Restaurant Da Emma, located in what was formerly Montreal's first prison for women, won prizes for its design in 1999. Da Emma serves traditional Italian cuisine with Roman specialities. As for the food: seafood antipasto (squid, mussels, shrimp, and octopus drizzled with olive oil), fettuccine with porcini mushrooms, and suckling pig roasted with garlic and rosemary are among the highlights.
Terrace available accommodating up to 70 people.
Da Emma is described as an authentic Italian dining destination housed in a historic basement, offering a warm, intimate atmosphere and a strong wine list. Many reviews highlight simple, well executed dishes with pasta and meat dishes praised, and standout items like burrata, meatballs, lamb, and a homemade feel. Service is generally regarded as attentive and friendly, though some experiences note slow or intrusive service and occasional missteps. Several guests mention a busy or noisy dining room and, at times, a lack of attention or hot dishes, and a cash only policy that can be inconvenient. Overall, the restaurant is seen as a top Montreal Italian spot for those seeking traditional, flavorful cuisine in a heritage setting, with many guests planning returns. Complimentary bruschetta, good bread and olive oil, and a refined but comforting menu are commonly cited positives, while some feel the portions may be smaller for the price. Atmosphere and authenticity are repeatedly praised, making Da Emma a go to for romance, family gatherings, or celebrations.
If not the best, one of the best Italian restaurants in Montreal. Food quality, taste & ingredients as good as you can find anywhere but more expensive than elsewhere & very noisy after 8:30 or so (low ceilings). Great service & wine selection in a comfortable setting with dishes rarely found in Montreal like the very slow roasted delicious melt in your mouth suckling pig or young lamb. A place to enjoy delicious food that does not taste good just because it is loaded with salt & fat once a year due to the small menu that does not change much
Apr 6, 2026
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Mauvaise expérience de notre côté. Service très très ordinaire. pas de présentation du menu, nous voulions un style accord avec le vin & les plats, serveur ne nous a apporté qu'un seul verre de vin avec le premier service sans nous dire ce que l'on buvait. Erreur sur la commande des plats de pâtes, nous avons eu 2fois la même assiette.
Pas de service de vin.
Super beau resto, j'en avais entendu du bon mais le service a gâché notre experience..
J'ai testé plusieurs restaurants italiens à Montréal & Da Emma était sur ma bucket list depuis longtemps. Attiré par sa réputation & les nombreux avis positifs, je peux maintenant confirmer que c'est, de loin, le meilleur restaurant italien en ville!
Ce n'est pas qu'une question de marketing: l'excellence est totalement méritée. Situé dans un bâtiment historique du Vieux-Montréal, l'endroit dégage une ambiance de cave authentique, élégante & chaleureuse. L'expérience nous transporte à un autre niveau; on se croirait carrément en Italie.
Côté cuisine, c'est exceptionnel. On sent la qualité des ingrédients dans chaque bouchée : les pâtes & la viandes goûtent la cuisine d'une véritable nonna. La viande est d'une tendreté incroyable & les pâtes sont tout simplement délicieuse.
Le service est d'un très grand professionnalisme, attentionné & jamais envahissant. On comprend vite pourquoi la réputation de l'endroit est si solide. Ma femme & moi avons vécu une soirée mémorable du début à la fin.
Je recommande fortement ce restaurant & j'y retournerai très bientôt, c'est certain!
Food was below average. We had different pastas & they were very average. Tiramisu was really bad. Service was unprofessional & slow. Overall not recommend
Feb 22, 2026
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Incroyable,ce restaurant vit sur une réputation qui n'existe plus depuis des lunes.Nourriture plus qu'ordinaire,présentation fade,le goût n'est absolument pas au rdz.Le service en bas de ce à quoi on pourrait s'attendre a ce prix,serveur qui fait le strict minimum, un hôte d'apparence négligé qui nous installe à notre table & plus intéressé a son cellulaire qu'à la clientèle.Seul point positif, la venue.Comme dissait mon bon ami Moquin,va pas là, tu va mieux manger au vieux duluth...j'aurais dû l'écouter.
We recently visited Da Emma after driving in from Ottawa, & another couple joined us from Toronto. The place itself is beautiful & has a great atmosphere, but unfortunately the food didn't quite meet our expectations.
What really disappointed us was the service. Our waiter was friendly at first, but after he made a mistake with our appetizer & we mentioned it to the first staff member we saw, he came to our table & whispered that we should have told him directly & not cut into the appetizer before knowing, which felt uncomfortable & unprofessional.
To make things worse, the police showed up at the end of the night, & when we asked for the bill to be split, the waiter seemed surprised & simply told us to split it ourselves. Overall, while the setting is lovely, the food & service left us disappointed.
Reputation surfaite! Plats garrochee , presentation mediocre , prix exagere!!! Vin de la SAQ a 4x le prix
Experience decevante pour la Saint Valentin!!
Plat de cochon de lait obliger de se battre avec avec 3 morceaux de patattes, plat de raviolis 4 pates noye dans la sauce!!
Je vais par contre donne une excellente note pour l'ambiance!
Cucina veramente Italiana al TOP, cucinata dalla Chef romana gentilissima oltre a cucinare benissimo , cibo vero italiano, ottimo. Personale molto gentile, vini ottimi, super pulito ottima location.
Lo consiglio da buon italiana.💯
Jan 20, 2026
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Soirée parfaite du début à la fin! Nous étions deux couples avec un enfant de 3 ans, donc au premier service, & dès l'arrivée l'ambiance était excellente. Éclairage tamisé mais vivant, salle chaleureuse & agréable. La nourriture était tout simplement incroyable. Nous habitons en Italie & honnêtement, nous n'avons pas été déçus, bien au contraire, cela a largement dépassé nos attentes. L'agneau était divin, les crevettes parfaitement exécutées, & la burrata d'une qualité remarquable! Le service était à la fois super convivial & très professionnel, merci à Lucca & toute l'équipe! Aussi nous avons eu la joie de boire deux délicieux vins de la Campanie! Une adresse solide, authentique, & cohérente du début à la fin. Nous reviendrons, c'est certain.
Da Emma does not disappoint. Housed in a beautiful historic building, it sets the tone for an elevated dining experience from the moment you arrive. A wall of photos showcasing the many celebrities who've dined here underscores the legacy of this Montréal institution. Quite possibly the city's finest Italian restaurant, no small claim given the competition, it offers flawless dishes (don't miss the meatballs), attentive staff, & the bonus of complimentary valet parking. Whether you're planning a date night or celebrating a special occasion in Old Montréal, make a reservation, put on a nice outfit, & savour one of the city's must try meals.
The restaurant itself is very nice, with a romantic Old Montreal atmosphere. The food was good, & the service was generally fine. However, upon reflection, our waiter's behavior was inappropriate & made us uncomfortable.
Although Franco was soft-spoken, he constantly hovered around our table, lingering & inserting himself unnecessarily into our experience. It felt invasive & intrusive, as if he were monitoring us rather than simply providing service. This significantly detracted from what could have been an enjoyable evening.
Overall, while the setting & food were pleasant, the service left us feeling uncomfortable due to this overly intrusive behavior.
Things I enjoyed:
- Complimentary bruschetta
- Complimentary bread with good quality olive oil & vinegar
- The ambiance
- The mozzarella
Things I didn't enjoy:
- Our server was not warm or welcoming in the slightest
- The energy felt elitist
- Only providing one low end option for by-the-glass prosecco on the menu
Dec 1, 2025
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If you're looking for good quality home style Italian food, look no further. This restaurant is a classic & the food truly takes like an Italian grandmother made it from scratch at home! Do yourself a favour & come here!
