Mati is widely praised as a standout Greek restaurant in Old Montreal, with a largely gluten-free menu and dishes that celebrate fresh ingredients, from octopus and lamb to mezze dips and a bright watermelon salad that many guests crave again. The atmosphere is warm and elegant, with a Mediterranean vibe and a chic, welcoming space that feels upscale yet cozy, and bar seating that adds to the convivial mood. The service is consistently highlighted as attentive and professional, helping to make meals memorable. The kitchen delivers flavorful fare across the board, from taramasalata and calamari to perfectly cooked octopus and tender braised lamb neck, though a few visits note smaller portions or higher prices for the size of the plates. A few guests mention overbooking or music that can be loud, but the overall experience remains highly positive and many say they would return and recommend Mati to others seeking authentic Greek cuisine in Montreal.
The day we arrived in Montreal , we discovered this restaurant on our walk back to our hotel. We made a reservation for dinner later that evening. The dinning room is very serene.We shared several dishes, amazing stuffed grape leaves, bright salad with thinly shaved fennel & lamb chops. The whiskey sour does not disappoint. I think it was the best whiskey sour we had on our Montreal trip.There is a good selection of Greek wines as well.
We finished dinner with the Baklava Express drink & the tarte costrade. It was delicious dinner for our first night in Montreal.
Restaurant testé pendant l'événement Montréal à table, c'était excellent ! On cherchait depuis très longtemps un bon restaurant à Montréal, nous l'avons enfin trouvé !!! Très bon, très goûtu, bons
produits, déco raffinée, serveurs sympathiques, c'était parfait ! 🤩
Food was very good, nice cozy restaurant. It is a good place to share meals, the Spanakopita was delicious as well as the Greek Sausage! Very heartwarming.
Food was outstanding!!!! Staff explained the plate sharing concept so we adjusted our order - adding more dishes than we would normally order. So, so good!!!
Oct 21, 2025
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 think service rating could be better if there was more enthusiasm from the servers regarding the dishes & what they are especially when there are no photos to show what these interesting dishes could be.
If opting out of imagery on the menu is the vibe, it is understandable but ensure that the enthusiasm of the servers are there to better describe & sell the dish.
Aside from that, the food we ordered tasted phenomenal. Again, had the server let us know in advance that there would be a bit of a wait time between all the other things we ordered & our pastitsio… we would've reconsidered.
Again with the whole'tipping culture' & the peer-pressuring of wanting to tip the servers. We did not feel well served but we ended up tipping anyways for the minimal'service' we had.. the refill on water twice, the clearing of our plates was faster than the food arriving on our table.
On the way out, we used the bathrooms downstairs & on our way up, the aisles between tables were so narrow that we had to wait for another server to pause taking orders from her table (despite her seeing us waiting there before she started to take the order..) so we can pass. Servers completely lacking awareness of their environment & reading the room…she did see us come up the stairs yet instead of quickly letting us pass, she began to take the order & thus leading to a really awkward pause where she had to let us pass by & we got the death glare from the man who had to wait the 3 seconds before he would order his food.
It's 3 seconds. It's not the end of the world for you okay?
We didn't see the option of the evil eye candy that others had shared which was something I sort of looked forward to as the evil-eye theme is a personal interest.
We ordered: taramasalata dip with pita, lamb chops, spanakopita, calamari, stuffed vine leaves & the pastitsio (similar to a lasagna?) - the dip was freaking phenomenal.. which made up for the lack of enthusiasm.
Every bite at this restaurant feels like a journey through the Mediterranean coast, reimagined with elegance & passion. The marinated fish with crushed pistachios was beyond incredible - delicate, buttery, & infused with layers of nutty aroma & citrus that danced together beautifully. Their whisky sour deserves a special mention too - perfectly balanced between sour, smoky, & sweet, it's easily one of the best cocktails in the city.
The chicken was divine - juicy, tender, & full of flavor, with that smoky char that makes you close your eyes in satisfaction. The lamb chops were out of this world - unbelievably tender, melting in the mouth like a fine piece of cake, & seasoned with heavenly spices that fill the air before you even take a bite. The pide was flaky, golden, & wonderfully rich - the perfect comfort dish that ties the whole meal together.
& let's talk about the staff - warm, genuine, & truly passionate about what they serve. They make you feel like an old friend coming home for dinner. The cozy atmosphere & soft lighting make it a perfect spot for a date night - romantic, relaxed, & filled with the aromas of freshly grilled perfection.
Special thanks again to Chef Arash, the master planner behind this unforgettable menu. His care, creativity, & attention to detail are reflected in every dish. The team & the chef together create an experience that's not just a meal - it's a moment you'll remember long after you leave.
Oct 5, 2025
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.
Felix was our entertainment for the evening. We were seated at the bar. Actually better then out front. Very intimate & Felix was superb at recommending dishes & such. Our 3 course meal was great. If you are a couple & they can seat you at the bar it is the best seat in the house. My wife Linnea & I had a great time.
Do not underestimate the Gemista (grilled stuffed veggies with potatoes & a homemade tomato sauce. It's amazing. I don't have a good photo of it, unfortunately but you must get it!
Dining at this Greek restaurant was nothing short of a revelation. From the moment we sat down, we knew we were about to experience something extraordinary, & every course proved us right.
Let's start with the cocktails: their whiskey sour alone could earn this place a cult following. It wasn't just good-it was exceptional. You could actually taste each layer of sourness & balance, perfectly shaken with just the right froth, smooth but with enough kick to remind you why classics never go out of style. If you think you've had a proper whiskey sour before, prepare to have your expectations redefined.
Then came the mezze dips, & what a journey those were. The smoky eggplant was rich & deeply flavored, carrying that rustic earthiness only true slow-roasting can bring. The tzatziki was creamy & refreshing, with just the right lift of garlic & cucumber. Add in the warm, pillowy bread to scoop it all up, & suddenly it's impossible to stop. Every dip was crafted not just as a side dish, but as a statement-balanced, fresh, & brimming with authenticity.
The salads pushed creativity even further. The standout was undoubtedly the watermelon salad-an absolutely brilliant creation. Juicy, vibrant cubes of watermelon laid over a cloud of tangy yogurt, dusted with finely crushed pistachios. The interplay of sweetness, creaminess, crunch, & freshness was nothing short of magical. A dish that looks simple but carries the soul of a chef who knows exactly how to balance contrast & harmony on a plate.
& then-the star of the night-the octopus. I cannot stress enough how life-changing this was. Easily the best octopus I have ever had, anywhere in the world. Perfectly grilled, smoky, yet tender to the bite, paired with capers, slivers of red onion, & a vibrant sauce that tied everything together. This dish was not just well-cooked; it was Michelin-star level artistry. A single bite was enough to make me pause & appreciate the kind of mastery that goes into creating it.
Every dish that came out of the kitchen had a story, & that story was one of passion, skill, & vision. & the mastermind behind it all is Chef Arash. You can taste his genius in the menu-how everything is thoughtfully planned, how flavors aren't just combined but orchestrated. He's not just a chef, he's a true culinary architect, weaving tradition with innovation. It's rare to encounter someone who can elevate classic Greek flavors to this level, but Arash has done it, & done it with elegance.
This isn't just a restaurant; it's a destination for anyone who loves food. A place where every sip, every bite, every dish makes you stop & say, this is special.
Truly, one of the best dining experiences I've had in years. If there were more than five stars, this restaurant & its team would deserve them all.
Perfect food for a long day. Service was super nice & made sure we had everything we needed. Shared several plates all good but winner winner was the Greek salad enough to share especially if you have other plates such as red pepper chile dip. Yum 😋
Sep 27, 2025
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.
Tout était très bon. Mon coup de coeur , la salade de melon d'eau & de pistache, l'aubergine grillée, le bar, la le poulet de Cornouaille. Seul bémol , le resto est petit & très bruyant. Difficile à s'entendre.
The food was decent but some of the dishes were over priced. The Greek salad for example was really over priced. Very small portion & nothing special about it. The octopus on the other hand was perfectly cooked & tasted amazing. We also had the Cornish Hen, highly recommended. Very juicy & perfectly seasoned.
Very good Greek food cooked in a modern way. A well sorted & reasonably priced whine card. Very competent & friendly staff. Nice ambiente without pseudo Greek decoration.
