Escondite Cerveceria de Barrio is a Mexican restaurant situated in downtown Montreal steps away from le Quartier des Spectacles, that serves Mexican goodies and house crafted Tequila cocktails.
Overall, reviews depict Escondite as a lively, welcoming Mexican spot with great décor, a warm atmosphere and a strong drinks program that pairs well with a broad menu of tacos, tapas and shared plates. Tacos are frequently highlighted as excellent, especially lamb birria, al pastor and Baja fish, with guacamole, mango salad and churros also praised, though a few dishes are called out as small or uneven. Service is consistently described as friendly and attentive, with staff offering good recommendations, while occasional notes mention slower pacing or a two-hour reservation limit that can feel rushed. The ambiance is described as vibrant and authentic, making it a good choice for groups and celebrations, and many guests say the experience justifies returning for the tasting menu or a repeat visit. Some mention price or portion size as a trade-off, but most agree the quality, variety and atmosphere make Escondite a standout option in town.
I've never had such poor service in a restaurant. From the moment we were seated at our table the waitress made it very clear we were unwelcome. We asked questions about the menu & got very little by way of response. It took forever to get our menus & then an hour to be served & then the order was missing items. When we addressed it she had an attitude & walked away. She never asked if we'd like another drink or if we needed anything.
The food we did receive was, fine. The chilaquiles looked like something you made at home when you're drunk & throw stuff in a bowl - my colleague said it looked like dog food. Fried chicken taco was good - never received our guacamole & chips. The fish taco smelled so bad it made me wonder if it would make me sick. Fresh fish doesn't smell. I'm very surprised given I'd heard great things about the food. Maybe an off night?
When we were able to flag her down she pointed & yelled at me that the item we were waiting for was'coming'. I can completely understand when a restaurant is swamped - it happens - but she made no effort to speak to us or advise us. Every interaction with her made us feel that we shouldn't have come & she didn't want us there. We were there for dinner while on business - we wanted more drinks & were prepared to spend money, but it was clear that it was impossible to order & that she really didn't want our business. Even when we went to pay, she never made eye contact or asked us how our food was, instead stood there with crossed arms looking away. I get it - everyone has a bad day - but I travel all the time, & eat in restaurants frequently & never in my life have I had such poor service. I can understand a kitchen it busy, & service is slow, but that's where the server is supposed to shine. Check in - ask if we need anything. Ask if we want another drink - instead it ruined our evening. I honestly can't recommend this restaurant to anyone - which makes me so sad, because it's a beautiful space in the old port. I'm so disappointed.
I won't recommend this restaurant to any people , because you're going to get a very unpleasant experience.The reason is that from their waiter to their restaurant manager, their service attitude is very bad & violient.They don't respect its clients at all even you paid them tips over 15%. At this restaurant ,there is nothing special about the food.
Nous y sommes allés sur recommandation de collègues & on ne fut pas déçus du tout. Le décor superbe & coloré nous met immédiatement dans l'ambiance. Le serveur nous a concocté un menu dégustation adapté à notre budget & personne ne fut déçu. Que des mmmm & des wow! On en a eu juste assez! Tout est gouteux, bien assaisonné, original. J'y retournerais tous les jours(sans farce!)!
Quelle surprise. Vraiment, je n'avais jamais entendu parlé de ce restaurant, & j'y allais en espérant rien. Au final, ce fut une de mes expériences culinaires les plus agréables de l'année.
Le décor: à couper le souffle
Le service: Omniprésent. Il y a vraiment beaucoup de staff... seul bémol, je n'ai vu aucune femme travailler, mais c'était p-e un hasard.
La bouffe. Ho la la, la bouffe. J'en bave encore. Les tacos a la morue (jamais je n'aurais commandé ça, c'est ma compagne qui voulait essayer) étaient absolument sublimes. Les tacos au poulet frit étaient eux aussi très très réussis. Ceux à la langue de boeuf étaient surprenants, malgré que le gout de chipotle remportait sur pas mal tout le reste. Le ceviche de crevette était très réussi.
Ma compagne a pris un drink au mescal. Elle a presque léché le fond du verre tellement il était bon.
Seul bémol, les portions sont somme toute petites & les prix un peu élevés. Mais en groupe, si tout le monde commande 2-3 assiettes, les saveurs sont absolument au rendez-vous.
Je recommande sans aucune hésitation.
Aug 31, 2015
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Finally a cute retro chic mexican joint in Montreal with a modern twist!
Great food, great drinks, reasonable prices, interresting & warming decor & overall great vibe.
Highly recommended
j ai beaucoup aimé. nous sommes venus a 4 personnes pour souper vendredi soir.
belle decouverte. Montreal a finalement un cheval de bataille de taille pour ce qui en est de la cuisine mexicaine,
un menu actuel, traditionnel & actualisé aux tendances d'ajourdhuit! c'etait delicieux.
les ailes de poulet a l'erable & au chipotle, le taco au smoked meat ainsi que la quesadilla a la truffe noire.nous n'avons pas essayé les cocktails. je garde ca pour une prochaine fois.
belle atmosphere & bon service. pas chere en plus!
je recommende fortement.
Was recommended to be by a friend & it way surpassed my expectations. Our party of 4 arrived on a Friday night with out reservations. We were greeted at the door & told it would about a 15 minute wait & was offered a spot at the Bar. The first thing you notice is the great décor. Not your cheesy Mexican joint, but a cool hip South-of-the-boarder vibe. At the bar we enjoyed some fantastic & unique cocktails (try the one with the chilli powder, can't remember the name). Within minutes our table was ready, we were seated & our wonderful server Alisha was ready to take our order.
The food choices are outstanding & vast. With it's tapas type menu it was fun to order food to share. The fish tacos, veg quesadillas & guacamole dip were outstanding, but personal favourite were the ribs (ordered a second plate just for myself)
Being to full for dessert we opted to move back to the bar, which was now fairly full & hopping, to enjoy some more cocktails.
All in all, it was a wonderful evening, with great food & excellent service & I cannot wait to go back for more.
