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!!
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.
Oct 29, 2025
on Google
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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.
Beautiful spot to people watch & enjoying something unique. I had the yellow fin tuna cheeseburger with swordfish bacon & 2 rounds of assorted oysters. Loved every bite.
The food is very good from the oysters to the fritto mixto & the charcuterie plate. Everything was very tasty & we enjoyed the scallops & the muscled the most. They tasted fresh & great. The cocktails were also great. Service was a bit slow the day we went but the place was full, this still didn't taint our experience because the food was worth the wait.
Jul 18, 2024
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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!
This was honestly such a disappointing experience & is a complete tourist trap. We went on a Monday & the restaurant was fairly quiet. We waited outside for 10min before being seated & took the time to look over the menu. Upon getting in, the menu was almost completely different- with half of the options showing as "X" for unavailable. The service was slow & completely disorganized, the shellfish was shucked HORRIBLY & the oysters were not cleaned properly. They had some beautiful raw scallops that they absolutely killed with the amount of oil they served it with. I'm honestly upset that I spend money at this restaurant.
Loved this seafood place. The raw bar is great, had the oysters, fresh & yummy. Had the half lobster, great presentation & delicious 😋 🤩 great service 🤠😁 for sure going back soon.
