Cabane à Sucre Au Pied De Cochon

On October 20th, we had a delightful experience at your establishment. It was our first visit, and it certainly won't be our last. The service was impeccable, the staff was friendly and welcoming, and the atmosphere was cozy and inviting. I won't go into detail about the food, as I believe the pictures I've attached speak for themselves. All I can say is that you can expect an extraordinary culinary experience, and I highly recommend bringing some takeout containers to savor the flavors at home.

My boyfriend and I recently visited Au Pied de Cochon’s sugar shack to try their harvest season menu, and we were blown away! The food was phenomenal, and we had such a memorable experience. My boyfriend even ended up licking the plate clean – that’s how good it was! Our waiter, Kelvin, was AMAZING! He recommended some fantastic cocktails, and each one was spot on. Super friendly, attentive, and helpful throughout the whole afternoon. We were told by Kelvin that we might be the first ones to leave empty-handed after finishing the 12-course service, and we took it as a proud accomplishment! As for the food, I absolutely loved their carrot cake, their squash soup, and their burrata cheese, which they make in-house! From what we heard, they’re the only place in Quebec to do so, and it was truly a treat. We can’t wait to get tickets for their winter menu and go back with our friends and family! Highly recommend this spot for an unforgettable dining experience.

it was our first time (2 ppl) at the au pied de cochon's cabane à sucre and we left with a good experience but wouldn't return as it wasn't suitable for our palette. we arrived for our reservation time at 8:30 pm and left at 11:30 pm. pros: - meal highlights: tomato tart, butternut squash soup, burrata + fruit salad, pork + duck shepherd's pie and carrot cake - our servers/bartenders (we were seated at the bar) were friendly, and explained all our dishes clearly. they also had quick water pouring service! very impressive - generous amount of food - we took home 3 tupperwares - a new and nice experience for us - fire outside to keep folks warm cons: - does not accommodate dietary restrictions (which is highlighted on the website) - upon arrival it was hard to get ahold of the host to notify her that we were there as she was running around and very busy - we were seated at the bar where it was hard to get in and out of the seats due to the heavy chairs, so our servers would need to physically come from behind to push us into our seats - despite the above mentioned, people were constantly pressing into my seat and i was being knocked - with our menu highlights in mind, it didn't seem like the meal was too worth it because we weren't too big of a fan of the other dishes - my personal take: i learned from this meal that im not a fan of foie gras, which is a staple and included in several dishes

Very good time. It was a full house. Staff was amazing. We were seated next to nice people. The food was really good. So much fun waiting for each course. The servings were generous. We had plenty to take home. I saw some seasoned diners brought in their own food containers to bring home leftovers. Overall lovely experience. We plan on doing this annually - if we can manage to get tickets. Merci!

Reservation this year was online starting on Dec 1st. You can reserve for 2 people, but you'll seated at the bar. I've never had such a decadent sugar shack experience, literally foie gras in 1/3 of all the dishes. It was delicious and was stuffed by the time the entrees came. The waiters were bustling everywhere but still took the time to explain each item and filled out cups. The great thing is that you can bring your own Tupperware to bring it back.

Honestly I had no idea what I was in for. I heard of it several years ago, kept trying to get reservations for a few years and this year finally got one. I did not even read the website and just showed up not knowing what to expect. I would say it is in the top 5 meals that I have eaten in my life and I travel all over eating at amazing places. The vibe was great, the service was fantastic (thanks Catherine, Maxim, Bernard and chef Vivianne!), the food was phenomenal! I don’t even want to tell people because I don’t want more competition for reservations but I feel like any foodie deserves to know that they MUST have this experience. I might cry in future years if I don’t get a reservation because I am going back every single year, but I am definitely going to try out their picnic basket option also!

Prepare yourself for an incredibly unique experience that will leave your heart and bellies STUFFED. Cozy, busy, loud, friendly, fun family style eating in a wooden cabin where you're dining on picnic style tables (but nicer ones). The food is phenomenal, such unique flavours but every bite is delicious. You don't know the menu so if you have dietary restrictions or are not an adventurous eater, this place is not for you. The maple syrup on the table is from the farm and available to purchase. Any leftovers are yours to take home and there will be leftovers so highly recommend bringing containers. There's 3 appetizers, 3 entrees and 3 desserts served. Drinks are sold separately. But the meal itself is paid when you make your reservation. This is such an amazing dining experience, I would highly recommend trying it. We drive from Toronto and it was well worth it. Unique dishes served this year were liver and hazelnut mousse Paris Brest, rabbit stuffed chicken with a cherry sauce, maple syrup glazed Peking duck with a black garlic hoisin and daikon, just to name a few. I do recommend wearing warm clothes because you're waiting outside before you're seated but they have a cocktail bar. It's a beautiful venue and the service is phenomenal. You can tell the staff love food and love sharing the experience with you. Every bite of every plate is delicious.

We dined here on the second night of this year's sugar season. We were the last reservation of the night and had arrived early as we were eager to experience the fare, but were unfortunately seated 15 minutes past our designated time because our table had not been cleared in a timely manner. We figured that they would start kitchen service as soon as possible due to the delay to compensate for the wait, but were only served our first course 15 minutes after we had been sat, now half an hour behind our expected dining time. The service was extremely slow and awkward. There was no synergy between the staff, who were bumping into each other and miscommunicating all throughout the night when they weren't busy chatting with each other at the back. We perceived that we were being neglected despite being in the middle of the restaurant, and at times this seemed deliberate. The menu online is completely different than what was served, so I am unable to reference the dishes in the photos. The first few courses showed promise as they were very creative, but disappointingly the mains that followed got heavier and less balanced as the night went on. We found it difficult to pace with so many of the large plates containing beans and meat with nothing on the side to complement, and the portions were simultaneously too much and yet not enough. Overall, would not recommend. We drove from Toronto to experience this and left very disappointed.

On October 20th, we had a delightful experience at your establishment. It was our first visit, and it certainly won't be our last. The service was impeccable, the staff was friendly and welcoming, and the atmosphere was cozy and inviting. I won't go into detail about the food, as I believe the pictures I've attached speak for themselves. All I can say is that you can expect an extraordinary culinary experience, and I highly recommend bringing some takeout containers to savor the flavors at home.

My boyfriend and I recently visited Au Pied de Cochon’s sugar shack to try their harvest season menu, and we were blown away! The food was phenomenal, and we had such a memorable experience. My boyfriend even ended up licking the plate clean – that’s how good it was! Our waiter, Kelvin, was AMAZING! He recommended some fantastic cocktails, and each one was spot on. Super friendly, attentive, and helpful throughout the whole afternoon. We were told by Kelvin that we might be the first ones to leave empty-handed after finishing the 12-course service, and we took it as a proud accomplishment! As for the food, I absolutely loved their carrot cake, their squash soup, and their burrata cheese, which they make in-house! From what we heard, they’re the only place in Quebec to do so, and it was truly a treat. We can’t wait to get tickets for their winter menu and go back with our friends and family! Highly recommend this spot for an unforgettable dining experience.

it was our first time (2 ppl) at the au pied de cochon's cabane à sucre and we left with a good experience but wouldn't return as it wasn't suitable for our palette. we arrived for our reservation time at 8:30 pm and left at 11:30 pm. pros: - meal highlights: tomato tart, butternut squash soup, burrata + fruit salad, pork + duck shepherd's pie and carrot cake - our servers/bartenders (we were seated at the bar) were friendly, and explained all our dishes clearly. they also had quick water pouring service! very impressive - generous amount of food - we took home 3 tupperwares - a new and nice experience for us - fire outside to keep folks warm cons: - does not accommodate dietary restrictions (which is highlighted on the website) - upon arrival it was hard to get ahold of the host to notify her that we were there as she was running around and very busy - we were seated at the bar where it was hard to get in and out of the seats due to the heavy chairs, so our servers would need to physically come from behind to push us into our seats - despite the above mentioned, people were constantly pressing into my seat and i was being knocked - with our menu highlights in mind, it didn't seem like the meal was too worth it because we weren't too big of a fan of the other dishes - my personal take: i learned from this meal that im not a fan of foie gras, which is a staple and included in several dishes

Very good time. It was a full house. Staff was amazing. We were seated next to nice people. The food was really good. So much fun waiting for each course. The servings were generous. We had plenty to take home. I saw some seasoned diners brought in their own food containers to bring home leftovers. Overall lovely experience. We plan on doing this annually - if we can manage to get tickets. Merci!

Reservation this year was online starting on Dec 1st. You can reserve for 2 people, but you'll seated at the bar. I've never had such a decadent sugar shack experience, literally foie gras in 1/3 of all the dishes. It was delicious and was stuffed by the time the entrees came. The waiters were bustling everywhere but still took the time to explain each item and filled out cups. The great thing is that you can bring your own Tupperware to bring it back.

Honestly I had no idea what I was in for. I heard of it several years ago, kept trying to get reservations for a few years and this year finally got one. I did not even read the website and just showed up not knowing what to expect. I would say it is in the top 5 meals that I have eaten in my life and I travel all over eating at amazing places. The vibe was great, the service was fantastic (thanks Catherine, Maxim, Bernard and chef Vivianne!), the food was phenomenal! I don’t even want to tell people because I don’t want more competition for reservations but I feel like any foodie deserves to know that they MUST have this experience. I might cry in future years if I don’t get a reservation because I am going back every single year, but I am definitely going to try out their picnic basket option also!

Prepare yourself for an incredibly unique experience that will leave your heart and bellies STUFFED. Cozy, busy, loud, friendly, fun family style eating in a wooden cabin where you're dining on picnic style tables (but nicer ones). The food is phenomenal, such unique flavours but every bite is delicious. You don't know the menu so if you have dietary restrictions or are not an adventurous eater, this place is not for you. The maple syrup on the table is from the farm and available to purchase. Any leftovers are yours to take home and there will be leftovers so highly recommend bringing containers. There's 3 appetizers, 3 entrees and 3 desserts served. Drinks are sold separately. But the meal itself is paid when you make your reservation. This is such an amazing dining experience, I would highly recommend trying it. We drive from Toronto and it was well worth it. Unique dishes served this year were liver and hazelnut mousse Paris Brest, rabbit stuffed chicken with a cherry sauce, maple syrup glazed Peking duck with a black garlic hoisin and daikon, just to name a few. I do recommend wearing warm clothes because you're waiting outside before you're seated but they have a cocktail bar. It's a beautiful venue and the service is phenomenal. You can tell the staff love food and love sharing the experience with you. Every bite of every plate is delicious.

We dined here on the second night of this year's sugar season. We were the last reservation of the night and had arrived early as we were eager to experience the fare, but were unfortunately seated 15 minutes past our designated time because our table had not been cleared in a timely manner. We figured that they would start kitchen service as soon as possible due to the delay to compensate for the wait, but were only served our first course 15 minutes after we had been sat, now half an hour behind our expected dining time. The service was extremely slow and awkward. There was no synergy between the staff, who were bumping into each other and miscommunicating all throughout the night when they weren't busy chatting with each other at the back. We perceived that we were being neglected despite being in the middle of the restaurant, and at times this seemed deliberate. The menu online is completely different than what was served, so I am unable to reference the dishes in the photos. The first few courses showed promise as they were very creative, but disappointingly the mains that followed got heavier and less balanced as the night went on. We found it difficult to pace with so many of the large plates containing beans and meat with nothing on the side to complement, and the portions were simultaneously too much and yet not enough. Overall, would not recommend. We drove from Toronto to experience this and left very disappointed.

Place is legendary. Service is top notch. Lots of hearty dishes that satisfy the soul. Thank you to the staff and of course Annabelle and Laurence for a fun night.

I woke up at 6 AM on December 1st, 2023 (while I was recovering from Vegas the night before) just to snag a reservation to this very special HOT ticket in Mirabel, Quebec. I had to get the perfect time and date to fall within my kids' spring break and Huzzah! Mission accomplished. We flew up to Montreal last week from Los Angeles specifically for this special meal and boy, we were blown away. First of all, it took up forever to reach the cabin because traffic in and out of Montreal can be horrendous. So I highly recommend you factor in the traffic getting there. When we finally arrived, we were greeted by two of the friendliest dogs on earth. I wish I knew their names but one was definitely obsessed with playing fetch. The best welcoming crew ever. When they finally opened the door, the cabin was super comfortable, warm and cozy. It was assigned communal seating which we usually don't love but we were lucky enough to sit next to 2 Candadian couples who were a lot of fun to talk to. Now, in order to properly enjoy this meal that is coming to you, I highly recommend you do not eat all day. Because when they feed you, they FEED YOU and it's nonstop until you pop and say please no more. I couldn't figure out why people were sitting down with their own take away containers from home but now I know. So much food. I think they probably served us enough food to feed 8 people for our family of 4. I can't even get into the food because it was just all incredible. No one bad dish. It will probably be the richest, heartiest, meatiest meal you will ever have. Unless, you have gone to their flagship restaurant, Au Pied de Cochon. That's for another review. We loved EVERYTHING. The staff, the food and the cabin itself. What an amazing experience and tradition to be a part of. We will forever be grateful to the Cabane and are anticipating coming back again next year. Totally worth the long trip. BTW. How weird is it that the review before mine has the same first name as me. Haha! Hella random.

Overall the sugar shack started off strong but then ended up disappointing. The starters were amazing. The ambience was fun and upbeat, but there was a long wait in between dishes, The soup, rabbit, fried lard on bitter salad, and omelette were great. All complemented each other and were very tasty. This set expectations very high which were not met by the mains. A sweet and bitter fish was the worst dish of the night. Followed by a cassoulet which tasted like sweet baked beans and a "Peking duck" which had an unrendered fat layer, soggy skin, and tough meat was terrible. This accompanied by thick French crepes made all the mains a disappointment. The desserts were an improvement but ended up not redeeming the meal

First French Canadian sugar shack experience. 13 courses of goodness. Salmon/tartare awesome. Ham and baked beans awesome Stuffed Chicken super awesome. Maple ice cream even more awesome. Ok I didn't like the omelette and 2 cooked fish dishes, but too much food anyway with at least another dinner worth of leftovers per person. Incredible service. Dining bargain of the century. Went two nights in a row. Lucky I'm staying at a hostel and could unload leftovers on the kids... Oh apparently there was an optional dish that I could and would have ordered looking at other Instagram photos. Sad...

I go to Cabane à Sucre Au Pied de Cochon twice a year for their spring and fall special menus and each time, I literally eat like a pig and have major food coma (in a good way). They usually give you to-go containers right from the start for you to pack your food as the courses come out because there is A LOT. BRACE YOURSELVES! I always have leftovers for two meals. This year because of the pandemic I couldn't go and they started offering their sugar shack menu for delivery! I was able to get it within a few days and even the delivered meal can feed 4 people instead of 2! We've just had this for two days in a row and still have some left. Everything was delivered in great leak proof packaging with easy to follow instructions on how to reheat and serve. Thoroughly enjoyed being able to enjoy Cabane à Sucre PDC at home during these times. Thank you

This restaurant only opens from February to May of every year.. an extension to the already well known and busy restaurant Au Pied de Cochon in Montreal. Reservations are available on December 1st of every year and the theme is around maple syrup (hence cabane a sucre). Reservations are $1.50 per person with up to 21 days notice of modifying or canceling your reso. It's nonrefundable but helps them insure that those who do book will come to the dinner. It's a tasting menu for $70.50PP plus tax. Come prepared with containers becuase there is a lot of food to take with you. Knowing about experiences my friends had i brought a lot of containers thinking i was prepared and i used every single one of them up! honestly hands down one of the best tasting menu meals I've ever had. If you have never been, it's definitely worth to try at least once. There were 13 courses in total - 4 apps, 4 mains and 5 desserts. And dont' think just because the portions are not "that big" that you can finish. We were warned by staff to pace ourselves (our friends too) and we are so glad we took that advice. About 4-5 courses in i can already feel myself starting to be full. You also have to be strategic on what to pack - some things you can't and have to eat there. Apps: bison tartare and smoked trout with infused egg yolk - my gosh this was so delicious. Bison was very fresh, not gamey at all, in fact it's like a milder version of beef. Loved the sauce it was tossed in for the tartare - refreshing. the trout was delicious with the egg yolk that was cut and spread across as almost like a sauce. foie gras roll - yes. foie gras made into a sushi roll essentially, with a soy sauce for dipping. i felt the roll was flavourful enough and didn't need the sauce as it was too much. it was good, but the foie gras could have been thicker - it was a bit too thin. fluffed egg - imagine a puffed up egg that's almost like a scrambled egg. it is so fluffy and thick! served with a maple sauce and some glazed pork on the side it was just so delicious when you mix all the sauce in together. maple ham, bean soup, canned beans, with a melted cheese sauce, pancakes fried in duck fat and maple butter - yes. it's already the 4th course and i'm almost getting full! the ham was AMAZING.. i have never had such delicious ham before and with the cheese sauce was just like a bomb. the bean soup with bacon was also really good - i dont' normally like bean/lentil soup but this is just mind blowing. canned beans were also delcioius and the pancakes with the maple butter was just so good. Mains: - stuffed pasta with maple and cheese (oh my gosh it was so delicious wiht the maple sauce on the side as well), served in a little pot - one per person and it was indulging enough! - fresh lettuce salad with a cheese sauce (finally some greens! i was so happy to be able to eat them) - i liked the sauce, it was creamy but not super filling/rich - stuffed chicken with liver and maple sauce, seasonal vegetables. Loved this dish. it was so good - i loved the liver that was stuffed inside the chicken (it was deboned), the vegetables, my friends didn't love parsnip but i had no problem eating them - the veg was cooked perfectly and was not too soft, and the sauce was just so rich. - steamed cod with nordic shrimps on a bed of maple buter sauce with seasonal veg and corel mushrooms. one of my favourites. the cod was cooked PERFECTLY and such beautiful texture. the nordic shrimps were hard to eat but super flavourful - they look so small compared to the ones we get on market here. the corel mushrooms were so delicious and amazing.. soaked with that butter sauce it was just a perfect companion. Desserts: - maple ice cream featuring Chef martin Picard's maple condensed milk. it was so good - i bought a can to bring home with me to make my own ice cream! - maple taffy on a wooden spoon - perfectly went with the ice cream. it was so good - they also sell that in a jar if you want to take some home - churros with maple butter inside - omg. this was so freaking delicious - it was not too messy to eat either for somehting that had a sauce inside, but it gave the perfect maple flaovur to the churros - maple soaked bread with poached apple - yum. it was just so delicious and so glad i only had to eat a bite by now i was stuffed... then the kicker. we got 2 1/2 size pies in addition to these desserts. yes. a berry meringue tart with edible silver and their famous maple tart. WE packed these home - the maple tart is one of my favourite things...EVER. the berry meringue tart was a bit too sour this time -not sure if they didn't adjust the sugar amt properly but even with the meringue which balanced it out it was still on the tart side. for someone who likes tart even that was a bit too much. But all in all, a wonderful superb delicious meal and I am tempted to try their harvest season when it comes in the fall!

Amazing food! Pre-covid the wife and I would make the trip for this place from NY yearly, once we ran into chef Martin Picard himself! Picture do it the most justice.

tl;dr Basically, Au Pied de Cochon from the city, unplugged. --- For uninitiated city folks like us, people up in Montreal (or I guess anywhere where they make maple syrup) go to a cabane a sucre (sugar shack) to celebrate the winter season with a feast that mimics the large format meals which used to served to farm workers. Being big fans of Au Pied de Cochon in the city and having friends who have been to their sugar shack and really loved it, we were able to snag a reservation for the 2018 Harvest season (they do two sessions a year - a Harvest season that runs August-November and a Sugaring season that runs ~February to May). 1. The hype is real. Reservations for ideal time slots were gone within 2-3 days after release. 2. The food is insanely cheap. It was pretty incredible the amount of food that you get with $65 CAD per person (less than $50! USD) - 11 savory courses and 4 desserts! 3. Maybe it goes without saying, but you can't get to the sugar shack via public transportation. It's about a 45 minute drive from downtown Montreal. 4. The food was great as normal, but not everything was off-the-charts mindblowingly good (which to us was actually a slight disappointment when compared to APC of the city). I really enjoyed the linguine with scallop, ratatouille, and the burrata pizza. The fish dishes were average (unfortunately the mackerel was extremely fishy) and there wasn't a surfeit of foie on the harvest menu when we went (which we were kind of surprised about). 5. Having gone to a sugar shack twice now, I still think it's best to come for these meals with a large, and I mean LARGE (more than 6) group. The experience just doesn't quite translate completely for a group of 2. It's not a huge problem, but it's just the way it is. So basically, we enjoyed the experience but it wasn't so outstanding that we would make a repeat drive all the way back again. The APC in the city is more than enough for us :) As always, bring an appetite!! I still struggle to fathom who actually finishes cabane meals as I feel they always cook for 4 with a group of 2, and 8 for a group of 4. Our leftovers lasted us for the entire next day's breakfast and lunch :P (it would have lasted to dinner as well if it weren't for us driving back to the US and technically we couldn't bring meats into the US...lol)

Serious food lovers only apply!!! Au Pied the Cochon has become one of Montreal's most stapled institutions even though you'll need a car and one hour of travel to drive to due to it's remote location in the boonies. You'll quickly realize this is a very much "in demand" location to discover some amazing food with very specific days in the year you'll need to log to online and book your food adventure. The entire season (consisting of several months) will be booked within the hour! So best of luck to you as your availability could be a random day in the season like a Monday night at 9 PM! Lastly, they have 2 seasons, one for Sugar Shack season and the other for Apple Season. We went for the Sugar Shack experience that came up to about $70 +tax + tip per person. (alcoholic drinks not included) and we were very excited to discover what Au Pied de Cochon is all about! The one thing you'll learn is that they don't maintain the same menu from season to season and try out a new "theme". My dining experience was Moroccan themed. This means the pictures/experiences you'll read and see from prior years become quickly obsolete as the food items will no longer exist unless you experience the food within the same season. The Moroccan menu consisted about a dozen plates and as it was my first experience with Au Pied de Cochon it was kind of a mixed bag. Some plates were simply AMAZING, and some others were completely forgettable. Knowing full well most people leave STUFFED to the 9s, I paced myself opting to take some items away in my doggie bin and politely pushing away items I didn't care for away leaving space for "what was to come" but didn't end up coming.... Since you "share" the table, your portion per plate can be limited and thus the items I REALLY liked became a scarce commodity you barely had a chance to enjoy and some plates with plates I was neutral or disliked had plenty of leftovers. Ultimately, I left still feeling hungry. Imagine my luck! Some plates were amazing, I really enjoyed the fois gras cake (served too early to be honest) as well as the sweet pork and granita ice shaving that came with our maple taffy. The 2 tablespoons of pudding chomeur was good but hey.... CAN I HAVE A REAL PORTION??? The rest of the menu was a mixed bag for me. As a first experience, I can totally understand the hype. You don't see this being offered elsewhere and if you want a gastronomic artisanal sugar shack experience and budget isn't an issue, this is the place to try out, at least once. However, this may not be for everyone and now I understand when I had people experience this place before telling me they weren't a huge fan...I believe comes from having absolutely no control on what is being served at all. In my case, Moroccan menu for a cabane a sucre was a miss but I'd love to see what other seasons could represent. Anyways, that's my take.

Every city has an experience unique to its charm. For Montreal, PDC cabane à sucre marks the map for an original excursion whether with family of friends. Being one a demanded event, you have to book this event months in advance-and be nice to your friends who host, if you cancel you pay 50% for your spot. Serious food lovers only! The menu changes annually with a particular theme that is influenced by chef Martin Picard's travels. From years past there was a Japanese influence, this year was Moroccan. The drive out to Mirabel is a nice one - 45 min drive from the city (car pooling highly recommended) with a views of the farm side. There is plenty of parking. We were there for the 6 pm service so the wait was short. The cabin is minimal in decor buy filled with a sugar shack glow alligned with long wooden tables. Once we were seated the feasting started. For 70$ per person (w/o tax -with tax, min tip and a beer comes out to over 100$), you will get your money's worth of food and dine like kings and Queen's. I lost count- over 10 courses. You'll get take away containers (honestly I didn't enjoy the food next day - tasted better on spot). The portions were too large for me to actually enjoy each dish separately - but that is unique to the cabane à sucre experience. There was a cocktail menu with drinks starting at 10$. I settled for a st-ambroise stout to compliment the blend of spice /sweet for 9$- good call because it lasted my whole meal! There was no particular order of items served- but I do think the foie gras was too sweet be served as a starter (but very good! Needed fancier bread-not toast). For the following courses- I really enjoyed the fish Kefta dish with a blend of avocado, peas, etc. I liked the element of traditional Moroccan cooking styles introduced into the food experience -two dishes a pork, and a beef dish baked in a separate clay pots- swimming in flavour! For dessert: the simplest of all choices blew my mind - shaved ice with mint liquor and dried mint leaves that came with the traditional maple syrup on a stick. The presentation was beautiful like woods in a winterscape. A very cool experience as a local. Although I don't know if i will be back - this was a one time thing for me. I think I'm more traditional and will await Picard's apple picking season version of this event.

Martin Picard is well known in Montreal's food scene so naturally his sugar shack is wildly popular and difficult to get into. Many try to get a reservation here but only few succeed in doing so. It's not a conventional sugar shack in that you don't eat traditional sugaring off food. Instead you try restaurant dishes in a sugar shack setting. Consider this a warning to watch how you eat the day you come here because I promise you that there will be no shortage of food. The waiters bring tins to take home leftovers before you have even received food because they know that you simply can't finish it all off. We were served fourteen different dishes and all of them were quite heavy. On the particular night that I came the menu was Moroccan inspired though we started off the soiree with a foie gras cake. Yes you heard right, foie gras cake. It was very decadent. From there there was what felt like an endless parade of dishes, and we ended up trying fourteen ones. I was full long before the main courses came but I kept going because most of it was pretty darn delicious. A few dishes fell flat but the meal as a whole was very enjoyable. My favourite dish of the night was a beef tagine which had been cooked for 5 hours. It was incredibly tender. This epic feast cost about $70 (tax and tip not included) and it did seem like a fair price given the quantity and quality of the food. Believe me there was lots of food. Alcohol wasn't included in that and I must admit that drinks were a little over priced. I ordered a cocktail (whose name I can't remember) and it was a little weak. I'm happy that I got the chance to finally try the Pied du Cochon sugar shack but I must admit that the whole experience is slightly overrated. The food was good but it was lacking that extra wow factor that I was expecting given the hype surrounding this place. Alas, it's one of those experiences that you try once to say you did it.

Amazing food, awesome experience, good service. I didn't expect a sugar shack's food to be this special, with some kind of japanese fusion (seaweed salad, foie gras sushi and eating with chopsticks). There was so much food that it was difficult to finish and everything was delicious from the first entree to the last dessert. The service is quick and the staff were friendly, nice and took their time to explain all the dishes. The place had a nice sugar shack atmosphere and they even have japanese toilets!!! Make sure you get a reservation as soon as possible as it takes a few months before getting one. The place was easy to find with google maps. Although it wasn't cheap (almost 100$ including tax and tips), it's definitely an awesome experience.

So we had to try this place once and it's done. Was the experience memorable? Probably. But not for any good reasons. The food did not live up to the hype. True, it was very rich . Excessively sweet and nothing in between. Not worth over 300$ for two that's for sure! Not worth waiting in line like cattle to be fed either. Our meal started off with the very rich and heavy stew that consisted of foie gras, oats, fried tofu, raw egg yolk and bacon. I couldn't finish my tiny serving. The next thing was a platter that had an array of condiments with sautéed cabbage and smoke meat. At first, they brought us ONE platter to share among all 14 adults. Good thing we made the remarks and they proceeded on giving us a second platter. No everyone would of had the chance to taste it. Then it continued with other dishes that were ok some better then the other. The desserts for me was WAY TOO SWEET. Yes I'm aware that it's a sugar shack. But there's sweet and then there's SWEET! Let me also say that usually a "trou Norman" is offered and is included in your meal. Not here. It's 5$ y'all! Had I known, about it, I would of skipped it. Also, some items needed to be flambéed. That wasn't done right either. Did we have food to take home? Not really. We only (barely) had some takeout and that's because one cousin couldn't make it and we still paid her ticket. So NO. We did not needed our takeout containers. Service on the other hand was good. They did try their best to make us enjoy our evening. Our waiter Jean-Philippe (I think) was very accommodating nonetheless. Will we be back. Nope. But we all agreed that this place had to be tried once.

We visited on a warmer winter day. It was beautiful. The parking lot was full. There were people everywhere. Outside you're able to walk up a long forest filled path up the hill. It was quite muddy when we were there from all the melted snow. We walked up the path and saw all the maple stakes flowing with rich syrup. They've got a small building that collects and churns it. It was very neat to be able to see while you wait your turn to be seated. First tip--make reservations way in advance or you won't get in! You tell them you've arrived and when your table is ready they seat you. If you don't fill a table then you're seated with strangers. We sat along this bar facing a mirror. It was actually quite awkward but it was nice to have our 'own little area'. They've got several adult drink selections that include whiskey and maple. I don't like dark liquor drinks but I tried one of the fruitier options. I wasn't a fan. My boyfriend liked his though. Second tip--don't expect to order a la carte or even plan on anything specific. They serve everyone the same four course meal for that night. The night we went they paired maple with fois gras. It was amazing. They put big bacon chunks and pork in a soup that was very tasty as well. They presented a gorgeous sushi dish but it wasn't as good as everything else. And they finished dinner off with a chocolate log on a salt platter. They give you a mallet and you smash it. Our daughter loved it! Third tip--it's a lot of quality food so it's not cheap. Be prepared to spend a bit more than most places. Again, great night. Amazing scenery. Tasty food! Just don't expect to be catered to or even to see the same server more than once or twice in the night.

Another year, another feast at Cabane à sucre du Pied de Cochon. It's obscene, the portions are way too big, you feel like you won't be able to eat for a whole week when you leave the place, but MAN is it ever good. The experience is different every year, but it's always super tasty. The price/quality/portion ratio is simply unbeatable. I don't have the words to say how much I enjoy my yearly trip to Cabane à sucre pied de cochon. Just go, it's 100% worth every penny.

OMG! I've been looking forward to this meal for months! That's how far in advance you have to book. It's good to plan ahead, especially coming in from another city, in my case, Toronto. I've heard apple season isn't as good as maple syrup season but guess what? I will take what I can get! Our drive to this location wasn't too bad since we were staying in the west island. That in itself saved us a solid 30 minutes. It's approximately an hour drive from downtown Montreal. Upon arrival, we walked around the grounds, took some photos, and eagerly awaited the feast that was soon to come. I had booked for 4 people and were assigned bar seats. This was good in the sense that you're not cramped on a bench, but you sit with your dining companions in a row, so not conducive to dinner conversation. Let's face it, it was all about the food anyways! If you've got a group of 8-10 (maybe even 12) you get an entire communal dining table, similar to a giant picnic table. I think the one square table was the best seating arrangement for a large group. If you have allergies, you're kind of screwed. They don't make changes to the dishes so you just make do with what you can eat. The server will inform you about which dishes won't cause you an epipen episode. Onto the food: 6 appetizers, 3 mains, and 5 desserts. 1. Tomato soup served from the can with a PDC Campbell's style label, with puffy bread and sausage (good). 2. Baked oyster for each person topped with a chunk of foie gras (good). 3. Squid ink pasta with ricotta (cannelloni) (amazing). 4. Another pasta with tofu (good). 5. Vietnamese style fresh roll but with sliced meats (kinda weird). 6. Fried calf brains on roasted cauliflower (delicious). 1. Pork served with sweetbreads, turnips, and carrots (good). 2. Mackerel served with eggplant, zucchini, peppers, and chickpeas (good). Tagine from the outdoor smoker! 3. Meatloaf with Brie and potatoes wrapped with bacon topped with Brussels sprouts (way too heavy). 1. Lemon cake layered with vanilla ice cream and raspberry sorbet, surrounded with meringue topped with whipped cream and some plums (amazing). 2. Pear something (good). 3. Strawberry pie (good). 4. Chocolate tart (good). 5. Some other baked goodness (good). I'm not sure I like the idea of dining while scooping extra food into containers on the side. I hate wasting food, but seriously, the portions here are just insane. The value is unbelievable for the quality, quantity, and variety of food. $55 per person for the apple season. The bar has a good selection of drinks to satisfy everyone. After everything was all said and done, I would recommend this as a unique dining experience for people who are adventurous and who love food, especially meat. Vegetarians and vegans need not apply. Don't come and give a crappy review because they don't have anything for you. I'm definitely going to try for the maple syrup season!

This is easily among the top meals I've eaten in my life and absolutely definitely the best VALUE meal I've seen period. At $63 Canadian and an hour drive outside of Montreal I had a few last minute doubts. This is a dinner I've been anticipating for years so it was going to be hard to meet the crazy expectations....but it did!!! Hard to write a review that helps anyone except those going for this seasons menu as it changes so dramatically, but here are some notes that are probably useful across seasons: -The server told us that there'd be way too much food to finish and there'd be plenty of to go boxes. -Every course is incredibly rich. Think about sampling before you throw yourself at any individual dish. -Try the cocktails! We especially liked the gin-maple syrup and gin-rhubarb drinks. If the meal hadn't been so filling the raspberry daiquiri is remarkably refreshing. Note it probably doesn't make sense to order more than one given how filling everything is. -Dessert is a full on fireworks show finale! As absolutely delicious as everything is make sure you save space as there is both a crazy quantity of it and it is delicious. This seasons carrot cake (crunchy with pumpkin seeds) and apple pie stuffed with almond cream and apple purée are truly standout. -Don't arrive early for your reservation. There really isn't anywhere to wait. This is a meal worth both flying and or leaving the country for! I'll be marking my calendar for December 1 to get myself in that lottery for sugar season reservations!

Prepare yourself for a ridiculous, over the top overindulgence, followed by a food coma. There are 4 appetizer, 2 main meals and 2 dessert dishes. Luckily, they give out doggy bags so you get to take your leftovers home. The menu changes every year and it's really genius! The combination of flavours puts such a modern twist on this cabane a sucre. It's quite pricey though, so you'll leave with an empty wallet, but a very very full belly! Update to 2016: they make their own gin now. It's pretty darn good with some maple syrup and champagne.

Bonjour.. Always amazing. We do this ever spring. We drive our RV from Oklahoma City all the way to Montreal and then to Maribel to the amazing 9 course maple syrup inspired feast. Thanks again everyone.

Wonderful place! We travelled outside of Montreal for about an hour since Au Pied Du Cochon moved here for the summer. We sat outside and enjoyed a heated patio with a beautiful view of the garden and the sunset. We shared the stuffed PDC as well as the duck in a can and some foie gras (of course) for an appetizer. For the four of us, we had plenty. The flavours were rich with every bite that we had. We thoroughly enjoyed our time here and would love to come again to have another meal!

This year's Moroccan (Fall 2018) inspiration might leave many disgruntled by an enmity of spices and impetus use of saffron. Only the appetizers may gloat your taste buds, but as the meal goes on your palate might morosely fall to disappointment; even to some of the specially concocted cocktails. However, the presentation is regal on every aspect throughout. This season has fallen short to the hype.

Cabane a sucre PDC is not like any sugar shack you've ever visited, I guarantee it! The venue is nothing special; it's just like any other sugar shack with traditional long wooden tables and a few stuffed coyotes hanging from the large overhead beams, and a section where you can buy some canned goods and even clothing with the PDC logo. HOWEVER, the vibe, the food, the drinks, the FOOD (did I mention that already?) is what makes this sugar shack infamous! The vibe is electrifying; you wait in line till your name is called to be seated and seeing how long you've already waited since you made your reservation, the anticipation is high!. You are seated, offered one of the seasonal cocktails (usually classics with a twist of maple), and then the feast begins! During this last visit for apple season, the theme was Italian, so we were served a variety of entrees, mains and desserts reminiscent of classic Italian dishes on generous portions. I say reminiscent cause this isn't your Nona's traditional lasagna dish. We enjoyed an antipasti of parmesan fondue, then entrees of bolognese and foie gras passatelli soup, ciambella salata, homemade burrata cheese with seasonal fruits. Then came the butternut squash gnocchi, eggplants a la parmigiana, timpano lasagna, braised tripe ragout, beef tournedos brochettes wrapped in bacon, and stuffed green peppers. As if that wasn't enough, make room for dessert! Strawberry tart, sfogliatelle with caramelised apples, and an ice cream cake. The thing about this menu is that besides the flavorful and creative use of ingredients, the presentation is what makes this meal memorable. Martin Picard has been at it for years, and with two different menus per season, I am always amazed at the creative inspiration behind his plates. In comparison to the previous season, this menu wasn't as exotic maybe as the Asian theme or as generous in terms of portions, but don't get me wrong, we ate well and we took leftovers home! Everyone should at least get to this foodie experience once for themselves and for those like me, who enjoy the fresh air, the festive environment and the creative dishes offered at this sugar shack, I am already looking forward to next season!

This was our first time and we were excited to be able to finally eat at the cabane after hearing friends rave about their experiences. We were in for a treat. The cabane is a well oiled machine. The staff is efficient, knowledgeable, helpful and know the menu by heart. The drinks are excellent and the food decadent. We were warned ahead to bring some Tupperware in order to bring leftovers back with us making us wonder how much food we'd get as a couple. Be prepared to get a lot of food. The food kept coming and every dish we had we loved. The presentation was awesome, the colours, the mariage of flavours hit all the right spots. Don't just expect the traditional cabane à sucre experience. You'll get it and much much more. Kudos to Martin Picard and co!

Amazing from beginning to end.. one of the best culinary adventures of my life. We celebrated my 50th birthday and enjoyed every delicious bite we could fit in our tummies. They give you take out containers at the beginning and then just keep bringing dish after glorious dish! The apples filled with goat cheese and foie gras- amazing! The cold whole mackerel with salad and pickled vegetables, heirloom basil tomato tart, spicy pizza with burrata bundle, the 2 home made pasta dishes one with salmon roe the other with foie gras and black pudding- unbelievable. The main courses of shepherds pie with lamb and beef, pork layered in delicious brothy sauce with thinly sliced potatoes and turnips.. another fish dish... Squash with ratatouille, then desserts! Apple pie, berry cobbler with homemade strawberry ice cream, a pint of vanilla ice cream with maple syrup.. atmosphere was fun, the service was good. They have bidets in the bathroom with heated seats! My only criticism and it's a small one- is that it took awhile to get drinks- which in all honesty is probably a good thing. More room for food!!! I did have a maple gin cocktail as well as a mimosa with apple. Both were excellent. Go! Go now! Make reservations! I'm looking forward to going back in the spring and trying a new menu.

For sure I left pregnant (I'm a guy). This meal was awesome. Here's what I remember. (images at: http://paulsop.tumblr.com/post/129604832481/cabane-%C3%A0-sucre-au-pied-de-cochon-september-2016 ) - Spicy cantaloupe soup - Buttered bread with prosciutto - Home made gnocchi and ricotta with lardons in a tasty soup base - Wood fired Pizza - Foie gras with poached pear - The meat dish was vast: - Duck - Chicken - BBQ smoked Rib - Bison tongue - Blood sausage no blood? - Pigs feet in honey - Bone marrow - Potatoes onions parsnip pickled radish beans (I probably forgot something) For desert I recall: - Mini ice-cream cones - Rhubarb pie - Cute flower-pot tiramisu + Lots of great drinks (we sat at the bar, and it was good interacting with the bar people) This meal is AWESOME and CHEAP (for what you get). We had left-overs (about 60% of the meat plate) that we ate for dinner. They say (round about numbers, might be wrong as my brain is 'used') that 40,000 people try for 16,000 spots. Book for next season Dec 1st! So sweet!

Oufff. An experience. Ultimately a super positive time, an exuberant, delicious, decadent family style dinner with piles of take-away containers to mitigate the otherwise overwhelming too muchness and waste. So many courses I can't even. The ham in homemade donuts, the omelet covered in deep fried Parmesan cheese, the squid ink pasta with boudin, these were just a few of the memorable standouts. Our table, knowing this was likely a one-time thing for us, opted for the $70 additional tourtiere, which is a crazy thing to do, but was swoonworthy. After the first few courses we took smaller portions and started filling up the to-go containers which was the right move, because you need to leave room for dessert. The frozen maple yogurt was tart and amazing, the banana cake was dreamy, and the optional flaming maple absinthe was the perfect digestif. One hour out of town into the country, a $60 flat rate made this a very different experience from the downtown Au Pied de Cochon, less fancy and for me more fun and more worth experiencing. But I couldn't look at the leftovers the next day, my friends through them on the bbq and I had a salad. Very fun to experience, but likely just a one time thing for me.

You need to try everything once. The food was delicious, the presentation was exquisite, we had a great time. The portions were huge, the food is not healthy, and you need a line of credit to pay for dinner. However, it was worth the experience!

Cabane à Sucre Au Pied de Cochon is an experience that you should have at least once in your life. If you manage to book a reservation or have a friend who scores a table and invites you, here is what to expect... For approximately 72$ per person not including drinks, you will have a dinner themed around maple syrup (winter) or apple cider (fall). You will be seated at a table designed to accommodate 8-14 people. The place is like a rustic beer hall. There are cocktails created to match the season. These are creative and a great way to start the meal. The meal consists of about 5 starters, 4-5 main meat dishes, and 4-5 desserts. In two visits I have found that most dishes are very good, one or two will really wow, and one or two will be either too salty (main meats sometimes) or a bit uninteresting. Everything is served for the whole table and comes out in waves. There can be odd timing delays in service, yet the staff are usually amazing. Definitely a worthwhile experience. More of a feast with a bit of fancy (such as highlighting Japanese influence this winter) than a fancy meal. You will leave full.

This is my 3rd time at the cabane and it was my favourite menu yet! Attached are photos of the Harvest season menu 2016 for anyone that's curious! It's an awesome experience and you leave with leftovers for a week!

Waited about two years to get a reservation to this place. First time around I didn't stay up til midnight to fill out the Google form. Lesson learned! The food did not disappoint. Everything was maple syrup-themed in March. Four appetizer, 3 mains, and 4 desserts. All delicious and worth the drive up from MA. Dont worry if you don't speak French, there are plenty of people who speak English. We brought our 2 year old. He was free. He picked off what we had and there was still plenty to go around. I will definitely do this again!

Exorbitant in every way-- rich foods, plates piled high, cream sauces, more foie gras than I've ever seen, with a price tag to match - up charges and tacked on items you never asked for. It's an eating and gorging event while seated at German style picnic tables shoulder to shoulder with your fellow diners. Believe me, I do get it. I love my duck fat, I make my own maple syrup. I can eat, rest and eat some more. But the summer camp atmosphere -- perhaps it's not for everyone...

This is a culinary experience unlike any other. The amount of food put upon your table is almost an assault, albeit a wonderful and amazing one. Indeed, the servers warn you to "pace yourself" before anything even arrives at your table. One of the special things about the Au Pied cabane a sucre is the ever changing and evolving menu. You will never really know what you'll get. This might frustrate or even disappoint diners who have watched various documentaries or read food reviews about the cabane. It definitely didn't my family and I, we just went with whatever they brought us. Speaking of which......... The assault started heavy from the beginning for us, with some sort of foie gras gateau that had all sorts of layers of both sweet and savory cake, jam, and of course foie. I never foie for ethical reasons, but I made an exception here, and I'm glad that I did, because this dish was one of the most unique tastes I've ever had in my life. What a great start!!! There were many dishes we ate that night, actually too many to remember!! Some standouts though- salmon "meat" balls in a spicy and sweet stew, an eggplant roasted in squid ink inside a black bread bowl, a short rib stew with maple and chili and of course lots of yummy marrow, and then the epic dessert spread. We were seriously not ready for just how epic this would be, and they even warned us mid meal to please save room for dessert. It was stunning- maple ice cream in a mason jar with toffee crunch and maple yogurt on top (sounds weird, but it was amazing), maple toffy candy on sticks, a mille fuille that was paper thin with layers upon layers of maple pastry cream, and maple baklava. It tasted as good as it all sounds. My one and only letdown was the bread. It was terrible. Whoever the baker is here should be ashamed to send this bread out to patrons. It was a heavy, yeasty, thick mess. It was clear it had been given little ferment time and little to no kneading or turning/folding. Get a new baker!!!! Beyond the epically great food is the warm and cozy cabane, and the amazing (and patient) waitstaff. It seems like chaos, but somehow this amazing team of servers, bartenders, and chefs make this place work. I wish anyone who wants to eat here the best of luck. Getting our reservation was arduous. But, in the end, well worth it. I've eaten at quite a few michelin starred restaurants, and I can say I had a much better time and food here than an at the majority of those. I implore any serious eaters to try and make their way here at least once. It truly is a Mecca of food!!!!

I actually can't believe I only gave this place four stars last year. I think I reviewed it too quickly after going and was still flabbergasted by all of the uneaten food, but it's been over a week... and I'm already ready for next season. Twelve(ish) divine courses, peppered with some delicious drinks, shots and glasses of wine with friends. Standouts this year were the hot and sour soup (complete with much meat and maple), the chef's meat pie, the pig's head with pancakes, the pineapple ice cream dessert, the good ol' maple on ice and absinth with maple sugar. My motley crew traveled from near and far to join in these sugar shack festivities and we were not disappointed. We opted to take a stretch limo from Montreal where we were all staying to ensure optimum coolness and so that everyone could drink until their maple soaked heart was content. If you are someone that likes being super cool like me, I recommend you lean into the extravaganza that is a dinner at Cabane a Sucre Au Pied De Cochon and get a limo, too. Also, ask your server if you can saber a champagne bottle with a lumberjack ax, if you have two fellas as charismatic as Jon and Ruggy, she will let you. A bientot!

Absolutely phenomenal and well worth the long wait to get a reservation. Anyone who rates this restaurant under 5 stars does not understand the concept -- over-the-top French-Canadian fare for a ridiculously fare rate. They should watch Anthony Bourdain's "No Reservations" Quebec episode to get an idea of what Martin Picard likes to serve. We paid $160 CAD for 2 meals (~14 courses each), which if you compare to tasting menu prices anywhere else is an absolute steal. I would highly recommend trying to get a larger group together, as the experience seems far more jolly with more people. I only wish that I had trained beforehand to eat more! We will definitely be back as soon as we possibly can!

The end of an era. It's sad to say, but now this place has lost its charm. I've been a big fan for the past 6 years. But this was the most disappointing experience i've ever had... and i organized a trip of 20 including friends from around the world. Everything was wrong this year. The tables were sticky. The service was terrible - almost comparable to a self serve cafeteria. The flavours were strange - a little too out there to even work. Dishes with too many competing flavours. Seemed like the dishes were simply conceived to make an outrageous point rather than a cohesive dining experience. Dishes were also hard to eat. The slight deviation towards more international flavours didn't work either this year. The quality of produce wasn't there surprisingly. The menu itself seemed rather lessened compared to previous years - i.e less of everything and all the good stuff that APDC is known for. I wanted to keep these thoughts to myself, for respect to Martin Piccard, but the entire group felt the same way... and especially for those of us that do this annually, we all noticed the differences. It's sad to even think of this - the truth is this isn't an off year in our opinion - when you look at it over the years - the increased number of services days and services within the days itself has now taken it's toll on the restaurant - there is less love and more factory output - and this is just a result of popularity and a busy chef. C'est la vie.

I'm late reviewing this visit. Had booked the day reservations had opened for the 2018 sugar season. Needless to say, it took 6 hrs on my computer and 2 tries to finally book a week day seating for 8pm on a school day. Everyone must at least once on their lives experience an other worldly culinary experience by visiting this place. Mind bogling creativity infused in every dish makes you smack your head ask ask how someone ever came up with such flavorful combinations. A yearly must for me. Wow!

You need to understand what you will get going to this restaurant. The atmosphere is equivalent to a typical sugar shack. If you like large quantities of food and are not picky about quality this is the place for you. If you go, go in a large group because everyone else will be. If you are two, sit at the bar. Over all we were expecting more for the price we paid and the hour drive. 0/5 for atmosphere 4/5 service 2/5 for food (we just didn't like the choices, other may disagree)

I remember seeing a review where the guy said " Anyone who rate this place under 5 stars doesn't know what he is talking about" I totally agree with him although .. every one is entitled to their opinion ... I think 65$ for this insane amount of food ... created by a well know chef .!!! Is a steal .!!! From my first visit in 2011 .. i have only missed 2 years ... and i intent to go every year .!!! I also happen to like foie gras ... and what better place for foie gras than at PDC? So let me get back to the 65$ menu ... 14 dishes in total .. and what you can not finish ( who could? ) They encourage you to take left overs home ... they supply the dishes .!! 14 courses of insane amount of food.... am sure one day i will end up in a food coma.!!! I don't know what i prefer the most ... the maple sirup hommage cabane a sucre ... or the apples / apple cider.... season .... which they held from august to October. To any and every foodie out there ... is not a question of its for you or not ...IT'S A MUST .!!! Where else have you seen that the reservation is an event on it self? You need to plan your visit 4 to 5 months ahead .!!! I too think this place doesn't deserve anything less than 5 stars ... Chef Martin Piccard ( when there ) is always very friendly and open to pictures .!!!! This place and a very few more deserve the total of 5 stars and nothing less !!!!

Perfect if you are trying to commit suicide by food! Too much food, too much mixing too many things, wayyyy to heavy and greasy. It's like trying too hard to make cabane a sucre experience too fancy. Layering sugar and fat and salt. Overkill. You leave feeling lethargic. The ambiance is nice yes, and it's exciting at first because of how hiped up the place is, how long in advance you have to make a reservation to get a spot, and the wait. After the second serving I was full and ready to leave. It's also quite a pricey sugar shack experience. My feelings were echoed by other friends that also went to the shack (at different occasions).

Ever have a mystical experience with Maple Syrup? I know, it sounds weird. But when Martin Picard decides to cook up his take on "The Sugar Shack" you best buckle up and prepare for the second coming. First he flips it all on you and starts you out with desert... a whole tower of deserts, Whippets, maple pop-corn, some kind of croissant thing with maple, maple taffy, some kind of maple iced Ultra Tim-Bit and this maple flavoured Jell-O/Yogurt thing which was insane. I won't go into details on each item because, damn this review would be pages and pages long and Yelp won't let me go beyond 5 001 characters. The tower was supported by Jack Daniel's shooter with maple syrup. Then came the starters. 4 of them. Each more insane than the other. There was the salad with offal, topped with Oreilles de Christ, the best damn Oreilles de Christ you've ever had. The waiter informed me they take 3 days to make... I didn't get the details because of the hustle and bustle but it's like eating really amazing pork-rinds in the form of airy Cheetos, without the cheese. Bacon in pop-corn form. DING DING. You win a bucket of awesome. The traditional omelette took a direction most wouldn't expect from a Sugar Shack. The omelette had, of course eggs, and potatoes, pornographically thick cut bacon - probably cooked in maple syrup - which I could eat all day. But then comes the "road less taken" part. It's also got lots of brains... calf brains to be precise. They were prepared more or less like Picard prepares foie gras and they were just as melt in your mouth. It was the first time I've had calf brains and they weren't much unlike the sheep's brain I tasted a few years back. Simply put, the whole thing was foodgasmic. Further down the traditional sugar shack menu are the omelette and the baked beans. Picard mashes them together to create magic, real magic... The pancake is topped with baked beans which made my own taste like canned crap and I used to be proud of my baked beans and if that weren't enough... he takes you to town. You see there's also foie gras and smoked salmon and cream and a lot flavour and decadence and it leaves you with the feeling that nothing else can be better. But I was wrong, really wrong... You see, for me there's The Holy Trifecta of Meat. It starts with the most loved of all meats; BACON (check) followed by FOIE GRAS (check) and then comes the DUCK... Yes DUCK. I have a love affair with duck. And Picard just whored it out like a really expensive escort. Duck confit legs - already perfect - then deep fried and slathered with ooey gooey maple flavoured glaze and some crunchy stuff I didn't have time to identify as I devoured it. So freakin' delicious, I could have eaten a bucket full of those duck legs and then probably would have developed diabetes, but woulda been worth it. Now in my Top 5 courses of all time. Still reading? Good. I'm about to go into the main. It kinda slows down from here though. There's chicken stuffed with sausage, foie gras and lobster which I'm allergic to so I couldn't eat of it but it looked pretty damn good. There was also a succulent smoked ham with mash potatoes and I thought I was bored out of my mind with ham... but not this one. Basically smoked to the point where's pulled pork, pulled ham maybe? In any case, again, best ham ever. The desert was Maple toffee served in maple ice cream (mindblowing ice cream) followed by a big squishee maple cake. At this point my head was already wobbly from the sugar and I had to call it quits. As a whole the food is beyond succulent, as you would expect from Martin Picard. The service, just like his restaurant, is professional and friendly. But I have one small caveat though. I was hoping to escape the feed-lot experience from the other sugar shacks where you are led to a table with uncomfortable seating arrangements and made to eat like cattle and be expulsed outside to wander off until you die from overeating. Just once I'd like to go to a sugar shack and sit on a chair and have room to move around and have more than 2 square feet to occupy. The meal was the kind of God-Like meal you dream of, the atmosphere was reminiscent of a high-school cafeteria set in a barn. But then there's the Maple Cotton Candy.

Best service. Best quality of food. Worth the price tag for what you are getting. Only bummer is the meat pie we so wanted to try is $72. Abit too much after we already spent lots. But Definitely coming back the next season.

Amazing meal was had here. Great for big parties. We ordered everything with foie and I had one of the most memorable dishes ever! A whole pig head! The gelatinous and meaty nomz that kept me eating for hours. Duck in a can was great and kinda cool! Everything was good except the poutine with foie think because I'm not a poutine fan. We had leftover to nosh on the next two nights back at the hotel. Taaaaaaasty!!! Service was super friendly and they were great at making recommendations for our party of 8. Since we had the whole pig head, they told us to just order a few things in addition to that Would love to go back again next time I'm in Montreal!

One of my top 3 eats EVER, Martin Picard's Cabane à sucre au PDC is amazing (and only 57$ per person for the meal!!!). Be ready to be seated in tight quarters with a lot of people you may not know - unless you're going with a very large group. Make sure your stomach is ready for a succulent 11-12, 4 course menu, but don't worry if you can't eat it all, the waiter will be pleased to provide you with as many take-home containers as needed! **It should be noted that I sent in my reservation request on the morning that they opened online reservations and only heard back 3 months later. So if you're worried that you won't get in, there is hope yet!

The food here is so very, very delicious, it can't be adequately described. You can read all about it all over the internet - just know that it's all true. The staff is fun-loving, friendly and helpful. I have nothing bad to say about the experience. In lieu of another long rave about how great a meal at Picard's Cabane a Sucre is, here are some tips: First, in case you've never looked into trying to come here: You need to request a reservation (which is not guaranteed) months in advance. This seems like a hassle, but the trade-off is that meals are much less expensive than they could be at $59/person before drinks, tax and tip. Second, while you can make reservations for any size group, tables seat ten people. If you come with fewer then other groups will be put at the same table as you - but each group will be served their own meal. I suspect if there were more than ten of you you could request the number you'd like at each table. You are going to take home leftovers. Our group of six took home six pounds of leftovers. Don't feel like you should finish any of the courses, because you can't finish all of them. The cocktails are unique and tasty. Try at least one. If you own Picard's cookbook, bring it along. He was around when we went and is very friendly and willing to chat with you briefly and sign cookbooks. They also sell the cookbooks at the shack, which include recipes for a lot of the dishes. (At least in Maple Season.) As others have mentioned, you can look into the kitchen and see them cooking. If it's a nice day arrive early so that you can snoop. If you do manage to get yourself a reservation, here is the advice that Picard gave me before our first course: "Please, enjoy everything! And remember to eat slowly... there is a lot of food."

My first sugar shack experience was a wonderful one here at Au Pied du Cochon. There were a total of over 8 or so courses beautifully presented. I consumed my whole life's quantity of foie gras that night because there was foie gras in almost every single dish. Besides almost getting a pleasant heart attack from all the maple syrup and foie gras, it was one of the most flavourful and unique dining experiences I've ever had in Quebec. The waiting list is months long so better book early if you want to give it a try! :)

Fall is sadly here (speaking as a true Summer baby here). The air getting crisper, the leaves are changing colours and it is getting a heck of a lot darker when we all wake up in the morning. However, there are a few positives... and Martin Picard & company opening up their Cabane à Sucre is definitely one of them. Earlier this year, I got to visit for the first time for sugar season. Following that experience, I made sure that I would be back for the fall apple season menu as well. First up, there was a nice selection of special cocktails to try out. The options were an apple Martini, a raspberry Margarita, an apple cranberry & spiced rum slush and lastly, an Irish car bomb variant with apple cider, apple brandy and creme de cassis. And now onto the food. The first course brought forth a huge amount of dishes: an apple pie topped with cheddar cheese, foie gras and an optional chives cream; a seasonal vegetable soup with pork, chicken, shark and a housemade pesto sauce; sauteed apples with noix de grenoble; a squash risotto with sausage mixed in a cheese wheel and salad still in pots with the vinaigrette sprayed onto it. Not a single bad dish amongst the group. The apple pie was flaky and sweet. The foie gras was the proverbial icing on the cake. The vegetable soup was nice and hearty with a beautiful deep and flavourful broth. The presentation of the salad was quite original and good as well. The sauteed apples brought some nice sweetness to the mix and the risotto was perfectly executed - the mixing in the cheese wheel really helped to create that rich texture. And then the main course came up - a meat plate that bordered on the absurb. A mountain of different meats with housemade sauerkraut that was left to ferment for 6 weeks. White ham, pork tongue, smoked meat, bacon, liver, dry sausages, apple and foie gras sausage, pork tenderloin and a pig's foot. Everything on this plate was delicious - great use of different types of meats and preparations. This may not be everybody's thing but I loved it. Paired with the meat dish was a cheese plate. I don't remember the names of each cheese here but other than the blue cheese (which I don't mind in a dish but not by itself), I enjoyed all of them. Similar to the meat plate, there are a great mix of textures and flavours within the plate. Add to it fresh onion rolls, baguettes and crackers and you get a great side-dish to all those meats. Last but not least, we get to dessert. Dark beer and squash soft serve ice cream, squash & honey millefeuille and powdered doughnuts stuffed with homemade apple sauce. Now, I know that squash ice cream and a squash millefeuille seem weird but both were amazing. Both soft serves were simply perfect in terms of consistency and richness. The doughnuts were odes to their food truck and, like those you can get there, were delicious although it prefer a little less powdered sugar personally. The millefeuille was perfectly done as well. Once again, as it was during the spring, the amount of food you get for the fixed price (50$ for the fall) is insane. Compared to the spring, I would say that this menu is more accessible given its relative lack of offal and other non-typical food items. Either way, I enjoyed this meal very much and rolled myself home - all while saying I'll be back next year. Pretty much exactly what expected from the Au Pied de Cochon crew. Cheers!

i think there is no need to introduce this nice experiment of Martin Picard. If by any chance you are reading this review on december 1st, just grab your phone, give a call ask for a reservation for 4 (you'll find the 3 others I promise! And they'll be grateful you did) and be ready for a 50$ gargantuesque heaven. That's it. Just call now. You won't regret it...oh well, unless you are vegetarian ;) ps: if you can't get there, call throughout the year, they sometimes get cancelation, sometimes, very few, but worth a try... Bonne chance, et bon appétit!

Way too much food - and not well prepared and menu made no sense 1. We were there for the apple season but there was only one dessert served with applies. 2. Service was good, consistent and staff friendly 3. reservations were made in April for the October dinner - sold out in 5 seconds flat so if you are interested in attending this smorgasbord anticipate a 6 month or more wait 4. Wine list was extravagant - one bottle at $40 & 60, then over to $80+ 5. Lots of rushing and no chance to settle in between courses 6. we were served a whopping 6 "entrées", 3 main dishes and 5 desserts for our table of 12. Entrees: First plate was my favourite: cream of tomato soup and cheesy sausage cooked in brioche in a tin can. Flavours blended well and made sense. After that things went downhill fast. Next course was a baked oyster served with something cheesy and a hard lump of foie gras. There was something sugary and odd - waste of a nice oyster and foie gras. Followed by roasted cauliflower with capers and deep fried calves brain - just awful mix of sour and fried soggy sweetbreads. Handmade pasta with pesto, cheese and tofu(!) - another nonsensical blend of over the top. Then there was another pasta dish of one giant black cannelloni made with ricotta (this was well done) - however to slice it up among 6 people just squashed it to death (better to do individual servings in a dish, no?). By now no one was actually eating much, just dumping it into metal tins to actually eat when they had an appetite. This is not how I like to have a nice dinner. Main dishes: one roast of pork with an incredible amount of fat still on it, served with carrots. They brought out the roast and did a nice side table preparation. Ate about an ounce, too pink and fatty for me. Next came mackerel served with eggplant and chick peas - I didn't try this dish but made no sense for the menu. Finally a meat loaf of gargantuan proportions: minced pork, wrapped in bacon and a whole brie wheel blended into it served with garlic, brussels sprouts and mushrooms. It was swimming in oil - a mish-mash of flavour and average at best. Desserts: my second favourite part of the meal and there was nothing left over to take away. One pate amandine with apples and a nice pastry, pear tart with custard, a strawberry pie (teeny tiny for a table of 12), a chocolate tart with blueberries, and two ice cream cakes with meringue walls, topped with honey whip cream. These were fairly well prepared and had a nice blend of flavours. All this with a $6 glass of cider came to a whopping $70 before taxes. My suggestion? Skip it and go somewhere else. It was like going to New Orleans: all the fat but without the finesse of the preparations. The menu had no flow to it, many dishes didn't compliment each other and way way way too much food. I tasted most, had a little of each and took NOTHING home.

A three tiered wooden tea-tray like monstrosity that looked like it came straight out of a Quebec Lumberjack hell. At the top sat maple glazed doughnut fritters; doughnut holes, Timbits, Martin Picard-Timbits... Mimbits topped with maple sugar cotton candy, that sat atop of a ramekin of maple sugar creme caramel. Below that was the tier of diabetic's nightmare; sweet maple delights of little cornets of maple glazed popcorn, maple whippets of homemade marshmallow and maple biscuits, homemade crumbled of maple sugar honeycomb toffee, maple canelés, maple sugar ice cream cones (the ones that used to be sold on the depanneur counters in the open air) and homemade almond croissants. At the bottom saw a tray lined with tiny mason jar whiskey and maple syrup shots - obviously to weed out the weak ones who couldn't handle the insulin spikes during the first course of the Sugar Shack season, and having them pass out on the floor in a maple overdose coma.