If Ferreira Café has quickly established itself as one of the best restaurants in town, there is no mystery: a visionary owner, an inspired chef, high quality products and a talented and dedicated team. In Montreal, Ferreira Café gives the Portuguese cuisine all its nobility.
Ferreira Café is described as an elegant, lively institution for Portuguese dining, with refined decor, warm hospitality, and an open kitchen that adds energy to the meal. The seafood and Portuguese dishes are frequently highlighted as fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented, with standout items like octopus and black cod praised by many guests. Service is repeatedly praised for attentiveness and knowledge, and the wine list and desserts are noted as excellent. Some visits note premium pricing and occasional inconsistencies such as food not arriving hot or slower service during peak times, leading some to question value. Overall, these reviews converge on Ferreira Café as a memorable Montreal dining destination for special occasions, business meals, or a lively night out, while a handful of experiences suggest room for refinement.
I had the pleasure of dining at Ferreira Cafe twice in four days, first for lunch & then for dinner. I have to tell you, if you are Montreal, this place is a must for at least a meal. The restaurant is elegant & gives a real "sense of occasion" without being stuffy or uptight. The staff is warm & helpful & is able to accommodate both French & English. I am so grateful that staff were extremely patient with my French, I'm still learning & need the practice! At time of writing, they still have the outdoor sitting, which looks very lovely but not my taste. The people looked very happy & it if decorated beautifully. & the food. Wowowowowow. At lunch we were told the specials & they were doing one of my favourite things as a special - salmon tartare. It was incredible. Probably the best salmon tartare I've ever had. The salmon was perfectly fresh, the dish was a perfectly balanced & seasoned & the intriguing garnishes were delightful. I will admit that everyone I spoke to for the rest of my time in Montreal had to listen to how excellent the salmon tartare was. I kept replaying in mind how very perfect it was. Our lunch waiter was extremely helpful with our wine selection - usually at lunch my dining partner & I would have white, but I've been having a palette issue & lost my taste for the more acidic whites. Our waiter suggested a rose that was the perfect companion to my meal & I greatly enjoyed it. Now for our dinner. After that perfect lunch I had a lot of confidence dinner would also be incredible. & it was! We took a dear friend to dinner & he was thrilled with every moment of dinner. We were so lucky & felt that we were seated at the best table in the house. My husband & friend indulged in a perfectly made Vesper & perfectly made Martini. I had a lovely glass of wine. None of us opted for the daily specials, but it was a very difficult decision. They all sounded so good, so did the menu! Our appetizers were all tasty, beautiful & so good to eat. Our friend marveled at the beauty of the restaurant & how amazing our table was. I have to make special mention of the sommelier, he was so very helpful in assisting us finding a white that was complimentary to all our mains & also one that I greatly enjoyed. I realize that losing the love of more acidic whites is a problem, & it was handled by the sommelier beautifully, thank you again. The portions were incredible & I don't mind telling you I couldn't finish mine. Our meals were presented beautifully - I had the bouillabaisse & it was presented in a Le Creuset in one of their intriguing shades of blue. My husband was also served his main in a Le Creuset, in a different share of blue! I'm trying to tell you, if you are Montreal or plan on being in Montreal, this place is a must for people who love fish & seafood. I'm already looking forward to the next time we are in Montreal & able to have a meal here. For me, it's lunchtime. I'll be thinking about the salmon tartare...
Sep 6, 2024
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The seafood tower was amazing - the mussels were today's winner. Trust your (well-dressed) clever server to recommend an appropriate wine to accompany your meal. A must for serious foodies.
The Chantier sur Peel was a well balanced cocktail. Octopus appetizer was perfect, great texture & mix of flavours. Chocolate mousse was a delicious mix of caramel & chocolatey textures. Both those dishes were beautifully presented too. I regret that my phone was getting repaired so I couldn't snap a shot. The problem was the seafood rice casserole. Portions were definitely generous but the flavour just wasn't there. I appreciate the slight spice but for the most part it was just bland & mushy. I ordered it because it was supposed to have more of a bisque flavour. I'm assuming adding the giant full crustacean & serving it in a pot was to give it a homey feel but the crustacean flesh (scampi maybe?) was kinda gross, & the dish should have had some sort of vegetable or side to add a bit of texture. Service was very attentive & for the most part knowledgable, but couldn't describe the tartare for some reason saying simply that it was salmon & creamy...like that's every salmon tartare...does it have shallots, sesame, capers? I wouldn't mind if she asked someone else for more detail but such a vague response wasn't helpful. Once again she was perfect in every other aspect & deserves her 5 stars. Pretty decor, but the music was basically elevator music, surprised they wouldn't go for something more upbeat & Mediterranean.
Food: Exceptionally fresh seafood. We ordered: 1) Seafood Platter: if you have two or more diners, don't second guess. Just get it. 2) Roasted Sardines: one of our favorite dishes of the night. 3) Daily Catch: Incredible sea bream with an amazing chickpea salad & veggies. Everything perfectly cooked & seasoned. 4) Bouillabaisse: Highlight of the night. A must-try dish. Service: Top notch. Attentive but not overbearing despite the fact that it was super super busy even on a Monday night. Ambiance: We were seated in a quieter corner in the back & it was very nice.
Une visite chez Ferreira & vous serez conquis. Un restaurant charmant avec beaucoup de classe. J'ai reçu un très bon service & mon repas était bien, quoique mon plat principal manquait un tantinet d'assaisonnement à mon goût. Très bon dessert. Merci Ferreira ! 🌺💚
The scallop ceviche was phenomenal. Not a single miss on any of the dishes. This place will be a repeat destination for sure! The one mistake was not writing down whatever Portuguese wine I had...
Aug 17, 2024
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The name "cafe" in the restaurant, I didn't expect to be $$$. It was near the hotel we were staying, so we were able to get reservations. It was very good but it expensive! Thank goodness I was celebrating my birthday! So it kinda justifies the splurge. Getting 4 stars bc it was more expensive than I expected. Service was great, the rice seafood casserole n risotto comes in a pot served nice n hot. The seafood bouillabaisse was good. The giant shrimp was undercooked. I know seafood is expensive. But wow! I almost fainted when I saw the bill! CA$400 w tip. The pastel the Nata was ok, was not crispy as the ones I had in Lisbon, $11 for 2? Not worth it. Skip it. Since it was my birthday I hit a nice candle w my dessert. So nice! I forgot my phone so I didn't get to take pics. So my sis send them to me. Also the lighting was dark so the foid pics didn't come out good.
Really nice & fresh seafood. Black cod is superb. Seafood rice casserole is well executed. Seating is comfy. A busy place, so reservation is a must. Would recommend.
Aug 13, 2024
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Went for a girl's dinner, we sat at the bar & the experience was perfection. The food was amazing, perfect for sharing & the wine & drinks options had something for every taste & budget 😜 The staff were so amazing, trust their recommendations, you won't be disseminated. A very classy but not stuffy restaurant in the best sense. Definitely will be back.
Our party of four started with cocktails & roasted sardines then ordered fruits de mer, grilled fish, bouillabaisse, sauteed chanterelles, & a fine bottle of vinho verde. Our somaleir helped us find a wine that pleased everyone. Our server, Nicole, struck the perfect balance between being attentive without being intrusive. A very fine meal in a sophisticated environment.
Aug 3, 2024
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Moi & mon fils séjournions 2 jours à Montréal & nous désirions vraiment essayer de restaurent portugais de Sandra Ferreira & surtout encourager sa famille! Les entrées furent succulentes: saumon fumé & pieuvre rôtie- l'une des meilleures que j'ai dégusté! Pour le plat principal, j'ai adoré le riz aux fruits de mer: saveurs recherchées & beaucoup de crevettes!!! Toutefois, le plat de mon fils n'avait aucune touche portugaise: filet mignon avec brocolis & frites... c'est décevant quand tu vas à un resto portugais... il aurait été tellement facile d'ajouter une touche portugaise!!! Sinon nous étions sur la terrasse & nous avons adoré l'expérience!!! Pour le service: nous n'avons eu aucune explication du menu... Heureusement j'avais fait mes recherches avant de visiter le resto... & le serveur n'a pas plus expliqué le menu aux tables près de nous... grande déception pour un restaurant de cette gamme... - le serveur avait un accent français si ça peut aider à lui faire une critique constructive! Alors nourriture 4,5 étoiles & service 3 étoiles pour un 4 étoiles note globale! Nous avons quand même apprécié notre expérience & j'y retournerai certainement pour la pieuvre 🐙!
It was our second time at Ferreira with the first time being wonderful. We decided to go for our wedding anniversary while on a trip to Montreal. What a deception, the food was subpar for a restaurant that is that expensive. We ordered the seafood tower, the lobster & smoked fish were dry. The wine list was great & the wine very good (good job to the Somelier). After the tower, I really felt bad & did not really want to eat anything else. They should also update the restautant.
My fiancee & I visited this restaurant this evening & it was a solid 10 Stars. NOT 5 but 10 stars 👌. We had a couple of special requests due to underlying health challenges & the restaurant followed our requests without question, without hesitation. We were respectful & made those special requests in advance of our reservation so as to not create a possible problem if making them as we ordered our meal. We had Stuffed & Roasted Cornish Game Hen, oven roasted fingerling potatoes & glazed carrots in a nice brown sauce. The flavors were outstanding, the hen perfectly cooked & the stuffing moist & tender. A meal you could see your great grandmother making for Christmas way back in the day. Special thanks to Chef Natalia Machado & to Claudia for their outstanding help & hard work. Rhonda & I appreciated everything more than you know. 2 thumbs WAY WAY UP 👍 👍
