Da Emma
RestaurantTop Pick
Da Emma
Opens Tuesday at 6 pm
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 6 pm - 10 pm |
| Wednesday | 6 pm - 10 pm |
| Thursday | 6 pm - 10 pm |
| Friday | 6 pm - 11 pm |
| Saturday | 6 pm - 11 pm |
| Sunday | Closed Today |
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Info & Location
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.
Amenities, services & more
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Reviews often mention
Display Allitalian(33) pasta(20) authentic(19) dessert(17) sauce(12) dishes(11) italien(10) recommend(9) tiramisu(9)Page 1 of 1 - 28 Reviews
Nikhil
A long standing restaurant serving great Italian food. Had the swordfish which was quite average but the pasta dishes were great.View more
Chad
No cap, this place is one of the worth the money experiences. I've always wanted to try authentic italian food without being in Italy. If this is the taste, Italy here i come.View more
Steve
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.View more
Deanna
My fiance & I drove from Ottawa to visit Da Emma & we would definitely do it again!! It did not disappoint! Nestled in the basement of a heritage building, the atmosphere brought you back to Italy. The service was on point; very polite & attentive. & the food... was INCREDIBLE!! From the complimentary piece of bruschetta, to the salad, to the homemade pasta, to the desserts, everything was phenomenal! It was an authentic Italian dining experience. We would/will highly recommend this restaurant to anyone!View more
Alex
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.View more
Sandra
My favourite Italian restaurant in Montreal! Amazing food, service & great atmosphere!View more
Zach
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!View more
Eamon
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.View more
Anthony
Best Italian restaurant in downtown...by far! Olga & her team are amazing... Franco, Ahmadi & Luca are always welcoming !View more
Kim
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.View more
Brosky
one of the best italian restaurant in this city would recomand to snyone who lives in mtlView more
Sophie
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.View more
Wedyan
All dishes delicious 👌 highly recommended Italian restaurant 👌💯View more
Veronica
A must in Montreal, the food is incredible. Homemade, authentic italian made by chef emma. The restaurant is in an old women's prison & has a very cool & niche ambiance. Service is always great when we go, the staff is friendly & the chef, emma is the sweetest.View more
Dan
Overpriced tourist food. If you're in Montreal & looking for good Italian food, do yourself a favor & head to little Italy where you'll find much fresher & more delicious versions of this menu. The waiter was nice enough but spent more time chatting about his interests than helping us. In fact he told us twice that he's behind on tables so we couldn't place an order. We waited at least 20 minutes waiting for him to catch up so we could order food. The complimentary bread is basically grocery store bread with packaged butter & it's basically indicative of the food you'll receive the rest of the meal. During peak tomato season, being served watery flavorless tomatoes for $20+ is unacceptable. If you want to look at the large celebrity photo wall then go ahead but otherwise I'd probably skip this place.View more
Marc
A beautiful atmosphere created by large stone adorned with timber beams this Italian restaurant serves great food by a very professional staff. My partner & I had the veal soup, rich in broth with tiny pillows of pasta. We had the Fettuccine ai fungi & Tonno alla griglia (grilled tuna). I'm not usually a fan of grilled tuna but this was cooked to perfection! We rounded out our meal with a lemon tartufo which was light & refreshing. I would recommend this to anyone looking for authentic Italian in a beautiful setting.View more
Mauricio
Great Italian with special character & atmosphere. Own parking lot, you will find a spot. Reservations are recommended.View more
Sofia
The best restaurant in all of the city. Amazing service from Alex, & even more so from the owner! The food is amazing & probably the most authentic Italian food you can get it Montreal, & the service is simply exceptional. I now come weekly & highly recommend this restaurant!View more
Em
Mediocre Italian food. Really not worth the hype or money. Way too expensive for the portions. Waiters take & move plates around while you're eating instead of waiting until you're done.View more
Evan
Da Emma was good, but nothing standout to me. I went because I like to use eater & it was close by. The restaurant itself is cool & it's got a good vibe was very crowded. I just didn't think anything I had was exceptional. Definitely questioned the boxed pasta at what is marketed as traditional Italian. I liked it but wouldn't go back.View more
Jordan
Dined at Da Emma for the 2nd time in 2 weeks, & it's undoubtedly Montreal's best Italian restaurant. The impeccable quality, reasonable prices, & cozy ambiance make it a standout. The service led by Luca & his staff is truly exceptional-creating a welcoming & comfortable experience. Highly recommended!View more
R
I had astronomically high expectations following recommendations from friends. Da Emma did meet many of those expectations however the price:quantity ratio left a somewhat bitter aftertaste. Service was good if a tad slow despite it being a relatively quieter weekday evening. We found ourselves having to catch the attention of the waiter in order to get some service (bread basket was empty, etc) so it did lack some attention given that it was a 5* establishment. Food quality was good. The suckling pig was definitely the highlight of our evening. The meat was tender & well marinated & totally impeccable & out of this world. The veal ravioli was also exceptionally tasty with a classic simple but delicious red sauce. The lamb, however, was dry & tough & certainly not the melt in the mouth, pull it apart with a fork experience that we had anticipated. What was terribly disappointing were the appetizers. Dont get me wrong. The smoked salmon & prosciutto were fresh & tasty but I would suggest you think twice before ordering $25-$30 (each) appetizers that had nothing more than 3 slices of prosciutto or salmon or one burrata. Those steep prices would have easily warranted far heartier quantities. In Italy, this would have created a riot in the streets! :p All in all, a good night was shared by all but I certainly wouldn't go all out to dine at Da Emma's since there are other Italian places that offer a far better bang for your buck. Unless seeing & being seen is your utmost priority, both your tummy & wallet could be happier elsewhere.View more
Zeeshan
Classic Italian restaurant vibe. In the basement & a lot of celebrity pics here. Good vibe, friendly staff, good service & best of all. Amazing food! Came from Calgary on a visit & enjoyed the real authentic Italian flavour. Will visit againView more
Massimo
I've been to Italy (amazing food) many times & also to the best/hottest restaurants in Los Angeles & NYC. This place fuses the two together perfectly. If you want authentic, delicious Italian food & & a great vibe & atmosphere, Da Emmais the place to be! Emma's meatballs are to die for!View more
Eli
Authentic Italian restaurant everything is delicious & need to try 😋 +++View more