Meli-Melo Market — Restaurant in Montreal

I visited this Haitian restaurant in Montreal several years ago, thanks to a recommendation from a dear friend. Back then, my experience was fantastic. The service was satisfactory, the portions were generous, and the food itself was incredibly tasty. I often made it a point to stop by this place before heading back to my town.

However, over the past 5 to 6 years, I've observed some noticeable changes in the level of customer service and the overall layout of the restaurant. It seems that the owners have missed an opportunity to enhance their profits by not considering the logistical aspects of the establishment. There's room for improvement in this regard.

One of the major changes I noticed is the declining level of customer service. The staff appears to lack the same level of care and dedication they once had. During a recent visit, I brought some friends to experience the authentic Haitian cuisine. Unfortunately, I encountered an unpleasant situation when I had to return to the front cashier to make a change to my order, despite clearly specifying my desired rice type. The staff in the kitchen were rude and insisted that it wasn't on the receipt, instructing me to go back to the front to pay for it. This encounter left a sour taste in my mouth.

Furthermore, upon reaching home and indulging in my meal, I noticed a decline in the quality of the food, particularly the beef. As a lover of the “Legume”, I've been consistently disappointed by the dish at this restaurant in recent times.

I truly hope the owners take note of these customer concerns and consider making changes to enhance the overall experience. It would be wonderful if they paid attention to reviews like these. I believe there are customers like myself who long for a return to the delicious food and enjoyable dining experience that this restaurant...

This is the spot for a good authentic haitian dinner. Highly recommended. We love it. Will definitely return. Food was fresh. You can see the cooks.

I have a haitian background living in Toronto. It's hard to find authentic haitian food that isn't an infusion in Toronto. So i came to Montréal where i know a lot of haitians will be and brought my bf with a jamaican background to try authentic haitian food. We were not disappointed.

We had diri djon djon (mushroom blk rice) with griot (fried pork). And diri kole ( haitian rice and peas) with tassot de cabrit( fried goat meat) My bf loved it. I loved it. Was not disappointed. If you love rice. This is the spot. The rice portions was large. The meat was juicy. I forgot to ask for pikliz was happy it was a add on but small. Wish I knew, could've paid for it to get extra. Fried plantain was an add on..macaroni salad was an add on. Food was freshly cooked.

You can also buy mini groceries. Seen some few haitians items. I've gotten the Djon djon maggie and the Natural djon djon to cook since it's my bf favorite and it's very hard to find. It's expensive for the Natural djon djon. small for $10.

CON: for non french or creole speakers: There are no directions. I speak a little haitian Creole. The staff was nice. We ordered and paid for the food at the cashier. We were handed a paper with the food we selected and paid for. Took it to the back. There is no sigh to line up. But we had sense to lined up..we handed the staff the paper who was preparing the food.

Little seating area for a quick bite and go. It gets busy and crowded. We were there for the food only and not the ambiance. We were not...

I visited Meli-Melo recently and left deeply disappointed, not just by the poor service but by the serious food safety concerns I witnessed during my meal.

Let me start with the service. When I handed my ticket to the staff member at the counter, I was met with a disrespectful “Hello?” — twice — delivered with clear attitude. She then turned away and began openly complaining about me to her colleague, within earshot. It was an uncomfortable and unwelcoming experience from the start.

But what truly shocked me — and what every customer should be aware of — was the mouse running around inside the restaurant. This is a major food safety violation and a serious health hazard. Rodents in a restaurant environment can carry bacteria, parasites, and diseases that contaminate food, surfaces, and utensils. Seeing this made me genuinely concerned about the cleanliness of the entire operation and whether the kitchen itself is properly maintained.

As for the food, it didn’t redeem the experience. The griot was dry, lacking flavor or moisture, and the plantains were also dry and overcooked, tasting like they had been sitting out too long.

I don’t leave reviews like this lightly, but what I saw goes beyond a bad day or poor service. Allowing rodents in a restaurant is dangerous and completely unacceptable. I strongly urge the owners to take immediate corrective action before someone gets sick.

Until then, I cannot recommend this place to anyone — for the sake of both...