Restaurant L’Orignal describes itself (somewhat begrudgingly) as “chalet chic comfort food in Old Montreal.” It’s admittedly a pretty apt description.

It’s hard to miss the entrance, marked by a mysterious moose sign, beckoning you to turn down a quiet side street and take a few steps down below street level and through a stunningly cozy entrance. 

From their website, L’Orignal promises:

• A warm welcome
• A cozy ambiance
• A soundtrack that won’t irritate you
• Lollipops

And it largely delivers on those expectations. Minus the lollipops. (What is that about? And where can I find them?)

The vibe

L’Orignal embraces its Canadian roots, through the decor and the food. Faux moose heads and other antler-centric decor are mounted on the wall. The place is covered in flannel. Wood paneling as far as the eye can see. Red-and-white checkered cloth napkins. The vibe is confusing, but comforting. Parts of the restaurant look like a cozy chalet. Parts of it look like a family cabin in the woods, full of the kitsch someone’s mom has been collecting for decades. Hoodies abounded. I wore jeans and still felt overdressed.

Run by a brother-and-sister duo, the restaurant sources its ingredients from local Montreal suppliers and serves comfort food inspired by the terroir of Quebec. Meat dishes like bison are on the menu, and the restaurant leans into its hunting lodge aesthetic, though there are vegetarian and seafood options as well.

The experience

As soon as I walked in, Michael greeted me and made me feel welcome. I chose to sit at the bar, and while the initial interjection of “Mimi, WHADDAYA WANT?” caught me a little off guard, Michael put a lot of effort into building a rapport with everyone and kept checking in to make sure folks were having a good time. He sang along to the 80s and 90s playlist while shucking oysters like a fiend. 

Though the food and the prices are slightly upscale, it’s this vibe that makes L’Orignal feel approachable.

Cocktails

For a casual chalet whose theme is, overwhelmingly, “moose,” L’Orignal has a surprisingly adventurous and varied cocktail menu. I started with the pineapple rum punch. The tropical vibes didn’t exactly match the setting, but who cares. I would love to come back to try the marmalade margarita and the Moscow Moose, their take on a Moscow mule that uses St. Germain.

Pork schnitzel

I can’t say no to a schnitzel, so I was very excited to try the one at L’Orignal. The accompanying potato salad wasn’t my favorite — the eggs were kind of weird, and I was hoping for a vinegar-y, zippy, pucker-y German or Austrian style of potato to go with the schnitzel. But the schnitzel was satisfying, the potatoes were hearty, and the mustard cream sauce was generously poured. And I was hungry. It was a hefty plate of food, and I nearly finished the whole thing.

“Wow. You can eat,” Michael said when he saw my almost-clean plate. “We couldn’t date,” he added. “Because you wouldn’t save any for me.” No, we couldn’t date, for several reasons, I thought.

Restaurant L’Orignal celebrates local, seasonal ingredients, so I expect the menu does change from time to time. The schnitzel, however, seems to be a mainstay, and for good reason. So is the sticky toffee pudding.

Sticky toffee pudding

Made by Michael’s sister (who is also co-owner, I later learned), this was the sticky toffee pudding of my dreams. One big slab of moist cake, deeply rich and drowning in a sticky toffee sauce, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.

In between entrees and dessert, Michael made surprise shots for everyone sitting at the bar. They were “hot shots,” composed of two liqueurs, one floating on top of another. Perks of sitting at the bar. By the time I left, I was full to bursting and slightly tipsy.

It’s true that my schnitzel and sticky toffee pudding were notably European for a place that bills itself as Canadian to the core. If I lived nearby, I’d definitely return to try some of their local, seasonal menu items for the full Québécois experience, as well as the bone marrow, the beef tagliatelle, and the mushroom toast.

This wasn’t the fanciest food I’ve had in Montreal, but it was one of my favorite nights out. Yes, go for the food, but even more so — go for the experience, for the ambience, and for the stories.