Mike CohenMtlRestoRap

It is always exciting to explore a brand-new upscale restaurant. Mama C was barely two months old on the evening we stopped by for dinner and it did not disappoint us.

Nestled in the heart of Old Montreal, within the historic Hôtel Nelligan building, Mama C offers modern Greek cuisine that seamlessly blends tradition with creativity. Owned by Corner Collection, it  pays tribute to Greece, the homeland of its owners. It took eight months to create this space formerly occupied by Nelli Restaurant. There is seating capacity for 119 people  in the main dining room and 65 more  in the atrium.

Mama C’s attractive decor, envisioned by Montreal designer Zebulon Perron, transports guests to Greece, the land of olive groves. With earthy tones evoking a Mediterranean oasis, the restaurant offers an elevated escape marked by thoughtful details and a sophisticated atmosphere.

Mama C also features a lounge area, where elegance meets relaxation. This space invites conviviality with a menu of flavorful small bites perfect for sharing, complemented by a carefully curated cocktail list.

The menu is a collaboration between Chef Michalis Merzenis, who has an extensive career in luxury establishments in Athens and Mykonos, and Chef Anastasios Roussis, who has been part of Montreal’s restaurant scene for a long time.

Our excellent and knowledgeable server, Josh, provided a comprehensive overview of the menu.

The slow-cooked bone-in lamb shoulder, with sides

The slow-cooked bone-in lamb shoulder,
with sides

After some glasses of wine (a chardonnay and rosso) and a Valentine mocktail (strawberries, basil, pomegranate, lime and rosemary), we began with 12 outstanding oysters from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, with three dipping sauces all made in-house.

We followed this up with an order of delicious and thinly sliced sea bream sashimi, with Trikalinos Bottarga chili and chive oil and lemon sauce. Bottarga is a delicacy of cured Grey Mullet Roe.In addition we tried the Tyro pita, a crispy baked phyllo, with fete mousse, fresh seasonal truffle and fermented honey. The appetizers also has items such as a seafood tower, caviar, sea bass and beef tartares, salads, charred octopus, lightly cooked shrimps, grilled shrimp, shrimps saganaki, beef meatballs, lamb skewers and a variety of Greek spreads.

The menu has plenty of items for sharing. We chose the slow-cooked bone-in lamb shoulder, with dry mountain oregano, lamb au jus, thyme oil and served with lemon oregano, potatoes and broccoli. It was wheeled to the table on a trolley and served by Josh. We were three, but it was enough for more, so we got to enjoy some leftovers the next day. “The sharing experience has become one of the favorites of diners,” said Corner Collection Director Marketing and Communications Pierre-Luc Gravel.

For the main course you can also choose from fresh fish, lobster, local free range half chicken, cast iron moussaka, beef kebab, pastitsio (paccheri pasta, oxtail ragu, aged Naxos graviera foam,  with truffle shavings), stuffed roasted eggplant, clam wine and  garlic pasta, a 32 ounce ribeye bone-in and shrimp yiouvetsi.

We did save just enough room for a decadent dessert called the Bougatsa, shaped like a pie and containing custard cream, salted caramel and milk chocolate.

“We are proud to bring a taste of Greece to Montreal’s vibrant culinary scene,” said Maria Antonopoulos, Chief Brand Officer at Corner Collection, which owns a number of hotels and restaurants in Old Montreal.

The restaurant’s name, Mama C, is a tribute to Cristina, the mother of the four founders, and their family home, which was a place of sharing, celebration, and an homage to traditional Greek flavors and dishes.

Mama C is open for dinner, Monday through Sunday from 5 pm to 11 pm.

Breakfast is also part of the offerings, with weekend brunches as well as a weekday lunch service.

Mama C is located at  100 St-Paul West in Old Montreal and open Monday to Friday from   7am to 10:30 am, 11:30 am to 2:30 pm and 5 pm to 11pm and weekends from 7 am to 10:30 am, 11 am to 3 pm and 5 pm to 11 pm. Log on to www.mamacrestaurant.com, e-mail [email protected] or call (514) 788-4000. In the event of roadwork, there are nearby parking lots, or you can leave your vehicle at the corner or Place Royale and bring your keys to the hotel front desk.

You can follow Mike’s Cohen’s restaurant adventures at www.MtlRestoRap.com. He can be reached at [email protected]