Mare Porto Vecchio draws mixed reactions in a string of reviews, with many praising its beautiful atmosphere, attentive service, and strong cocktails, but others finding the food uneven and overpriced. Several diners highlight memorable seafood dishes and a refined wine and drinks program that elevates the experience. At the same time, there are complaints about inconsistent kitchen execution, with some plates arriving lukewarm or underseasoned, and others too salty or overcooked. Service is described as professional and attentive by many, yet a few experiences mention slow pacing when settling the bill or timing of courses. Some reviewers feel the price is high for what is delivered, while others feel the ambiance and fine dining feel justify the cost. The new spot and its design receive praise, and many say they would return to try more of the menu, especially for special occasions. Accessibility and layout are noted as drawbacks by a few, such as stairs to the washrooms.
The food was'okay' nothing outstanding. Portions were tiny & comes with a heavy price tag for what you get. The service was excellent though. 👌🏽 unfortunately, the service alone won't get me to go back. We enjoyed the chill vibe. Music was loud enough to enjoy it, but not so loud that we couldn't hear each other. Less of a party vibe & more fine dining atmosphere; we quite enjoyed that. I spent 140$ for 1 person (no alcohol) & I left hungry & was underwhelmed.
Avons mangé à cet établissement le 21 février.
Bel endroit avec beau décor.
Le jeune homme italien qui prépare cocktails, 🍸 ne parle pas français.
Service très lent & désorganisé.
Huîtres 🦪 Rockfeller servies tièdes & sans saveur.
Crevettes 🍤 servies tièdes avec un goût d'ammoniaque.
Daurade est bonne.
Devons nous servir nous-mêmes le vin.
On nous fait une courtoisie en nous apportant une facture salée: on nous offre deux cocktails & deux cafés.
Avions mangé la veille chez Dorsia où tout était impeccable. Décor, service, plats, clientèle. Dignes d'une étoile Michelin.
Feb 22, 2026
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Absolutely loved our experience at Mare in Old Montreal. The food was incredible, every dish beautifully presented & full of flavor. You can truly taste the quality & attention to detail in every bite. The service was top notch! Everything from the atmosphere to the cuisine & hospitality was amazing. A must-visit in Old Montreal ✨
I had the most incredible dining experience for Valentine's Day at Mare in Old Port. From the moment we stepped in, the coastal Italian charm was undeniable. They began by serving us bread-focaccia & sourdough-accompanied by a mascarpone & cod spread, which was exquisite. We also had two amazing mocktails-proof that even their non-alcoholic options are outstanding. We started with oysters-plump, meaty, bursting with fresh flavor, straight from PEI. For the appetizers, I had a vibrant beef tartare with an amazing chew, while my girlfriend savored the octopus, paired with crispy potato & escarole-every bite was fresh & balanced. For the mains, we shared two pasta delights: I had the cappelletti, filled with braised beef slow-cooked for hours, bathed in a rich sugo d'arrosto, & my girlfriend had the tagliolini, a silky pasta with Parmigiano, cultured butter, & caviar-pure bliss. We finished with a tiramisu that was divine & another dessert, the cioccolata pralinata-light, elevated, with a perfect crunch & subtle sweetness, the ideal end to a grand meal. & to top it off, I had an excellent double espresso. I must say, as good as the food was, the service was flawless-every staff member was so attentive, warm, & made us feel truly special. Mare is a must-visit-go treat yourself!
We went for a romantic valentine's day dinner at Mare in Montreal. Wow, we were blown away how amazing the food was. The service was even better. Our waiter was so patient with us & helped us all through the way with the food & drinks since it was our first time there. We ordered the braised beef cappelletti & the whole brazino. I was a tad disappointed with the brazino hoping it would have a tasty green sauce as I've seen in photos. Instead we had olive oil with capers, lacking flavor. It was still very good. I also would not recommend the tirumisu as it is too large for one person. I was so full after that & did not finish it. This place is highly recommended on my list & we already plan to go back soon. I would love to try everything on their menu.
Quelle incroyable expérience!!! Nous avons célébrer l'assermentation de notre amie à cet endroit & nous n'avons pas du tout été déçus. Le service était exceptionnel & Idriss a vraiment été à la hauteur. Merci nous reviendrons assurément.
We came back after a few months & the service was noticeably better. The two Italian guys who welcomed us were professional & very attentive.
The food was great, but the real highlight was the cocktail list, truly exceptional drinks!
At the end of the dinner, Bruno prepared a tableside Sgroppino for us, which was a wonderful touch. Special thanks to him.
Highly recommended.
The music selection was amazing, such a great vibe!
Amazing place. Idriss was our bar tender & made some of the best cocktails I have ever had. The service was so good that me taking a girl there convinced her to date me. It follows that I would highly recommend.
Feb 8, 2026
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Very beautiful evening. The service was, hands down, phenomenal. He was professional & kind the whole night; his recommendations were spot on.
We got the'Plateau Royal per 2' & the fresh fish was remarkable. I live on Vancouver Island, & this was better than any seafood I had had out there. The red wine we got was amazing too!
Would recommend to anyone who is considering it! Becuase its a newer place, it doesn't get enough praise
I was expecting so much from this restaurant but unfortunately came to the conclusion it is extremely over hyped. The staff at times are very attentive & then some times, we had to wait over 20 minutes for the bill. We didn't order drinks & chose to have water but the waitress mentioned twice if we wanted drinks & she'd leave the menu if we change our mind. We ordered the beef tartare but was stopped due to the waitress' recommendation. She said the fish one would be a better selection because the tartare isn't seasoned as much & you'd have to really know your tartare or you'd think it was plain. We didn't feel like fish that night but I found it strange for her to tell us not to order something & recommend something completely different. Our food came out lukewarm , bread they served was ice cold & the pasta was undercooked. At this point I wanted to just finish our meal & leave. The washrooms are downstairs after taking a narrow staircase & walking through the dim lit hallways. Definitely not for older people or people with mobility issues. We chose to eat here during new years eve , visiting from out town & had to take a 20 minute Uber. I was extremely disappointed after spending over $100. I can understand why people choose to dine here because it's so upscale but I expected more.
Jan 2, 2026
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We walked into Mare after realizing earlier in the day that it was a new spot that had just opened beside our hotel. With no reservation on New Year's Eve, we were pleasantly surprised to be seated right away by the bar.
The atmosphere was beautiful, lively, & paired with great music. The servers were interactive, welcoming, & genuinely friendly, which immediately set the tone. We stopped in just for cocktails after having dinner at a very unfriendly restaurant, & Mare completely turned our night around.
The cocktails were excellent, & the staff made us feel comfortable & welcome right before the New Year's Eve ball drop. What started as a disappointing evening ended on a high note thanks to this place.
We visit Montreal quite often, & Mare will definitely be a spot we return to. Highly recommend for great drinks, atmosphere, & outstanding service.
We will try the food on our next visit. It did smell amazing while we were there.
The service was absolutely terrible. Travelled around the world & tried different restaurants but have never encountered one with service this bad. I had a reservation at 10, not only did they make us wait for 30 minutes, but failed to give us 2 SIMPLE GLASSES OF WATER when we asked for them in the time frame of 30 minutes when they offered them to the table behind us that came after. When we came in they said it was going to be quick & that some tables are just paying their checks. 30 minutes later, they told us they have a table eating dessert & just waiting for their checks. SO WHATS ACTUALLY THE TRUTH? Genuinely ridiculous service for a restaurant like this. I understand the business & the wait, however the service is insanely terrible. Wouldn't get this kind of service at any other restaurant in Montreal.
Came for my first year anniversary & was welcomed by your hostess Sabrine who's absolutely wonderful. She even took the time to explain a bit the menu & tell me her favorite items. I can't wait to come back!
Let's start out with on a positive note. The restaurant is beautiful, feels expensive & it is. The squid ink pasta was ok (slightly overcooked) & the bread selection was lovely. The martinis were also very good. Great wine selection, the Burgundy chablis we ordered was wonderful.
Now the truth about the food
The food was subpar at best. From start to finish, It was either missing salt, too salty, overcooked & topped with gritty clams. I actually returned my cod in aqua pazza because it was loaded with clam grit. Everyone at my table for 10 was very disappointed with their meal & I left hungry after paying almost $400 per couple.
The service was ok, they did their jobs, but obviously not trained for a fine dining establishment, arriving a few dishes at a time all while asking who ordered what when they had taken the order 30 min earlier. It is not a pizza joint, train your personnel.
