Established in 2018, Cantine Emilia aims to change the way Portuguese dishes are served in Montreal. With a local "twist", they have made going beyond the trends a point of honor. Emilia offers an explosive menu where both adventurers and fans of the classics will be satisfied.
Reviews for Restaurant Emilia are mixed, with some diners praising bold flavors especially spicy sauces and flavorful bowls and others noting good portions and texture in rice bowls and fries. Several reviewers mention high price and inconsistent execution such as dry chicken, under seasoned elements, or missing sauce and utensils when orders arrive, and occasional service delays due to payment system issues. The atmosphere is described as crowded and narrow, which adds to the lively experience though it can be challenging to find a table. Nevertheless the hot sauce and certain dishes tempt repeat visits, and some diners say the meals are among the best they have had, prompting them to return to explore more options. On balance, Restaurant Emilia delivers memorable flavors and strong sauces that many appreciate, but consistency in preparation and value, plus occasional service hiccups, influence overall satisfaction.
Fries are good & crispy, unseasoned though, could use a little salt. The piri piri sauce is very good & flavourful. The chicken is delicious but a bit dry. The chorico is huge & delicious. Overall good food that I would try again.
I tried their Chorizo bowl(rice + salad) with spicy sauce & it was delicious!! The rice was very flavourful
One of the best meals I had in Montreal. A must try if you're into bowls.
Disapointed. Ordered a chicken with spicy sauce & utensils. Got home. No sauce... no utensils. So i ate my dry chicken & cold fries & it was probably close to the worst portuguese chicken i ever had.
I'll give this place 5 stars just for the hot sauce. I drive from Vermont to stock up. Great hot sauce is all about flavor & consistency & this sauce has both!
Good first experience, nice food, Portugese beer available (with & without alcohol), had the chicken & chorizo rice bowl with good flavors & nice portion, however it had lots more chorizo & I would have preferred a balanced mix (or more chicken!). Would return, but in Le Central there are so many options that in the future I will explore other foods. Service was difficult due to their cashier system being down, had to pay cash or wait for a fix alongside other customers. Due to this issue, order was not relayed to the kitchen & after a 10-15 minute wait had to ask & then get it prepped, ended up eating after my partner. Le Central atmosphere is crowded, narrow paths, lots of elbow rubbing, but this is part of the experience & even if sometimes difficult to find a table, you go there for all of it. Will return!
Tried their chicken dish for lunch. It's in Le Central food court & could be crowded. Food was tasty & good volume. More on pricy side for fast food though.
We liked the setting & how many options were inside- very relaxed & everyone could get something they liked. We ordered the spicy chicken & shrimp with rice & salad. The food was great, with a good amount of spice. The girl working the counter was not the friendliest though & was off putting.
