Porto Mar Restaurant — Restaurant in Montreal

Truly disappointed. It started when we walked in for our reservation. We didn’t like the table and asked for a different one. He said they were all reserved even though they were 60-70% empty. Only 2 people came in the entire time we were there. The food just wasn’t that good and lacked flavor. I had the piri piri shrimp and calamari. 3 shrimps. We were really looking forward to coming for Portuguese food and selected this place for our last day. Our waitress was very good and we really liked their music track but by the time we left only 2 other tables had people. Too quiet for a Saturday. I think having to leave a credit card to reserve turned people off. You have to have the food to back up a policy like that. Reply to restaurant: We weren’t late for our reservation, we called early afternoon and changed the reservation from 7:30 to 8:30. Walked over from our hotel and arrived at 8:30 sharp. At 8:30 reservations from 7:30 and 8:00 would still be in the restaurant. You gave us a table right by the door up against a wall and gave us a hard time for asking to move elsewhere in the restaurant with so many options available. We went to your bar to wait for the table. Your bar tender was nice, so was the waitress, they turned the bad arriving experience around. We enjoyed our time in the restaurant. We left at 10:00 and went somewhere else for a drink. We said nothing because we we’re having fun and did not want another encounter like when we arrived. What you do with this information is your choice. I wish you luck but given your response we would not give the restaurant...

As a Portuguese person, I was excited to have Portuguese food away from home. When I walked in, I asked if they had bacalhau. The waiter said yes. Then I asked for bacalhau grelhado, and she said they had run out of all bacalhau over the weekend.

Second red flag? The staff didn’t speak a single word of Portuguese.

Given the limited options, I ordered lulas grelhadas. Unfortunately, the dish was completely tasteless — and honestly, the squid looked and tasted like the kind of frozen ones you’d find at Walmart. I asked for salt, and the waiter brought peri peri sauce instead. When I said the squid was still bland, the response I got was, “everyone loves them.” I asked, “are they Portuguese?” and was told “yes” — yet I didn’t see a single Portuguese person in the restaurant, and the food didn’t reflect authentic Portuguese flavors at all.

Eventually, the waiter suggested I just pay for the wine and forget the meal — which I appreciated. However, their new payment system charged a tip before processing the wine bill, and I ended up tipping $3 for poor service and no food. It felt manipulative and left a bad impression.

I rarely leave negative reviews, but if you’re looking for an authentic Portuguese experience in Montreal, this isn’t it. Try Casa Minhota in the Portuguese neighborhood — just make sure it’s not Monday, as...

We were there yesterday,I was really excited to try this restaurant,unfortunately we had horrible experience with the service. We came in at 1.50, the restaurant is closing at 3 and reopens at 5. When we came in and set down with a baby and a stroller we were told kitchen is going to close in 10 minutes so we should order quick. Ok,no problem. We were given a Choice of 4 dishes to pick from last only because the kitchen is closing? Than why stay open until 3? Why didn’t bother letting us know at the door? Than bunch of French fries were dropped on my babies stroller by the waitress,he said he will clean it up ,left and never came back 😳 When we got the high chair we asked for it was covered with pieces of food!!! I said we can’t use it it’s extremely dirty. He said no problem I will take it away!!! Seriously?! And than my food,I ordered a salad with chicken fillet,and bones in some pieces in the chicken. We got billed way before 3 because the waitress said he had to leave. He was still there when we were leaving at 3. I can’t wrap my head around this. It’s a nice restaurant,how the he’ll sometimes like this happen in a place like that?! It’s not Mac Donald’s. So...