There is More to Duck than Duck Confit: A Guide

Riddled in French culture, Montreal is well versed in the art of French cuisine. At a traditional French bistro, dishes like boeuf bourguignon, steak tartare, and duck confit jump off the menu. If you love duck the way we do, you should know that there are plenty of Montreal restaurants that prepare duck in a variety of ways. Traditional duck confit is fabulous and is customarily served with salardaise potatoes, which are potatoes cooked in duck fat. We want to expand your horizons and show you that there are many other ways to have duck at Montreal restaurants.

L’Express

L’Express is Montreal’s quintessential Parisian bistro, and it is no coincidence that L’Express is on our list of restaurants that serve duck in an inventive fashion. Their sautéed duck confit with salad adds flair to the traditional. A generous amount of shredded duck sits on a spinach salad with radishes, croutons and green beans. L’Express is also a popular late night eatery¸ open seven days a week from 8:00 or 10:00am, until 1:00 or 2:00am.

3927 Rue Saint-Denis, Montréal, QC H2W 2M
(514) 845-5333

Au Pied de Cochon

All hail Au Pied de Cochon! Martin Picard, one of the top chefs in Montreal, is known for his traditional Quebec cuisine mixed with his own genius. His restaurant, Au Pied de Cochon, is famous for their duck in a can. Duck, foie gras, and happiness are stuffed in a can and cooked to perfection. When the can is opened by the waiter (using a can opener, of course), the aromas wafting out are more intense than grandma’s Sunday cooking. Open Wednesday to Sunday from 5:00pm to midnight, Au Pied de Cochon is one of Montreal’s most popular restaurants.

536 Avenue Duluth Est, Montréal, QC H2L 1A9
(514) 281-1114

Le Filet

Salad is rather boring, but a house smoked duck salad with green beans, amaretti, and raspberry is absolutely delightful. Le Filet is the little sister restaurant of Club Chasse et Pêche, but with such large shoes to fill, you need not worry. Let’s talk about their duck! The sourness of the raspberry reduction coupled with the sweetness of the amaretti make for a perfect combination with the rich duck. Le Filet is one of our Diva-approved Montreal favourites; they are open Tuesday to Saturday from 6:00 to 11:00pm.

219 Avenue du Mont-Royal Est, Montréal, QC H2T 2T2
(514) 360-6060

Brama

When we hear duck, we think French, but Brama is an Italian restaurant that serves a delicious duck dish. Brama has a duck confit campanelle pasta dish with fava beans and a pistachio gremolata that is to die for. The beans are crispy and the sauce exquisite. With a menu that changes frequently, Brama adds an Italian flair to the traditional French duck confit dish. Located in Little Italy, this eatery is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 5:30 to 10:30pm.

6701 Boulevard Saint-Laurent, Montréal, QC H2S 3C7
(514) 270-6701

Vallier

We simply adore Vallier restaurant in Old Montreal and their portobello stuffed ravioli topped with shredded duck confit. But they say it is all in the sauce! Vallier’s duck dish boasts a sauce made with au jus with cream, shallots, more mushrooms, and so many more mouth-watering ingredients. They also have a delicious duck confit shepherd’s pie topped with the creamiest mashed potatoes and served with homemade ketchup. Open daily until 10:00 or 11:00 pm, Vallier is the perfect place to enjoy a glass of wine and a relaxing evening.

425 Rue McGill, Montréal, QC H2Y 2G5
(514) 842-2905

Pintxo

Pintxo is a small Basque tapas restaurant. They have a smoked duck tartare that is almost pulled pork-like in texture. But our favourite of their duck dishes are the mushroom caps stuffed with duck confit, and their perfect goat cheese raviolis topped with a duck stew in a gravy-like sauce. Pintxo specializes in small plates so you can easily try all of these duck dishes in one visit. Open for lunch on Wednesday to Friday, and for dinner every day from 6:00 pm to 10:00 or 11:00pm, you will not regret visiting Pintxo.

256 Rue Roy East, Montréal, QC H2W 1M6
(514) 844-0222

Tuck Shop

Tuck Shop has a chalkboard menuthat changes often and goes up on their twitter page: @TuckShopMTL. We fell in love with their duck magret draped over spaetzle, a German dumpling, squash, maple braised savoy cabbage, and pearl onions in a pomegranate sauce. Sounds like a mouthful? Well, it was! Tuck Shop is in the Sud-Ouest and is open Tuesday to Saturday from 6:00 to 11:00pm. Hopefully they have this dish on their menu when you visit!

4662 Rue Notre-Dame Ouest, Montréal, QC H4C 1S7
(514) 439-7432

Marché 27

Marché 27 is known for its formidable raw menu. They have a duck tartare that can be prepared in a variety of styles, amongst other meat and fish tartares. Some of their menu changes seasonally, like their confit duck wings with a sweet Asian glaze. Marché 27’s large duck wings are always crispy and their sauce is always finger-licking good. Open daily from 11:30am to 11:00pm, Marché 27 is the perfect place to stop and satisfy that raw craving.

27 Rue Prince Arthur Ouest, Montréal, QC H2X 1S4
(514) 287-2725

Le Gros Jambon

Duck dishes do not necessarily have to be fancy and expensive. Le Gros Jambon in Old Montreal shows Montrealers how duck confit can be turned into comfort food. Try their four cheese mac n’ cheese with duck confit piled high, or their BDLT which is a sandwich made up of bacon, duck confit, lettuce and tomatoes. Le Gros Jambon is open seven days a week from 9:00am to 4:00pm, the perfect lunch spot to satisfy that duck craving.

286 Rue Notre-Dame Ouest, Montreal, QC H2Y 1T6
(514) 508-3872

Le Hachoir

When in Rome…or in Quebec…get a poutine! Le Hachoir is a gourmet burger restaurant with a decadent duck confit poutine. French fries are topped with duck confit, tomme de Grosse-Île cheese and sautéed mushrooms. The gravy is light, made with au jus from the duck meat. It tastes like it should have been the sauce on an expensive cut of meat, not in a poutine. Le Hachoir is open seven days a week until 11:00pm or midnight. You won’t regret stopping by.

4177 Rue Saint-Denis, Montréal, QC H2W 2M3
(514) 903-1331