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Restaurant El Pintxo
Categories: Restaurants Spanish Restaurants Basque Spanish, Basque [Edit]
256 rue Roy EMontreal, QC H2W 1M6
(514) 844-0222
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 6 pm - 11 pm
Wed-Fri 12 pm - 2 pm
Sun 6 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
25 reviews for Restaurant El Pintxo
Review Highlights
25 reviews in English
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Review from Noha G.
Montréal, QC
2/15/2012
This place is hands down one of THE best restaurants in Montreal! Small and cozy, the atmosphere here is always great. I've been 4 times, and have never been disappointed. Amazing tapas, even better waiters who don't stick to you so much yet are magically always at your table the second you even think you need them. Amazing service, good prices, and an overall fantastic experience!
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Review from Farin I.
3/13/2012
Aahh I am a fan of this place now. Pintxo is a great place and honestly I am just so blown by the food that the more I write is less. My last visit was during Valentines Day and the place was packed. It has a nice ambiance for Small group of friends and couples. Light is not kept too bright, and the candles add a nice touch to the romantic feel with small and cozy tables and chairs.
The best part here honestly is the food. I think this is the first time I ever finished a dish completely before the other person on the table. I had duck breast which were exquisitely tender and perfectly flavoured. You could tell the the gravy was made from very fine dry wine and the meat texture was nice and soft. The creme brulee was great too, and melted deliciously in my mouth. They have a good spanish wine collection to go with the meals.
Heres why I left out one star. The service. Unfortunately they didnt seem very hospitable from the get go. We got there 10 minutes earlier to our reservation time and were waiting out with other guests. The host seemed confused and maybe a wee bit frustruted and made an awkward comment while he was getting us seated. Our server even though polite, also looked dazed as to when to come attend and not etc....
With that being said is this going to stop me coming here again, and even come give the staff another go? Heck no! And I say even you should come see this resto out if you havent yet :)Listed in: Foods That are Just…
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Review from Valerie G.
Montréal, QC
3/2/2012
I have been to this place a few times, but had not been there in well over two years when I decided to bring a friend visiting from NY here last night.
Let me begin by saying that we called at 10h15, and were able to get a 10h45 reservation for 3, much thanks because it was a mid week, mid winter, snowy day and it was a given we were holding everyone back by arriving so late, extra kudos for customer service.
When we arrived we were very warmly greeted and seated, (we had been warned to order upon arrival given our last minute reservation), the lovely Carolina was our waitress and she took amazing care of us answering our many complicated question's (we are restaurateurs' and our guest was a latino Chef), and very gladly suggested various dishes in three languages no less!
here is what we settled on for food
2 pintxo of Chorizo and Octopus (the special of the day)
2 pintxo red peppers stuffed with crab and shrimp (the special of the day)
2 bison ribs (with a delightful sauce which was sweet and spicy, I guessed the ingredients but won't give it away) (the special of the day)
one order of cod ( Bacalau) and scrambled egg
artichoke and clams
and an assortment of about 7 different cheeses (read slices), which were excellent, I cannot remember all the names but the blue cheese one was by far the best!
We got one bottle of red which was Spanish, one glass sparkling wine, and then 3 glasses of another red served with the cheese. I cannot remember the name of the red by the glass but it was far superieur to the bottle (I know that the bottle from which it came had a all black label with white writing)....
We loved loved loved the decor and commented on the wall art which was stunning, the waitress chatted with us easily (especially since it was just us), and I can assure you she knows food, wine, and is very professional, by far the highlight of the evening.
Here is the only thing which keep this from being a four or five star in my list.
I know the portions are meant to be small, but the price does not fit. The flavors are good and interesting, but not at that cost....each of the pintxo was literally a one person bite leaving you famished (not a bite for 3 just one bite per pintxo), yet you just spent 196$, not including tip, so now we are up to 230$, so that part does make me hesitate to return for a full meal.
I don't mind paying for food and wine, but this seemed to turn or initial lust into a "are you kidding me, how the hell did that happen!" moment. Maybe they should consider either lowering the costs per bite, or letting people know as they go, since it is tough to calculate, and when you're going on recommendations, well let's just say it's tough to figure out if this will be a repeat..... -
Review from L M.
5/5/2012
The food was ok bit a bit over priced. Nowhere as good as real Spanish tapas, but the quality of food is good. Atmosphere was nice.
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Review from Clare L.
8/16/2011
This place was made for my heart and my stomach.
If it were up to me, every restaurant would be based on tapas, so I can try a little of everything. Inside this warmly lit cozy restaurant, you will find some of the most interesting dishes, using some of the most amazing ingredients. Each time I go, I try different tapas and so far, I have yet to be disappointed with any creation they have.
I love the paintings they have, the windows, and the service has always been spot on. If I had to play favourites for their tapas, I would have to say the wild mushroom and escargot, the smoked salmon with beets, and the sardine with avocado was to die for. Their wine list is very thoughtful of the various dishes they serve. I liked the opportunity to try wines that aren't the average run of the mill house specialties.
If I was a restaurant, I would totally marry this restaurant and live happily ever after. -
Review from Numa P.
Montréal, QC
6/22/2011
The New York Mag (or NYT) once wrote that Spanish was the new French, partly in reference to the proliferation of Tapas places throughout the City. We could apply this trend to Montreal also, but with different proportions of course. Out of this comes Pintxo: one of my best culinary experiences in Montreal. I went there once and it will leave a unique memory.
Aim for the Pintxos directly. You will find a wide range of flavors ranging from goat cheese cherry tomatoes to more original foie gras tapas. And you won't be worse-off ordering every single one of them if you're a party of at least three. Moreover, there is a descent selection of wines which will definitely match any of your food choices. All of it for a price reflecting its quality.
But Pintxo is not only about food. It is the charm of such a cozy spot ironically situated next to Montreal's most active neighborhoods. You could even walk in front of it and not notice it, its coziness and simplicity being major parts of its charm. Once inside, I recommend seating in the left side of the restaurant if you are looking for a tasteful and romantic diner. Bigger parties should consider the opposite one.
Unique.Listed in: Sin City
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Review from Claudine G.
Montréal, QC
1/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
My favorite restaurant since 2006. The quality and presentation of the food is exceptional. The staff is attentive, friendly and professional. If you want to impress a date or a client that knows something about food and wine, then this is a great place. Quality / price ratio is hard to beat. Oh and they have the best Torchon de foie gras in montreal. A must.
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Review from Didier N.
8/18/2011
This cozy and intimate restaurant serves delicious, beautiful and refined tapas but somehow left me not totally satisfied over my dining experience. You see, no matter how good the food was (and it was), what stood out the most for me was how slow the service was.
On average, we waited 20-30min between services. And when I say service, I mean teeny-weeny plates called pintxos. First a little clarification is needed: as the name implies, this restaurant serves pintxos, not tapas. As I have learned the hard ways, it's not quite the same: pintxos are bitesize tapas, so roughly half the size of normal tapas, if not smaller.
In total, we spent a good 3 hours at the restaurant on a Wednesday night, restaurant not completely full. We could have ordered more but we didn't want to stay that much longer.
Amongst the dishes that stood out: Yellow beet tartare with smoked salmon and feta cheese, Foie gras torchon with onion confit, Seared scallop on chorizo tapenade, grilled octopus and duck breast with risotto.
Overall, we had a very good meal but I can't say I will be back. -
Review from Stan L.
9/28/2011
3.5 stars.. rounded up
my buddy, my fiancee and i came here for dinner recently to get away from all the french food we've been eating.. they recommend you get 5-7 tapas.. but you can do fine with just 4..
although there were plenty of tapas.. some were pretty bad (gazpacho, grilled vegetable, octopus), others were just ok (beef cheeks, quail)..
there were also also some that were quite good (cod, clams)..
if you ever come here.. definitely get the cod as well as the clam dish -
Review from olivia k.
5/3/2011
My family and I went here during a visit to Montreal. I had to try 3 different times to make a reservation - if you're interested, try calling 2-3 weeks in advance (kinda made me feel like a rockstar to just walk right in though, not gonna lie). I'd advise going for a prie-fixe menu or sticking to a certain number of tapas: it is VERY pricey here and your bill can climb quickly (I think for four people, my dad dropped over $400).
Beyond that, though, some of the most delicious and creative tapas I've ever had. Very original pairings and an extensive wine list. I'd agree that this is a place for foodies, but as a fairly adventurous eater with no particular dislikes, I was very happy here. The walls are also covered with original artwork (on discreet sale) and the rest of the decor is tasteful and makes good use of the space. -
Review from Maxime C.
Saint-Constant, QC
6/7/2011
I've been there a few times and I've never been disapointed. Service is always spotless, tapas are both delicious and creative, and even though the wine selection is limited to Spanish wine, every single one I've tasted was excellent.
The only small downer is the small capacity of the place (max 40-50?). It can be hard to get a reservation the same day. However, it does contribute to the charm of the restaurant, making it a very intimate place, perfect for some nice times with friends.
Highly recommended -
Review from Mike S.
7/6/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I've been to Pintxo over 20 times. I'll be back within the next 3 weeks. I always am. The food and service are always amazing.
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Review from Eric J.
8/13/2010 1 Check-in Here
Tres bien!
At first I was afraid we'd made the wrong choice for dinner----the menu didn't feature an obvious vegetarian option other than a garden salad. But, after asking our [stellar] server if this was going to be a problem, he assured of us it was not. I was given chef-created, vegan options based on my veg likes and dislikes, and it was the best meal I had in Montréal the weekend I was there. -
Review from Howard H.
3/8/2010
Tappas restaurant. 45-minute wait. The restaurant was especially busy on Saturday. Friendly staff. Had an ice cider while waiting for table. Nice ambiance, a bit loud at times due to patrons. Big wine list; tappas were meant to be had with wine after all.
Tappas were good, but REALLY small portions for the price. Garlic shrimp and calamari were OK. Mushroom and snail was good, as was foie gras. Kind of filled up on their bread. Main dish wasn't anything special. Had a lamb shank with couscous.
For foodies, I would venture. I'm certainly not, so I felt that it was way expensive for what I was getting. -
Review from eric g.
Toronto, ON
8/21/2010
What a meal! Pintxo is Basque for tapas, and this place does a creative take on the little bundles of flavour that spread around the world from Spain.
Tip #1: Skip the boring-sounding main dishes, and order a bunch of pintxos (pronounced "pinchos").
Yes, the plates are small, but contrary to what another reviewer said, not small for the price. The torchon de foie gras for $7 would have cost double that in New York or Toronto. Strawberry-red-pepper gazpacho was $4 - a smallish bowl to be sure, but quite enough to start the meal, and really tasty.
Other highlights of our meal were the scrambled eggs with cod; salmon carpaccio with yellow beets and goat cheese (served chopped, like steak tartare); and boudin noir with apple. The waiter recommended five to seven pintxos per person. My better half and I shared 12, and were too stuffed for dessert.
A good list of Spanish wines is reasonably priced. The bill - 12 dishes and a bottle of wine - came to $140 plus tip -- very reasonable for the quality of food and service.
I can't wait to go back! -
Review from Monica G.
Montréal, QC
5/3/2011
The absolute best tapas in Montreal! Authentic and small like real spanish tapas should be! Don't even consider the main dishes...order a bunch of "pintxo" (the basque word for tapas) and indulge! Try the mushroom stuffed with lamb! trust me...you will definitely be ordering another one. Great selection of red spanish wines that accompany the palette with elegance. And go ahead and stuff your face with their warm home-made bread and equisite extra virgin olive oil! Doesn't get better than that.
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Review from Misty L.
8/1/2011
My husband and I found Pintxos 4 years ago on our last visit to Montreal. We had a great experience and when returning to Montreal this past weekend, we knew we absolutely wanted to go back. Now, I almost wish I hadn't...
The food was fine. They were out of figs for the fig/serrano/cheese item (one of our favorites at any tapas place). The taste of the food was fine, though not amazing. Overall a 3-3.5 stars for the food. We did order the mushrooms with snails and couldn't find any snails in our mushrooms. The wine (we ordered a half-bottle) suggestion from the waiter was good and reasonably priced. This was all good.
Now the not so good... we ordered 7 items. We weren't hugely hungry and were considering dessert, so we erred on the side of caution (they suggest 5-10 per person). As expected, the items were small (they are called pintxos for a reason). Add to this the bread and it was a reasonably sized meal. The problem was with the timing. I'm not sure if it is because we ordered fewer items than suggested or if they are always this disorganized, but we immediately got 2 of our tapas. The others came sporadically, often with a 15+ minute wait in between. At one point, they cleared our plates and eventually brought us new ones. However, we waited 30+ minutes for our last two tapas... that then came at the same time. During this time, waiters/servers passed through (checking for used plates??), but didn't stop, didn't ask if we'd like anything... eventually my husband had to stop our waiter to make sure that they were going to bring the rest. It had been so long we were assuming that they had forgotten. Communication would have been appreciated.
All in all... we decided not to have dessert here - who knew how long we'd be waiting! And, unfortunately, we've decided not to return to Pintxos the next time we are in town. While the food is solid and typically an interesting mix, the service left a lot to be desired. -
Review from Tony L.
9/12/2011
Great Restaurant!
The food was delicious, meticulous and presented very well. My girlfriend and I ordered 10 small plates to share and it was just the right amount of food. The wine was good and the service impeccable. We sat in the left part of the restaurant and the atmosphere was lovely. I would go back any time. Well done! -
Review from Kevin C.
8/4/2011
The last night in Montreal, we had the pleasure of a meal at Pintxo. The restaurant is on a quiet street just off the hum of St Denis. We decided to order a selection of 12 small plates, all of which were outstanding and perfectly prepared. The black cod, lobster tail, duck confit, shrimp, and venison were the absolute highlights. Out waiter was friendly and cracked some quality jokes throughout the night. This should be a required stop for anyone visiting Montreal and looking for a break from the french food after a few days bistro hopping, but stands shoulder to shoulder with any of the top Spanish restaurants in North Americal.
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Review from Bill S.
7/11/2011
My wife and I went there tonight. The menu is simple, but the combination of food and flavor is perplexed. We had a number of dishes and we liked most of them: Beef carpaccio (love the combination of parmesan and beef), quail on macaroni (tint of sweetness), duck tartare (very appetising with the capers), artichoke clams (instead of using lemongrass, the chef skillfully use the sourness of the artichoke in the broth), lobster tail, garlic shrimp, seared scallop (cooked just right) and passionfruit dessert with crumb base and chocolate ganache (this is my wife's favorite)
The bill comes to $75, which is not too bad knowing the food is exquisite and delicious. But, don't be surprised by the wait time of the food and Pinto size of the dishes, the two of us were pretty full from the meal :) By he way, the staff were friendly and helpful. -
Review from Morris R.
7/3/2010
HAND DOWN, my favorite meal while in Montreal this summer (2010), and, also, one of the relatively less expensive. Having read some of the less-than-stellar reviews of the main plates, we ate almost all tapas (small plates), other than one main cheese platter. Unlike a lot of tapas restaurants, the tapas were not drenched in oil, and the food was not heavy. The portions were tiny, but we were totally satisfied with about 8 tapas, and one main. The servers - including the food runners - were uniformly beautiful, which helped. The restaurant is located in a charming residential 'hood a couple of blocks off St. Denis.
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Review from Stacy D.
12/7/2010
I ordered the Menu Degustation which comes with 4 pintxos and a main dish:
The Lamb shank with couscous main dish was dry and had no flavor. The waiters were nice enough to bring me salt and pepper, but I don't think that did the trick. The 4 tapas dishes were not worth mentioning. Not coming back again. -
Review from Todd M.
8/27/2008
The menu consists of more than 25 small plates, small bites of Spanish and Portuguese-influenced foods. The food is creative, quite delicious, and the atmosphere is generally cozy and boisterous. Serviceable wine list. This is an excellent neighborhood restaurant.
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Review from Gloria F.
York, ON
5/26/2010
Fantastic intimate little restaurant with great staff and amazing food.
Tapas were absolutely DELISH!! We ordered 16 tapas between 4 girlfriends (2 each of 8 different ones), and only had room to share 2 desserts (I have to admit we are not big eaters). Tapas are presented in groups based on increasing texture/heaviness. Each dish was 2-4 bite sized, flavors very complex and complementary. And also an extensive Spanish wine list. Our server recommended a beautiful white wine based on the flavors we enjoyed. Very reasonably priced wine.
Loved loved loved the restaurant. Would come back again and again. -
Review from Ben K.
7/6/2010
I'm not much of a foodie, so I'm sure I didn't appreciate this place as much as I could have, but the food was tasty and the main dish portion was large. A tad expensive for my taste but it was worth it for the atmosphere and delicious food.
My group had the pork chop, lamb shank, beef cheeks and more and all was very tasty and generous portions. The chefs choice pintxo's were also very good. The atmosphere was very tasteful and upscale.
I would return for special occasions.
