Solmar - Montreal, Quebec

This was our first trip to Montreal. My wife and I are both foodies, always ready to try something new. We decided to walk, the streets were busy and there was little parking. We hoped to find something interesting and see if we could be successful as walk ins. And ... at that moment, in the historic Vieux Montreal, we came to Restaurant Solmar, specializing in Portuguese dining. The restaurant is not on street level and required climbing several steps to the second floor. I can't comment on whether there was an elevator or not. We had the place to ourselves! Our waiter, a well groomedprofessional was as polished as the wine glasses he was wiping down. The ambiance was intimate. A restaurant like this is meant for you to sit back, listen to the menu selections and the wine pairing. "Our chef is from Portugal," our waiter said, "and he prepares your dinner like he is still in Portugal." Now, that's what I'm talking about.I wanted the grilled octopus and my wife had the seafood paella. We went with a rioja gran reserva as recommended. Our dinner arrived beyond expectations. The wine worked wonderfully. Our lavish ncomments to the waiter prompted the chef to visit our table where he parted his only cooking secret ... "grilling octopus has to be low and slow, or it is too tough." He got that right. Read more

Amazing authentic Portuguese food. Just like being back home. Highly recommended. The owner was extremely friendly and a fantastic host.

A superb continental Portuguese restaurant in the heart of Old Montreal, great Portuguese seafood selections with a distinctive European taste, also with nice regional Portuguese dishes, great attentive service with knowledgeable staff.

In a new city, you randomly pick a restaurant on a very busy touristy street and hope to get a pleasant meal. The meal was good, but the service was dreadful. The scallops were in a very salty sauce. The bisque was mediocre. My fillet was nice with vegetables, and ... the lamb shank was decent. Most of the time, the staff just ignored us and were not very friendly. Read more

Enjoyed traditional Portuguese cuisine in Montreal! Had the pleasure of meeting the owners! They were so gracious! They spoke to us in Portuguese! Family owned restaurant! Celebrating 51 years in 2023! Highly recommend! Thank you for a lovely dining experience on our last night in Montreal!