438 McGill St, Montreal, Quebec H2Y 2G1, Canada
Restaurant portugais gastronomique situé au coeur du Vieux-Montréal. Restaurant qui mélange les saveurs locales aux chaleurs du Portugal.
AMAZING MOST TRY TASTERS MENU! The staff is so amazing and kind!!!
Incredibly attentive and friendly staff and the most excellent meal you will have in a while! Everything was outstanding. I had the gazpacho to start and the Alaskan black cod followed. It was so delicate surrounded by a silky sweet potato mash that was so delectable that I wiped my plate down with some bits of bread to not leave anything behind. It was phenomenal. Bravo!
Fiasco date night Decor 8/10 , Rachel our waitress fabulous, The Arctic Char appetizer Nice, The octopus entree divine, The Fish prepped perfectly for my wife ! THE FILET MIGNON 0/10 asked medium rare came medium - well done, sadly my wife had her meal also at the same time, and ate alone 🤦♂️ I asked for bread - it was cold and dry sadly Because it took them 25 minutes to make another Filet Mignon, And put it back in a plate with cold polenta From my original plate!! And this is a classic i get it rare ,why? chef was worried to over cook! Meanwhile my wife ate her food 55 minutes. Prior to me finishing kind of a bummer for 268$ meal, no Manager came to the table Only the waitress who had no words and offered dessert on the house So many things went well and then boom fiasco! The steak redo could have come way quicker….sad ☹️
We had the tasting menu and a bottle of vinho verde. Food was delicious and the restaurant was very accommodating for our family (we dined with our two kids). Everyone was very helpful and friendly. We’d go back again, but with all of that said we felt that the food was not 100% authentic Portuguese (my wife lived in Portugal for many years).
I came here with my parents while they were in town and wow! It was a phenomenal experience. Our waitress gave us excellent recommendations for starters. I need to know what the chef put in the dressing because the asparagus salad was delicious. And the octopus was incredible!!! All of the sea food was incredibly fresh and the flavors were super well balanced. My fish came with a sweet potato purée which was almost velvet-y it was so smooth. I would highly recommend this restaurant!
Simply amazing. The food was A1 and we decided to have the tasting menu and we’re pleasantly surprised. Can’t wait to return and can easily say that it has earned a spot in my top 3 best high-end restaurants!
Friendly staff and great atmosphere. We let the staff choose the dishes and they always bring such great choices. I’ve been here a few times and have always left completely in love with the restaurant. We’ve brought some friends and family and they’re always so impressed by the quality of the food and service. Definitely a great place for Portuguese food!
Most memorable meal we have had in years. Tried the tasting menu with wines paired. What a surprising culinary experience! Fantastic service and wonderful way to celebrate a special anniversary. We will be back! They keep it cool and that is exactly the way I like it, but maybe bring a sweater if you don’t run hot like me :) Cannot suggest all the items we enjoyed due to they are not on the regular menu.
Lunch.... $54 for: - cod salad: 3 tablespoons of salted cod (not enough time in water to remove the salt) with seasoning and 3 chickpeas - tab of beef (+$$ extra): half a tab of beef!!! 3 poor strips of rare beef (the waiter did not ask for cooking... in the end in the kitchen its a tab for 2 plates), with 2 Brussels sprouts and a poor potato pancake - dessert for $10 more of course: half a slice of flambéed pineapple with touches of cream.... Or a chocolate cake which was in fact a piece of chocolate sponge cake with Chantilly In short, the portions are ridiculous... The prices are high.... In Portugal, you would have closed after a month.... You have to believe that in the city center business customers have too much money and not enough common sense and/or taste....
The food is very good. Very nice atmosphere but the price doesnt match what you receive.
Elevated Portuguese fine dining. The dishes were truly works of art. Amazing staff to guide you through their menu.
We tried their tasting menu and were amazed by the variety of flavors. The service was wonderful and everything we ate was 10/10! Highly recommend!
Wonderful place to have a great time
It was a business lunch and everything was perfect. The food, service. Just a little too loud for my taste. But besides that, nothing to complain about. Thanks
Good food, good service. The restaurant is quite noisy.
Great place with excellent food. David, Dennis, son Daniel and Helena always treat us exceptionally well. It an expensive evening going there but we always find the time and ressources to visit for an exceptional meal and experience.
Easily top five restaurant in Montreal. The flavors will take you places.
Wonderful food and service!
Very good restaurant. Portuguese dishes are real. The croquettes, the pasteis de nata....excellent! 3 rooms in the restaurant, which makes it a large restaurant but with subdivision allowing more intimate nooks and crannies. I recommend!
We tagged along with a friend and his wife, who are regulars at this highly acclaimed fine-dining Portuguese eatery. The decor features modern elements and classic Portuguese charm; I was particularly captivated by the stunning ceiling. My friends wife gave carte blanche to the waiter to bring a selection of dishes for us to share, and he brought a few items from the Tapas Quentes: Pasteis de Bacalhau, Sardinhas Assadas, and Lulas Grelhadas. The sommelier paired a privately imported white wine with these tapas, a perfect match. Then, we were served Sela de Borrego along with the catch of the day, accompanied by another bottle of white wine harmoniously paired. Though I m usually not a fan of white wine, I found myself thoroughly enjoying it, I drank my share and my wifes share. While some nice desserts were offered, I was too satiated to have any. Just before we left, a waitress came with a complimentary Porto. I surely found room for that. The service was top-notch, with multiple servers attending to our table, and the food was phenomenal. The bill was quite steep at the end of the night, but it was one of the most memorable meals weve had in a long time.
As always a classic to recommend!
Very very disappointed. Very disappointing $120 dish. Overcooked mussels and clams, non-tender octopus, overcooked lobster tail as well. you have to fight with it to remove the flesh from the shell. It was missing a scallop and the octopus that they brought us later. The waiter looked for a certain one in the chowder only to find that it wasnt there. we go there only once and move on to another restaurant. Wasted evening.
Amazing food.
First of all, the service was excellent and attentive. We liked the wines served as well as the succulent 30 year old port. The desserts also delighted us. Weak point: the plates are too often served lukewarm. And this, again this Saturday and despite the fact that I had mentioned it to the waitress. It s the coldness of the dishes that spoils the pleasure. The last time we were there, I turned my plate over and my husband ate alone. This Saturday, there were four of us guests. My husband and I ordered the cod and our friends shared a whole fish, cut and arranged right at the table. Our plates arrived first, rather lukewarm but as we had to wait for our friends to be served, I ate cold again. It would be wise for the cutting ceremony to be performed before serving the individual plates and not the other way around. I also suspect that the vegetables are prepared in advance and wait on the already assembled plate until the cod is cooked. Which means that the accompaniments are served lukewarm, almost cold. We will return there because we like this restaurant and go there regularly but if our dishes are still served cold, it will be our last visit to Helenas. After all, a meal for four people costs more than $800, you can ask for hot food.
Very good dinner and service. We shared the asparagus salad, and seafood plate for 2 and they were both excellent. Good wine list, and my girlfriend enjoyed her cocktail as well.
Great Portuguese restaurant, delicious octopus, delicious wines.
Wow...amazing food, wine, service, and obviously company
Great food and atmosphere.
Very good restaurant with quality gourmet cuisine with exemplary service in a warm atmosphere.
Exceptional tasting menu with excellent service from Rachel and food/wine pairing from her trainer (I no longer remember her name)
What a wonderful restaurant! The service was excellent & definitely contributed to the memorable evening. Thank you!
Tasting menu was packed in flavours. Service was flawless as well.
I keep coming back again and again, and normally I do not give 5 stars for anything- This is for me a top location in Montreal
Food was outstanding but the service was lacking professionalism..
It was our first time at Helena and we enjoyed it thoroughly. My rack of Lamb was perfect and his filet mignon was absolutely excellent.
Its clear that Helena has built a restaurant where no detail is overlooked and excellence is there.
Excellent Portuguese food and service pricy cad120/pers
Excellent, perfectly cooked fish! And congratulations to the sommelier who was more than capable. A Michelin star wouldn t be too much.
I was very excited to dine at this restaurant given the reviews and pictures from previous patrons however, I feel that my experience was not the same. From the minute our small group of 3 arrived, everything seem to take an excruciatingly long time to get to a table. In fact, the server almost seemed disinterested in his job and would walk past the empty table several times before noticing that dishes were finished or drinks empty. There was no care taken to explain the menu nor the dishes that we had served to us. We would sometimes wait up to 45 minutes between dishes to receive the next dish. Despite the food being delicious, the service was a stark contrast to an otherwise enjoyable experience. 3 stars for the food, 0 stars for the service.
Excellent! We had the tasting menu and it was fantastic.
Wow, everything we had there was amazing. The tequila cocktail, sea food platter, duck breast and chocolate ganache praline were all equally delicious. The service was also excellent.
dined with a group of 8. Encouraged to take their sampling course....approx 9 courses. Food was outstanding. Service was subpar. Total experience was over 4 hours long (way too long). some servings were explained and others just placed on table with no communication. Vegetarian options: Limited vegetarian options but they were willing to just remove the protien.
So many restaurants in Montreal but few as good with great service
It is not only about the mouthwatwring menu but about something you cant produce without the love and commitment for doing what you do. We all felt the people from reception to service and cuisine were intended on delivering the best possible time for their guests. Nothing loud, just strivi g for excellence. I havent seen that kind of attention in a long time. Bravo à léquipe de Helena. Hope to come again soon.
Very friendly staff, Michelle is so professional and careful to address any allergy concerns. The foods were all very good and served very well.
Excellent high quality restaurant. The grilled octopus is delicious. Good wine list. Ideal for a business meal or with family for an occasion.
Excellent restaurant we enjoyed it. The warm and impeccable service. Magnificent setting and tasty cuisine and very good wine. I recommend 100%.
Phenomenal dinner. Highly recommend
Food was good, but missed the depth of Portugal gastronomy. Breads were not warm, olive oil nice. Some part of the service was confusing, do we keep the plate or not? Came as big group but staff was eager to help
Nothing to say. Excellent Portuguese food.
Inventive, high-end take on Portuguese food. Beautifully presented. A robust wine list to pair with the scrumptious offerings.
We took the 9 Services. Very good quality/price!
Great food but the atmosphere could be loud because its popularity.
Amazing !!!!!
Our server was very friendly and helpful. She recommended the seafood platter for 2 and it was delicious!!! Great experience. Really glad we chose this place.
The food was great, but it s on the pricey side so be prepared
First experience above our expectations. The cuisine was refined and tasty. We only expected dishes with sauce and it was much more varied. Both the starters and the main dishes were wonderfully balanced in terms of the proportions of vegetables (I like vegetables) and proteins. Octopus, scallops and fish were cooked to perfection (rare). No missteps. The vegetables were also cooked and the quality was perfect. For several dishes, we tried to crack the recipe...for us, its a sign that we liked it and that its a restaurant worth the detour. The menu is varied but should be reworked. The size of the characters combined with the dim lighting makes it difficult to read. The service a little too fast...and yes, fast. There was an eagerness to get everything done quickly. In the context where you are offered a wine list that looks like an encyclopedia (almost impossible to read because of the small print and the dim lighting), the pressure of fast service tells you that we do not want you to explore it . So we put it aside and we hope that the waitress has knowledge of a sommelier, which unfortunately she does not have. A service team makes sure everything runs smoothly but tends to release dishes from the table too quickly. We dont have time to scrape the tasty sauce from the bottom of the dish with our spoon or our piece of bread (bread that deserves to be fresher). We also barely swallowed our last mouthful of the main course when desert was already offered to us. This service is adequate during a weekday lunch but when it is Saturday evening, we are not in the same state of mind. We want to enjoy the moment. Still, the service was courteous and attentive. The employees are all very handsome, kept neat. He could be more cheerful. Engaging in conversation with the customer doesnt kill you . Talking about your dishes and wines means taking your customers into your world. The restaurant has something to talk about and doesnt maximize it. Nice room decoration, beautiful atmosphere with subdued lighting. Nice choice of dishes, it seems trivial but its part of the experience and its a success. Fortunately there is no background music (or if there was, it was sufficiently discreet). Its not cheap but the quality was there. Enjoy your meal! Dietary restrictions: None
I cannot recommend Helena s any more. Truly authentic Portuguese fare but with the sophistication and care of a veteran restaurateur. As a person with Portuguese roots, I was impressed and satisfied. The caldo verde tastes like my grandmothers. It ain t cheap but you do get what you pay for.
Really delicious way to experience Portuguese cuisine. The seafood is fresh and well prepared and the tapas dishes are so creative. Also, one of the most beautiful restaurants I ve ever seen. And get the Portuguese tart for dessert!
Amazing service!
Great place, the staff was exceptionally great. Loved our waiter, recommended me really good gins. I loved them. We were there on a Friday, and it was pretty full! The food was good. I split a bunch of entrées and tapas with a friend.
Excellent meal Tasting menu. We had a great time.
One of the best restaurants in Montreal. Whenever friends are visiting from out of town, i would always bring them to Helena! They love it! Great food and ambiance. We tried their tasting menu and was excellent.
A day of being cured by Helena s food
We went for dinner two days after Saint Valentine s Day and they had the tasting menu which we ordered figuring that would be the smart move. What a mistake that was! The food was absolutely terrible. The only items that were half decent were the monk fish and the desert. The other 5 services were awful. I can t believe this restaurant would serve this poor quality food. We won t be back here again.
Impeccable service, delicious food and generous portions. The multi-course menu and wine pairing is worth it if you can afford it.
Each time, it is an extraordinary experience. From the smiling welcome to the exceptionally friendly, courteous and attentive service, including an authentic and always tasty menu. One of the rare restaurants that brilliantly combines class and human warmth. I will always come back to it.
Amazing service, delicious food.
this was a dinner with one of my good friends, food was amazing and service impeccable, we took the fish/ seafood tasting menu .delicious!!!!
Skin on fish was not crispy. Everything else was great.
Repas du nouvel an, accord mets/vins qui a 200$/personne n a vraiment pas été à la hauteur. Nous y avions été l an passé pour la même occasion, et l expérience qui avait été parfaite a cette fois été tellement décevante Peut-être que les plats au menu régulier en valent le prix, mais cela n a vraiment pas été le cas pour ce menu des fêtes
My husband and I have been here many times before ( the last visit was in 2021). As always, exceptional service, absolutely beautiful atmosphere and the food? Out of this world!!! Brought a group of friends (their first time), and already they were making plans about coming back again in this summer! They had such a great time and enjoyed every single bite! Fantastic place. Cant recommend this place enough! Dietary restrictions: Although our party didnt have any, the wait staff was clear to mention if we had dietary restrictions to let them know and that it wasnt a problem at all.
One of the best Portuguese restaurants in Montreal
we went for dinner on Friday January 12, very nice evening, impeccable service! we will go back there for sure
Excellent staff. Service was impeccable. Even for a last minute seating. The food was exceptional. Ambience was at a level that you should expect from a restaurant of this caliber.
Its always a pleasure to come and have the tasting menu at your restaurant.
Went there for dinner. The décor is nice. The cocktails were good, although expensive. Our main dishes were not that good. Looked like the chef was not there and people in the kitchen didnt care. It is also pretentious and overpriced.
Excellent Portuguese restaurant with exceptional service. THANKS!
Loved the food service and atmosphere
We had the grilled seafood for 2 people, it was really very good.
Felt like a zero after dining at Helena. We had difficulty with a young server, who tried to upsell us for our meal. Sold us sparkling water that service would refill from the tap, re-using the bottle without cleaning it from the previous customer. A wipe down would have been appreciated. Our party was not offered the specials menu while tables around us did. Our server neglected to offer bread and oil, while the other tables around us did. I did not feel like the service was attentive to our dining experience. The restaurant was half full at the time so it was not because it was ultra busy.. A manager shattered a bowl at our feet and did not check to see if our party was alright. A simple sorry would have gone a long way. The employee walked away in embarrassment while the shattered bowl remained at our feet. All in all, a difficult dining experience, ordered the seafood plate for two. The broth was delicious, but did not warrant a cost of $120. The size of the dish, from our understanding, was suppose to be enough for two. This dish would have been perfect for one, but not worth the price. All in all, I hope customers that try restaurant Helena experience a better service then we did.
Very nice evening, impeccable service, the staff is so kind and professional and qye say the food, a real trip to Portugal thank you
The meat/seafood tasting menus were excellent and plentiful.
After an exceptional first visit. I must admit that I am a little disappointed... The service left something to be desired and the waitress had no knowledge of the wine list. There were 5 of us and all 5 of us were disappointed.
Love the bacalao at Helena s. Perfect spot for business lunches, date night and family meals. They do great lunch menus too.
We had the tasting menu. I ve had dozens of tasting menus in my life and these dishes were simple but tasty. We had an Alentejao wine suggested by the waitress which was delicious. Unfortunately delays between taking our orders, and each plate were too long, ranging from 30-45 minutes where one of our guests was chowing down bread to keep hunger at bay. We had to consistently tell staff about the delay and we left with our dessert in a bag as we had a show. From arrival to the end with no dessert and with our telling them it took 2hr 45 min (7:20-10:05 pm). Had we not said anything and ate dessert at the table most likely this would have been a 4 hr affair, which I deem too long even for a tasting menu.
Raw lamb and cold seafood. 1 star for the wine. Normally I wouldn t bother posting a review but when your table is spending over 1000$ and the food makes your stomach turn I feel like I needed to share.
I recently dined at this restaurant and I have to say it was one of the worst dining experiences I have ever had. The food was completely unappetizing and completely unedible. The lamb chops were raw and the seafood was undercooked and still translucent, which is just unacceptable. The service was slow and unresponsive, and the restaurant was incredibly overpriced for what you got. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone, it is a complete waste of money and time. Stay away from this terrible establishment and save yourself the disappointment
Rack of lamb was too raw and cold. Grilled seafood for 2 was cold and giant shrimp was not fully cooked.
Where do I begin. Sadly negative stars cant be given. The food was terrible! I dont understand how this place has high ratings. Dishes for 2 were over priced and barely enough for one also was raw. After waiting what seemed like an eternity for our main dishes they arrived cold and raw. This place is a waste of money it left us walking around looking for an open place so we can actually go and eat. I dont recommend at all. Save your money and go somewhere else.
Amazing culinary experience, from meat to sea food to vegetarian options, Helena has everything needed to make you live a terrific meal. Ive tried their lunch, dinner and even delivery options and was pleased every single time. The flavors, the quality of the product, the staff, the decor, truly the best way of experiencing Portuguese cuisine in Montreal, cant wait for my next visit.
Amazing restaurant. Outstanding service. One of the best chefs in Quebec. Quite an experience. To visit, revisit, re-visit.
Amazing food, dedicated service, will go back as many times as I can
Impeccable service! Beautiful presentation of the dishes and very delicious.
Great location, elegant interior, amazing dishes; highly recommend the duck breast, Black Seabass and grilled octopus, outstanding selection of Portuguese vino. Excellent world class service by Daniel and Roberto; these gentlemen know how to take care of clients, thank you and we ll be back soon! Kid-friendliness: Celebrated our friends daughter s 15th birthday, staff were very accommodating and attentive a group of 5 kids; really catered their needs despite the very fine dining environment!
I love that place. If you hate kids places this one is for you. The crowd is older and classy. The place look nice and fancy. The food is decent and good. The drinks are amazing. I had lamb shops, the sea food casserole, the asparagus salad and the fritters.
Very nice location on McGill with amazing interior design. Service is very good. Food is so so. Not to die for, but decent. Huge wine list with very good variety. The fish could be better as my plate was almost tasteless. My friends plates were better, like the octopus for example or the fletan. Tastier. Verdict : give it a try if you like seafood and hopefully you will choose a good plate that is tasty.
Such a amazing place with a awesome vibe. I went here with my husband and had 3 amazing dishes . Very professional and amazing service . Our service guy was so polite and explained things very well he also recommended a real good wine which we both loved a lot except for the part where I already tipped for the service and the service guy came back again asking for more tips. Definitely a place to visit again
Wow wow wow what an experience I was invited by one of my business contact and was treated like royalty A must go in Montreal Service was fenomenal
Always a great experience!
Me and my wife went for a first experience at Helena s and I can tell this restaurant is above our expectations with the 7 service we had for Valentine s Day. The food was very well presented and tasted really good. The description from each dish and wine was very well explained as the servers were very professional. I recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants to experiment something authentic and classy. Every bite was an enjoyment.
Wow! Outstanding service rarely eaten well as such the wine was excellent the maître dhôtel/sommelier took us on a journey with his descriptions of the Douro and Alentjo wine regions we took the tasting menu of dishes that I would never have ordered alone at the menu but which allowed me to discover octopus, lamb and fresh cod to die for.
Lower quality than expected, was just ok. Starting with cocktails that are average, and could have been more unique with better liquors. Bread was stale and tough, brought it up with the staff but they didn t seem to care. Like how do you serve stale bread with all these great bakeries around! No attempt to heat it up or replace. Overall service was nice, place was warm and stuffy though. Some dishes were decent, otherwise not the best flavors. The steak main was nicely cooked but slathered in a very sweet overpowering sauce. Wines by the glass again ok, too warm and on the cheaper side. The layout of the restaurant with the kitchen in the middle creates too much heat and traffic. It would be a big difference if the food was better quality and timely, along with some better airflow. The front house seating looked more open, and fresh air from the door, I d ask to sit there.
Impeccable service!! Delicious meal and super warm restaurant!!
Excellent dining experience ! Laurent really took care of us!
Surpassed all expectation for quality, taste, presentation and service. One of the best fish restaurants I have been to of late. Authentic Portuguese cuisine and a huge wine list from that country. This place should be on the must try list for anyone serious about fish.
What a great place for dinner in the old port, we loved the food and the wine was sublime! Definitely recommend.
Beautiful and delicious. Impeccable service
The best place in Montreal for dinner .
Excellent server
Outstanding service. Friendly staff. Daniel Alex Roberto Laureu Fred. Everyone was so attentive to our time there. Food was good too.
The asparagus salad was the star of the meal for me. Also had the cod fillet as well as their steak. Both very good!
One of my favorite restaurants! To try and adopt, absolutely!
Everyone was very nice and I just wanted to catch up with an old friend. I was disappointed with the tasting food menu.. my friends and would go there at least 2-3 times a month because we loved the food. As an example, the asparagus salad is not as good. Did not enjoy the octopus the fish was under and I hated having a table next to the door where everyone is running up and down but you see them tired and annoyed having to serve you with attitude. I wish they would do like cafe Ferreira but update the dishes, include more Portugal dishes that most of your clients never tasted. Portugal is one of my favourite country/destination and there are so many dishes that would be an amazing addition and keep it authentic. Last time, I did not go to a true Portuguese restaurant. I m sorry, my sent my entire team as we were also having a team event - they were not happy as well whisking you all the best moving forward. For my I don t thing I will be back.
Always a good option for a dinner with clients, however I would like the tasting menu to change more often.
The waiter is polite and his service is quick. The restaurant aims to be typical Portuguese, but as for the food, it is a long way off. The cod is tasteless, the dumplings are ridiculously small and so are the pasteizinhos de nata. White wine by the glass seems to be legitimate in olive oil too. But, thats all.
Great service, presentation and quality.
Always a pleasure to go to Restaurant Helena the cuisine, the service, the atmosphere are excellent
Vegetarian options: Excellent. Great discovery Food
Exquisite. Staff was both polite and friendly. All the dishes are Portuguese. I enjoyed a halibut dish that was fantastic. The drinks were also well done.
Fabulous food (the fish was superb), service and atmosphere
Very beautiful and good restaurant. I like the little touches, dishes, cooking. Very good service. The flavors are there. On the other hand, the prices are a little too high for certain dishes. The entrances are too small. My only negative comment is the quantity on the plates. After a $320 bill I was still hungry. The bread was also too dry. The pistachio/strawberry ganache dessert is one of the best I have eaten.
Great spot! A little loud and busy but the food and service was exceptional.
Amazing restaurant
Nice place to be, good food and service !! We had a great evening Food
Lunch with friends. Cute, cozy, warm atmosphere. carrot/ginger soup was great. For the main, cod wasn t as good, was a bit chewy. My friends had beef and sea bream and they were very pleased. The waiter explained the menu in great detail and that was very helpful.
Underwhelming, especially considering the prices... make sure you order their bottle of water for $8
We heard the Portuguese cuisine was famous in Montreal and Helena restaurant proved this is true. The food was delicious, the waitress and the staff were really friendly/helpful and the atmosphere was great. If we ever visit Montreal again, we will come back to Helena.
Incredible dining experience! Varied, fresh, exciting taste and texture combinations, attentive seamless service, a perfect ten! Dietary restrictions: They double checked my allergies.
Prompt service and excellent food!
As soon as we arrived, we were warmly welcomed. Service, food, wine, dessert: a perfect evening! Thank you and long life to your restaurant!
The grilled fish was just so-so, not quite to the taste, but everything else was okay.
Top notch experience!
Amazing Portuguese fine cuisine, ideal for lunch time and professional dinners. I liked the ink pasta and the sea food!
Most of the ingredients were good, but one of the clams we were served was unfortunately dead and full of decomposing matter or dirt (see picture). The dishes we ordered were not overly complex and the portions were on the smaller side, so we expected the ingredients to be perfect. Its very disappointing that they couldnt remove a dead clam from a dish that contained 5 clams overall. This could have been done very easily and showed a lack of attention to detail. When we pointed this out to the server, they seemed to mimize it and took the plate away. There was no apology from the kitchen and we got handed the bill with no explanation about what happened. We asked the server to give feedback to the kitchen and we ended up getting a it happens kind of apology and three pastries. The lack of attention to detail and the service are not what you would expect from a fine dining establishment and I would not recommend going there.
Attentive service and very friendly staff. Warm atmosphere. All dishes were very tasty and made to perfection. Well done to the whole team!
A little expensive
Nice business lunch. Portion are well done. Friendly staff. I would recommend to reserve in advance during lunch hour.
You either like the decor or you dont. Lunch menu is fine, but not necessarily memorable, very safe like the 10 other Portuguese restaurant around. Great service, Amazing wine list.
In this restaurant we are all about the attention to service and details! So, expect to be well served, eat succulent dishes, drink good wine and have fun. Be careful if you dont like salty food...
Absolutely horrible horrible service. Chef can t cook a simple steak. Same steak needed to be recooked three times after initially waiting 2 hours. Save your money. Just go elsewhere should have cooked it myself. 0 stars. Another member of our group also waited 2 hours, received the wrong meal entirely, then finally received his meal which was badly cooked AGAIN. Needed to be recooked a second time.
Very pretty decor (high ceilings make for a noisy atmosphere though), good (not polished) service, food top quality...but no wow factor. Pasteis de Natas were a highlight. On balance, a little too pricey for the overall experience.
Best grilled Octopus youll ever eat.. Lobster tails, scallops, shrimps are amazing.. Food
Impeccable service! Delicious dishes; I recommend the asparagus salad.
Very high level of dishes and service Michelin stars I really appreciate and recommend
Incredible food with impeccable service. Organized a work event and from to finish the team went above and beyond. Some in the group had dietary restrictions and it was handled with brio. We had a tasting menu and every dish was beautifully done. Everyone really enjoyed the experience. The star of the night for me was the octopus. It s the best I have ever eaten. It s nice to see a restaurant who focuses on quality and authenticity and understands how important customer service is. I highly recommend them!
Delicious ! Each bite is a bouquet of flavors , Great service from Arthur and the others Food
The food was divine! The service excellent. Had dinner here with friends last week and loved it so much that I came back again with my wife. Took the same dishes and they were as good as the first time. Best meals I had in Montreal during my stay.
It was our second visit, we were tempted by the tasting menu with wine pairing. No regrets. I started with a Martin espresso which is not on the menu, but which I was easily and kindly prepared when I asked if it was possible. Mahi mahi, tomato and pesto salad, grilled octopus, (seared scallops with foie gras (not in the photos)), trou normand, duck breast, almond financier and other sweets. Excellent food and great service. Dietary restrictions: Very easy for people with gluten intolerance and allergies such as peanuts and legumes
Wow, what great, inventive and delicious cuisine. Nothing ordinary. Impeccable service. Far better than the supposedly gourmet restaurants.
Food was good but slightly below expectations. The sea bass and sword fish lacked taste. Unfortunately there are many great restaurants in Montreal and this one does not seem to have what it takes to keep up with the amazing quality you will find elsewhere. Food
Its always a great time at Helena - the food, service and people are extraordinary. I recommend to anyone who wants a great time in a relax and Portuguese decor.
Everything was good
Overall a good portugais restaurent, but nothing else. The food and service was good, but , the portions were too small. The price for what you get is actually too high. With the same price you can have two similar meals in other portugais restaurants in Montreal. I wont go back
Eat here now
Good atmosphere, very good service taking into account allergies of a group of 10 people. The meat was very good, the fish was not good, it seemed raw even though I ordered it well cooked. For the rest it went well.
The food was succulent and the service perfect Amazing experience Food
There were 7 of us there yesterday to celebrate my 56th birthday. Ive wanted to go there for a long time, having seen this restaurant on the show LÉpicerie. It was mentioned that the typical Portuguese soup was excellent and worth the detour alone. So, upon arrival I noticed that the restaurant is truly magnificent with its high ceilings and its splendor and by the time I went to my table at the back there were already 6 waiters who had welcomed me with a smile. However, as soon as it was understood that at our table the alcohol would not flow freely like at the large, noisy table next door, our service was long until the end. Another big table showed up nearby and I no longer heard anything of what those who had come to celebrate me were saying! The soup did not impress me at all and is not worth the trip. The fish dish stuffed with shrimp was excellent but there were almost no vegetables and my vegetarian sons dish was starving. In addition, he had the same salad as my wife but to make it vege, they only removed the proscuito without adding anything in return and at the same price obviously, while the dish costs much less for them. My final disappointment was the Portuguese tartlet which they say is as good as in Belem in Portugal. Now having been there in Belem, it is correct but no, it is by no means as good and even soft, without cinnamon and at the price of $12 for a single mini tartlet whereas the Portuguese competition both in Montreal and on the south shore we get 2 for the same price. Our server was super friendly and the fish was excellent, otherwise I would have given it less than 3 stars overall. Its good but I dont think its worth the effort to come back from the south shore when there are other Portuguese restaurants where the value for money is much better.
It was our first visit to this place and not the last.
Overall nice restaurant Already the colors are super original The meal is really good. The fish stuffed with shrimp is worth it. This is the second time Ive been there and the tapas are good and the fish is an obvious choice. The staff is really nice too The bill adds up quickly so be careful hahaha Sorry I thought I left a first review when I came the first time so I didnt take enough photos this time Next time I will complete them
Amazing place in all aspects, highly recommended!
We certainly went wrong! We were placed at the back of the restaurant next to a private party of 30 people... We didnt get along all evening. The waitress (a little blonde with a bun) made no effort to be intelligible in this context and made numerous blunders. From the beginning by making a mistake in the order when there were only two dishes... Until the end by forgetting my hat with my coat. I dont know the disgust we inspired in this waitress even though nothing was expected of her, we only received the minimum attention, clumsy and without warmth... To the point of clearly avoiding us. Too bad this feeling of being hated in a place where the decor is so neat, the cuisine is rather fine and the bottle of sodastream sparkling water costs $8. With a final bill that cannot fall below $100/person, could this renowned restaurant only employ young people who have gone through hotel school, or who would at least have a sense of polite, discreet and efficient service? We would have liked a little professionalism. Having left bitter, we have never tipped a waitress so little.
Overpriced and overhyped. The dishes were hit and miss (octopus was great, lamb...not so much). Not family friendly. Be careful, they charge for water (even flat) without advertising. Can find much better for a better price and ambiance.
We were a group of twelve people recently for dinner. When we arrived we were asked if we wanted still or sparkling water. Most opted for still water (usually sparkling water comes at a cost). That said, none of the guests were informed that the still water was loaded. I was charged $8 for a bottle of still water. Another person who had a bill for two, was charged for two bottles of still water, and two bottles of sparkling water. $32!!! In addition, they were only served plain water. This is one example among others in our group. When we decide to buy a bottle of water, we leave it on the table. This is what generally happens in restaurants. Otherwise, how do you know when you have taken a whole bottle? And what is its format? When I saw my bill, I complained to the waiter who told me that the still water had been purified . What proves it? This does not change the fact that we are not informed in advance of additional charges. And there you have it, the restaurant made a nice profit by not declaring the charges to our group, as it should. I saw in some Google reviews that this has happened before with other unhappy customers. Despite this, staff continue to remain silent about the water charge. This is completely unethical. With the prices we are charged for dishes in this establishment, it is shameful to add charges for still water. It s making fun of those who keep business alive.
The waitor/sommelier chose some great wines for me and the food was really good.
Very pleasant service and the food was delicious!!
Very nice restaurant. The dishes were very beautiful and good. Impeccable service.