Reviews of Dera Restaurant describe bold authentic Pakistani flavors and generous portions, with paya, nihari, haleem and halwa puri frequently praised and naan noted as fresh and flavorful. Many diners report friendly and attentive service that creates a welcoming, homey vibe, though some note room for improvement in ambiance, lighting and staff uniforms and cleanliness. Food quality shows highs and lows, with dishes praised for depth of flavor while others are described as bland or overly spicy and with some inconsistency across visits. Iftar and breakfast experiences are varied, some buffets offering well received items and others lacking variety or heat, but halwa puri and fresh naan remain standout. Overall Dera Restaurant is seen as a solid go to for authentic desi cuisine and family meals, valued for bold flavors and generous portions, with suggestions to enhance decor, presentation and cleanliness to broaden appeal.
I went with my family for iftar buffet. Although the price was reasonable $30/adult & $10/ kid under 10 years old . The samosa/ fries were good but the rest of the food was alright & the dessert were soooo dammm disappointing like fruit chaat & kher.i just know i wont be going there again, like ever again which is sad cuz i really though it would be yummy 😕
Feb 23, 2026
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Beef Karachi, chicken biryani & butter chicken are excellent. The prices are on the lower side. Have been coming back since 2009. They also offer catering & gladely accommodate big groups.
We had a wonderful family dinner at Dera Restaurant. The food was fresh, flavorful, & truly authentic. The haleem & chicken tikka were outstanding, & the staff made us feel very welcome. Murtaza is the most handsome owner & kind. If you need special spices touch go see him. The atmosphere is perfect for family gatherings. Highly recommend for anyone looking for quality Pakistani cuisine in Montreal!
This is the worst food I have ever had-completely unacceptable. The food tasted rotten, & all you could taste were overpowering spices. The haleem was really bad, & the nihari was extremely spicy with no proper flavor balance. Nothing tasted fresh or enjoyable.
Every time we go to Desi Mandi to pick up meat, we end up going to Dera, & every single time we regret it. The quality is consistently terrible, the taste is awful, & it's a total waste of money. We keep giving it chances, & it disappoints us every time. Definitely not recommended.
Mon expérience avec la nourriture a été très décevante. La viande avait mauvais goût & ne semblait pas propre à la consommation. J'ai informé le propriétaire du restaurant, mais il n'a montré aucun intérêt pour ma plainte ni pour la qualité des plats.
Je déconseille fortement cet établissement. La nourriture ne me paraît pas saine & ne respecte pas les standards attendus.
My experience with the food was very disappointing. The meat tasted bad & did not seem safe for consumption. I informed the restaurant owner, but he showed no interest in my complaint or in maintaining food quality.
I strongly advise against this establishment. The food does not appear healthy & does not meet acceptable standards.
The service here was amazing & the staff definitely try to create this sense of home through the restaurant & food.
The taste of the food was good according to my family's palate, but if you're someone who likes heavy masala & oil, this place is not for you. The food is a bit bland &, in some instances, warm but not cold. They don't ask for mild or hot preferences for food, but there is little to no spice in all of their dishes. However, their naan were clearly hot off the oven & tasted like traditional naan - quite good.
This restaurant attempts to portray itself as a high end restaurant & they offer catering for all types of occasions. However, their atmosphere needs work. Staff were all dressed in sweats & were given a Dera Restaurant baseball cap to wear - in my opinion, staff should have a clear uniform. This doesn't mean they need business attire…just not sweats.
Additionally, while cleaning off tables, staff were not provided gloves & were instead cleaning & picking up used dishes, cups, tissue, etc. with their bare hands. Additionally, the lighting at night was terrible & reminiscent of a run down hospital. The bathrooms were relatively clean but the toilet seat in the women's bathroom had been removed & dumped to the side in one of the stalls & the garbage was overflowing. So cleanliness needs some work.
Overall, for the price we paid to eat, you're literally getting what you pay for. We paid $50 with tips for a family of four, which isn't even close to what we would pay in the GTA. If you look at this in a monetary context, then this place is actually perfect.
« Le lieu ou le véhicule doit être exempt de contaminants, de polluants, de toute espèce d'animaux, y compris les insectes & les rongeurs, ou de leurs excréments.'
Best food if you like meat & bone type dishes (ex- nehari, paya). Really good service. There was 2 ladies as a server both were really sweet , specially the serve we got the slime & tall one . Dessert was awesome (kheer)
Great experience, amazing service. Their Paye & Haleem are one of the best I have had outside Pakistan. I travel from GTA to Montreal for their food. & I will be back again & again. Much Love 💕
