Balam Cuisine Mexicaine & Bar — Restaurant in Mount Royal

I recently dined at Balam in Royalmount for their Valentine’s Day fixed menu, and it was an exceptional experience. As it was my first time eating in the new shopping center, I was excited to try something new, and Balam did not disappoint.

Video Review will be posted on TikTok and Instagram soon @Foxyappetite

In depth review:

The ambiance struck a perfect balance between cozy and modern, with soft lighting and earthy tones creating a warm and inviting vibe—ideal for a romantic evening.

The meal began with a simple but fresh guacamole, served with crispy tortilla chips, followed by the Ceviche Tulum Campechano. The octopus, shrimp, and branzino were fresh and beautifully balanced with a tangy citrus marinade—a highlight of the evening. The Tuna Tataki was another standout, with tender tuna, a sweet-salty ponzu sauce, and a refreshing mix of cucumber, mango, and coriander that played wonderfully together.

For the shared entree, the Grilled Octopus was perfectly smoky and tender, paired with creamy corn purée and zesty salsa verde. The 28 Days Aged Beef Striploin was cooked to perfection, with creamy potato purée, bone marrow, and a rich red wine reduction that made it a truly indulgent dish.

To end, we enjoyed an assortment of mini desserts—a sweet and fun way to finish off the meal.

The service was top-notch—attentive, friendly, and well-paced. Overall, my first experience at Balam was a memorable one, and I would highly recommend it for anyone looking to enjoy a beautifully executed, flavorful meal...

Disappointed Despite the Beautiful Setting – A Birthday Letdown at Balam Restaurant

I visited Balam Restaurant on June 5th to celebrate my birthday, and while the setting and food showed great promise, the overall experience was deeply disappointing due to the poor service.

We had a 7:30 PM reservation and were seated inside the restaurant, which was notably empty – we were the only guests indoors, while the terrace had a few occupied tables. Despite this, the service was shockingly slow. We waited an average of 20 minutes per drink, which made the evening drag far longer than we intended. In total, we ended up staying until 10:30 PM, not because we were enjoying ourselves, but because we were constantly waiting on basic service.

We asked for coffee four separate times, and although the waiter assured us he would make it himself, it never arrived. Instead, we received the bill – and even worse, the “complimentary” birthday dessert they offered was charged to us without explanation.

While the food was very good and the ambience is undeniably beautiful, these positives were completely overshadowed by the unprofessional and inattentive service. To top it off, we noticed food flies buzzing around the corner near the DJ booth, which raises questions about hygiene.

Unfortunately, this experience has made it clear that I will not be returning to Balam. If the restaurant wants to live up to its potential, serious improvements in service and attention to detail are...

DO YOURSELF A FAVOUR AND AVOID AT ALL COSTS!!! I dont usually write reviews but I need to this time. I would give 0 stars if I could. The waitress was extremely rude. We had a set menu with 3 courses. The waitress did not want to accommodate for a peanut allergy for the second course. We were trying to find solutions for ourselves and had suggested if it would be possible to get extra guacamole and chips (which was the starter). She said it was possible only if we paid 16$?????? We had asked for the quinoa in one dish on the side and never brought it to us. She also never took someone on our table’s order for the desert option. When she came to serve desert and the person didn’t have theirs, she said “figure it out with the people in your group, the kitchen is closed”. I dont know why she said this in such a rude manner, let alone not find a solution. At the end of the day, we are paying a lot of money for a fixed menu, and we expect to eat the food that we are paying for. I strongly dont believe this is too much to ask for. We also never got cutlery for our desert. When we asked the waitress, she only brought us some and it wasnt enough for the entire group. On top of that, the cutlery was dirty. At the end of the night, after waiting an hour for desert and our bills, the waitress failed in her duty to inform us that an 18% service charge was already added, so our group tipped twice. I am still in shock from my evening there because I genuinely have never seen...