Mare Porto Vecchio offers a distinctive Italian and seafood experience, focusing on expertly prepared pasta dishes and the freshest catches from the sea. The kitchen showcases a commitment to authentic flavors, utilizing quality ingredients to craft memorable meals that reflect the essence of Mediterranean coastal cuisine. Diners can anticipate a vibrant atmosphere where classic Italian culinary traditions are celebrated through a menu designed to satisfy discerning palates seeking both familiar favorites and refined seafood preparations. The restaurant's dedication to excellence is evident in every plate, promising a culinary journey inspired by the rich tastes of Italy's shores.
Online ordering is not directly available on this page for Mare Porto Vecchio. You can call (514) 365-4848 and see if the restaurant takes orders by phone.
Mare Porto Vecchio is widely celebrated as a sophisticated gem in the Old Port, offering an elegant and serene atmosphere that is perfect for romantic dinners or special gatherings. The restaurant is frequently praised for its stunning, chic interior design and consistently high levels of professional, attentive service that make guests feel truly welcomed. Many diners are deeply impressed by the extraordinary Italian cuisine, highlighting dishes like the homemade pasta, fresh seafood, and flavorful appetizers as standout experiences. With its craft cocktails and top-tier hospitality, the restaurant has quickly become a favorite destination for those seeking a memorable and refined fine dining experience in Montreal.
Overall, Mare was a great experience, but there were a few details missing for me to consider it an excellent fine-dining experience.
The arrival was very smooth. We were warmly greeted by the hostess & quickly shown to our table. Our waiter, Bas, was also great-friendly, warm, professional & attentive throughout the evening.
For the starters, everything was good overall. The entree i originally wanted was sold out so I ordered the burrata with lobster. I love burrata & have tried some really memorable & unique versions, so I was expecting a little more from this one. It was good, but I felt it was missing some dressing, acidity or another element to bring everything together. It essentially tasted like lobster with burrata, so for me it was fairly simple & could be elevated a bit more. The ricotta dish was very good, as was the tartare.
For my main, I had the braised beef pasta. It was nicely presented & tasted good, although again, it didn't quite have that'wow' factor I would expect at this level. My friend's pasta was also well prepared but needed a little salt & pepper, which would have been nice to have offered at the table.
The atmosphere is definitely one of Mare's strengths. The restaurant was clean & beautifully decorated. I loved the paintings, checkered flooring, dark lighting & overall romantic ambience. It feels elegant & intimate.
One thing I really think management should reconsider, though, is the music. At one point it sounded like regular radio music was playing, which felt very out of place with such a classy & carefully designed environment. A designated playlist matching the atmosphere would make a surprisingly big difference because the music created a noticeable contrast with the fine-dining setting.
The cocktails were decent but not particularly memorable. I had a Negroni-style cocktail under a different name; it was good, just not something I would specifically return for. Next time, I would probably stick to wine.
Overall, very good service, beautiful atmosphere & good food. Mare has a lot going for it, but with a little more refinement in the food details, cocktail program & especially the music selection, it could easily feel like a more complete fine-dining experience.
Great spot, unfortunately two of the items we wanted (lamb, octopus salad) were sold out but our server Julian went above & beyond & the rest of our dishes (lobster pasta) were excellent!
One of the best Italian restaurants I have ever had the pleasure of visiting. Will surely return & am already recommending to other friends who are visiting the area. My meal was over-the-top incredible; never have I raved about a pasta dish like I did this one! Impeccable appetizers-I'm not a fan of scallops but the scallop special appetizer was so delightful. Dessert was immaculate & our server, Julien, made us feel so welcome & made the experience so fun! Loved it.
Top tier service & first class traditional Italian food. Pasta is homemade & you can taste was made with love. Ambience & service can't get better than Mare!
Honestly what an amazing experience . The hostess Ella was the cutest person ever & really made sure we felt super comfortable. The food was amazing & the vibe was so good. The waiters were all truly so amazing & helpful. Get the seabass + butter pasta w extra caviar deliciousss . Def will be back 💕
Amazing experience.
We got the taglioni with Caviar & the braised beef pasta.
From staff to manager I truly felt respected & welcomed. Will definitely be returning.
Very romantic restaurant. Perfect for a date night. Highly recommend the octopus as a starter its a creative & delicious small plate. We also love to share a branzino & the caviar pasta. We have been there many times (at least 5 times) & it was always a very nice experience for the ambiance, the food & the service.
Great raw bar, fresh fresh seafoods.
My fav pastas are the tagliolini & the cappeletti. The tagliolini looks like it would be very creamy maybe even too much... but no. It is perfectly creamy & cheesy. The plate was licked clean it was not too heavy whatsoever, very amazing that they pulled this off the way they did. Cappeletti sauce also maybe sound heav, but it is not. It is bursting with flavour & is addicting. Plate was also licked clean.
The servers offered some chili oil, which was an epic pairing with the cappeletti!! The chili oil is very delicious. Somehow a bit sweet & spicy, realllly loved it so much.
The squid ink ravioli toppings are sooo good but found the texture of that pasta to be a miss for me.
Another killer is the vanilla ice cream, its not on the menu, but ask for it because (coming from a person whos fav food is ice cream & has it everywhere i find it) it is some of the best i have ever had, creamy & icy, luscious & addicting vanilla flavour. Perfectly sweetened. I will miss it forever when i leave 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!
