portuguese restaurant

[texaspeppers]

Looking for a good portuguese restaurant for this weekend. I would like to avoid downtown Grand Prix craziness, but otherwise am open. Maybe more family style than chic, one of the couples might have children... Any suggestions??

[JohnnyGe]

Did Portugalia on Rachel, just west of Sl. Laurent, last night. The lone diner in the restaurant section behind the extremely(!) busy take-out counter and had a very reasonably priced ($32 all in) dinner. A couple of Keith's on tap, a plain lettuce, onion and tomato salad, a grilled calamares appetizer (2 perfectly grilled and presented specimens) and a half-chicken (spicy!) with fries.

A great meal, cool decor, and great service. Bring on the crowds!

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Rotisserie Portugalia
34 Rue Rachel W, Montreal, QC H2W1G1, CA

[lagatta]

I'm trying to find more about the dinners at the Portuguese-Canadian Association on St-Urbain, just south of Rachel. Their kitchen is being renovated now: they do host family-cooking meals on weekends, for a most reasonable price. Will report!

[Ghostquatre]

I hope it won't cost too much since it's not a real restaurant. Portuguese chicken is good but quite ordinary. I'm not a fan of paying a premium for stuff like fries and garden salad with a small chicken portion in a sitdown restaurant.

[kpaxonite]

thats why romados is amazing

[lagatta]

It is cheap, Ghostquatre. One guide about multicultural Montréal says $10 for the meal, the fellow I talked to said it could be as much as $12 - $13 (remember, this is a non-profit association, no tax). You have to enjoy that type of experience; not gastronomy but can be decent home cooking. Probably a lot of fish.

[porker]

Do they (or will they) serve wine?

[lagatta]

I'd be very surprised if they didn't, but I'll get back to the board as soon as I find they are up and running.

[porker]

"great service"
Don't get me wrong, I love Portugalia, even through its change from hole-in-the-wall to chic cafe (I actually miss the hole-in-the-wall...). I just feel you have to be aware and accept their, ahhhh, laid back attitude when it comes to service.
My only minor complaint is their inflexibility when it comes to the menu. Example, if you want a combination of ribs and chicken you must separately order a rib dish and a chicken dish.

[BLM]

Braseiro just got a rave review in today's Montreal Gazette newspaper. You might want to try them. Here's link to Montreal Gazette review http://www.montrealgazette.com/life/f...

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Braseiro
8261 Boul Saint-Laurent, Montreal, QC H2P2M1, CA

[lagatta]

I've only had tapas at Braseiro, but they were very good. At first I thought the family also wanted to watch sports on a largescreen, which is why I'd mentioned the social club. Braseiro is definitely a family-friendly place, and an advantage for a family will be that it is easy to park nearby. You are just north of Jarry Park. yet another family-friendly feature.

I'm sad to hear about Doval. I have great photos of a younger self with younger incarnations of colleagues, feasting there ... in the 1970s!

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Braseiro
8261 Boul Saint-Laurent, Montreal, QC H2P2M1, CA

[texaspeppers]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. Because of ease of access, we finished at Braseiro. I am not very experienced with Portuguese food, but we had a Portuguese friend with us that was pleased with his meal. We started with an appetizer of moules that were well prepared and place in a sauce had just the perfect touch of hot peppers to not overwhelm. The sausage entree was also very appreciated by others at the table. I had the grilled calmar was slightly smoky in flavor and very tender with a garlic oil that spilled over into the veggies (rapini, zucchini and carrots) for a nice flavor boost. My dinner companion had the tuna steak and was very pleased also. The only mild deception seemed to be the filet of cod that was not boned and proved a little difficult. Overall, the food was very good, the waiters very attentive, but the price a little tad more than I would have thought, but not bad.

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Braseiro
8261 Boul Saint-Laurent, Montreal, QC H2P2M1, CA

[lagatta]

Yes, Braseiro is somewhat more expensive than the casual Portuguese restaurants usually mentioned on this board, but nothing like Ferreira.

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Braseiro
8261 Boul Saint-Laurent, Montreal, QC H2P2M1, CA

[sweettoothMTL]

Yes, and their wine list is very affordable with even some decent housewine, so that is always good for the bill.

[johnnyboy]

Looking forward to trying Braseiro. I would concur about Doval not being that great, been there a couple times recently, the service takes forever and the food is really nothing to get excited about, the chicken was very dry.
Janos is all right, but nothing special - crappy salad, nice chicken and fries, other meats forgettable; also, was made to wait 15 minutes before getting a table, after having made a reservation, without any sort of apology.
I'm surprised nobody mentions Casa Minhota, of the 'family style' portuguese restos i've been to recently it's clearly the best one, definitely better than Doval or Janos.

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Braseiro
8261 Boul Saint-Laurent, Montreal, QC H2P2M1, CA

[yellowcake]

All good feedback.
I'd add that I've enjoyed Casa Manola on Wellington in Verdun. In the same league as the aforementioned. In fact, my #1 choice for their grilled squid.

[unlaced]

Completely agree on the squid - it is delicious and the best I have had at any Portuguese restaurant in Montreal.
The chicken is also good, though not quite as good as Janos (imho)
One thing that really lets down Manola is the salad - a little quibble but it really lets down the rest of the meal.

I also like having the option at Janos to replace the fries with chargrilled red pepper, which I don't think Manola does.

[kpaxonite]

Most people take out from this place but there are a few tables and i think its hands down the best Portuguese chicken in mtl: Romados

Its crazy cheap too

Rotisserie Romados
115, Rachel Est
[phone]

[kpzoo]

I've heard great things about Jano but haven't yet been.

http://www.restaurantjano.com/

Restaurant Jano
3883 St-Laurent
Montréal, Québec
Tél.: [phone]

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Restaurant Jano
3883 Boul Saint-Laurent, Montreal, QC H2W1X9, CA

[jay_81k]

Jano is definetly much better than Chez Doval, didnt think of that one, probably your best bet. Although I like Rotisserie Portugalia the best but they wont accommodate your whole family.

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Rotisserie Portugalia
34 Rue Rachel W, Montreal, QC H2W1G1, CA

[cherylmtl]

I like Jano and Chez Doval, and have had equally good meals at both. They're definitely family style, not "chic", but both are worth checking out IMHO. The only advantage to Chez Doval would be that, since it's not right on St. Laurent as Jano is, it might be slightly less crowded and easier to park nearby if you're going by car.

[Shattered]

Jano is great!

[marblebag]

I bring american coworkers to Jano and the pick-5-meats-to-grill never disappoint.

[lagatta]

There is also a Portuguese social club:

Club Portugal De Montréal 4397 St Laurent Montreal, QC H2W 1Z8 [phone]
but I don't know how much of a "restaurant" it is as opposed to just a café-bar, or how family-friendly it is. Perhaps someone knows?

One of the oldest family-style Portuguese restaurants in that area is Chez Doval, at the corner of Marie-Anne and De Bullion. One side is more café-bar, the other more "family restaurant" but food is served on both sides, and it is definitely family-friendly.
www.chezdoval.com

[jay_81k]

Chez Doval has really gone downhill, theyre food is terrible!

[oddcouple1]

We ate there on Saturday night and thought it was fantastic. I had the chicken and husband had the pork and clams. Reservation was absolutely necessary!

[Maximilien]

I'd skip Ferreira and "Portus Calle" ... not because they are bad but because more expensive, and not really that "family oriented" (IMO)

Couple of them all around the same area ...

Le Roi Du Plateau (51 Rue Rachel Ouest)
Chez Le Portugais (4134, boul. St-Laurent)
Restaurant Marilou (4675 Boulevard Saint Laurent)
And a new hole-in-the-wall next door to "Les Vivres" and Marilou.

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Restaurant Marilou
4675 Boul Saint-Laurent, Montreal, QC H2T1R2, CA

Chez Le
5014 Av Du Parc, Montreal, QC H2V4E8, CA

Le Roi Du Plateau
51 Rue Rachel W, Montreal, QC H2W1G2, CA

[pyropaul99]

I always like Tasca on Duluth - pretty authentic, especially some of the Bacalhau dishes. Nice private importation wine list of Portuguese wines too plus they do a decent natas de ceu dessert (that was always my favourite when I lived in Aveiro, Portugal).

172, ave. Duluth E corner De L'Hôtel-De-Ville, H2W 1H3
514.987.1530

Paul