Palomar emerges in reviews as a seafood-forward spot that blends a lively market vibe with dining, featuring a standout raw bar, a broad selection of oysters, frequent mentions of mussels and calamari, and the option to pick a fish at a counter and have it grilled or prepared to order. Dishes like gravlax, tuna tartare, and various grilled fish receive particular praise, with many noting the freshness and thoughtful preparation, while some visits mention that portions or pricing can be on the small side or that service can be inconsistent during peak times. The ambiance is described as cozy yet energetic, with a terrace that many enjoy and a staff described as friendly, attentive, and professional. The overall impression across reviews is that Palomar offers a memorable seafood experience with high quality, a unique market-to-table concept, and strong value for seafood lovers who want to explore fresh catches and inventive preparations.
Visitor from Taiwan! After shopping around Jean Talon Market we were looking for something more filling & found Palomar on Google.
We ordered the oyster sampler, fries (of course), a salmon sandwich, & the charcuterie (thought it was interesting to try different fish).
Oyster, sandwich, & fries were great. Seems like lobster roll is the common choice but boyfriend says sandwich was a better choice 😋 Charcuterie was not as pleasant as I thought. Great nibble food but most of the fish is not fresh! It's actually all processed - like fish salami or jerky.
Saw the table next to us order the pot of mussels & was jealous.
Nevertheless, enjoyable dining experience. Very relaxed. Great service.
If the opportunity comes, I will go back for a glass of wine, fries, & those mussels!!
Have yet to dine at the restaurant, but my go to place for all fish & seafood. Coolest fishmonger in town with their dried & aged fish. Quality cannot be beat.
Dec 15, 2025
on Google
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Just came back from a delicious dinner.
We were 6, 4 adults & 2 kids. We, by pure chance, happened to come by on the'all you can eat mussels' night. Guess what, by the time we finished the appetizers, we were full :)
We had calamari, onion rings, deep-fried cod balls, oysters (plate of 12, 3 different kinds), french fries that came with delicious aioli sauce, shrimps in garlic sauce, fish & chips, & of course mussels.
The food was delicious, ambiance cool, & the team professional yet very friendly & helpful.
& yes, food was so good, no one had time for pictures.
Lunch after a pleasant stroll through the Marche Jean Talon. Great selection of oysters. The smoked fish charcuterie plate was a pleasure. Their version of a reuben sandwich was a pleasure. Good beer.
The oysters were good, but we ordered the mixed platters (x3) & everything was served all together, so we couldn't tell which one we were eating. The fish was okay, but honestly I found it overpriced - $47 for a small piece of fish with just two lettuce leaves as a Caesar salad on the side. Unfortunately, the flavor didn't really live up to the price.
If you go for fresh fish & other sea food amazing selection & they prepare it really well just for me it was missing a little flavour plus I took the tuna burger I'm a big burger fan & was super disappointed being in a high end seafood restaurant the president choice burger at maxi taste better it needs a little work on it to elevate the flavour profile
Un accueil simple & chaleureux. La formule du resto est bien expliquée. L'endroit est lumineux avec vue sur le marché JeanTalon. Les fish & chips étaient tout aussi savoureux en formule morue ou espadon. Nous y reviendrons assurément.
Wonderful resto north side of the Jean Talon Market. The real fun is the'fish market's in the front where you get to select from the recent catch & they cook it right up for you! A very enjoyable an unique dining experience every time:)
Thank you, Palomar, for a lovely lunch. The food was fresh, bursting with flavour, & unique. The soupe du jour was a hit as was the salmon chorizo with pickled beets. Lobster roll was delicious, nicely presented. We were less enamored by the fish & chips, fries were dry & overcooked, batter was thick, a bit heavy. Service was excellent, the team thoughtful & sweet. Nice dining room, the deli counter dominates a bit & takes away from the coziness but the outside fireplace is a fun touch, especially for diners choosing mimosa a volonté ;). Bathrooms really need a bit of TLC to match the standard of the restaurant.
Jan 4, 2025
on Google
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La salade César est extraordinaire mais mon fish a d ship était humide mou & sans sauveur. De plus il y a une odeur de poisson constante qui n est pas très agréable.
Delicious & original food, at each step: from « poissons affinés « as you do with good cheese, i.e. the fish is not iced but rather kept in special fridges, to the preparation, for instance fish charcuterie, to the presentation (see the Cesar salad, with marinated anchovies). Everything was just perfect & the owner or manager, I don't know, was extremely knowledgeable, explaining the whole process. A wonderful experience, at very reasonable price. Highly recommended
Excellent poisson dans le fish & chips & prix très abordables. Très bon & surtout très frais. Excellente variété de vin. A retourner. Service très courtois.
Sep 7, 2024
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I recently dined at Palomar & tried several dishes. The tuna cheeseburger was absolutely delicious, & the swordfish bacon was a unique & interesting addition-in a good way! The lox bagel was very filling, with a rich & flavorful cream cheese, though the smoked salmon was a bit chewy & fishy for my taste. The fries were perfectly seasoned, & the aioli was a standout accompaniment. The service was excellent; our server was very nice, attentive, & polite. The interior & patio are also beautifully designed, making for a pleasant dining experience overall. I'd give it a 3.5/5!
Wonderful experience in Jean Talon market. This place seems to be very popular, the tables were almost never empty. The drinks (innovative cocktails) were very tasty & the food was fresh & made with love. Frito mixto was an amazing mix of seafood & fish & the sauces that came with them were perfectly complimenting the food.
We stopped at Palomar at Marché Jean-Talon for a weekday lunch in mid-June 2024. Hands down it was the best restaurant meal of our four-day visit to Montreal. The food was absolutely delicious! We started with a dozen Canadian oysters, mostly from Nova Scotia. They were freshly & neatly shucked. Then we shared a fish charcuterie board consisting of gravlax & a couple of dry-cured tuna dishes. Highly recommended, top-quality fish at a very fair price!
Étant une adepte du poisson, & surtout du gravlax de saumon, j'étais très excitée à l'idée de venir essayer le restaurant. Dès mon arrivée, j'ai été très bien accueillie, j'ai tout de suite ressenti l'ambiance conviviale, décontractée & à la fois élégante qui incarnait la place. L'assiette de charcuteries était succulente & surprenante! Quant au fish&chips, satisfaisant & à point. Je recommande totalement cet endroit qui vaut réellement la peine d'être essayé. Je reviendrai!
This seafood restaurant is very special for making unique seafood dishes: fish sausages, seafood bacons & hamon, etc. Definitely worth trying. It's also a delicatessen so you can pick up ready-to-eat food to take home if you want. Worth trying
