Reviewers describe Café San Gennaro as an authentic Italian spot with a welcoming vibe, where Roman style square pizzas, fresh pastries, and robust espresso stand out. The pizzas are praised for crisp crusts and flavorful toppings, cannoli with crisp shells and creamy fillings, and pistachio bomboloni that are a dessert highlight. The staff are consistently friendly and attentive, adding to the homey atmosphere and the sense of being in Italy, occasionally with Italian speaking staff. The menu also features focaccia sandwiches and a wide range of sweets, though seating can be limited and the space can feel crowded at peak times. A few notes mention price concerns and occasional confusion about wall pricing, and some reviews point to changes in the coffee that affect the overall experience. Overall Café San Gennaro comes across as a beloved local gem that draws guests for a quick bite, coffee, and desserts as well as a memorable Italian cafe experience.
Delicious pizza romana that highlights the italian tradition of simple, high quality ingredients well paired & prepared with love. The caprese includes perfect blobs of burratta cheese offset by a tart but light tomato base. The cacciocavallo is a masterpiece of comfort food & should be eaten WARM (or reheated) so that the potato layer is soft & gooey under its blankets of smoked cheese.
You will likely see a lineup outside on the weekend but do not be deterred, joy awaits you inside.
The pastries were fine.
The food & pastries here is so so so good. Their cannoli filling is fresh & sweet & their bombolones are so fluffy & delicious. Their pizza tastes amazing & their service & prices are great!! There isn't much seating but during the summer that's no problem.
It was the first time I went there & honestly it wasn't what I expect based on the Google rate. Consider a Cafr style restaurant that you have to pay around 8 dollars for each piece of pizza! Their food & pastries was fresh but not like wow you for 4.7 rate. It worth to go once if you like Italian style cafe restaurant.
Amazing pastries & products, a few alcoholic options, but the staff don't want to give actual glasses of tap water if you're parched so you can buy water bottles. One reached for a glass & got a shot instead. Also there's only stools to discourage people from sitting for long. Super uncomfortable & frustrating. Also, students: They have wifi but no outlets so if you get there too early from downtown by accident you're screwed without full charge. The food is good but it's not a great vibe or practical to reach unless you're local & getting to-go. They're not trying to be an authentic Italian/European cafe for relaxing & enjoying.
Awesome 👍😎 Cafe delicious food & pastries, wonderful staff, highly recommend,also have a outside terrace,drop by & enjoy a delicious 😋 ☕ & dessert,maybe a little piece of yummy 🤤 pizza 🍕
My friend brought me to this place, & it made me feel like I was at home. The pizzas are excellent. Warmed up or fresh off the tray, they are amazing. They remind me of what my Nona & great aunts used to make when I was a kid-taking one bite through me back 30 years. The pastries are fluffy & sweet. I had the pistachio donut, which tasted like soft, sweet bread with a pinch of pistachio cream. We tried Margherita & Mariana. Both are superb choices. Next time, I'm excited to try the pepperoni. We finished with two cannolis, which were fantastic. I will have to go back & buy a dozen to share with my family. All the staff were super friendly with a giant smile, ready to provide excellent customer service. I did enjoy the attempt to upsell & see if there was anything else the customer was interested in purchasing.
Sep 15, 2024
on Google
🍽️
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For starters this place is very authentic, I knew when the workers were speaking Italian that it would live up to the reviews & it didn't disappoint. I haven't had pastries like this since Italy & believe me I've tried to find them. One major difference is that the pastries don't leave you feeling bloated & gross. I had two slices of pizza, a cannoli & half a donut & feel fine, in fact I could have eaten a few more donuts. The best part about this place is the pricing is very fair & the tip options starts at 10%, a dying feature in modern eating out. Bravo.
San Gennaro is a fantastic little gem in Little Italy. Just off of St. Laurent, right next to Bottega Restaurant. It's really un-missable & well worth going to. Nothing alleviates the hot Montreal summer like sipping a cool caffe freddo on the terrace at San G. The open kitchen concept is a refreshing change in the cafe scene as you will likely see the owners hard-at-work making delicious pizzas al taglio & classic Italian pastries. You have to try the Nutella bombolone, indulge & get the bigger size! After enjoying many coffees at San Gennaro like I have, you'll somehow never be satisfied with franchised coffee shops anymore. Mauro makes an exceptional latte!
The ambience is spot on too! You walk into authentic old-school Italian music & everyone, staff & customers alike are always smiling. You'll feel as if you've just walked into a cafe in Napoli! The place is still relatively new but it's obvious that it already has many regulars, myself included! As a matter of fact, my boyfriend & I will often drive all the way from Laval to Little Italy just for the killer coffee & friendly staff.
With its young vibe & its fresh take on what a happening cafe should be in Montreal, & whether it's for a simple espresso or grabbing lunch with some old friends, San Gennaro's hip atmosphere & adherence to both quality & tradition will satisfy even the most discerning of Italian pallets!
