Laurent Dagenais builds the restaurant he always wanted

Limousine in Saint-Lambert shows how the Montreal chef's approach to French classics translates from social media to the table.

J.P. Karwacki

J.P. Karwacki

August 25, 2025- Read time: 6 min
Laurent Dagenais builds the restaurant he always wanted"I've always wanted to have a cookbook and a restaurant—now I've made both dreams come true," Dagenais says. | Photography by Aidan Matthews / @aidanc.m

After years of building a following with his unpretentious cooking videos and that infectious "go with the flow" energy only a stoner chef can have, Laurent Dagenais finally has a physical space where people can taste his food instead of just watching him make it.

"I've always wanted to have a cookbook and a restaurant—now I've made both dreams come true," he says.

Limousine, tucked into Saint-Lambert and 12 minutes from downtown Montreal, represents everything Dagenais has been building toward since he started flipping food in frying pans on camera during the pandemic.

But here's the thing about this restaurant: it's not really Laurent's show. Sure, he's the name on the proverbial marquee, but this is a team effort in the truest sense. Partners Renaud Lambert and Victor Collette, along with Peter Mant and Phil Allard, have created something that feels bigger than any one person's vision. In the kitchen, Vincent Monast (Mano Cornuto, BarBara) works alongside Michel Normand (Hiatus) and Pierre Morneau (Cadet, JJacques, Miracolo) to execute dishes that balance Laurent's approachable style with serious technique.

Member-only story

Unlock Montreal’s stories. Join The Main community.

Read this story free.

Enter your email to unlock your first article and get The Bulletin — our weekly roundup of food, art, and local culture.

  • 5 free articles per month
  • Save your favourite places & guides
  • Weekly newsletter The Bulletin
  • Stay connected to Montreal culture

Become an Insider.

Join a community that supports independent Montreal stories and celebrates the people shaping its culture.

Subscribe
  • Unlimited access to all stories
  • Exclusive features & local insights
  • Special offers and event invites
  • 10% off in our shop
  • Support local storytelling

Already a member? Sign in

Related articles

You can always rely on this Moroccan-French café
J.P. Karwacki

You can always rely on this Moroccan-French café

Nili's the opposite of fine dining: a tiny Mile End spot with Moroccan home cooking, twice-a-week prices, and the feeling of a café you can reliably drop into.

Give the gift of Montreal’s best restaurants this holiday season
The Main

Give the gift of Montreal’s best restaurants this holiday season

Experiencing a great meal can stick with you longer than anything that comes wrapped.

The Best New Cafés in Montreal [November 2025]
J.P. Karwacki

The Best New Cafés in Montreal [November 2025]

Specialty roasters, cultural hybrids, gym counters, and metaphysical shops: Here are the 26 best new cafés in Montreal.

Montreal lands two spots on Air Canada & enRoute’s Best New Restaurants for 2025
J.P. Karwacki

Montreal lands two spots on Air Canada & enRoute’s Best New Restaurants for 2025

Two local restaurants crack the Top 10 following a strong showing in the long list.

The Best New Bars in Montreal [November 2025]
J.P. Karwacki

The Best New Bars in Montreal [November 2025]

An industry-forward haunt with precision mixology, a new live music venue, Japanese inspirations at a hotel bar, and one big German beer hall.

A (mostly) spoken history of Pasta Casareccia and 40 years of feeding NDG
Tom Zalatnai

A (mostly) spoken history of Pasta Casareccia and 40 years of feeding NDG

How a kid who swore he'd never run the family business ended up exactly in the institution where he belongs.