Poissonnerie & Restaurant Rayan operates as a market-style seafood house where the selection of fish is prepared to order. The kitchen emphasizes Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influences, serving dishes like grilled tiger shrimp, calamari, and savory potato wedges. Fresh fish is displayed directly for selection, allowing for a personalized preparation tailored to individual preferences. The atmosphere carries a seaside aesthetic that complements the straightforward presentation of the sea-to-table ingredients. Every plate focuses on bold, authentic seasonings and textures, ranging from perfectly charred fillets to crispy fried morsels. The billing process reflects the weight and variety of the chosen items, requiring clarity during the selection phase to understand the final cost of the chosen meal.
Poissonnerie Rayan is widely regarded as a top destination in Montreal for fresh, high-quality seafood that is prepared to order in a market-style format where patrons select their own fish and preparation method. Many diners praise the authentic Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavors, particularly highlighting the calamari, tiger shrimp, grilled fish, and potato wedges as standout dishes. While the atmosphere is often described as welcoming and reminiscent of seaside dining, some customers have expressed frustration regarding a lack of clear pricing, the pressure to order large portions, and what they perceive as high costs. Although the majority of reviews celebrate the delicious food and helpful service, others have noted inconsistencies in the billing process and staff attentiveness, suggesting that while the culinary experience is consistently excellent for many, prospective visitors should remain mindful of their total order to ensure a smooth and budget-conscious experience.
As you walk in, they direct you to the back where you choose the fresh fish & seafood you want & tell them if you want it grilled or fried. Then you go sit down & wait for them to bring it to you. We were pleasantly surprised there was no fresh fish/seafood or fried smells in the dining area, the food was excellent, perfectly seasoned & grilled/fried. It's a little pricey but it is fresh fish & seafood cooked on demand. Would definitely go back!
If you are seafoods lovers this is a place you must come. Here you need to come & select your fish & ask them how to prepare it!!! Such a nice experience!!
We had potato wedges; definitely one of the best potato wedges I have ever had.
Grilled octopus was fabulous; the preparation was completely unique; probably the best grilled octopus I have ever had in my life. But you need to eat it when it's hot; the more cold it becomes it will lose the taste.
Then comes to fried red snapper; it was delicious as well.
Overall it was an amazing experience; very friendly customer service.
However keep it in mind; it's really expensive place as well; so it's not somewhere you can go a lot even if you want.
The food is very good & fresh, but the service is strange, definitely not in a good way.
When you enter, they guide you to choose your seafood items from the fridge, & then in a matter of seconds(!), you are stuck with some big portions, to which you really didn't consent! You have no clear idea how much your food is going to cost or weigh.
They have a wide selection of fish & other seafood items which is nice, but there is no one to properly explain for you what they are, how they are cooked (grilled? fried? etc.) I think they should respect their customers more, give them a decent menu, & enough time at the table to order properly, instead of rushing them to order right away in front of a crowded fridge.
Oct 1, 2025
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Rayan is the best seafood restaurant in Quebec! Whenever I visit Montreal, I make sure to stop by their restaurant. We've tried their grilled sea bass BBQ, fried calamari, fries, garden salad, fried basa, & popcorn shrimp. Everything is fresh & delicious, but their fried calamari is on another level-absolutely the best! The staff are incredibly friendly & welcoming, creating such a warm atmosphere. This is the perfect place to visit with family. Highly recommend Rayan to anyone looking for amazing seafood & great service!
The calamaris were definitely old & very chewy wouldn't recommend. I ordered a fish I thought I was ordering fried fillet of fish but they just fried the entire fish I choose there was no seasoning whatsoever. I took the tiger shrimps in butter once again lack of flavor very low on salt. Overall very disappointing I used to like this restaurant.
All the food was wonderful. We had the calamari, rice pilaf, fried basa & the sauteed shrimp in garlic sauce. The grilled octopus was excellent-- tender but with a nice smoky taste. However...make sure you have loads of cash with you.
This has been my third time eating in this restaurant. Food was good, as usual. We ordered fried shrimps, shrimps & mussels in garlic butter sauce, calamari, fried fish, & rice. I would recommend their fried fish; the spices & herbs really work to bring out the best flavour. Restroom was clean. There servers were mostly kind & attentive. Only downside is there's no free parking. Would definitely recommend! :)
