Looking for some Italian comfort food worthy of a nonna’s home cooking? Marcella is a charming new Italian diner in Old Montreal at the corner of Saint Francois Xavier and Saint Paul streets. Open every day for lunch and dinner, locals and tourists can enjoy Italian-style pasta, such as the classic carbonara dish, in a cozy atmosphere.
Reviews describe Dinette Marcella as a warm, intimate Old Montreal Italian spot with cozy ambiance, charming decor, and attentive staff; many praise fresh, flavorful pasta such as tortellini, gnocchi, and ravioli, along with standout bruschetta and arancini and a strong cocktail and wine list. Several diners note dishes that are creamy and well balanced, including carbonara, burrata, meatballs, and seafood pasta, while a few readers mention occasional misses where dishes were overcooked, underseasoned, or not as hot as expected. The overall experience is often described as worth the price, with consistently good service and a lively vibe, though some nights can be noisy or crowded and a few guests wish for quieter acoustics and smoother pacing between courses. In sum, Dinette Marcella stands out for authentic Italian flavors, a warm atmosphere, and reliable hospitality, inviting repeat visits for date nights, celebrations, and casual meals.
We had the pleasure of dining at Marcella's, twice, during our visit to Montreal. The interior is charming, great vibe, delicious food, & absolutely outstanding service. On our first visit, the restaurant was fully booked, but the hostess amazingly made room for us at the bar. My husband & I shared a Caesar salad, followed by Spaghettini Pomodoro & Gnocchi Di Marcella; both meals were delicious. Our servers, Melissa & Frederic were top notch. Because of them, & the delicious meals, we decided to return before returning to New Jersey.
On our second visit, we shared the eggplant parmesan appetizer, along with the cod special & the Tortellini Alla Ricotta; again, everything was delicious. The cocktails, Ladro Di Vespa & Giuseppe Garabaldi were so delicious that two were necessary. Megane was our server, & again, she was friendly & personable.
Marcella's is highly recommended; we will definitely return on our next visit to Montreal!!
Absolutely outstanding in every way. The pasta Carbonara was right up there with the best I've ever eaten. The cocktails were also simply superb, as were the atmosphere & service.
Absolument exceptionnel à tous points de vue. Les pâtes carbonara étaient parmi les meilleures que j'aie jamais mangées. Les cocktails étaient tout simplement superbes, tout comme l'ambiance & le service.
Apr 23, 2025
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Une première au Marcella! L' ambiance, le service, la qualité des plats, les excellents cocktails & les recommandations d'une bonne bouteille de vin d'importation privée. Juste Wow ! tout est parfait! Je le recommande sans hésiter.
Best restaurant experience I've ever had in Montreal. 5/5 food, 5/5 ambiance, 6/5 service. Sandy & Frederick (& the rest of the staff) took great care of us & great joy in what they do. The food was ON POINT. Eggplant & burrata starters crushed it (especially when combined). The pastas were tremendous . Try the beignets for dessert. & if you like cocktails, be sure to ask sandy to make make you a Last Word. My favorite part about dinette marcella: it's all totally genuine. Don't miss out on this gem in old Montreal
Ambiance & service incroyable. Jolis Cocktails. Polpettes & bruschetta en entrée délicieuses, par contre un regret, ne pas avoir pris un plat principal sur le menu. Nous avons opté pour les pâtes du jour (ravioli farci au boeuf braisé sauce porcini) qui n'étaient pas à la hauteur de nos attentes... Si nous retournons nous opterons pour des valeurs sûres.
We ordered the calamari, braised beef ravioli, the tortellini, & the tiramisu. Everything was exceptional. The cocktails were also very creative! Very attentive staff. Perfect date night.
Jan 10, 2025
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We recently celebrated my spouse Dom's 41st birthday at Marcella, & it was an unforgettable experience. From the moment we arrived, Fred, the manager, & our wonderful waitress Steph made us feel completely at home. Fred went above & beyond by playing Blues music for us & even gifting Dom a glass of his favorite scotch. He checked on us multiple times, ensuring we were enjoying every moment. The ambience at Marcella is always vibrant, with the restaurant full of great vibes that make you feel right at home. Their cocktail & wine list is impressive, adding the perfect touch to an already fantastic dining experience. The food was phenomenal! We highly recommend the Caesar salad, burrata, calamari, bruschetta for appetizers. Cavatelli alla pesto, Agnolotti cacio e pepe, pasta carbonara, lobster raviolis. & for dessert - you truly can't go wrong with any choice; they were all delicious. If you're looking for a warm, welcoming place with incredible food, drinks, & service that feels like family, Marcella is it. We'll definitely be back!
Comme nous habitons dans le Vieux-Montréal, c'est notre restaurant de prédilection. Fred (le gérant) a toujours une place pour nous. Mike le gérant du bar, fait les meilleurs cocktails! La nourriture est géniale! Lorsque vous êtes dans le coin, n'hésitez pas à les essayer!
Amazing service, made my husband a cocktail that wasn't even on the menu & it was perfect! We had the tortellini & it was truly incredible. We were just visiting Montreal, but we WILL be back, for that tortellini alone ;)
Oct 8, 2024
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Booked a reservation for the bar top & ended up literally right infront of the bar mat & bartender. It was a bit awkward as the bartender on duty was training & kept receiving constructive feedback regarding his drink preparation. With a Birds Eye view of our drinks being made, unfortunately I saw short pours happening. The manager was there in the background supporting & serving behind the bar (Andrew I think) & he was lovely. He made amazing cocktails so we asked him to make ours & saw he never short poured. He provided great hospitality, made amazing cocktails & knew what he was doing. The spot right in front of the bar is NOT where you want to sit. It ruined the experience due to over hearing all the chatter from the servers & bartenders. Although we were directly in front of them, our glasses remained empty for 10+ mins & were not offered another drink, so, that was a bit disappointing as we would have ordered more. The food was quick & delicious. The Caesar salad was one of the best, pastas were cooked perfectly & great portions & the tiramisu was lovely . Food 5/5 Overall great experience but would have had a different result at a table or a different spot at the bar.
Melt in your mouth short ribs! My wife & I enjoyed a fantastic evening at Marcella. The cocktails were excellent. The atmosphere was happening & romantic. I'd highly recommend this restaurant. Congratulations Marcella on your success.
Le service & la nourriture était top notch, c'était un vrai délice. Nous avons la bruschetta, les carbonara & le spaghetti pomodoro. Tout était exquis! Les cocktails aussi était bon ( nous avons pris un amaretto sour ). Bref je recommande totalement!
Ce restaurant a l'air incroyable depuis l'extérieur, malheureusement il ne tient pas sa promesse. Le service etait beaucoup trop rapide, nous avons precisé vouloir finir notre cocktail avant de nous servir le plat pour pouvoir déguster un verre de vin en accordance. Le plat est arrivé 5mn après notre cocktail ! Cela n'avait une délicatesse & ne répondait aux saveurs! Les gniocchi al tartufo sont decevant & n'avait aucun goût de truffe (seulement de cêpes) ! Les cacio e peppe n'etait en rien le fameux plat italien attendu ! (Ne respecte pas la recette & trop salé) ! Décevant! un restaurant moyen a Rome fait bien mieux! On en a eu pour 200$ soit 3 diners en Italie pour 2 sans entrée!
What I look for in an Italian Restaurant in Montreal is the feeling that I am sitting down in Rome to enjoy a meal & expect the food to be not necessarily sophisticated but with deep flavour & well seasoned. My truffle gnocchi came close with a creamy sauce with a distinct truffle flavour but a little shy of mushrooms & seasoning. The gnocchi were a disappointment as they were too small & too tough. Ture potato gnocchi are light & soft with an indentation to hold the sauce, At $34 for a plate, being authentic would be a bonus. Service was fabulous & the open windows & quiet atmosphere was appreciated. Cocktails & mocktails deliciuos as well. I would give them another try.
Visited it recently. Ambience is good, though we were there in July on a hot day & there was no AC so by the end of the meal we were sweating:(. Drinks/cocktails were really good. We had three apps & four pasta dishes, they were good but nothing exceptional & rather small portions size for the price. What I did not like, that for an Italian restaurant, we had to pay separately for bread! Server was enthusiastic, but overall service could be better - we did not get our drinks till we were half way through our appetizers. Overall bill was slightly on the high side including the "tourist trap" premium.
Made a very last minute reservation & so very glad we did! What a lovely restaurant! The food was beautifully presented & equally delicious! Service was very friendly & extremely efficient. The decor is very nice! Terrific cocktail menu. The'Pear Pressure' was my cocktail of choice & it was a good one! Thoroughly enjoyed the cavatelli pesto main course!! We will be back!
