Portus 360

David Barros, co-owner and manager at Portus Calle, a Portuguese fine dining restaurant on Saint-Laurent, has an appreciation for details – table setting, prompt service, generous portions and attentive communication. While partner and Chef Helena Loureiro runs the kitchen, he and Denis Seara run the floor. “We focus on delivering something absolutely professional. I think that comes across in everything we do, and it appeals to our regulars. We have people come back three or four nights each week and celebrate their birthdays here because they know what they’re getting. Many of them are experienced professionals, and expect a certain quality to everything they’re served.”

That quality is assured not only by the friendly and cordial staff, but also by the openness and quality of the ingredients. ‘We leave our seafood rack open, and Chef Helena doesn’t hesitate to send something right back out the door if it doesn’t meet her standards.” The discriminating attitude of Chef Helena is not for want of callousness, but in sympathy with her customers. “We rather be caught jumping between suppliers and ingredients than have one that won’t satisfy our customers fully.”