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Porto Mar

4.1 (52 reviews)
Closed • 11:30 am - 3:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM

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PORTO MAR ATMOSPHERE

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Chocolate mousse
Sonya L.

This restaurant seems rather large and had a variety of tables (and a bar). There's also apparently two doors to get in. We ended up coming in through not the main door. But we were seated at a table for two upon arrival with no reservations. The interior had a lot of nice wood natural looking items, but it also felt a little dated. But the holiday decoration did look really nice. Our waitress was nice. We ordered our dinner and she made sure we always had water. Service was a little slow though especially in the beginning (to take our order) and at the end (to get our check and then pay). We did come in right before they were shutting down for an extended holiday period. They served table bread and olive (with their pits). Ended up ordering an evening table that came with an app, main, and dessert. I got the grilled chorizo, salmon and chocolate mousse. We also got the pork scallops. They didn't have the Portuguese soup at this time. The chorizo was good, the sausage casing had a crispiness and snap to it. The salmon was fine and it came with some potato hash and vegetables. The portion was a little small for me. The pork scallops was also good, pork slices that were topped with a meaty, garlicky sauce. It also came with potato hash and some vegetables. The portion was a little a little small. The chocolate mouse was good and nice way to end the meal.

Menu
Sam L.

Came in for lunch at around 1pm. Bread does not come warmed. Have to say Porto Mar leaves a lot to be desired. Escargot (6/10): came with a vinegary sauce and green onion. Not the sauce I'm used to and for good reason. The sauce is not dippable and the dish itself did not give the richness I'd hoped for from escargot. Calamari (6/10): not much flavor going on with this. It was pretty much boiled calamari with some lemon juice. Tomato Salad (7/10): I'm a bit biased since I like tomatoes but it's literally just sliced tomatoes with lemon, salt, pepper, and pomegranate seeds. Not much going on. Sardines (7/10): sardines were grilled nicely but again not much going on with the dish. Served whole. Seafood Rice (7/10): felt like the fish was not cooked super well (tasted tough). Rice seemed unevenly cooked. Flavors were not bad and were pretty aromatic. Service (9/10): very helpful, kind server. Answered all our questions and managed to get a dish that was only on the dinner menu for us. Food took awhile to come out (waited about 45 mins for the dishes to come out). Ambiance (8/10): clean, dark inside, romantic atmosphere. Wasn't a fan that the plates table is in the center of the restaurant. Ruined the vibes a bit. Definitely would not make an effort to come out here again. Little Portugal is definitely the spot to go to for Portuguese food as this was extremely lacking in flavor and impression.

Sardines plate
John W.

As soon as I saw this when arriving in Montreal , I told my wife we HAD to stop here. When I saw the reviews and the photos, it was a must go to. We had the classic sardines plate . They had carrot soup, made from scratch. Sardines were grilled and delicious, the potatoes and grilled vegetables. Lunch also came with a complimentary dessert. Chocolate mousse and rice pudding for dessert. Stefane was our waiter and he was very attentive and provided great service. Owners will friendly and fantastic. After we ate we finished at the bar talking with them. Restaurant is in one of the original buildings in Montreal. Original stone walls and thick wood beams gives the place a feel from a simpler time when you would pull up in a horse and carriage . Make this one of your stops when in Montreal

a plate of food with shrimp, broccoli and cauliflower
Daulet N.

If you're in the mood for some Spanish and Portuguese fare, Porto Mar is a decent place to check out. The food is pretty meh and mediocre, but it's worth checking out if you're in the area. The service is okay and the prices are reasonable. The atmosphere is nothing to write home about, but it's a decent place to grab a bite. Just don't expect anything amazing.

Portuguese Tart
Karen J.

OMG!!! This place is wonderful! First, the restaurant is located in Old Montreal, a quaint and historical part of Montreal. The building dates backs to the 1800s. The brick walls, brick staircases, the number of tables, the woodwork, and the entire experience were completely charming. Our waitress, Cynthia, was pleasant, attentive, and knowledgeable about the menu. Ask for Cynthia. I had the Spicy Shrimp appetizer. Perfect! The Rack of Lamb. Perfect! Perfect! And the Portuguese Tart for desert. Perfect! Perfect! Perfect! The shrimp was in a delicious chili type sauce. The lamb was perfectly prepared and seasoned. The tart was so delicious... crazy flaky. Yummy!

Escargots
Tessa R.

I was looking forward to trying this restaurant with my foodie friends after reading some great reviews! Sadly I was disappointed by my meal although some of it was delicious. The sangria was good and refreshing. I took the table d'hote like most of my friends. Three of us took the fish of the day plate and were very disappointed. For the price we payed the plate was how should I put it - lacking in food... (see picture). It had a little piece of potato, two broccoli pieces, some sort of turnip slices and two thinly sliced carrots. The presentation of the plate was horrible! The fish was nothing special and quite bland. Mind you the escargot appetizer was delicious as well as the flan. Service was slow, our desserts were served before the coffees. Most of us had finished our desserts by the time the coffee arrived. My other friends who chose the other options got fuller plates and found them tasty. I would not recommend any of their fish plates because you will leave hungry. For the price they were charging, you would imagine a fuller plate.

facade
Brien M.

My wife and I were incredibly impressed. While other restaurants were packed and very noisy, Porto Mar was busy but not crowded and with a subdued noise level. I'd suggest it as an excellent choice for a dinner with conversation, a romantic dinner, and/or a gourmet dining experience. If you want to bump elbows with other diners and shout to have a conversation over a loud techno beat, don't go here! We found the restaurant on a gluten-aware list and it worked out fine. They don't have a special menu but we were told the chef would take care and that we weren't alone. There was another table with the same request. In the end, there was absolutely no problem. We did the table d'hôte or fixed price menu. My chorizo and salad starter was really good and a nice size if you wanted a small plate meal. I was thinking that you could have that, a couple glasses of wine and desert and be happy. But ... We had salmon and swordfish (one of the two fish of the day). The swordfish was very good but we agreed that the salmon was probably the best we had every tasted. Incredible. We think it was cedar plank grilled but we're not sure. Really special. We also judge restaurants by their ability to cook vegetables. Each of us had out of this world sugar snap peas, roasted red peppers, and a potato and onion dish. Just right in flavor and tenderness. Desert - my rice pudding was OK with a little too much cinnamon but my wife's chocolate mousse was heavenly. Wow! We had the house wine which was very good. Mine was a privately imported red in the new world style. If you don't care for that, they have a large wine list for bottles. Nice people, nice atmosphere, and tremendous food. If it isn't clear by now, we highly recommend this old city restaurant for a lovely dinner.

Appetizers of croquettes, sardines, escargots, spicy shrimp

Food is absolutely amazing . Like being transported to the Mediterranean coast. We had the spicy shrimp, two orders of croquettes (they are the best I've ever had!!!), snails and sardines . We followed this up with the catch of the day, a beautiful mahi mahi filet with grilled vegetables. It was too good, did not last a photo moment. Will be coming back.

Mousse de Chocolate (Mousse au chocolat/chocolate mousse)

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2 years ago

Great ambience and service with a fantastic location. We had a blast here! In VIEUX port of old Montreal

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7 years ago

Terrible walked in said they didn't have space even though only three tables were taken! Place was empty! Very rude! Don't waste your time.

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Porto Mar Reviews in Other Languages

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Monarque - Bone marrow topped with escargot was 10/10

Monarque

4.5(296 reviews)
0.4 km•Vieux Montréal, Ville-Marie
•$$$

The food was absolutely phenomenal. I wish I took a picture of my seafood stew. I have never had…read moresuch incredible flavors. That's the dish I would recommend. The service was exceptional, along with our drinks in the atmosphere.

This was my "nice" meal during my very short trip to Montreal last weekend, and it turned out to be…read morea great choice. There are 2 sides of the restaurant: the more casual order what you want brasserie side and then the fancier multi-course chef menu side. I chose the brasserie side, where I had a reservation for a bar seat - turns out that wasn't really that necessary as there were several individual bar seats open; A group would probably have a difficult time getting a seat on a Friday evening though. For drinks, I had a paper plane and a last word. Those are my two go to cocktails for nicer bars, and they pulled them off fantastically (they also knew what I was talking about which is kind of rare for the last word). For an extra nice touch, they clipped an actual paper plane to the paper plane drink. Fun! For food, I ordered the Duck Confit. It was super crispy on the outside, but the meat was super tender and juicy and melted off of the bone. My mouth is watering while thinking about it. It also came with bread service. For dessert I had the tiramisu. I would give it a 4/5 - it was a little more bland than others I've had - not bad at all, but not my favorite one of all time. They seem to be serious about their coffee (see pictures). Since I was sitting right in front of it I had to order one to go with the tiramisu. I had a basic americano, and it was a great addition. My only real complaint is the bar seating felt a little bit exposed as the main walkway through the restaurant goes along the bar seating. Drinks 5/5, Service 5/5, Food 5/5, Ambience 4/5

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Monarque - Kitchen view from our table!

Kitchen view from our table!

Monarque - Grilled squid

Grilled squid

Monarque - Dining room

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Dining room

Joe Beef - Appetizer of lobster salad on a crispy wafer.

Joe Beef

4.3(886 reviews)
2.7 km•Sud-Ouest
•$$$

Joe Beef was on my bucket list for my Montreal visit. I made a 9:30 PM reservation for 1 at the bar…read moreon a Wednesday evening that I arrived in Montreal from Toronto, which worked out in my favor as street parking restrictions near the restaurant were no enforced. I arrived there around 8:30 PM and waited in my car until 9:00 PM before I walked over and the hostess informed me that they were ready for me. I was greeted by JJ and the rest of the crew at the seafood bar, shown the wine/cocktail/ciders & beer menu and the main. menu. They also explained clearly the 2 daily special. I decided since I'm in Quebec, that I would order the Scallop Royale Custard, Nantua Sauce (Royale de Pétoncle Sauce Nantua) for appetizer Roasted Duck "Aux Navets" (Canard Rôti Aux Petits Navets) and I was informed I can add seared foie gras to it. I also paired it with the Notre Nacre cocktail which is mezcal based from the cocktail menu. The Scallop Royale was like a chawanmushi so clean and light with a seafood stock but loaded with scallop and pieces of lobster and the Roasted Duck was executed fantastically (medium rare) and their au poivre sauce paired so well with the duck and seared foie gras . I finished with a marjolaine which is a cake made with almond flour, chocolate, coffee and repeated 24 times! It was a nice sweet way to end the dinner and a contrast to the savory of the duck and au poivre sauce. All around amazing experience service & food.

Great meal! My…read moreexperience was very similar to the thoughts of many, Joe Beef is one of the iconic restaurants in Montreal. The beef rib was perfect! Definitely devoured the slices quickly and gnawed on the rib bone before the server took the remains of this dish away. LOL. The Spaghetti with Lobster was delicious although the lobster was slightly undercooked. The tail was especially hard to pull away from the shell. I never thought I'd say white asparagus was decadent but it surely was when topped with the sauce. The 15 layer cake can honestly be skipped as it was the thinnest slice of cake I've ever seen. LOL. It was impressive that they could even slice cake that thinly!!! The waitstaff service was great with suggestions to round out the meal perfectly. The host was personable, even helped me with understanding the street parking rules in the area taking me on a stroll outside to check my spot on a really frigid evening.

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Joe Beef - Seafood bar

Seafood bar

Joe Beef - Strip steak with potatoes and bone marrow for 2

Strip steak with potatoes and bone marrow for 2

Joe Beef - House white (CAD $21) and perfect martini (CAD $19)

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House white (CAD $21) and perfect martini (CAD $19)

Reuben's Deli and Steakhouse - Old Fashion super smoked meat.

Reuben's Deli and Steakhouse

4.0(767 reviews)
1.4 km•Golden Square Mile, Centre-Ville, Ville-Marie
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Had high hopes for a delicious Reuben sandwich. We are from…read moreNew York so epectations were high. Although our server touted the sandwich, it left much to be desired. The meat was dried out, and not much sauerkraut, cheese or dressing. My companions were very satisifed with their meals, so would recommend, but stay away from the Reuben

First time eating at Reuben's. We came in from a rain storm with 2 young children. From the moment…read morewe walked in, the host, a sweet older gentleman, offered us paper towels to dry up, since we were soaken wet even with umbrellas. He seated us in the booth and got our little children settled in with coloring material. He was so gentle spoken with our children, and for that matter, the entire staff was! Our family felt welcomed and not a bother. You would be surprised at how few places make us feel this way, even though our children are calm little beings. Ok, now... to the food! When I hear brisket, I think of Texas styled BBQ, this brisket is different, this is a deli style brisket, think Reuben Sandwiches. The brisket was sliced so thin and was juicy, it was delicious! Our kids had kids meals and in their opinion, the best part was the ice cream at the end . I highly recommend eating here! The staff is friendly, the food is great and overall, just a comfortable place to be! Tip the staff well, trust me, by the time the bill arrives you will already have experienced their top notch service. I don't have pictures to share because we were hungry and ate everything up before I could remember to snap some photos!

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Reuben's Deli and Steakhouse - Lots of pickled vegetables

Lots of pickled vegetables

Reuben's Deli and Steakhouse - SMOKED MEAT MAC & CHEESE SKILLET

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Bar George - Seafood tower

Bar George

4.3(319 reviews)
1.7 km•Golden Square Mile, Centre-Ville, Ville-Marie
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Bar George is a stunning contemporary British restaurant located in Montreal's historic Le Mount…read moreStephen. While the restaurant is highly celebrated and located within a Michelin-recognized hotel building, it does not hold a Michelin star of its own. But it is extremely classy. We decided to do lunch instead of dinner and it was a little more our speed, but if very, very attentive waitstaff is not your thing and $200 for lunch I'd skip this spot. We went because it had reviews for amazing beef Wellington and my husband hadn't had any in decades. And we were on vacation so let's go! The food was beautifully plated and service was impeccable inside of an amazingly decorated dining room that looked like a library in a mansion. The meals themselves weren't obscenely expensive but add a glass a wine, bread (it was not included) and coffee and it put us close to $200. But it was a great experience and I had never had beef Wellington - it was melt in your mouth good. Might go again next time we come up from CT.

Dining at Bar George was one of the highlights of our quick 24-hour layover in Montreal. We stayed…read moreat Le Mount Stephen Hotel without doing much research on dining options, assuming we'd just find something nearby. But before even checking in, we had to walk through Bar George ~ and instantly knew we wanted to eat there. We were lucky enough to grab a last-minute reservation, and Julien took a good care of us throughout the evening. His recommendation of the Beef Wellington was spot on (it's already one of our favorite dishes), but this was hands down the best we've ever had. I ordered the lobster risotto, which was excellent with just the right amount of spice. My son had the 10 oz striploin steak with homemade fries (chips), and it was absolutely delicious. I also loved the Canadian touch of coarse salt on the steak, plus the option to choose between Béarnaise or peppercorn sauce. Julien also mentioned their pastry chef placed second in a NY competition, and the desserts absolutely lived up to that reputation. We tried the pineapple and coconut pavlova and the "lick me hazelnut" ~ both beautifully presented and incredibly delicious. We also ordered iced coffee and a latte, and noticed something interesting: this was the second place where we found Canadian coffee to be smooth and mild ~ such a nice change from the often bitter, over-roasted American coffee. Yes, dinner was a bit steep ($300+), but it was worth every penny. Between the rich history, stunning design, outstanding service, and unique cuisine, I would highly recommend Bar George. I would absolutely love to come back!!

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Bar George - Grandfather clock

Grandfather clock

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Bar George - One of the dining room rooms

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One of the dining room rooms

Damas - Shish Borek dumplings

Damas

4.7(515 reviews)
5.1 km•Outremont
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Top 5 dining experience of my life! We started with the fattoush, which turned my salad-hating…read morehusband into a believer. We followed that up with the batata harra, which were spicy, acidic, crispy little morsels of perfection. We rounded out the meal with the lamb and hummus dish, along with the filet mignon and little pickled peppers. Everything was perfection. Beyond the amazing food, the restaurant itself was beautiful and service was friendly, attentive, but never intrusive or annoying. These guys are doing everything right. I don't know when I'll be back in Montreal, but I can promise I will be right back here when that happens.

5:45 pm dinner on the patio, with nicholas as our server. the outdoor patio made for a relaxed…read moreearly evening setting, while the interior has a much more dramatic, intimate feel, with dark wood, ornate hanging lanterns, patterned tile floors, warm lighting, and rich middle eastern inspired details. it has a distinctly upscale and atmospheric feel that suits the restaurant's refined take on syrian cuisine. service was impeccable throughout the meal. nicholas and his team was attentive, professional, and genuinely on top of everything without being intrusive. the pacing was well handled, and we never felt neglected or rushed. the level of service definitely matched the upscale setting and was one of the stronger parts of the experience. we ordered the meat platter for two, which was $220. the meatballs were easily the standout for me, juicy, flavourful, and probably the best part of the platter. the beef was good, but the prime rib was overcooked and the chicken was quite dry. at $220, i honestly expected more, particularly from a restaurant with this level of reputation and positioning. the uneven cooking was disappointing and kept the platter from being the highlight it should have been. the fattoush salad was much more successful. it was light, fresh, and refreshing, with plenty of herbs and pops of pomegranate. this was actually my favourite dish of the meal. the freshness and acidity worked especially well alongside the richer grilled meats. the grilled octopus was another highlight. it was tender, nicely grilled, and had a good texture without being tough or chewy. overall, the experience was a mix of excellent service, a beautiful setting, and some genuinely memorable dishes. the fattoush, grilled octopus, and meatballs were all standouts, while the prime rib and chicken fell short of expectations. the impeccable service and atmosphere certainly elevated the evening, but given the $220 price tag for the meat platter, i was expecting a more consistently impressive meal.

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Damas - Interior

Interior

Damas - Rack of Lamb

Rack of Lamb

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Le Majestique - Oysters

Le Majestique

4.4(244 reviews)
2.6 km•Plateau-Mont-Royal
•$$

I had wanted to treat a friend to a dinner and a show while I was in town ahead of her birthday…read morelater this month, and the original restaurant she had chosen fell through (we mistaken the genre of the restaurant). With 1.5 hours before our burlesque show down the street at the Wiggle Room, I remembered I had bookmarked Le Majestique and that it was 1.5 blocks from both Schwartz and the venue! We made it over from St Denis and were graciously seated in the window - perfect lighting for selfies and food photos! It was happy hour, so we indulged in oysters (NB and NS I believe), as well as their scallop on half shell; this was so delicious with the hazelnut oil and fermented beets and butter - we pretty much drank the liquid afterwards (unapologetically - I had it dripping down my chin I think). Next was their special of the day, ricotta and mushroom filled anglotti with ceps, smoked matsutake and another mushroom, garnished with shavings of truffle and Parmesan. This was earthy and warming and delicious. For me it was fall. I wished it was on the permanent menu! We also shared the prime NY steak with green sauce and baby heirloom turnips. To end the meal we shared a pudding chomeur aged Louis d'or cheese. This was a creamy bread pudding- like dessert with grated Louis d'or on top. We enjoyed this - I love restaurants that showcase stellar local ingredients and Le Majestique does this well! If I could spend a month eating my way through Plateau Mont Royal and Little Portugal I would gladly do it. Bookmarked for future visits. Thank you for a wonderful night Le Majestique!

Food: The food and drinks were 5/5 amazing! Ordered a dozen oysters, duck risotto, focaccia, and…read morepinot! I normally don't like risotto but it was super yum and flavorful from the duck. Service: Very accommodating with us wanting to sit outside. Ambiance: The weather was beautiful so sitting outside was so cute, I will say the space is a bit tight. I highly recommend!

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Le Majestique - Very busy and very noisy but great food

Very busy and very noisy but great food

Le Majestique
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Au Pied de Cochon - Duck in a Can (after plating)

Au Pied de Cochon

4.2(1.5k reviews)
2.7 km•Plateau-Mont-Royal
•$$$

Honestly, one of the best food experiences I've had while up in Montreal. While it seems pretty…read morechill and laidback at a glance, this spot was busy and bustling (and sorta cute as a pseudo casual spot for a more memorable date night). The fois gras nigiri was pricey, but was definitely worth the try - especially with how the fois gras melting upon contact with the tongue and how the fats and flavors meld together through the rice, it was simply divine. Though my favorite would probably be the Duck in a Can, which was surprisingly tender and juicy. The flavor was pleasant and savory, and I didn't really feel much of a gamey taste at all when I tried it. As someone who normally doesn't enjoy duck, I thought this dish was really quite lovely. Anyway, would probably come back to this spot in the future if I was ever back in the area.

This is hearty Québécois cuisine, perhaps so hearty it's exactly what the pioneers needed to…read moresurvive the early harsh Montréal winters! Indeed the signature move of the chef, Martin Picard, is to elevate traditional, rustic Québécois "peasant food" into world-class fine dining. With the philosophy of unapologetic excess in every dish comes a line up of starters and mains packed with foie gras, butters, and oils in every corner. While the flavors in each dish by themselves are delicious, the onslaught of richness may not be for everybody, and it seemed deliberately without a palate cleanser or lighter counterbalance. In fact, knowing what we were getting into, we ordered an accompanying green salad, and the wait staff forgot to bring it out! We were outright denied anything but sheer gluttony. Our meal consisted of the foie gras poutine, duck in a can, and green tagliatelle. The mantra of excess here meant foie gras melding with cheese curds and gravy on the poutine. Their unique "duck in a can" involved packing quite literally a can with fatty duck breast, foie gras, buttered cabbage, herbs, and gravy, and blasting it all together with heat for 27 minutes. The result is a delicious stew of decadence, for which I wish I had more bread to dip and devour. Even the tagliatelle was bathing in a rich, oily pesto that provided no reprieve from the onslaught. We didn't try the namesake dish of the restaurant, the stuffed pig's foot (le pied de cochon), but seeing it served was an experience and nicely highlighted the elevated "peasant food" aspect of the entire affair. Very unique! Overall I had an excellent experience trying the local cuisine and this more decadent approach to dining. While it's fun sometimes to break culinary rules, I did overall find myself missing a more balanced meal that could feel more sustainable and less coronary artery disease-inducing. I think as long as you know what you're getting into, it's worth a visit, but probably not several!

Photos
Au Pied de Cochon - Inside of the restaurant

Inside of the restaurant

Au Pied de Cochon - Foie Gras Nigiri

Foie Gras Nigiri

Au Pied de Cochon - Cromesqui

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Cromesqui

L'Express - Got cheese salad 5/5

L'Express

4.3(754 reviews)
2.5 km•Plateau-Mont-Royal
•$$$

This is the kind of neighborhood bistro you'd expect to find in Paris--only cleaner and friendlier…read more The service was exceptional: attentive, welcoming, and perfectly paced without being overbearing. The food was excellent. We enjoyed the steak frites, duck confit, fish soup, and the complimentary cornichons, which were a lovely touch. By the time we were ready for dessert, they had sold out of the île flottante, which was disappointing, but the crème brûlée and tarte au citron more than made up for it. Both were outstanding. A wonderful meal from start to finish, and a place we'd happily return to.

Reservations are highly recommended if you would like a table at L'Express. This is a rich dining…read moreexperience with comfortable French bistro vibes, professional bartenders and staff, and classic French options such as oeufs mayonnaise, saumon rillete, quiche, such confit, and on and on... I did not make a reservation but asked for the waitlist and hung around the neighbourhood for a bit before a spot at the bar was available. The whole restaurant is just buzzing with people enjoying conversation, spirits, and delicious food of course! The place was filled from 8pm to midnight with a waitlist and full house during my visit (on a Saturday night). Being a solo diner I enjoyed conversations with others at the bar while we waited for food, with intermissions of people watching. It has been added to my list for future visits - I'll bring a friend next time for a different experience!

Photos
L'Express
L'Express - Rillette l'Express - tender, shredded pork shoulder mixed with duck fat and herbs, served with toasted bread, pickles, and mustard

Rillette l'Express - tender, shredded pork shoulder mixed with duck fat and herbs, served with toasted bread, pickles, and mustard

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Latte

Porto Mar - portuguese - Updated October 2026

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