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Restaurant Top Pick

Da Emma

4.4$$$
Opens Today at 6 pm
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Da Emma Montreal - Menu, Reviews & More January 2026
ItalianFine Dining / UpscaleGreat selection of wines
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.

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Reviews for Da Emma

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on Google4.5 (1000+)
*as of 2026-01-15
5★
68%
4★
13%
3★
11%
2★
7%
1★
1%
Page 3 of 9 - 170 Reviews

Set your expectations high & you won't be disappointed. Great dining experience with'the best ____ I have ever had' food. Can't wait to try it all again!

May 9, 2025
on Google
4.0

Da Emma is a delightful gem that offers truly authentic Italian cuisine. The beauty of their dishes lies in their simplicity, staying true to the essence of Italian cooking.

The smoked salmon appetizer was a delightful starter that showcased the perfect balance of flavors. The combination of the smoked salmon, arugula, & a touch of lemon juice created a refreshing & satisfying appetizer that prepared our taste buds for the main course.

The mushroom pasta was executed with great finesse, striking the right balance between richness & subtlety. The velvety, creamy sauce allowed the earthy flavors of the mushrooms to shine through, resulting in a memorable pasta dish that was deeply satisfying.

We complemented our meal with a glass of red wine, which added another layer of enjoyment to the dining experience. It truly felt like a celebration, as if we were being treated to a special homemade meal by an Italian mother on a joyous occasion.

May 4, 2025
on Google

Took over an hour from being seated to taking our order. Got one person's meal wrong in a table of 3. High price for small portion, at least what we got was tasty. Couldn't recommend based on first experience there.

Apr 29, 2025
on Google

J'ai essayé Da Emma pour la première fois pour un souper romantique. Le serveur n'était pas souvent présent, mais il connaissait le menu & était attentif à nos besoins.

L'ambiance était plaisante mais un peu bruyante comme l'ont dit certains. On n'entendait pas la musique & il fallait parler fort & ce même si l'endroit n'était pas rempli. Peut-être que l'ajout de tuiles acoustiques à des endroits spécifiques pourrait aider.

Les bruschetta qu'on nous a servi en entrée étaient les meilleurs que j'ai jamais goûté. Le burrata était délicieux & frais mais pas très gouteux. Même avec le prosciutto il manquait un peu de saveurs. Pour les plats principaux par contre la saveur était au rendez-vous & elle était excellente.

Ce resto pourrait être encore mieux avec un peu plus de complexité dans les plats. & un plus grand choix de cocktails ne ferait pas de tort.

Tout de même une expérience mémorable, j'y retournerai certainement.

Apr 20, 2025
on Google

My favourite Italian restaurant in Montreal! Amazing food, service & great atmosphere!

Apr 10, 2025
on Google

Recently went there for my birthday & it was an amazing experience. The food was delicious & the atmosphere was dark & elegant. Got a complimentary bruschetta & birthday tiramisu which was amazing.

Apr 6, 2025
on Google

Simply the best in Montreal

Apr 4, 2025
on Google

Food was amazing like usual & so was the service. Michel our waiter was exceptional & the ambiance was perfect … Can't wait to go back.

Apr 4, 2025
on Google
5.0

I must say some things bothered me a bit at the beginning service wise. Seems we were a bit left out. Once the place emptied out. It got better.

Food is good not the greatest

The waiter made me a favor. Which I appreciated hence my 4 * is a 5*

Merci

Mar 31, 2025
on Google

Pour un anniversaire, tout le monde a été ravi. L'endroit, la cuisine & le service.

Mar 31, 2025
on Google
5.0

My favorite Italian restaurant on every visit to Montreal. Great menu, exceptional service, very cool underground vibe while staying au to authentic to its homegrown Italian roots.
Can't wait to go back!

Mar 30, 2025
on Google

I just had a great meal!
The food was AMAZING, the service was IMPECCABLE!
Do yourself a favor & go there to see it with your own eyes.
(P.s. The portions are not big, but are enough for one person)

Mar 27, 2025
on Google

Délicieux ! Vraiment, nous tous était délicieuse burrata, saumon fumé, cochon de lait, Tiramisu... Les ingrédients sont frais & délicieux & les plats leurs font honneur. Nous y retournerons sans aucun doute

Mar 25, 2025
on Google

Quel belle soirée!

Mon conjoint & moi avons visité Da Emma samedi dernier & nous avons grandement apprécié notre expérience.

Des plats simples mais très bien exécutés! Un saumon qui fond dans la bouche & des pâtes farcies généreuses & parfaitement al dente. Le tiramisu était la finale idéale! L'ambiance feutrée & romantique rappelle une vieille cave à vin.

Mon seul reproche serait les chaises qui pourraient être plus confortables. Sinon, je n'ai rien à dire.

Noua serons certainement de retour chez Da Emma pour un souper en amoureux ou un bon repas en famille.

Mar 11, 2025
on Google
5.0

Really great atmosphere, really great food. Enjoyed our meal here

Mar 10, 2025
on Google

About 30 years ago, an Italian woman named Emma opened this restaurant. She did all the cooking herself, serving up authentic Roman dishes-think roasted lamb, roasted pork, & lots of meat. It's a far cry from the sparse, sun-baked cuisine of southern Italy, where pasta & tomatoes often take center stage. The walls are lined with photos of Hollywood stars, European celebrities, & local personalities posing with Emma, proof of her restaurant's success. She's since retired to Miami, & now her grandson runs the place.

Mar 10, 2025
on Google

Excellent food , beautiful restaurant & exceptional service from Frank ! Thank you

Mar 7, 2025
on Google
4.0

Lives up the the hype. My only gripe was no one to meet us at entrance. Younger staff seemed preoccupied with each other & phones. Our waiter was great.

Feb 22, 2025
on Google

A fantastic meal in a beautiful locale. Terrific service as well.

Feb 13, 2025
on Google
5.0

Great restaurant, excellent service. Great location.

Feb 8, 2025
on Google