Mare Porto Vecchio

Samantha

4.0

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.

Josh

5.0

Honestly the food, & cocktails were amazing but the restaurant was too loud to think at some points. I think this is a personal preference as if you like loud 80s music it would be a vibe. The service was great but maybe a little too fussy for my liking but again that is a personal preference.

Melissa

5.0

Loved Mare for a girl's night! Food was top notch & the cocktails by Bruno were absolutely delicious & showed true craftsmanship. We will definitely be back 🥂

Lisa

5.0

What an amazing night out! The food & cocktails were outstanding! I loved my caffe Milano cocktail so much! All my friends loved their cocktails too! The young Italian waiter his name was Bruno I think was just amazing! Really great service. The tonno crudo to die for! Highly recommend

Nicolas

5.0

We visited this beautiful restaurant in Old Port, Montreal on Saturday, March 28. We were welcomed by a kind & friendly young Italian who served us excellent cocktails. The food & service were both of a very high standard.

The only downside was the vibe, which felt a bit dull - the music lacked a clear identity, shifting from 70s Italian tracks to rather unengaging songs.

I hope to return & find a different atmosphere next time.

Michèle

2.0

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.

Clarisse

5.0

Les cocktails sont excellents ! Merci à Idriss pour l'excellent service.

Riddle_me_this

5.0

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!

Sam

5.0

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.

Alison

5.0

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.