Overall, Cafe Gentile is described as a warm, family friendly Italian spot with a cozy vibe, where the food is consistently praised for its pastas, pizzas, meatballs, seafood and brunch offerings, and the coffee and desserts are highlighted as standouts; the service is often friendly and attentive yet can feel uneven at times, and the atmosphere and decor create a homey, welcoming setting that brings patrons back for casual lunches, dinners, weddings or catering, while some dishes or experiences are criticized as overly sweet, underseasoned or pricey and a few comments mention slower service during peak times.
Truly always an awesome experience, & consistently great food & service. Lunch Staples for me are the Tunisian Tuna sandwich with extra bomba or the chicken cutlet with side salad & they make tier own iced tea! (Consider take out here, they're really quick, always better fresh compared to delivery, & you get to see what pastries they've got for a little dessert). Pastas at dinner are my favourite as well, & always ask what's on the menu of the day. Never had a bad experience here & love coming back every time I get the chance!
Great dining experience. The service was friendly, food was fresh & pricing was very reasonable. The venue is absolutely stunning. Definitely going to visit again.
Dec 7, 2025
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Yesterday was my first visit to Café Gentile on the West Island &-no surprise-it was superb. The staff was warm, attentive, upbeat, & completely on their game. The food was everything I've come to expect from Gentile: incredibly fresh, full of flavour, & consistently delicious. From their meat dishes to the pastas, salads, breakfasts, & that perfect coffee… every bite feels intentional.
So grateful this Montreal gem now shines in more than one location.
Nice little terrace & decor, the ambiance was fun!
However, 2 out of the 4 dishes we ordered were overly sweet & felt more like a dessert than dishes that were part of the meal. On the menu, it stated that the burrata was served with a raddichio & fennel slaw but it was more like a jam overpowered with sweet grapes. Disapointing as we missed the crunchiness & freshnesh from raw veggies as the meal was advertised in the « insalata » section.
Unfortunately, the roasted cauliflower side also lacked balance in terms of flavors as all we could taste was the agrodolce (water & honey) that gave it almost a « chinese take out » feel. The bread crumbs & pine nuts shouldve been way more seasoned to create more depth & balance in the dish. The parsley stated on the menu was nowhere to be found. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE a sweet & savory dish. Hence why we ordered these but it truly felt like we were eating dessert.
The funghi tagliatele were the star of the night & was delicious. Pasta cooked to perfection & well seasoned. The textures of the artichoke crostini were very interesting & well executed though the bread could've been more cooked.
Only reviewing this as, if I was the chef, I would like to know this type of stuff only to improve the experience for my guests.
Tucked into Westmount like a cherished heirloom, Cafe Gentile served up a Mother's Day brunch that felt more like a warm hug from someone who smells faintly of espresso & nostalgia.
From the moment we walked in, the ambiance charmed us-banquettes like Nonna's living room sofas, tables dressed in soft green marble, & the comforting chaos of a bustling café filled with families, laughter, & that beautiful din of clinking plates & happy forks. It didn't feel like a restaurant; it felt like home, if your home had professional chefs & an endless supply of pistachios.
My husband's meal was a journey in texture & decadence:
A beet salad that was earthy & fresh,
Followed by indulgent French toast paired with bacon, a rich veal sausage crowned with a sunny-side egg,
& a final act of showy genius-a brioche stuffed with pistachio gelato & finished with pistachio crumb. I briefly considered tackling him for a bite.
I started with delicate smoked salmon avocado crostini, perfectly balanced & bright. Then came the Lobster Benedetto-a lavish, buttery twist on the classic Benedict. I closed with a thick, fluffy pancake, floating in a sweet, lightly creamy sauce that I may or may not have considered licking off the plate. (It was Mother's Day. I get a pass.)
Service was friendly & well-timed-no hovering, no disappearing acts. Just the kind of smooth professionalism that lets you actually enjoy the food & the moment.
Cafe Gentile doesn't just feed you-it envelops you in Italian comfort, sprinkles pistachios on your emotions, & sends you home blissfully full. Five stars, & one extra perfectly drawn espresso in my heart.
The food was delicious-every dish was fresh, flavourful, & beautifully presented. &….The coffee….. it was next level-rich, smooth, & expertly brewed. You can tell they take their coffee seriously! This spot is a must-visit.
Been to Gentile for several years, even when I worked near Chabanel. The food is always delicious with great presentation. Their rosé sauce & fresh pasta is one of the best in the city, as is their margherita pizza. This visit had some amazing sandwiches, the classic chicken cutlet & the Caesar chicken wrap. So fresh & delicious. But don't forget to wash it all down with their savoury fries, the perfect compliment to any dish on their menu! Too full this time for dessert, but I highly recommend their cannolis & tiramisu. You will definitely need a reservation for Friday or Saturday nights!
Jul 21, 2024
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This restaurant is a local favourite of ours. We love sitting in the glassed in porch area 3 seasons of the year, love the food, & the inside is very cute, with nice leather benches, muted lighting, & reflective surfaces that give it a great vibe. They also have the best pistachio gelato of anywhere, & with the soft Sicilian biscotti on top, it's to die for, & you can get it to go if you're just strolling by. We reserved the inside restaurant for a function Saturday afternoon for 28 people & it went absolutely great. There were delicious appetizers (arancini, focaccia pizza, caprese skewers), great first course served family style (loved especially the endive radicchio salad & the fried calamari!) & great second courses with eggplant parmigiana, grilled branzino & vegetables, meatballs, sausage cavatelli) & for dessert our favourite gelato & biscotti. The service was great, plates cleared promptly & fresh ones brought, drinks filled, & it was a great atmosphere. We loved having the whole place so we could switch between tables & talk to each other without bothering other diners. Really, really happy with the experience! Totally recommend!
Update: I should brush up on my review; the food quality is not as good as expected. This restaurant/cafe is near my office, so I have been there quite a few times since the first visit, so it is time to adjust my expression about this place. They need to elevate their food quality; otherwise, it's worse to try, let alone the "PRICE." ( I'll refer you to my latest picture of their frise, witch almost burned & not crispy & highly likely not fresh ) ------------ 3 years ago ------------ I'll give the restaurant/cafe 5 stars, in general, not only because of their delicious food but also because of their attitude & customer service. _ I ordered fish from one of their meals of the day, yet it didn't go with my taste. (Nothing wrong with the food, just not my type) So, I asked for a different dish (to be added to my bill, of course), but they generously replaced my plate with fried veal & stuffed cheese, which was amazingly tasty. I would recommend this cafe; moreover, check it out, as it is marked as my weekly lunch spot.
