Montreal restaurants that go beyond tapas

Portus 360

Located in the heart of the city’s Little Portugal neighbourhood, Portus Calle offers a friendly and modern setting made of wood, brick, cobblestone, and glass, and coloured warmly to evoke the Mediterranean coast. A bar provides seating for a dozen people for a more casual dining experience, and during summer, a large outdoor patio welcomes customers. Specialties include Arroz de marisco, Parilhada, and various tapas. Portuguese bottles make up 95% of the private imports on the wine list. Group menus available.

Taverne F

The menu at Tavern F, the latest from the Ferreira group, offers petiscos, the little cousins of Spanish tapas dishes. Specialties include sardines escabeche, cotovelinhos (small macaroni), churrasco chicken, and lamb feijoada (a type of stew). Meals are put together following Portuguese tradition, but with modern twists. Pastel de nata, an egg tart pastry common in Portugal, is on the dessert menu. A dining room monitor provides clients with a window on the flourish of activity that takes place in the kitchen, located in the basement.

Mesón

Mesón is a casual, one-of-a-kind bistro offering a variety of fresh, comforting, and unique Spanish-inspired dishes. Fish, seafood, poultry and meat are prepared in a simple manner, enhanced with a balance of spices, olive oil, and vinegar. Specialties include Croquettes de Serrano, Cocas (flatbreads), Chuleta de cerdo (a pork chop and white beans with jamón and yerez), and Zarzuela (a Spanish bouillabaisse with turbot and mussels). A selection of Spanish wines and cocktails has been thoughtfully chosen to be paired with items on the menu. The décor, a mix of modern and rustic elements, is relaxed, warm and inviting.

Bar A Tapas Tapeo

Tapeo's menu and setting might make you think you wandered off the sun-soaked streets of Spain. Simple, yet infinitely elegant, this gourmet dining spot serves a gorgeous selection of tapas served frias or caliente-from crusted tilapia to sardine escabèche, accompanied by the house's excellent selection of Spanish vintages. Great ambiance, friendly and knowledgeable staff, plus mouth-watering eats... uno, dos, tres – olé!

Solmar

Opened in 1972, Solmar has been a pioneer of Portuguese cuisine in Montréal. At its current location since 1979, in a two-century-old building in Old Montréal, the dining establishment focuses on fish and other seafood, with mystical fado performances on weekends adding to the atmosphere. La Sauvagine, on the ground floor, offers market-fresh cuisine and specializes in Québec game. A wraparound outdoor terrace is accessible to patrons of both restaurants.

Ikanos

Ikanos offers you a unique fine dining experience where Greek and Mediterranean classics are revisited with a contemporary twist under the guidance of chef/owner, Constant Mentzas. Market-fresh, handpicked fish and seafood are grilled over an open fire in a Josper wood-burning oven, and served up in a relaxed, warm, and cozy setting.

Brasserie Central

Serving brunch, lunch, dinner, wine and cocktails, Brasserie Central provides numerous specialties, including Serrano ham with parmesan and truffle honey oil, as well as an oyster bar. Special offers include a $20 table d'hôte for lunch during the week. The pub-style atmosphere is relaxed, classic and cozy, perfect for a date or special events. An outdoor patio offers pleasant views of Sherbrooke Street West. A Happy Hour menu of Pintxos (tapas) from Monday to Saturday is not to be missed.

L'Assommoir

In the heart of Old Montréal, Assommoir Notre-Dame offers the pleasures of eating and drinking well. In a friendly and warm atmosphere, your taste buds will be treated to world cuisine specializing in tartare, ceviches, tapas and grilled foods. Accompany your meal with a private import from the wine cellar, or choose among 250 cocktails. The venue also offers lunch boxes and a "Nana" catering service, not to mention its renowned food truck, Assommoir Mobile. Buffets, banquets, cocktail parties, bar or sommelier workshops, indoors or outdoors, everything is possible at Assommoir Notre-Dame.

Helena Restaurant

Under the guidance of chef Helena Loureiro, the charming restaurant Helena offers unique Portuguese cuisine and a wide variety of tapas to eat alone or share. Inspired by the colourful hues of the Mediterranean, the venue is warm and inviting, with a wine list of over 100 vintages from different regions of Portugal.

Tapas 24

Tapas 24 pays tribute to the cuisine of Barcelona. At once, classic and modern, the menu offers a variety of tapas, home-cooked meals, and traditional well-known Spanish favourites. The extensive wine list – created by the world-renowned Québec sommelier, François Chartier – comprises a festive mix of Catalan and Spanish wines by the glass or bottle. The space is the work of Agostino De Riggi (ADR Design), who also designed several venues for the MTL Cuisine group.

Santos

Bistro Le Modavie

Set in historic Old Montréal, Modavie offers a unique Mediterranean culinary experience with international touches. Stone walls and beautiful wood paneling add to the warm, intimate décor that is appropriate for all types of special events. Sunday through Thursday, the restaurant can accommodate evening groups of up to 100 people. As a fixture on the Montréal jazz scene, Modavie hosts live music performances nightly to complement the great food and drink.

Bar Tapas Taza Flores

Bar Tapas Taza Flores is a restaurant/bar offering Mediterranean-inspired appetizers and joie de vivre. Flamenco shows are presented every last Wednesday of the month during autumn and winter in an eclectic, warm and enchanting atmosphere.