The reviews describe Shandmas as a warm, vibrant Haitian spot with a cozy family vibe, where authentic flavors and generous portions shine in dishes like griot, riz colle, paté kode, pikliz, accras and plantain, and where the poisson gros sel, cabri in sauce, and the fried sides stand out alongside a memorable selection of cocktails. The decor and music evoke the Caribbean and give a sense of being on a small island, with guests noting friendly, personalized service and a welcoming environment, often highlighting the staff and the proprietor as helpful and generous. The food is repeatedly praised for being flavorful, well prepared, and comforting, with several comments on the rice and plantain textures and the spicy yet balanced notes, and many reviewers say the experience feels like home or a cultural trip. Occasional critiques include the price being high for the portion size, and hygiene concerns such as a dirty bathroom or a hair in a dish, while most agree the food is worth returning for. The spot is described as accessible and affordable overall, and consistently recommended to try the paté kode, cabri, griot, and drinks, with some diners returning and calling Shandmas a standout Haitian restaurant in the city.
Authentic Haitian food. Delicious flavors & taste. Cooked with love .
The atmosphere with music make you feel like you're on the island vacation.
The service was good, the food was better!
We ordered the legume with meat, & the vegetable one.
Great choices!
Jan 3, 2026
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.
Haitian food unfortunately hasn't been in my top 5 favourite cuisines but this place?! Believe me when I say this place is excellent, from the preparation to the decor, which is filled with culture/history. Being of Caribbean heritage the space felt familiar & like home.
I've had the opportunity of tasting a variety of things on the menu, which nothing fell short of good. I occasionally pop in for a pâté kòde herring.
This restaurant is my #2 favourite Haitian spot in the city. Everything on the menu is a hit & definitely worth trying. The only downside is the price for the portion size, it's a bit on the expensive side.
This is a splendid Haitian restaurant. It is tastefully decorated to create a nice atmosphere as well as to represent Haitian culture. I ordered the creole chicken, which I was warned was very spicy. No lie was told, this was the spiciest Haitian dish I've ever had. Still highly tasty & enjoyable though. The portion of the food was good, I was definitely satisfied. The service was warm as well.
I am very surprised by all the positive reviews this restaurant has received. I went there with a friend for dinner, & we were immediately uncomfortable due to the lack of air conditioning. The service was practically non-existent, as we had to repeatedly ask for water from a server who seemed more interested in socializing with friends. The water we did receive was room temperature, & it took a long time for me to get my cocktail, which was just average. We wanted to order griot with riz collé (a staple in Haitian cuisine), but they only had riz djondjon available. The griot was OK but riz djondjon was not good & had a weird taste. We also took pâté kode as an appetizer, which was disappointing. Also, the side sauce that came with the meal looked like generic BBQ sauce, not authentic Haitian cuisine. Overall, this was one of the worst Haitian restaurants I have been to. To finish, he made a mistake on the interact machine which we signalled him. He then corrected it & entered the correct price then left while we were waiting for our receipt. After waiting for long enough we just left with no receipt. I unfortunately do not recommend & will never go back there again.
Pretty nice haitian eatery. The portions looks small but they fill you up. I take the grigot & the pork is always full of flavour with a nice crisp on the outside & moist on the inside. Definitely go there if this is your type of food. The fried stuff (forgot the name) is also really nice to eat but can get pretty heavy on the oil, wish they would give more of the macaroni salad to help with that
Impeccable Haitian food & an extraordinary atmosphere. We loved the sounds of konpa & the decorations from Haiti. The owners were amazing - & the food was definitely the best we have had outside of Haiti. The tasso kabrit (fried goat) was tender & flavorful & the poulet was cooked perfectly. Every time we are in Montreal, we will be stopping in for more!
Really good Haitian restaurant. Fairly priced. Their griot is delicious. They have an amazing list of cocktails & even their non-alcoholic options are delicious. You can always order from take out apps for those cold winter days when you just don't feel like leaving home. The Kivi was absolutely delicious too!
