Where to get great seafood in Montréal
Montréal’s vibrant culinary scene boasts an array of fish and seafood restaurants that are sure to delight even the most discerning palates. From cozy, family-run bistros tucked away in charming neighborhoods to sleek waterfront eateries with stunning views of the city, savour the bounty of the at these Montréal fish and seafood establishments.
Le Muscadin
Open since 1987, Le Muscadin is a family-run Italian restaurant located in Old Montréal. You’ll find several fish and seafood specialties on the menu, such as lobster tail fra diavola (spicy tomato sauce), Dover sole with wine and butter sauce, seafood linguine and more all served in a charming and welcoming ambiance.
443 Saint-Vincent Street
Mariscos
Mariscos literally means “seafood” in Spanish, and this is the right spot to visit if you enjoy Mexican-style ceviche, tostadas and aguachiles, among other specialties. Their signature cocktails are also a must.
436 Saint-François-Xavier Street
Restaurant Le Polisson
Le Polisson is a fun and lively French restaurant offering a variety of fish and seafood dishes hailing from all 4 corners of the world. Tijuana-style fish tacos, bang bang shrimp, fish n’ chips and the very French moules et frites (mussels and fries) all share space on this very diversified menu.
171 Saint-Paul Street West
Bazart
“Inspired by the beach restaurants of Mykonos, Ibiza and Tulum”, yet somewhat rooted in the cuisine of the Levant, Bazart’s bohemian aesthetics is stunning. The menu lists a variety of crudos as well as some charcoal grilled mains such as sea bass served with chermoula and giant tiger prawns with polenta and soujouk.
950 Ottawa Street
Aldea
Aldea has the conviviality of a “small Portuguese village” in the heart of Plateau Mont-Royal. Their menu includes all the classics such as Portuguese seafood soup, seafood rice and grilled bacalhau (salted cod). They also offer a petiscos (Portuguese tapas) menu with many seafood specialties.
4403 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
La Sirène de la mer
La Sirène de la mer has been an absolute must for seafood lovers for the past two decades. This Lebanese restaurant is also a fish market so everything on the menu here is guaranteed to be fresh. Get all your favourite mezzes in addition to a wide selection of fish and seafood dishes, including the sayadieh, a Lebanese specialty of cod with rice, nuts and caramelized onions.
114 Dresden Avenue
Brit & Chips
If you are craving authentic fish and chips, then you’ll want to head to Old Montréal’s Brit & Chips. Inspired by British “chippies”, cod, haddock, and salmon are battered in a variety of coatings and fried to perfection. There are also other specialties on the menu such as a fish burger, a poutine with popcorn shrimp and cod fish cakes.
433 McGill Street
Palomar
Located in the heart of the Jean-Talon Market, Palomar specializes in fish and seafood, and more specifically dry-aged fish and charcuterie made with fish. Palomar is open for lunch and dinner and also houses a fish shop and an extensive oyster and shellfish bar.
200 Jean-Talon Street Est
Helena
Chef Helena Loureiro has been an ambassador of Portuguese cuisine in Montréal for decades. Her eponymous restaurant Helena has become an institution in town. Warm and inviting, it serves the best traditional dishes but prepared with a modern twist. Sardines, cod, squid and Portuguese caldo verde soup are all on the menu. Don’t forget to pair your meal with a bottle of wine from the restaurant’s cellar exclusively dedicated to Portuguese wines.
438 McGill Street
Ferreira Café
Ferreira Café specializes in upscale Portuguese cuisine in the heart of downtown Montréal. The family-run restaurant serves impeccable fish and seafood, including some exclusive products such as wild carabineiros (a type of shrimp) from the Algarve and giant tiger shrimp from Senegal. Portuguese cuisine is naturally rich in fish and seafood so indulge in the best of it at Ferreira.
1446 Peel Street
Milos
The Milos international empire of restaurants started with its Parc Avenue location in 1979. This elegant Greek taverna (a taverna is a simple fish restaurant) prepares its fish and seafood in the simplest way, keeping with the Greek tradition. Choose your catch from Milos’ fish market display and the expert team will prepare it to your liking.
5357 Parc Avenue
Makro
The team behind meat centric Griffintown restaurant Grinder is also behind smoking hot Makro. This time, fish and seafood are the stars of the show in this swish and trendy restaurant. Enjoy crudos, fire-grilled octopus, Icelandic cod, lobster spaghetti and more.
1826 Notre Dame Street West
Maestro SVP
Maestro SVP has been THE spot for fresh oysters for those in the know since 1992. Maestro also serves a variety of fresh seafood with items such as their excellent coconut shrimp, Louisiana style seafood boil, grilled octopus and so many more. Their overflowing seafood platter is not to be missed.
3615 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
Here are other Montréal restaurants where you can enjoy fish and seafood:
Restaurant Solmar, Restaurant Porto Mar, The Farsides, Chez Delmo, Pincette, Fish Bone, Le Filet.
Mayssam Samaha
Mayssam Samaha is a food and travel writer and blogger and the founder behind the blog Will Travel for Food. She travels the world in search of the next culinary discovery. From Iceland to South Africa, she’s already visited over 36 countries and there’s nothing she enjoys more than wandering around a farmers’ market in a foreign city. She is also the founder of the SAISONS intimate dinner series highlighting Québec products and chefs.