envy of the presentation and it is pleasant to note that for each dish there is a vegetarian version and a vegan version. To consume without moderation. We will return there for sure!

The meal was excellent and the wines were a surprising and very good pairing. We had been a day with incomplete staff, we easily stayed 4 hours, the restaurant apologized with a discount on the bill. I will come back to it all the same.

Most pleasant experience, food and staff on point.

What a great re-discovery. I went there for the first time about 6 years ago and I had very good memories of it. I just went back to celebrate my birthday and my partner and I loved it. A great experience from start to finish. The service was attentive, knowledgeable and pleasant and the menu (7-course tasting) was generous, full of flavors and texture and above all mastered. In addition, unlike many restaurants where you can only stay at the table for 2 hours max, we were able to enjoy the whole evening and take our time. Thank you for this beautiful evening! Cuisine: ***** (fresh seasonal products) Service : ***** Atmosphere: ***** (the tables are spaced apart and we get along very well) Suggestions: - for a special occasion - one-on-one or 4 max

Until recently, I didnt know about the restaurant (yes, I know...). This absolutely needed to be fixed and one evening in February, I went to visit him. Tasting menu on the program, we let ourselves be carried away by the different dishes that passed through our hands, all delicious, some more than others, unfortunately I dont remember all the names, but some dishes were very salty, spoiling a little on the palate and preventing the other flavors from fully expressing themselves. Well have to go back to see if it was just a mistake. The mocktail was delicious.

An evening full of surprises The Floating Island stood before me, like an oasis of refinement. Its elegant appearance, worthy of a four-star hotel restaurant, promised an extraordinary gastronomic experience. The breathtaking view of the city from the second floor where it was perched only added to its charm. The interior, carefully decorated, offered around sixty comfortable armchairs to accommodate the guests. Soft lighting and generous space between tables created an intimate atmosphere conducive to tasting. The atmosphere was imbued with a gentle tranquility, inviting you to savor each moment and let yourself be transported by the spectacular culinary creations that would be presented. This was the imaginary Floating Island that vague memories of reviews had generated in my mind. Far from the splendor that I had anticipated, the real Floating Island fortunately turned out to be just as charming. In reality, like the vast majority of restaurants in Mile-End and the Plateau, the address is, in appearance, rather evocative of a neighborhood bistro with a very simple decor, limited to painted walls. khaki green (previously blue), hardwood floors, a few discreet plants and original lamps and ceiling lights. Far from the formal chic of a hotel restaurant, you will agree. Additionally, when making the reservation, I was told that the dress code required business attire. Either. Everyone was well dressed, but following a more liberal and relaxed interpretation of the concept. However, the experience is filled with delicate touches that leave no doubt about the refinement of the place. Apart from the surprise born from my imaginative spirit, the total absence of a map gave us another one. We take the utmost care to ask ourselves if we suffer from any allergies or intolerances to ensure that the one and only 7-course menu (with two desserts) at $105 per head of pipe will suit you. Third twist: the tasting menu presented as being focused on vegetables was not quite so. Of the five savory dishes, four offered meat (fish, ham, duck and beef). Do not see in my comment a sting of disapproval. We ate so deliciously that we couldnt wait for the next one to arrive. As the dishes change with the seasons, a precise description of the dishes savored would be of little relevance. However, expect great creativity and unusual flavors, like popcorn-flavored sauce! Furthermore, note this: to enjoy the sublime accompaniment of drinks together (hats off to the communicative sommelier, obviously very passionate!) at $65, you can decide to take just one and share it. You will be able to enhance the flavor of the dishes with surprising drinks, such as the Canadian chardonnay from Plot which caused the fourth big surprise of the evening. As the meal progressed, my mothers happiness only grew, her initial neutral expression morphing into a steady, relaxed smile. The Floating Island has managed to hold it under its spell and it would not be surprising to see it return there very soon. Just for making him so happy, the restaurant would be worthy of a perfect score. Vegetarian options: I dont know if the establishment offers an exclusively vegetarian menu, but you could ask. Dietary restrictions: Yes, we take great care to inquire (twice rather than once) Parking: Paid or free parking depending on the time Kid-friendliness: Yes and no. Its hard to imagine that a child would enjoy a gourmet restaurant, but if you want to bring your own, you will be well accommodated. Wheelchair accessibility: Still, with a little help.

This was hands down the best meal of my whole life. The service was phenomenal, the wines were absolutely delicious and beautifully paired with each dish plus the amazing sommelier described in great detail why the wine was paired with the dish. We all got the vegan menu and the depth of flavor in each dish was unlike anything Ive had in my life (and thats comparing it to meat and dairy dishes too) If you want the best meal of your life, eat here! Vegetarian options: They have a full vegan tasting menu!

Superb experience! The staff is extremely attentive to us. The food and wine pairings were sublime, and the sommeliers explanations were very dynamic. We loved our experience! Thank you so much !

Visited Ile flotante for my birthday and I was very disappointed. I was excited to try their 6 course menu as I have seen great reviews about it. The first course seafood soup with their homemade bread was DELICIOUS, I was in love on how good it was and set the bar really high for the other courses. Sadly it went downhill after that, the mushroom dumplings had almost no flavour at all, the rice/mayo/chicken/egg dish was too creamy and no special flavour at all I got tired of eating after 2 spoons, the duck was very heavy mostly after having a very heavy dish before and last the beef was another heavy plate and nothing in-between to cleanse the palate. The dessert was average, yes very well presented but a very simple vanilla cake that could almost taste like the costco one. The place itself is beautiful, however it took 50min wait to get our dessert, I don t think they have the staff to have so many tables. We weren t the only table waiting for that long for a dessert. The table beside us arrived an hour and a half after us and they finished their 5 course and were waiting at the same time for dessert than us. It took us 3 hours and half for the whole thing. We did not even had that many drinks that kept us there at one point we had nothing else to talk about ut was awkward, we were literally waiting on our phones. Kudos for the staff that kept their smiles and trying to make it work, they gave us off 2 of the cocktails we ordered but still the price doesn t match the wait or the quality honestly not worth it at all.

Really disappointing. I couldnt wait to try this highly rated restaurant. Unfortunately with the cold weather in Quebec this restaurant is really not suitable. We were offered a table at the entrance in front of the door which let in the cold gusts. We asked the owner if we could move the table but she remained intransigent, despite the space in this restaurant. We kept our winter coats and I kept my wool scarf on my thighs throughout the meal. Nothing to enjoy small, expensive appetizers. We will not return there and do not recommend it to anyone.

Successful synthesis of local products and innovative cuisine. Successful wine pairing and excellent service.

I need to be sincere with this review so that other people dont have to go through what we experienced. Dear Chef of Ile Flottante: your dishes were incomplete, they felt experimental at best and were very disappointing for a restaurant that is kept in the top 10 list of Montreal. Either it was super salty and citrus , or with no salt or taste at all. The duck was super hard to cut and chew. The steak was uncooked (not to be confused with rare) and made both of us feel bad after eating it. The pace and the timing of the tasting menu experience is way off. We sat down at 8:05 pm, our first plate came at 8:45 pm! 40 minutes without anything to bite on...its not acceptable. Then the time between courses was super long, it completely made us disengaged and we lost interest half way through our meal. The entire meal took 3hrs for 6 dishes, this is simply unacceptable or at the very least it should be made clear at time of reservation. The people in the kitchen had a super slow pace, as if they didnt care that patrons on the dining floor were waiting to try the dishes. The girls on the service were very nice and had no fault but the food and the super slow pace ruined the entire dining experience. I have worked for more than a decade in the restaurant business in NY and we have dined everywhere in the world. This restaurant cannot be held at the level it claims, I dont understand how the other comments are so positive. Dear Chef, please try to take this feedback in a positive way. Something needs to change though. Thank you.

Of the six course meal, the first two were mind blowingly delicious. But 2 3 mains were just decent at best. The Pork belly was way too sweet. There was a bavette which was very good but nothing insane. The pre-dessert mango was delicious and the dessert was very nice. Our 4 top table agreed we wouldn t go back. That said the service was some of the best I ve ever experienced. A very passionate sommelière and cocktail guy, both really knew their stuff. And all the wait staff were super attentive and courteous. But be prepared for a long meal. It took us 4 hours start to end which we weren t prepared for baby-sitter wise. Not sure if they do that on purpose or if kitchen was slammed so be prepared!

This restaurant is undoubtedly the best I have had in Montreal! The cuisine is innovative, surprising and so good. These are often old dishes of French cuisine that are revisited, brought up to date with lots of pep! The service is excellent. It is also a restaurant where you can take your time since there are no multiple services in the evening. It is much appreciated!!

A few years ago my wife and I had one of the most memorable food experiences of our lives at Ile Flottante, so we made a special trip back up for my birthday, and they actually exceeded my already very high expectations. The food was incredible, the wine pairings were inspired, unusual, and perfectly complimented the complex and deep flavors of each beautiful course. I am baffled that this place doesnt have any Michelin stars yet, but I am sure they will soon. Vegetarian options: our group of three are all vegan and they made an incredibly delicious menu for us, the flavors were incredibly warm and balanced with varied and unique flavors throughout the meal Dietary restrictions: The staff called us early on the day of our reservation to ask about our dietary restrictions to be sure that they could accommodate anything we needed at our meal

Great food, friendly staff, cozy atmosphere.

Very good 5-course menu, excellent service

Vegetarian options: On nous demande à plusieurs repprises nos restrictions alimentaire et des options sont prévues pour tous les régimes

Wow. Just wow. Each dish is a unique experience of flavour. The conversation stops and you just reflect on what s happening to your flavor palette. Bring your spouse here, or anyone you want to impress for a special occasion. This place does not disappoint. Also, shout out to the somelier for her awesome energy and great wine recommendations. A 5 star experience!

Disappointing experience, the pace of serving the dishes is very slow, the harmony of the flavors of the dishes is not there at all and the service is very amateurish. For the price of the meal, this is unacceptable!

I really dont understand all these positive reviews. I couldnt wait to try it and the least we can say is that I was REALLY disappointed. The dishes were either seriously lacking in flavor or the balance of flavors was absolutely terrible. Very sincerely, I strongly advise against it. It is excessively expensive for the quality of the products served. Also the pace of service is excessively slow, one dish (the portions of which are ridiculously small) every 30 minutes.... what can I say about the service... they were friendly.... but not capable of serving wine or water correctly..... brief terrible experience

Avoid at all costs!! My partner and I went to this restaurant for Valentines Day. We each ordered the 6 course tasting menu. We arrived at 6:00 p.m. At 10:00 p.m. we had only received 3 services out of 6... we were forced to leave without receiving our dishes. 0 services 0 food. Worst dining experience in Montreal!

The service was impeccable, the ambiance was good and the food was completely decadent. The sauces were the star of all the dishes, duly thought out. And what about the food and wine pairing! You have to live this experience!

Reservation canceled by the restaurant just a week before.. although reserved a month before.. I will not make any further reservations!

Superb! This is the first word that comes to my mind for every single service offered here. The attention to detail, as much for the service than the food, shows great care in their work. It is an experience I can only recommend without hesitation if youre looking for a genuine quality food discovery.

Our favorite in montreal

We had dinner on January 4, 2024. It was my partner s birthday. We come to this restaurant several times a year. The meal was excellent. Although the table service made a lot of effort, the kitchen had great difficulty keeping up. After an endless meal, more than 3 hours, we decided to leave before dessert was even served. I hesitated before writing this review but after a bill of $389 for two... we believe that this restaurant should reduce the number of customers to give the cooks a chance to serve the dishes within a reasonable time (especially reduce the time between each dish). Tell yourself that the longer the delays between each service, the less the customer wants to stay. Usually, our dishes were served at most within a total time of 2.5 hours. One last detail which seems important to me, in our opinion the music was not appropriate (musical choice and the sound was too loud). Hoping our review can help.

We were so excited to try a restaurant that offers a fine dining experience for vegans and vegetarians and present themselves as vegetables forward but sadly it was quite disappointing. Maybe it was not their night but everything was so so salted it was really hard to taste anything else and we had to drink water constantly. The portions were very small and know that if you take vegetarian you have less things that the regular, and if you take the vegan menu you have even less on your plate to the point that a plate of dessert turns into 2 scoops of ice cream. The price tag however does not shrink. Service was really good but not really enough to make the experience enjoyable.

A delight!! I recommend

The food was incredible and the staff was super friendly. The somelliere was clearly very passionate about wine which made the pairing delicious. The cocktail options were also very creative and gave a beautiful start to the evening. You could see there was a lot of care around the conception of the menu, making it very interesting without being presumptuous. One of my favorite restaurant experiences Ive had in Montreal.

Probably our worst Montreal dining experience in the last 10 years. When we arrive at the restaurant, we are told that the first service tables have not finished their dishes and that it is better for us to go to the Pub on the corner of the street to wait Finally, we managed to find a table (luckily, because our initial table only became available 40 minutes later). The restaurant offers a 6-course set menu so ordering was quick. However, the first course arrived ONE hour later. The wait between dishes was endless, it took 3.5 hours to receive all our dishes and leave. After three dishes served warm and cold, we made a comment to the waitress about this inconvenience. She assured us that she had sent the message to the kitchen. Unfortunately, the next dish was again served to us cold. We were therefore forced to send our dishes back to the kitchen (a first in 10 years for us). The table service is very good, but the kitchen clearly cannot keep up and the quality of the dishes pays the price. If we trust the reviews on OpenTable, this has been a problem since January. However, any self-respecting restaurant would reduce its number of customers so as not to offer such a dismal evening. We also took the food and wine pairing, which was to offer 6 half glasses of wine. The portions were so small that in the end there must have been the equivalent of 2 glasses of wine. At $65 and knowing that the first two glasses are cider and sake its not worth it. For this deplorable performance, the restaurant offered us 15% off and two glasses of wine at the start. Despite this, we still paid more than $300 to feel like we were in an episode of Gordan Ramsays Hells Kitchen. We would therefore strongly recommend this restaurant to our loved one. It is possible that this is a bad situation for this restaurant and we wish them some serious introspection

My experiences at the floating island have always been exceptional! Thank you for this exceptional culinary experience and see you soon!

Very beautiful memory! We opted for the vegetarian menu and appreciated the variety and originality of the combinations. Pleasant service just like the setting which wants to be relaxed and intimate at the same time

Diligent but relaxed service, playful, inspired cuisine, presented with surgical care. An original wine list that highlights Quebec products but also presents daring arrangements. Dietary restrictions: The substitutions the kitchen made for my groups allergies were delicious! The replacements offered were as excellent as the original dish.

A MUST! Be sure to book 2+ weeks in advance.

Excellent cute spot on one of the nicest street in the Mile End. Food is a feast for the eyes (as you can see) and for the mouth. Everything was perfect food-wise. Service is okay, not as high level as the food. Same goes for the atmosphere. The 7 courses fixed menu is your only choice and for 115$ you wont be disappointed. 7 half-glasses are offered to accompany your meals and it costs a surplus of 65$, which was worth it imo. Vegetarian options: The fixed 7 courses menu can be vegetarian or even vegan if desired Dietary restrictions: They accomodate for dietary restrictions

The different members of the brigade come to our table one after the other to write the article and sell us dreams. Once in the mouth, the awakening is violent. Apart from the elaborate presentation and the pretty plates, everything is at best banal, at worst tasteless (this water sorbet...) or even bordering on a bad joke (bread, ham and a filigree of cheese...in a tasting menu) Lets add to this the three drops of vinegar-flavored bottle base served without shame by the waiter who, like a good Samaritan, announces that he will only charge us for half a glass...300$ for two without wine (sour) so . Easily the most expensive and most dubbed gastronomic restaurant tested in Montreal.

Went there to celebrate a special anniversary and was looking forward to our experience. I was highly disappointed by how salty every thing was. Perhaps we got a bad batch of sauce but we were unable to finish our plates because of how incredibly salty it was ( my husband usually enjoys his food quite salty but even he had to send back his dish unfinished ). When we politely informed our waitress we were totally dismissed with a ah bon...chacun ses goûts (oh well, everyone has different taste) followed by an eye roll. Overall disappointed in the food and service. I will say though that each plate seemed to have a beautifully crafted dish with nice techniques its just sad I couldnt taste or appreciate any of it because of the insane amount of salt.

I was motivated by all the good reviews and beautiful pictures of how well the plates were designed, and was really looking forward to having a dinner with my boyfriend there. Im having a hard time where to start this awful awful experience. Lets start with their wine selection as I started my meal by that. I had to reject 3 different wines tasting like vinegar and in the end gave up and asked for a cocktail. As for the food, they serve you seven different plates, well designed but NOT TASTY at all. Both of us were wondering how they manage to prepare all those dishes in a way that the flavors are going to different directions and not making sense(either too sweet or sour or simply plain). Their sauce doesnt taste home made at all, the meat isnt fresh and not easy to chew and served rare. If youre looking for a place to take nice pictures and show them off in your Instagram page then it might be a place for you(just be warned that itll cost you 300$), but if youre looking for a tasty meal this is not a place to go.

The staff and the atmosphere were perfect. The food was incredible and I actually ate the best duck of my life!

One of the best restaurants Ive been to to date. The service was perfect from start to finish.

Went in for the dinner service early Feb 2023. They were serving 7 course meal for the very reasonable price of 110$ there is also a wine pairing option for an additional 65 75$. The winter menu was very well balanced with a bit of fish, meat and vegetables. The stars of the show in my opinion were the veggie dishes, and I usually make an active effort to avoid eating veggies. But the veggies dishes were very interesting, the fish and duck dishes were also very good, the bread dish was alright. Overall it was an excellent evening, the staff took great care during the dinner service. However service was a bit slow, the dining experience last almost 4 hours. Would definitely recommend checking out if your looking for a unique experience. Will definitely be coming back to check out the new menu servings.

Amazing place for any special occasion or couples anniversary! Excellent attentive and authentic service, beautiful decoration and delicious food in a single tasting menu at CAD 110 per season including 7 courses; all very refined, nicely presented and very original with very surprising combinations of flavors. Delicious experience, thank you! Amazing place for any special occasion, date or couple anniversary! Great service, beautiful decor and delicious food, one only exquisite tasting menu by season with 7 courses; all very refined, beautifully presented and very original with very surprising tastes association. Delicious experience, thank you!

Absolutely stellar culinary experience, elevated by very knowledgeable wine/sake/eau de vie pairings. The dessert (a panet millefeuille with coffee & lemon ice cream over a meringue crumble) finished the meal in pretty epic fashion. Vegetarian options: Full vegetarian tasting menu is available

This place deserves a Michelin star. The food here was outstanding. It tastes even better than it looks, and looks much better in person than any photo. Very well priced for what you get. Vegetarian options: Vegetarian or vegan on request

Great tasting menu with lots of creativity. You can tell the chef has put thoughts into the dishes. The menu is seasonal and changes every few months. This is my second time here and I m still amazed by how seasonal ingredients were used to balance each other out. Definitely worth the visit!

yums

I have been to other nicer restaurants in Montreal but this was definitely the highlight. We had the 7 course tasting menu and it blew our minds. They are great with working out accommodations for you in case there s allergies or intolerance and the service was top notch as well. Highly recommended.

Perfect from start to finish. The dishes were of great finesse and the service was exceptional. Superb atmosphere!

A perfect restaurant to celebrate a couples anniversary. The 7 courses and wine pairing were perfect and the staff very courteous and friendly. Were going back for a couples outing or a double date!

Incredible food with very imaginative chefs that create delicious plates. Great sommelier skills as well as attentive waiters. Highly recommended for someone who wants to do a 7-9 course meal. 125%

I couldnt agree more! This restaurant is a hidden gem that everyone should check out. The winter menu was so well-balanced and thoughtfully curated. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the veggie dishes, as Im usually a meat-lover. The fish and duck dishes were also fantastic, and the bread dish was a nice touch. The flavours were all so unique and interesting, and it was clear that the chefs put a lot of effort into each dish. The staff was also exceptional, taking great care to make sure we had a wonderful dining experience. The only downside was that the service was a bit slow, and the dinner lasted almost four hours. However, it was worth it for the quality of the food and the overall experience. Im already looking forward to coming back to try the new menu offerings. For the price, this restaurant is an absolute steal, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a unique and delicious dining experience.

Wow - totally amazing. Expensive, but worth the price.

I love it! The food was amazing! I will definitely revisit again when they change the menu. Cant wait!

Very good experience with the 6 courses + wine pairing , the best was undoubtedly the Cod and charcuterie. The duck served was unfortunately too dry to be served as Peking duck/duck breast. I suspect the duck was prepared too far in advance and was reheated too long. Very good presentation of each dish. Very good description of the wines served. Good service! The duck unfortunately lost a star because for me, it is important to serve the meat properly cooked for a 6-course menu.

Excellent dining experience and excellent service. I highly recommend.

Probably the best food weve eaten in Montréal especially with the flawless wine pairing. Expect to pay top dollar for the experience but even with the premium price tag you wont be disappointed.

I live in NYC and eat michelin starred tasting menus there. This absolutely holds up. The food is so incredible. They seem to be transitioning to veggies and for the first time, Im not mad at that. Id eat a leather shoe with their sauces. This place is well worth the visit! Also Love, love, love the beets! And the service is incredible, anticipating my requests before I could ask for them. And I let the bartender (Jade) make what she wanted and I was not just not disappointed, but surprised and thrilled at her offerings. Vegetarian options: Vegetarian or vegan possible, I went with omnivore but it was not necessary as theyre a veggie forward restaurant and their veggies are spectacular.

I was a bit sceptical based on the reviews that it would live up to the ratings, but this place is really something special! The food was absolutely wonderful, the service was warm and friendly, pricing was really reasonable for the quality, and the atmosphere in the dining room was great! It is really rare (in my humble opinion, at least) to really and truly love every single course of a blind tasting menu, but Île Flottante really surpassed expectation across every single of its seven courses - dishes were beautifully presented, flavour was intricately layered and wonderfully creative (need I say more than a parsnip-based mille-feuille dessert?). Thank you for a wonderful evening!

Le menu dégustation était absolument magnifique! Une belle progression de saveurs en 7 services à partir d ingrédients frais mis en valeur avec un équilibre parfait! Merci à Jade pour l accord vin judicieusement sélectionné. Le service était excellent dans une ambiance de resto de quartier chaleureuse. Officiellement mon resto no1 à Montréal actuellement.

We celebrated a couples anniversary at this establishment and the experience was nothing less than grandiose! The dishes are sophisticated, distinguished and tasty at a level that I would describe as divine if I had to be completely honest. Make sure to take the wine pairing if you ever have the incredible chance to eat in this restaurant, the ingenious combinations of the sommelier on duty are harmonious and elevate the experience felt by our palates to a dimension that was still unknown to me unknown. The service was outstanding and we even had the little attention of a candle and being served by chef Sean Murray Smith during dessert service. Thank you again a thousand times for this evening which ended unforgettable.

Very good meal, rating of 4.5 out of 5. Which is unfortunately not possible on Google reviews, so 4. Why 4 and not 5? simply because it was excellent but not perfect. The fish dish lacked a bit of flavor. The vegetable dish was superb in terms of flavors (our favorite) but it was tight (stringy), it was difficult to take a full bite, the poultry was very good for my taste but mixed around the table. The beef, nothing to say, impeccable. The desserts, generally too sweet for my taste, were very well balanced. To my great surprise I ate them (well done), which is really rare. The least interesting dish was the sandwich which was very good but not up to the standard of the floating island. The table service was once again without the slightest hitch, in short impeccable. Will I go back? certainly. Vegetarian options: They offer strictly vegetarian or vegan versions Dietary restrictions: They ask if there are any restrictions and adapt accordingly.

Exquisite experience at the restaurant Ile Flottante. Not only the food is scrumptious, it is also beautifully presented. There was a good balance of vegetables, seafood and meat. Our waitresses gave us detailed descriptions of each dish. The only drawback is that it takes a bit of time between each service. I especially liked their dessert using uncommon ingredients. Highly recommended. Forgot to take picture of the second dessert (Crème glacée café et lime, mille-feuille de panais, gel de lime, panais frit)

Best restaurant in montreal

After a first visit a short year ago which turned out to be one of the most beautiful culinary experiences of my life, I am finally back. And as I expected, the pleasure is there. The service is absolutely impeccable and carefully executed. The requirement and rigor with which each dish is prepared commands respect, as for the cocktail on the menu, Jade (far too humble) behind the bar deploys a know-how from which all restaurants and bars in Montreal should draw inspiration. In short, a wonderful evening, nothing more, nothing less. And unfortunately, no matter how much I searched, I found no reason not to go back there as soon as possible.

An apssolute amazing Culinary experience..everything from the service..cocktails to the most incredible tasting dishes.would definitely recommend to anyone who wants to have a great experience.

Absolutely perfect all round. I was told I had to come eat here and I will definitely be back! How lucky we were to be able to sit at your table! The impeccable service, the flavors and tastes in each of the dishes are sought after and the impeccable presentation, the attention to the smallest detail, well done Nada and well done to the team in the dining room and in the kitchen, you have a great team. We visited some restaurants with tasting menus (mousso, Bilk broth etc.) and we will be back at the floating island! Very, very long life to you, Cheers!

A superb experience in one of the best restaurants in the city

Excellent service! Excellent 7-course menu. I found that 2 desserts was a lot, but I will definitely return! Thank you for this beautiful evening!

Listening to the Manager screaming at an employee in the alley behind the restaurant! Totally unprofessional. This is emotionally abuse and not how you manage young staff. Completely unacceptable!

A tasting menu with sometimes a lack of balance but interesting flavor discoveries. A relaxed atmosphere for a gastronomic experience!

Impeccable service! Attention to detail! Very friendly person and the food was exceptional

WORST dining experience ever. Please don t waste your time. We just left the restaurant after waiting for 2.5 hours and been served only 2 VERY soso dishes, and guess what, they still charged us 93$, completely ridiculous. They did warn us that they had some technical issues but instead of being honest about the wait time, they just tell us they are doing their very best to make things happen. They did not offer any gratuity (food or drink) for the time we spent there waiting. It was supposed to be my birthday dinner. Thank you Ile flottante for making it the worst experience ever

This is our 2nd time having dinner at Ile Flottante. It was for my husbands birthday celebration. We were excited for tonight. Due to short of staff, there is only 5-course tasting menu which is fine. We love the food as usual. However, the speed of serving is slower than normal as expected. We were waiting for about 30 mins on average for the next course. Our backs start to get sore and it started to feel tired ans sleepy. I noticed the other customers faces are also showing tiredness. During the waiting time, the worst was for the last course where we literally waited for an hour!!! They only came to apologize once and did nothing else. Until our bums get sore and started to hurt by the hard chair, we decided to leave without the last course. It was simply toooo much on the customer. If I were the staff, I would try to offer something, like free drinks or small snacks, to keep the customers happy. What is upsetting is that when the waitress came to deliver the bill and asked was everything good, and we didnt give the normal everything is excellent face, her face was surprised. When you asked customers to wait for an hour and didnt provide crisis management solution, and you still expected a nice complement. This shows me the restaurant is a little too confident of how they operate. We didnt penalize the tip but we may not come back again.

we had a great romantic evening, the food was incredible

We had five course meal with wine pairing. Came out to be around $350. Wine was great. Really liked the last course which was froyo with some garnishments. Service wasn t superb due to staff shortage. Waiters and waitresses seemed tired and less engaging. The whole fine dining experience took 3.5 hours. The other dishes besides the dessert were decent but not very impressive. Overall it wasn t a bad experience.

Amazing meal for fine dining, a little pricey but worth it for the experience. May be a bit pricey to be a regular though Vegetarian options: Ask ahead with booking. Parking: Better to take the metro or Uber in Mile End

Good flavors and attentive service. However the meal lasted 4 hours. Maybe there werent enough people in the kitchen tonight

Excellent service, 5-course menu. The dishes are all tasty and colorful. The choice of wine is good, the cocktails of the moment excellent!

An extraordinary gastronomic experience! Pure elegance on the plate with a great team!

Worth it!! Fine dining isnt just about the food. It is about the experience and they know this. The somelier was amazing and well paired wines with the fantastic tasting. The flow of the servers and the chefs and the seamless interaction of the entire staff with the patrons was beautiful to see. You could feel their friendly and welcoming vibe the entire time from the moment you enter until you leave. Definitely a time to remember! And it wasnt that expensive which was even better! And vegan or veggie options too...top notch! At least two Michelin stars! Vegetarian options: Full tasting can be vegan or vegetarian....I rarely see that.

I am posting this review after two visits to the Floating Island, a first in April 2023 and a second in July 2023. After April I would have given 5 stars, but after the visit in July I see myself obliged to give 3 stars, largely due to the service and the contrast with the experience in April. I made a reservation in July for a weeknight at 6:30 a.m. thinking we would finish our meal around 8:30-9:00 a.m. to have some rest time at home afterwards. We ended up spending more than 4 hours in the restaurant due to the extremely slow service, between each course (5 courses in July), we waited at least 30 minutes. Some of the diners were hungry at the table between courses and at the end of the meal due to the serving time. Considering the rather hefty bill, this is completely unacceptable. Furthermore, the restaurant employees seem to be in denial about the length of the service and do not even want to admit it or even apologize, give a discount on the bill or give an extra drink or anything of the sort. When I went there in April, I had to ask them to take more time between services because things were going so quickly, you will understand why I was extremely surprised by the slowness of the service in July. Another table near us even left before having had all their services because they were tired of waiting. This slowness certainly tarnished our experience at the floating island. We understood by listening to the service employees talk that there were missing employees in the kitchen. By reading recent reviews on Google and on OpenTable it is easy to see that this situation has persisted since around mid-May. It s even more distressing to see that employees don t want to admit the problem even though it s been going on for two months. A notice could have been given to warn of the longer delays in the kitchen and they could also have accepted fewer guests per evening in order to have faster service (people were starting their dinner when we left around 10:30, they had to be there until 1:00 a.m. ). I dont really want to go back until I know the kitchen labor shortage problem is resolved and the restaurant admits there is a problem. Also, there were a lot of fruit flies in the restaurant, they even got into our wine glasses, not very pleasant. That being said, the food was excellent both in April and July except for one or two less memorable dishes. In July, we fell in love with the first three dishes (summer taco, deconstructed pizza and shrimp ravioli). In April everything had been excellent. For the July menu, the veal dish was less summery, it was more of an autumn/winter dish with flavors of truffle, carrot, black garlic, mint jelly. I would also have had a fish dish rather than two desserts in July, the desserts were good but nothing extraordinary and once again with less summer flavors (honey, spruce). In short, before booking at the floating island, make sure to check if the problems in the kitchen have been resolved unless you want to spend 2 hours more than the average sitting waiting for your dishes. Dietary restrictions: Vegetarian, vegan and fish options only available

high-end restaurant with wine and food pairings! Parking: Residential area with oermis for residents.

A complete gastronomic experience. Its exquisite, controlled, delicate, but always surprising on the palate! And what about the presentation; fine, inviting, without excess. The service is friendly, affable; the relaxed atmosphere. A pleasure for all the senses!

Atmosphere, service, and the sommelier for the wine pairing were all excellent. Food was pretty good but some of the courses didnt feel 100% cohesive. I would definitely give it another try next time Im in Montreal.

What a beautiful evening! Delicious food and attentive service. Yes, it s long, but it allows you to taste and enjoy the culinary experience presented to us. Thank you for this beautiful moment, it lived up to my expectations!

Delicious dinner, every dish was a work of art and designed to pair well with the sommeliers choice of wines throughout the evening. It was a fun experience overall, we truly enjoyed every dish. 2 things you should know: 1. It is very pricey ($500 for 2ppl), and 2. the wait between each dish is very long, but we knew this beforehand from other reviews. Our reservation was at 7:30pm and we got out at 11:30pm. Could be fun with a group of people.

Very good restaurant, from starter to dessert, nothing to complain about. You will eat extremely well there. However, we had to wait a (very) long time between 2 courses, due to a kitchen problem. These are things that obviously happen, but it took quite a while before we were informed, we waited a long time without any response. The restaurant was, however, very generous in giving us a good reduction on the bill, but we would have liked to know more quickly.

Great location great food great service all at a very reasonable price for the quality of the meal and service

The food was fantastic. Veggie forward. Inventive. Reasonable price. Creative presentation. Once you get past the food however is when things break down. For a 5 course tasting, where everyone in the restaurant gets the same 5 courses, please plan to be seated for over 160 minutes. I guess just bring a book to read, drink a lot, or go with a large group to pass the time. So much potential.

My wife and I went to IIle Flottante for a Saturday night dinner, and I cannot say enough good things about it. It is hard to describe the incredible quality and artfulness of the food. The wine pairings were perfect. The staff was friendly and relaxed. I find it is very rare to have this level of comfort in a restaurant serving this level of cuisine. On top of that, my wife is vegetarian, and her meals did not suffer from it. They were equal in quality and thoughtfulness to what I was served. One other thing, and not something often discussed is the pacing. It was a long meal, we were there for 3 hours, but it was paced perfectly. Enough time between presentations to talk and enjoy the last plate, but not so long as to feel drawn out. Not a cheap night out, but it was absolutely worth the money, which is a rarity in itself.

One of the most fabulous experiences had in Canada , thank you, Margot and Fiona!

Unreal. If you have a chance to go here, its an incredible gem.

varied and good dishes.

Incredible experience from start to finish. The servers and sommelier were all friendly and knowledgeable, and they did a wonderful job catering the tasting menu to my wifes dietary restrictions. The food was amazing. The first course, a deconstructed pizza with fresh vegetables was beyond delicious. The vegetables were so fresh, the bread perfect, and the sauce with chili oil perfectly balanced between spicy, acidic, sweet, and salty. The shrimp ravioli and veal were perfectly cooked. Will definitely be back next time were in Montreal.

Really great culinary experience! Staff was so kind and amazing, the food was even better

Weve been wanting to try this restaurant for a while now. Because of their excellent comments our expectations were high and despite this restaurant exceeded our expectations. First of all the restaurant, a very friendly, warm and unpretentious little place, the music was eclectic and very good which gave a cool little atmosphere to the place. The service was impeccable. The only thing that displeased me a little was the utensils placed directly on the table after each course. Otherwise they were perfect. Loving vodka, they even concocted a cocktail based on vodka, cucumber and banana which was to die for! For the food, each dish won me over. The first course (the deconstructed pizza) was the most substantial dish so I would rather have offered it towards the end than as the first course. Each of the dishes was an explosion of flavor! It s a 5-course service that offers wine pairing for an extra charge. Everything was perfect for us! From start to finish! Allow around 3 hours at the table and note that the restaurant changes its menu with the seasons so we will return there at the end of September. We cant wait!!!

Consistently excellent... very friendly and a creative seasonal menu. I try to come here a few times per year with friends and it is always fantastic. I highly recommened the cocktails and wine pairings.

Good quality, the servers werent great. But the food was good

It s delicious, and the price for the tasting menu is quite fair for this quality, however the two desserts were very similar. Thats not the problem, it was overall excellent. The food and wine pairing announces 5 half glasses, this is not the case, it is 5 quarters of a glass, which is also very unequal depending on the guest. With the waiting time between courses it was not uncommon to have finished the bottom of the glass before the dish was served, which is still a shame for a wine pairing. The selection is however excellent and we quickly understood that to spend a friendly evening in good French we would have to supplement with additional glasses, fair enough. My friend had the misfortune of asking for slightly more generous glasses during the last service, misfortune! The sommelier was offended in a totally incomprehensible way, it would have been enough to say ok its x dollars more if money was the concern (that said given the size of the glasses all we asked for were the real half glasses announced), nothing justified such a reaction and to create such discomfort for a table which had not stopped in compliments and smiles since the beginning of the evening. His colleague reacted wonderfully but I kept this feeling of uneasiness until bedtime, its still annoying when you pay close to 300 dollars at a restaurant.

Outstanding culinary experience.

We tried the tasting menu. The food is very unique. We like dish #1 (assemble your own pizza. mozzarella is very fresh. Dish #4 has sunflower, potato and scallops. Dish #6 corn ice-cream is special. Food : 4/5 |

Very slow , food Id could, not very impressed. 6 courses, we arrived 7:30pmup till 11 pm only on 4th courses If you are hungry, here not a good choice

This is 6 courses courses. What is 5th... sorbet, the 6th is ice cream... And whole meal will take you 4.5 hours

Food was literally incredible! Staff was so friendly and well knowledgeable! I recommend for a crazy gastronomic experience Food : 5/5

Spectacular from start to finish. The tasting menu with wine pairings were on point. Loved the playfulness with the two corn dishes. The scallop and duck mains were amazing. Atmosphere was hopping. Can t wait to go back next time I m in town.

My boyfriend and I ate here for our anniversary last night and absolutely loved it. He s a chef so he has very high standards, and he was very impressed. We loved doing the tasting menu and not knowing what we were about to eat. Every dish was delicious and beautifully plated. It was a feast for the senses. We got cocktails that were amazing as well. Would totally come back here! The atmosphere was lovely too, and the service was great! Definitely one of my favourite dining experiences ever.

Truly a beautiful evening spent at the floating island. 6-course menu (4 savory 2 sweet) with a fair and original food and wine pairing that will suit you well. The service and atmosphere remain relaxed with very refined cuisine based on seasonal vegetables. Favorite for the duck dish, the dessert and the service. With a mention for the music playlist too. Clearly you have to go there to enjoy everything and not rush to eat just the dishes even if they are very good. We warmly recommend.

A wonderful eating experience. The staff was very welcoming & knowledgeable. A perfect spot to celebrate our wedding anniversary. You have to try it!!!

The restaurant was invaded by fruit flies; we had to put our hand over our glasses of wine to avoid having flies come into our glasses. They say the fly problem is known. We had specified that we wanted to take our time with the tasting menu, but the glasses arrived before we had even finished the previous one. I dont understand how this restaurant can be among the 100 best in Canada, far from being worth the $500 we paid.

Really good food and wine pairing. The sommelier was amazing. It s a pleasure to listen to her.

Excellence in every possible sense of the word. The food is absolutely stunning, innovative, conceptually exciting and flawlessly executed. A real masterclass in food as art. With the minutiae of each dish treated with passion and care, the food highlights the energy and ambition of a fearless and accomplished chef. Nothing safe about it, surprises in every bite. The wine pairing additionally blew us away - utter perfection. The sommelier, Fiona, was deeply knowledgeable, passionate and delightful. She even agreed to sell us a bottle of our favourite wine to bring home. An absolute treat. This is fine dining done with style, sophistication and a sprinkling of whimsy. I cannot recommend it highly enough for a special and unforgettable evening.

Good gastronomy (kudos to the chef), good service, not too expensive, especially the wine pairing at 65 dollars per person with good but young and inexpensive wines.

Nice experience

Floating Island is a must for me, an annual tradition that I look forward to. However, this year I faced a few changes that are worth mentioning. The atmosphere and service are still excellent, but the prices have increased significantly... This makes me hesitant to go back... In addition, the wine list and the food and wine pairings are very questionable... Almost only natural wines, sad for a gourmet restaurant. Bill around $500 for two people, without it being incredible and with a folkloric food and wine pairing

A definite Michelin star experience. The food is stunning, innovative, conceptually exciting and flawlessly executed. The Chef Sean excitingly challenged our palate with each dish of the 6 course Dégustation, it highlights the energy and ambition of a fearless and accomplished chef. The wine pairing was perfect thanks to the deeply knowledgeable, passionate and delightful sommelier. Ill definitely visit this gem whenever I have a chance.

Nice atmosphere and service. The dishes sorely lack balance and cohesion, which is a shame. Pairing truffle / basil / turnip / duck / red fruit juice was not to my taste. Nor the brie mousse (very salty) and the caramel tiles (very sweet). Same for the sweet and sour dessert, with popcorn ice cream too salty for me. Between two meat dishes, you will be served a vegan dish. Why not, but again it lacks cohesion. Mention on the other hand on the food and wine pairing, with excellent pairing and nice finds. An interesting experience to try, but a little disjointed, not justifying the high price in my opinion.

A fantastic culinary experience, the most unique I ve ever tried! Every meal paired with its wine was meticulously prepared and explained. The atmosphere is perfect. Only good things about this place!

Ile Flottante was an unforgettable experience! I am lucky to have travelled and eaten at some of the best restaurants in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe. My experience at Ile Flottante easily surpassed any starred restaurant Ive been to. The food was a delight surprise at every stage, with flavours, presentation and an authentic touch. Seven dishes were brought in by the team and paired with an excellent choice of wines. The staff was incredible, interactive and easily approachable. I want to thank everyone in the restaurant who made my special occasion and celebration with a special friend an experience to remember. I loved the atmosphere as well!! Magic is in the kitchen and around it. Well done!! I believe you will keep up the fantastic work, and I wish you all the recognition you deserve.

Service of Nov 23rd was unacceptable. It took 1.5h to get the first course; total meal lasted 5 hours, extremely slow and chaotic service. We had 4 different servers, all confused and poorly trained. Atmosphere was tense with all the tables frustrated and witnessing the kitchen chaos. To top it off, we were charged 125$ per person although the website marks it at 110$ - false marketing!!! Unacceptable. We were looking forward to this experience but left extremely disappointed.

An incredible experience! Everything was perfect. Exemplary service and dishes, each more exquisite than the last. We will go back and next time we will take the wine pairing! I recommend this restaurant to everyone.

Great! Perhaps a bit small in portion...I really like the concept of no menu because the chef decides...The sommelier was very inspiring!

Certainly, one of the best restaurants in Montreal. We came in August 2022 then in December 2023 - 2 totally different and highly distinguished menus. 4 savory and two sweet courses - very well balanced, we come away satisfied but not stuffed. The restaurant adapts very well to allergens. The notable difference in December 2023 is the quality of service which has really enhanced the experience - this was the only downside that we noted on our first visit which was corrected following our recent visit. Maxime our server and Fiona the sommelier were both super welcoming and friendly. (Congratulations for changing the paint, it s warmer and less dark). Thank you for the pleasant evening.

A divine culinary experience!

Vegetarian options: They can make their courses vegan! It was amazing :)