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seafood in montreal

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Who has the best seafood in Montreal? Is there a Mont version of the NE lobster roll ? How does it compare?

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  1. At the high end, Milos, Ferreira and, between late spring and early fall, Au Pied de Cochon, which also has the city's best lobster roll (topped with foie gras, naturally).

    Mid-range: several of the psarotavernas, like Faros.

    Lower end: Ail, Y'ail, Y'ail.

    All in all, though, seafood is not one of the city's strong points.

    2 Replies
    1. re: carswell

      The lobster roll topped with salt-cured foie gras at APdC is very fine indeed. I do wish, however, that they didn't top it with old cheddar. IMHO, it overwhelms the other fine flavors.

      1. re: rcianci

        Whoa. The version I tasted, not long after they started offering them, didn't have any cheddar that I recall. Talk about your wretched excess. Well, you can always tell 'em to hold the cheese.

    2. i must give props to mall food court restaurant AQUA LUNCH under the paramount theater and now at rockland for some mighty fine fish n chips as well as whole deep fried snapper. I long for this style of restaurant everyday of my life - why must it only exist in malls!

      1 Reply
      1. re: celfie

        I ate at AQUA LUNCH in Rockland today- Had the fish sandwich combo, which, for ONLY 6.50, was a GREAT deal. Two decent sized fried sea-bass filets on a bun with tomato & tartar sauce, homemade fries, and a green salad were on the very full plate, and a CANNED drink is included. I felt like I was ripping them off! The fish itself was fresh and delicious, and they had a few other fish daily specials- salmon, sole in a creamy sauce, and something else with mixed seafood. Everything looked pretty good.

        It was 2 pm so they weren't that busy but I hope they do well!

      2. While the fish at Milos is likely the freshest, it is, in my opinion, extraordinarily over-priced. Good, but not great. Our meals at Ferreira have always been excellent and while a little on the expensive side, nothing compared to Milos.

        The lobster roll at APDC is yum, but nothing like the NE roll you are used to. I don't know who, if anyone, serves a traditional lobster roll in this town.

        1 Reply
        1. re: foodismyfriend

          Maybe, maybe not. There are two versions of the lobster roll in New England. One hot with melted butter and the other cold with mayonnaise. Take away the roquette, salt-cured foie gras, cheddar, and balsamic glaze and you've got a cold NE lobster roll, heavy on the mayo.

        2. I agree with Carswell, the city isn't strong on restos dedicated to seafood. You'd have to head to New Brunswick for the closest lobster roll or the Gaspe peninsula for a shrimp or crab "guedille". My mom is from the Gaspe - so shellfish was a staple in our household growing up.

          Do what I did last Saturday afternoon - head to Jean Talon Market, head straight to the the fish monger with the stand from Ste-Anne-des Monts. We bought from him a 1.5 pound lobster and 2 sets of crab sample legs (Alaskan). While he kindly prepared them up for us, we nibbled on his very fresh very tasty matane shrimp.

          Sat down at a picnic table to eat in the sun and mmmm. Not glamourous, but oh so very very fresh seafood. At a fraction of the cost in a restaurant.

          Also I was told that the seafood platter (oysters/crab/lobster/smoked salmon/scallops) and lobster my sister was served yesterday at Aix Cuisine du Terroir in Old Montreal was very fresh. http://www.aixcuisine.com/

          2 Replies
          1. re: yow yul

            costco's restaurant has lobster rolls go for it

            1. re: celfie

              Ferreira Cafe gets my vote every time.

              We were there a couple of weeks ago and I had the grilled sea bass - very very good. My husband had the seared tuna - also very delicious. We actually had trouble deciding which one we like best!!

              Our experience at Aix was not as positive - we stayed there for New Year's Eve and dinner was part of the package. I wonder if that has something to do with the sub-par dinner we had...