It was in 1934 that Mr. Delisle and Mr. Morissette first opened Chez Delmo just up the street from where it is now. Back then it had 3 floors; a seafood restaurant on the main floor, a gaming house on the 2nd and brothel on the 3rd.
In 1964, Mr. Roland Périsset took over the operation and closed the 2 top floors.
Our menu has changed little over the past 80 years. Quality fish and seafood prepared and served in a traditional way. The house specialty is the Dover sole meunière. Our chefs take great pride in this dish, which used to be de-boned table-side, but now done just before serving. Our lobster bisque takes 2 days to create and the classic cream of tomato remains virtually unchanged for decades.
We have stayed true to cuisine classique, resisting the popular tide of nouvelle cuisine. Traditionally prepared quality seafood; unadorned and unembellished.
Over the years, Delmo has had its share of facelifts; the 18 bar-stools surrounding the granite bar are all that are left of the original 38. The iron sign outside and its original lighted tulips, were salvaged and still greet all our clients. The destruction of the original porcelain tile frieze that decorated the walls behind the bar prompted us to ask local muralist and celebrated artist, Carlito DalCeggio, to reproduce his version of the scenic garden party adorned with the verse from 18th English poet John Gay, “from wine what sudden friendship springs”.
Chez Delmo stands out as a premier seafood destination in Old Montreal, offering top quality, fresh ingredients, generous portions, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere that blends historic charm with modern elegance. Diners repeatedly praise house specialties like the Dover sole Meuniere and lobster ravioli, the seafood tower, and a variety of seafood pastas, all prepared with skill and care. The service is consistently described as friendly, attentive, professional, and knowledgeable, with a strong emphasis on hospitality and a personal touch that makes guests feel at home. The interior and location near Notre Dame Basilica contribute to an appealing setting, from intimate bar seating to refined dining rooms, and the overall experience is often described as memorable and ideal for celebrations or special occasions. While prices reflect the quality and setting, many reviews note excellent value for quality, thoughtful wine pairings, and accommodations for dietary restrictions. Overall, Chez Delmo is portrayed as a reliable, high-end yet welcoming choice for seafood lovers visiting Montreal, with a reputation built on great food, superb service, and a distinctive atmosphere.
Great seafood restaurant! Top quality, fresh ingredients & generous portions. The greeting is fast & professional, the service is efficient & very
friendly. Arguably the best seafood restaurant in Montreal, certainly the oldest, just a 2 minute walk from the Notre Dame basilica in the Old Port. As you come in you are greeted by one of the owners through the bar section, where you can see the original stools & lamps from the 1930s. You get the feel of a classic neighbourhood joint, full of regulars, very busy. The cocktails are very generous (6 oz martinis). They have an nice seafood tower, very festive . The seafood pasta is outstanding. The Dover sole Meuniere is the house specialty, & it's the best i've had anywhere. Also we tried lobster ravioli, which was a highlight. The staff is young, super friendly & professional, & the owners are charming. Strongly recommend, overall a great value. They offer indoor valet parking for $15
I came to get a little drink with my friend & the service was excellent. What was initially a little detour to get a glass of wine ended up being a wholesome experience!! The owner Benoit offered us a warm welcome. Our waiter mandjou kept us entertained with the history of the establishment, the barman Jordan served us wonderful glasses & made insane cocktails. The runner Cedric was extremely polite & it showed that this restaurant is filled with professionals I love it!
Nov 20, 2025
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
I had the pleasure of dining at Chez Delmo this evening & it was delightful in every way possible. I dined at the bar & had the pleasure to meet the owners, who are a joy to converse with, as was the incredible staff. The lobster bisque & the staff recommended walleye were divine. You can truly taste the love that goes into these dishes. It is places like this that remind us how special a dining experience can be. Thank you Benoit, & everyone I had the pleasure to meet!!
We try & have ourselves a giant seafood platter dinner once in a while. As we're planning on moving to Montreal in the future, we thought we'd start with Chez Delmo.
They humorously sat us at a two-top. We tried to warn them. We ordered. We were promptly reseated 😆
Everything looked, smelled, & tasted fantastic. From the gigantic shrimp to the extra oysters. Thank you so much for a wonderful evening. You've set the bar pretty high.
My mother & I ate here last night & not only was this the highlight of our trip to Montreal, it became one of my favorite restaurants in just the two short hours we spent dining here. The owner, Benoit, has run the place for almost 15 years, & he & his children (both waiters/bartenders) were overwhelmingly hospitable. They shared family stories & the history of the restaurant throughout the meal, making our experience even more enjoyable. I highly recommend sitting at the bar not only for a better view of the whole restaurant but also for the chance to talk & learn from Benoit (who will not pull his punches if you are American or don't finish your food 😂). The fish is also spectacular, & the combination of incredible food & atmosphere made this one of the most memorable dining experiences I've had in years.
What a lovely lunch we had while visiting Montreal. We were wandering in the cold & happened to blindly pop into this adorable neighborhood gem. We were welcomed by the owner & seated at the bar as requested. We had a lovely time chatting with him & his daughter. I wish I had gotten their names. The food was spectacular! Started off with a lovely cabbage salad, so fresh & the perfect amount of vinegarette to wake the palate. Next came the lobster bisque, which is so flavorful with large pieces of lobster meat. Not the thick almost gelatinous mess you can sometimes get while dining out. Their recipe is light & so velvety. Next came the lobster roll which was accomplished by a green balsamic vinegarette dressed salad & the most delicious thin & crunchy French fries. The lobster roll was outstanding! The bun was the perfect amount of soft yet toasty & buttery. It was packed with large chunks of soft moist lobster with a light creamy dressing. A little hint of onion or shallot & a whisper of cilantro. If we were locals we would be frequent guests! Already looking forward to coming back this summer!
Chez Delmo was an amazing experience from the moment my wife & I stepped through their door. From the owner, to his lovely daughter behind the bar & his attentive son on the waitstaff. This was our first time in, but certainly not our last. The lobster bisque was a true delight to the palate & the lobster roll, was the best I have ever had. Fresh,firm,abundance of lobster tossed in the most perfect dressing. Certainly a must go if you're in the area, guaranteed to not disappoint.
Jan 17, 2025
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
Chosen at random due to Montréal a Table, Chez Delmo will now be a permanent fixture on my itinerary anytime I'm in Montréal. I almost melted off my chair at the first bite of veal - perfection - & the maple pudding - I was speechless. The prix fixe menu was stunning; perfectly proportioned, & the wait staff well able to make recommendations. The bar tenders have a sense of urgency & timeliness, the drinks are well made & delicious, & overall, everything comes together for an unforgettable experience I will be raving about for months. Thank you William & Benoit for a wonderful evening 😁
In Montreal for 1 night & Chez Delmo was recommended to us by our hotel concierge when we inquired about a local place to eat that had great seafood. The only reservation for 2 available was at the bar & we were ok with that. In the end I am so grateful we dined at the bar as David made our experience all that much better. He was very educated on the menu, made excellent recommendations', made sure his team paid attention to all the small details & had great conversation with us. It was fun watching him mix drinks & I admired his skill, so much so that I had to order a martini after watching him expertly make them. The lobster bisque was chalked full of succulent lobster in a lovely broth. We had beef tartare, which I generally hate but absolutely loved, & oysters to start. My husband had the catch of the day (halibut) while I dined on the creole crab. Everything was superb. We met the owners & heard some of the history of Chez Delmo. It is nice to see such pride in ownership. We definitely do not regret dining here & would make this a staple when we visit.
Really We had an issue with an item & the Owner resolved it followed up as expected - no harm no foul. But I have to say after that resolution we were treated by the waitstaff as if we had leprosy. After the table was partially cleared, we waited for someone, anyone, to check in or offer a dessert menu..finally after 20 minutes we had to go chase the server to get one. Let me say, the restaurant was less than half full, so no excuse there. The Tiramsu was good, dish cleared, & we're back to leprosy status again....waiting another 20 minutes & completely ignored again, so we chase down the waiter again for the bill. Really wanted to let the owner know how disappointed we were but he seemed to have developed a singular chatty patty focus on 2 gentlemen seated at the bar. Finally got the bill after 25 minutes..& the waiter snatched the bill from my hand. Very very disappointed in the staff. About the food, the French onion soup & lobster bisque were very good but the walleye, a flakey white lake fish, was so over salted it was nearly inedible...& that's why the food is rated a 3....The waiter was terrible, the food was just ok... Will not go back ..EVER!!!
Visiting chez delmo was a weird experience. When you visit the website, you expect a bright seafood lovers paradise driven by a long tradition over the many years this restaurant has been open. Badges galore as we scroll on the website as they are a top 3 Montreal seafood restaurant, hence you book a table with creditcard guarantee which enhances the expectations even more. Come dinner night, you enter what can only be described as a sports bar with two tv screens playing sports in a otherwise dark, loud & cheap looking place because of the furniture. So far the ambiance. Service is top with all waiters friendly & giving advice where needed. On to the food. Fish & chips were really nice. Lots of flavour in the batter & fresh made tatare sauce. Main was the seafood pasta which, as signature dish, at 75$ cad a plate was a expensive dish for half a (very small) lobster tale, two scallops, 2 shrimps & 4 very small mussels. The dish went for a smokey flavour but ended up leaving a burned aftertaste with every bite. I would not recommend, especially if I compare a 350$ cad bill at the end of the evening.
Aug 11, 2024
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
Great food, great service, & comfortable. I sat at the bar alone & had great conversations with the staff. They knew when to engage in conversation & when to let me enjoy my meal. It's a delicate balance, especially when im not feeling social, but they were all very pleasant. It was a slow Wednesday night & was even able to meet one of the owners. Benoit was very personable. Will definitely be back.
We had a wonderful dinner at Delmo. We were warmly greeted & helped with our coats. It was early & the restaurant was nearly empty but it filled rapidly, including a large corporate party of ten that caused us to move to the bar to finish our meal. The staff was completely accommodating & understanding. No issues with timing. I had a great combo of delicious endive salad followed by a perfect, very meaty lobster bisque. A Petit Chablis was a great accompaniment. My husband says his poached salmon was perfect-a rare compliment. Staff could not have been nicer to tourists from Chicago!
We had a reservation for 5 people at 6:15. So far, so good. Then it went downhill. The waiter & the bartender tried to pull a fast one by pouring regular Tangeray instead of Tangeray 10. I watched him do it. The waiter didn't say a thing as he placed the glass in front of me. I called him on it. They claimed the 10 bottle didn't have enough for a full pour. But if I hadn't seen the subterfuge, I believe he would not have admitted the truth. One of our party ordered lobster salad, & they brought out lobster bisque instead. They did fix it. I had the lobster bisque, & there were lots of nice chunks of lobster meat, but half of them were quite rubbery. It took quite a while to get our entrees. So overall, the service was terrible, & the food so so. One does not expect so so food for the prices they charge.
