Situé dans ce qui fut la première prison de femmes, Restaurant Da Emma vous sert une cuisine traditionnelle italienne avec des spécialités romaines et vous promet une soirée très agréable. Ce lieu unique a gagné le prix de design de Montréal en 1999. Emma, toujours en cuisine, nous régale de ses agnolotti, medaglioni, ravioli, fettuccini ai funghi porcini, ossobuco, pesci...
On dispose maintenant d'une très belle terrasse.
Da Emma est perçu comme une destination italienne authentique et élégante, avec un cadre méditerranéen et une ambiance romantique qui revient souvent dans les avis. La cuisine est globalement bien accueillie, avec des plats classiques comme les pâtes, l'agneau et la burrata, et un tiramisu souvent mentionné comme satisfaisant; certains commentaires soulignent quelques portions modestes et des prix élevés. Le service est décrit comme attentif et compétent dans l'ensemble, mais des critiques pointent des moments d'inattention, d'intrusion ou un service plus lent selon les soirs, et l'organisation du service peut freiner l'expérience. L'addition et le rapport qualité-prix font l'objet d'opinions partagées: pour certains, Da Emma justifie le coût par la qualité et l'authenticité, pour d'autres le prix est trop élevé pour ce qui est offert. Dans l'ensemble, l'expérience est souvent considérée mémorable et recommandée pour des occasions spéciales ou des dîners en amoureux, le lieu étant présenté comme un classique de l'italien à Montréal.
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.
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.
25 oct. 2025
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The experience at Da Emma is immaculate & definitely a memorable one. Traditional, authentic Italian cuisine prepared with fresh, quality ingredients & admirable dedication. The dishes are presented elegantly in their simplicity & are exceptionally flavourful & delicious. The atmosphere is invitingly warm, the service is stellar & the cuisine is absolutely divine. Compliments to the chef ; I will certainly be back.
The bread was exceptional. Old school loaf with hard crust. The pasta was perfect with delicious simple tomato sauce. I have definitely had better carpaccio. I was not particularly happy with either of the fish dishes. My biggest issue was definitely the service. On a Wednesday night, it was not busy. But everything was slow. It took a very long time to get sparkling water. I began looking for the waiter so we could place an order before he finally came. The food took a long time & was not really hot. By then I had stuffed myself with too much bread. That one is on me. After two bottles of sparkling water I asked to switch to just regular ice water. The waiter agreed & then never brought me any. To pay the bill, I was tempted to take a walk to see if I could find our waiter. I finally flagged him down that I wanted to pay, & it was at least another 10 minutes. The rest of my family had already left the table & I was sitting there tapping my foot until he finally finally finally showed up. The waiter was a disaster. & he was completely unsupported by the other wait staff. They seemed more interested in having a conversation with the table next to us. Maybe they are regulars? On a final note, I am removing this restaurant from my recommendations to friends & other business associates. The food was not quite up to par, but the service took it straight down the drain.
We stepped into Da Emma & were warmly welcomed, starting the evening with a Negroni at the bar, expertly crafted & perfectly balanced. The setting, nestled in the stone walled cellar, gave the night an elegant yet cozy charm.
Once at our table, the evening unfolded into a Roman feast. We began with the creamiest burrata atop juicy tomato slices, paired with velvety prosciutto, simple, fresh, & divine. The spaghetti carbonara followed, rich & authentic, with just the right balance of pecorino & guanciale.
For the mains, we shared a medley of dishes: a tender roasted lamb shoulder that fell apart effortlessly, savory roasted piglet, juicy lamb chops kissed with rosemary & lemon, & succulent shrimp bathed in a delicate sauce. Each dish was executed with love & mastery.
We paired it all with a stunning Barolo that elevated every bite. No room left for dessert, but we did close the night with a round of amaros, a perfect finale to a truly exceptional meal.
Da Emma is a timeless spot that honors tradition without losing elegance. A must for anyone who takes Italian cuisine seriously.
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.
4 mai 2025
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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.
This was the first place I thought about when my guests from Toronto told me that they wanted to visit Old Montreal & they wanted Italian food. The food was delicious, from the entrees to our main dishes & finally dessert. The service was great. Our waiter was very friendly & very attentive. The place was a total vibe. Would definitely recommend & would 100% go back.
Date night was a success thanks to this beautiful establishment, our waiter Jean-luc was very friendly & proffessional, gave excellent advice on the dishes & wine pairings we even let him pick the desserts for us ! The montreal staple came through on every level. Thank you !
21 sept. 2024
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My daughter is named Emma & we had the privilege of meeting Emma here. She was so gracious & gave us a tour of her immaculate kitchen. More importantly, the food was delicious! We loved the bursts appetizer & all of the pasta & meatball dishes were so tasty. We felt like we were back in Rome.
The food was ok but it needs a little bit more attention. For example the plates were cold for the ordered pasta so the main dishes got cold very fast. The service is very good but the atmosphere was 3 out of 5 since it was very cold inside when we arrived. The restaurant is in a basement.
