The story
Le Violon opened in June 2024 on Rue Marquette in Montréal's Le Plateau, quickly earning a spot on the Michelin Guide’s Recommended list for Quebec. The restaurant describes itself as “a neighbourhood restaurant” built on thoughtful, ingredient-driven cooking. Its modern cuisine focuses on seafood and seasonal Quebec produce, highlighting the farms, coastal fisheries, and the people behind them.
Chefs Danny Smiles and Mitch Laughren, both partners and co-executive chefs, have worked together for years—first at Le Bremner, then at the Willow Inn. Smiles’s Italian and Egyptian heritage shapes his approach, while Laughren, mentored by his uncle Chef Mark McEwan, believes in cooking with ingredients made by people who take pride in their work. Chef de cuisine Sara Raspa—a presence since her days at Le Bremner—brings a sense of family to the kitchen. Executive pastry chef Laura Faria applies a design-minded approach to reimagined classics.
The dining room interiors were co-designed by partner and creative director Dan Climan with Atelier Zébulon Perron, showcasing Climan’s signature nostalgic aesthetic. Two of his paintings hang on the walls.
Wine manager Esme Millar and beverage manager Bianca Schweers shape a program that balances classics with curiosity. Schweers’s small cocktail menu aims to set the tone for the evening without unnecessary fuss. The result is a place where the modern cuisine and the warm, unpretentious service feel of a piece.
Recognition
Ambience
Details
Location
