Reviews of Ibérica present a mix of glowing praise and some disappointments, with many noting great service, a beautiful atmosphere, and food that feels authentically Spanish. Diners frequently point to standout dishes such as paella, seafood tapas, octopus, croquettes, and well executed vegetables, and to an experience that can feel special and well paced when the kitchen runs smoothly. However some meals fall short, with paella described as slimy or lukewarm, seafood dishes too salty, and portions or prices not always seen as justified. Service quality is described as professional and attentive at times, yet inconsistent in others, with reports of slow service, crowded layouts, and staff interactions that can detract from the evening. Ambiance is repeatedly praised for its look and feel, though music choice and space constraints can impact the overall mood. Overall Ibérica is viewed as worth trying for business or celebration when the kitchen and service align, while several visits left guests feeling the value did not always match the cost.
We had a wonderful experience at Iberica. The interior is absolutely beautiful - very Barcelona-inspired, stylish & vibrant, with so much character. The style of music & the volume were perfect, & the overall noise level in the restaurant was just right. We were lucky to be served by Jeffrey. He was attentive, professional, & made the evening flow effortlessly. We tried different tapas. They were all very tasty. Portions were perfect for sharing. We appreciated the offer to serve 4 croquets instead of regular portion of 3, so it made it easier for us to share. The whole evening was full of this kind of small gestures that made a big difference for the whole experience. For example, the plates & cutlery were changed for each dish - such a thoughtful touch that elevates the whole dining experience. One small suggestion: it would be lovely to see a wider selection of wines available by the glass.
'Such a wonderful experience from start to finish. The menu offered a plentiful selection, & I truly appreciated how thoughtfully it catered to my gluten-free intolerance without compromising on creativity or flavor. The cocktails were original & beautifully crafted, & the service struck the perfect balance between warm & professional. I'll absolutely be back.'
The service was warm & welcoming from the moment we entered the restaurant which was really appreciated. We were forgotten a couple of times though which made it a bit less enjoyable. For example, the waitress said she would bring us the dessert menu but didn't come back for another 20 minutes & then the dessert took another 20 minutes as well. So even though the waitresses were quite friendly, we experienced a couple of unfortunate events. The food itself was tasty. I do find the rice a bit too salty but the overall flavours complemented each other very well which was quite amazing. The portion was just right for us as well! The food is priced at around 55$ for the paella which seems intimidating but the portion is enough for 2. The tables are pretty small so it does make you feel a bit out of space especially with the plates being so big.
I went alone & ordered just one paella & one cocktail. I overheard other guests chatting, & it sounds like the rest of the menu is amazing too.
I ordered Paella de la Montagne - the paella had a beautiful smoky, fire-grilled aroma. The steak was tender & juicy, & the smoky sausage didn't overpower the natural sweetness of the seafood. Every bite was smooth, delicate, & perfectly balanced. The server even swapped the regular white rice for black rice coated in squid ink for me-such a win!!!
For drinks, I had the Canarias cocktail. Sweet but not cloying-perfect for an Asian palate. I told the server I prefer sweetness over acidity, & he instantly got it. He customized a more fruity version of the Canarias just for me 🍹
The portion was very generous. For a woman with an average appetite, I was full after finishing just half-& happily packed the rest to enjoy at home.
Montreal has officially added another restaurant I'll be dreaming about ❤?
La nourriture & le service sont impersonnelles. Fruits de mer & riz vraiment trop cuit dans la paella, & crevette géante dure & caoutchouteuse dans le surf & turf, (on dirait que tout est préparé EXTRÊMEMENT longtemps d'avance & que les assiettes continuent de cuir sous le passe-plat) & la serveuse avait juste l'air d'avoir hâte qu'on parte d'après son non-verbal & son attitude, bref 400$ (repas pour 2) de jeter au poubelle
We've recently been to Barcelona, & many of dishes were as good or better than those we had in Spain! So delicious! Great atmosphere. Helpful & friendly staff... great location (2 minutes from the metro). Spanish wines & beers available with staff advice for inquiries... a repeat visit, for sure!!
I hosted a client here & the experience was excellent. The food was authentic & very tasty with the Paella being the highlight. The starters were also quite good & as authentically spanish as you can get in North America. In addition the service was professional. Overall 5/5, I wouldn't hesitate to come back for business or pleasure.
If you have celiac or any kind of allergy I would stay away from this place. The waiter argued with me at length that gluten'evaporates' the fryer (when this is not the case at all), then the waiters all brought the food quickly clearly premade no mention of allergy vs not. Then I flagged the waiter for something to ask a question & then proceeded to tell me'don't eat that actually it has gluten'…after I had eaten the dish. For someone with allergies this is extremely concerning. They offered alcohol to compensate but I don't drink. The food was good but the atmosphere felt quite touristy & service subpar.
Jan 3, 2026
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 a reservation for NYE booked in advance with OpenTable. When doing the reservation there was the option to chose standard menu & NYE menu. We ended up choosing the standard option because we wanted to try other things in the menu. On the 31st around mid afternoon, we got a call from the restaurant saying that standard option was not available, & we had to stick to NYE menu, although reservation allowed otherwise. A call with this'new information' on the day of the reservation, on a day in which is difficult to find another place with such short notice, is totally unacceptable. Hopefully this will be a learning for the future for Iberica. We were really looking forward to try it.
& yes, there was the option to do the reservation as'standard reservation'. Here is the screenshot at 3pm on December 31st after I got the call from the restaurant & I was wondering if the mistake had been mine, but no… Continue with standard reservation was always an option.
Nous avons réservé une table pour deux à l'occasion d'un moment spécial. La serveuse nous a gentiment installé à une table charmante, idéale pour célébrer comme il se doit.
Service excellent & nourriture délicieuse.
Merci encore pour cette belle expérience !
Ate here for NYE dinner. Got food poisoning from what was likely seafood paella clams. Also got locked in the bathroom similar to review above. Feel sick today.
Overpriced & the food didn't taste good at all. We were given the new year's eve menu. The crab soup smells nice but tastes bitter, & i did not like it, but the waiter offered to switch to another course for us very nicely. The seafood paella is mid, not seasoned well & u would not like it if u like strong flavor. Would not recommend going. Also got locked inside the restroom lol.
For starters, we have dined here for the New Year's, where there was a special seafood based 4 course 125$ menu (it was the only thing we could order)
The food was pretty mediocre, nothing special. Some dishes we're sgnificantly too salty but overall better than nothing. Definitely not worth the price, but it was edible enough. We also left hungry, but that's to be expected in a high end restaurant.
The service was slow, we waited for about an hour after our appetizers for our main (we were one of the first customers & the restaurant wasnt that busy), so quite annoying, but in an acceptable range (The entire meal was more than 2h & we are fast eaters). The server was nice & I have had my water refilled more than anywhere I have been.
The atmosphere however was quite good, the restaurant was incredibly beautiful.
Personally I believe that food is the most important part of a restaurant, which is why I wouldn't recommend this to anyone else.
