Reviewers consistently praise Cafe Gentile for authentic Italian flavors, fresh ingredients, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere that feels both elegant and homey. The menu earns high marks for variety and quality, with standouts from pastas and pizzas to sandwiches and brunch items, and the coffee and desserts are frequently highlighted as well. Service is described as friendly, attentive, and efficient, though a few visits note slower pacing during busy periods or larger groups. Prices are sometimes considered high for the value, but many feel the quality and presentation justify it, and the decor and vibe are repeatedly singled out as appealing. The venue is described as versatile for casual meals, business lunches, family gatherings, or special occasions, including Mother’s Day and wedding receptions, with guests often describing the experience as memorable. Overall Cafe Gentile comes across as a Montreal staple that delivers solid food, memorable atmosphere, and dependable hospitality, inviting repeat visits despite occasional inconsistencies.
Veal meatballs are out of this world. Cavatelli tastes better than my mom's. Served by owner who made perfect recommendations. This place never disappoints.
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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Visiting my mom in town & wanted some great Italian food. This restaurant did not disappoint.A1 service, nice ambiance, great teamwork from staff, food was AMAZING & I am a VERY picky eater. We will be back for sure!
I was pleasantly surprised by Cafe Gentile. The menu is pretty well diversified, with plenty of homemade pasta dishes available, along with a great drink selection. The Peach Me Up was notably delightful. Gnocchi was a real treat, & the Sexy Fries were to die for. Service was good too. There is only one issue... The prices are a little out of control. I'm well aware that eating out costs more than it used to, & I have no qualms dropping good money on a good dinner. Our dinner was $127 before tip, with two mains, fries, a mocktail, & two desserts. I have had more economical meals that were arguably better. $30 or more for a plate of pasta is a bit too rich for my tastes (it was good, don't get me wrong). That may not be the case for everyone, but it's why I took off one star.
Ice tea is always crisp & I highly recommend it. Their sandwiches & pasta are also good. This cafe has a great location with a great design. However, the fries were not that good.
I took an order to go . Ordered multiple time there a year ago . Today I was so disappointed . The portions got smaller, it doesn't look like the picture. False advertising. Will not order again
Jun 26, 2024
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I came here with my friend for lunch yesterday & I got the Arugula Sandwich with grilled chicken. It was so dry, it said it came with baldamic glaze & mayo? though there was barely any mayo. The chicken was really dry, I had to ask for extra mayo & even then the sandwhich was dry. Next time go hard on the mayo, it will be much more enjoyable.
Food is always good here. Especially the homemade ice tea lemonade. Outdoor sitting can be quite noisy due to cars passing by. Service are friendly but do need to wave them down here & there.
Jun 12, 2024
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J'ai récemment été souper au restaurant avec des amis. Malheureusement, ça a été une déception sur (presque) toute la ligne. Nourriture : 4 entrée, toutes très chères, & toutes médiocres. La sauce tomate dans les calmars était acide & avait un goût métallique. Les pétoncles n'étaient pas du tout assaisonnées. La burrata, pas grand chose à redire & le tartare était juste ok. Pour ce qui était des plats principaux, un steak beaucoup trop cuit (nous avions demandé saignant). Des pâtes infectes, particulièrement les busiate aux fruits de mer & les rigatonis aux champignons. Le seul point positif : les desserts étaient bons. Service : Service sympathique, mais lent. À part pour apportez les plats, personne n'est venu nous voir pour s'assurer que tout était à notre goût ou voir s'il nous manquait quoi que ce soit. Un des serveur a fait tomber un contenant d'huile d'olive sur la table, s'est excusé, mais n'a jamais rapporté un linge ou quoi que ce soit pour nettoyer la flaque. On a dû le faire avec nos linges de table après un moment. Puis, à la fin du souper, nous avons dû demander plusieurs fois les factures & les attendre un bon 30 minutes. Ambiance : Beau restaurant & ambiance plaisante. Conclusion : Cher & très décevant. Je ne remettrai pas les pieds ici & malheureusement, je ne conseillerai à personne d'y aller non plus. Si vous voulez mon avis, allez dépenser votre argent ailleurs.
Recently, I went to Cafe Gentile for dinner service. I go for lunch fairly often, but it's been years since i've been there for dinner, & something has changed in the kitchen. I was honestly disappointed in the quality & flavor of the food. For the high price (200$ for 2 people), I expected more. We shared 3 appetizers + 2 pasta dishes as the main dish. Every dish except for the meatball entree was mediocre. The tomato sauce in the grilled squid was acidic & tasted like it just came out of the can. The 21$ Argula salad had a bunch of yellow, wilted leaves, like 2 tomatoes & 3 shavings of parm. & the pesto burrata pasta portion was TINY, lukewarm, & barely had any burrata on it. & it lacked a depth of flavor for 34$. It was really underwhelming. The service was very friendly, but SO slow even though it was early dinner service (like 6pm) & it wasn't even busy. After our food was served, the server never came to check on us once. We had to waive him down twice to ask for bread & to clear our plates & for the bills. The only redeeming quality this restaurant has at the moment is the atmosphere. The decor is trendy & the vibe is nice.
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!
