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.

Taaha

5.0

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!

A

5.0

Great date night classy spot
Service A+
Bread service A+
Oysters A
Drinks ,A+
Burrsta A+
Octopus A+
Tartare A+
Lobster Pasta B+

Selena

3.0

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.

Kat

5.0

This place was truly spectacular. Went for an anniversary dinner & everything from the greeting at the door to the last morsel of dessert was outstanding. The Branzino tartare & the chocolate tart are a must try!

Antoine

2.0

Very expensive, & poor food quality. Everything (filet mignon, pasta, etc) was way too salty, barely edible. The tuna tartare appetizer was good but barely three bites. The place is nice though & service professional.

There's way better in Montreal & old port.