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.
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.💯
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.
Jan 14, 2026
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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
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!
Nov 30, 2025
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Da Emma is absolute, reliable value, year after year. I was with a foodie for Milan last I was there & he was astonished by the quality & price. He essentially said; this is as good as the best places I know in Italy that serve classic Italian cuisine & it costs half of what I would pay in Milan.
As someone who has grown up in a Roman family I gave to agree. I would love to see more classic Roman trattoria dishes such as Stracciatella, Zuppa di pasta e fagioli, spaghetti cacio e pepe, but I'll anything served at Da Emma without hesitation or regret.
Our group hit one of the godawful tourist trap restaurants in Vieux Montréal the following evening ; it cost twice as much & it was so bad & unsatisfying, we all felt used & abused. I made a point to to leave that place a very bad review.
This experience in retrospect made us feel we had been pampered at Da Emma.
If you see a super expensive restaurant in that area that pretends to serve'rare' Italian dishes, run for cover : You're about to get robbed & you'll be treated unpolitely by staff who clearly see you as the loser their business was designed to abuse.
None of this at Da Emma. You'll be treated with genuine attention & respect. I'd go there everyday if I lived by, but wonderful places are best kept for when you deserve them.
Went today with my girl, had been a while I hadn't been to Da Emma. We chose the bar, we got served amazingly by the bartender tonight. Great experience & will come back just for this. The food was great & the drinks too.
What an amazing dinner wow. Excellent service. You're started with some bruschetta & then get bread with olive oil & balsamic. The soup of the day was delicious & I'm still thinking about it a day later. We each got a pasta & then shared a main meat dish but must say the meat dish wasn't needed. The pasta is super filling. Loved the blue cheese ravioli - such a rich yet balanced sauce. Highly recommend for a special dinner out.
