Where to savour delicious grilled octopus in Montreal
Where to savour excellent grilled octopus in Montréal? What an incredible dish grilled octopus is. Often associated with Greek and Portuguese cuisines, which have mastered it beautifully, it also brings to mind lazy summer afternoons and the sunshine that suits it so well. Octopus is a prized seafood, subtle in flavour, with a texture that can be tricky to cook just right. When it’s done well, though, it’s a true triumph, whether as a starter or a main, and often served alongside other seafood. It can be the star of any meal, or the perfect side.
Portugal runs along the Atlantic Ocean, and Greece, bordered by the Mediterranean, is partly made up of islands. The cuisines of both countries draw on their closeness to the sea, and Montréal reaps the benefits. Naturally, this list features several Greek and Portuguese restaurants, along with Syrian, Peruvian, Mexican, Spanish, Italian and French tables that give octopus pride of place. It’s prepared simply, alongside ingredients that only serve to highlight it.
If you want to taste more excellent octopus or simply enjoy other seafood, check out our lists of the best Portuguese restaurants, the best Greek restaurants, restaurants serving excellent fish, superb moules-frites and great oysters!
Special mentions:
Moccione: Octopus isn’t always on the menu at Moccione, but when chef Luca Cianciulli offers it, order it without hesitation. One more good reason to grab a table at this Villeray Italian restaurant known for its handmade pasta.
Parapluie and La Cave du Parapluie: At Parapluie, chef Robin Filteau Boucher doesn’t always put octopus on his French-inspired menu, but when it appears, order it with your eyes closed. The same goes for La Cave du Parapluie, its laid-back little sister next door, where chef Samuel Lamontagne serves small sharing plates focused on seafood and oysters, and where the octopus, when it’s on the menu, is excellent.
Damas
A true Montreal institution, Damas is renowned throughout the country for its exceptional Syrian cuisine. In their magnificent space, you can enjoy authentic dishes prepared with the finest ingredients and a lot of love. The grilled octopus at Damas is without a doubt one of the best in town, tender with crispy skin!
Montréal
Estiatorio Milos
Open since 1979, Milos is an integral part of Montreal’s gastronomic landscape. Since its humble beginnings, the address has become one of Montreal’s finest gourmet restaurants, with its refined Greek cuisine. It goes without saying that Milos has perfected its grilled octopus, which can be enjoyed à la carte or at lunchtime. The plate is elegantly prepared, with a simple presentation, to offer delicious char-grilled octopus. Photo Alison Slattery
Montréal
Ferreira Café
Café Ferreira is the ultimate Portuguese fine dining restaurant in Montreal. One comes here to fully appreciate the finesse and workmanship behind the flavours of the coastal country. The grilled octopus, like the other dishes on offer, is simply delicious. It is mainly enjoyed as an appetizer, and served with black-eyed bean hummus and smoked paprika oil. You can also enjoy it at lunchtime as a main course. A delight every time.
Montréal
Rôtisserie Panama
Contrary to what one might think from the name, Panama Rotisserie serves generous and affordable Greek fare. The owners having already lived in Panama, were looking for an original name for their Greek restaurant. They succeeded! In the friendly and familiar style of the restaurant, we find a beautiful and generous plate of grilled octopus. The unpretentious restaurant is happy to serve its diners with the same love of good food.
Montréal
Imperio Portuguese Grill
Imperio Grill is a restaurant located on Jarry Street East that offers some of the best Portuguese cuisine in Montreal! Among the specialties of the house, we include all types of grilled meat and seafood: cod, octopus, chicken and sausages. Everything here is very delicious, well seasoned and quite spicy! Note that every day at lunch they also offer a daily menu at an affordable price.
Montréal
Monarque
At Monarque, you’ll discover a magnificent, elegant space where every detail has been carefully considered, from its excellent French-inspired cuisine to the attentive service. On the brasserie side, the grilled octopus is served as a starter with potatoes, chorizo and romesco sauce.
Montréal
ALMA
At Alma, Lindsay Brennan and Juan Lopez Luna pair Catalan natural wines with refined Mexican cuisine on a small residential street in Outremont. The restaurant offers a five-course carte blanche menu that lets you be fully guided by the inspiration of chef Juan Lopez Luna, a pioneer of Mexican fine dining in Québec. Grilled octopus tacos often appear on it, served on tortillas the chef shapes by hand from nixtamalized heirloom corn, a traditional process inherited from pre-Columbian civilizations. The natural wines selected by Lindsay, sommelier and co-owner, round out the experience.
Montréal
Tiradito
Tiradito is a great Peruvian bar-restaurant on De Bleury Street that also features on our list of bars with great food. The owners, David Schmidt, Marcel Olivier Larrea and David Dumay, chose the spot well: between downtown and Old Montréal, steps from the Quartier des Spectacles, the bar-restaurant has won over plenty of fans! The menu is inspired by a fusion of Japanese and Peruvian gastronomy. Talented chef Marcel Olivier Larrea (formerly of Mezcla) runs the kitchen, with small sharing plates built on original combinations for a colourful, spicy and very flavourful cuisine. Order the octopus anticucho, served with yellow potatoes, guacamole, ají panca sauce and a maple emulsion.
Montréal
Mesón
In the heart of the neighbourhood of Villeray, the restaurant Mesón is a charming Spanish bistro and an address that we love. On the menu, you can enjoy original and comforting Spanish-inspired cuisine influenced by the different regions of Spain. Among the few appetizers offered you will find the famous Pulpo a la gallega: grilled octopus, smoked paprika and potato.
Montréal
Bar Henrietta
Inspired by 1960s Portuguese taverns, Bar Henrietta offers small sharing plates that change regularly, prepared by chef David Le Gloahec and his team. Here, you’ll find sweet-and-sour grilled octopus served with patatas bravas and aioli verde, a plate tailor-made for a bottle from the private-import wine list. On sunny days, enjoy it on the terrace, one of the most beautiful on Laurier Avenue West.
Montréal
Helena
On McGill Street in Old Montreal, Helena is a go-to for octopus lovers. Chef Helena Loureiro has passed on the art of cooking it just right to many Montreal cooks. Here, it’s served grilled, with peppers, black olives, a pepper coulis and a potato espuma. It’s a dish that reflects both this expertise and her Portuguese roots.
Montréal
Portus 360
With its panoramic view of Montreal, Portus 360 ranks among our favourite Portuguese restaurants. Here, Helena Loureiro serves her generous, refined cuisine, which puts seafood front and centre, including an excellent grilled octopus.
Montréal
Chez Doval
Open since 1974, Chez Doval is one of the Portuguese institutions of Montreal’s Plateau-Mont-Royal. On Marie-Anne Street East, people come for the charcoal-grilled dishes and the warm atmosphere of a house that has spanned generations. The grilled octopus is among the many good reasons to return to this neighbourhood mainstay.
Montréal
