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.
Dinette Marcella is described as a charming intimate Italian spot in Old Montreal with a warm cozy atmosphere and a touch of old world charm that makes it suitable for date nights or casual dinners. Reviews praise fresh, flavorful pasta, gnocchi and tortellini, bruschetta and arancini, burrata and focaccia, along with a strong wine list and craft cocktails, with many calling the food excellent and among the best Italian in the area, though a few dishes are noted as too salty, not hot enough, or lacking seasoning and some visits feel rushed or louder than desired due to crowds. The service is frequently described as attentive friendly and knowledgeable, making guests feel welcome, but pace can vary on busy nights and timing can be inconsistent. Reservations are advised because the space is compact and the ambiance can be loud, especially at peak hours, yet the overall sentiment remains highly positive with many expressing plans to return. All in all, Dinette Marcella is regarded as one of the top Italian spots in Montreal by many reviewers.
We had a reservation at the bar as there were no tables left within 90 minutes of our preferred time. Unfortunately, our seats were the two directly in front of the bartender & it wasn't ideal. Our server had to talk to us from the side since he couldn't stand in front & the bartender was busy so it was constant drinks being prepared right in front of us. Our bottle of water (that the waiter placed down) was apparently in the bartender's way so he moved it directly between our two plates? It was all just a bit weird & awkward. I would recommend the restaurant not make those two seats a place for eating. There were lots of other seats at the bar which looked fine, just these two kinda spoil the atmosphere. Food was good, the Bailey's pudding for dessert was yummy.
I debated whether to leave a review, but ultimately I hope this feedback can help the restaurant improve situations like this.
Service was good from front of house to our server & the assisting staff.
The appetizers were good, but unfortunately the mains were a bit disappointing. My fiancé ordered a pasta with duck & the duck was noticeably overcooked.
Now THIS is where they lost points for me.
We were seated at the end of the bar, which I normally enjoy. However, there was a group of about 6-8 people gathered in the corner next to us who clearly appeared to be friends of management or staff. Throughout the evening, two of the men from that group were literally standing inches from where I was sitting, drinking their beers while I was trying to eat. Their beers were basically within elbow reach of my plate. It felt uncomfortable & intrusive. I mean… this isn't a pub, it's an Italian restaurant in the Old Port.
There were also two loud, obnoxious girls entertaining an older man the entire evening. Super loud & distracting. At one point I honestly thought, did I accidentally choose a bar instead of a somewhat fine-dining dinner?
Anyway, when it was time to leave, our coats had been hung in that same corner where everyone was standing. I had to squeeze through the group to retrieve them & asked politely for a bit of space. No one moved. I honestly felt like I had to force my way through while apologizing. As I was trying to make my way out with the coats, one of the girls actually put her hand on my back & pushed me along to move me out of the way, with a passive-aggressive smile when I turned around.
I was honestly shocked. If our friend visiting from another country hadn't been with us, I probably would have addressed it in the moment, but I chose to keep my composure & just leave.
For a restaurant at this price point in Old Montreal - & a $300+ bill - the atmosphere & guest experience should match the quality & cost of the food. That moment alone made the evening feel more like a crowded pub than a higher-end dining experience.
My intention in sharing this is simply to highlight how important it is that paying guests feel comfortable & prioritized, even when friends of the restaurant are present. I have friends who work in hospitality & they would never allow their group of friends to get in the way of service or the experience of paying customers.
Maybe we caught the restaurant on an off night (Friday the 13th lol), but the overall experience could easily be much stronger with better management of the bar area.
Mar 14, 2026
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Food was solid. Great portions, reasonably priced & tasty all around. Had a Cesar salad & tortellini. Caesar was garlicky like it should be. Tortellini was really nice. It's a smallish restaurant with plenty of bar seating & was incredibly busy for a Thursday night. It does get a little loud. Nitpick: bartender uses his hands on occasion to put ice in drinks.
Thank you to the entire team at Dinette Marcella for the wonderful service & food! Everything was perfect! Food is amazing, drinks were great & wait staff was exceptional. Definitely a must stop in the old port!
November 2025: really enjoyed my seafood pasta with bisque sauce, tiramisu was better than last time & same large portion, efficient service, my cocktail was nice as well. My colleagues really liked their food & drink too.
December 2024: Decor & music were nice for the holidays.
Calamari was basic for the price, just lightly battered with marinara sauce on the side.
Pasta with ragu was pretty good, nice blend of ingredients, might have needed a little more salt. My colleagues enjoyed their carbonara & tortellini.
Tiramisu was a good portion & nice presentation but nothing special aside from that. Pistachio cheesecake was delicious, great texture, more Basque style. The ciambelle were good.
The martini with the espresso, chocolate, & pumpkin purée worked well, definitely recommend. My colleague enjoyed her bitter cola mocktail.
Service was pretty efficient & polite
Nice cozy & quaint restaurant in old Montreal. Food portions are small but very well done. Staff are very friendly. Make reservations as this is a busy place. Great drink selection as well. Music is more retro, 80s pop.
Oct 11, 2025
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Honestly one of the greatest dining experiences i've ever had. The food was unbelievable, the drinks were made exactly the way a picky cocktail snob like me wanted, & the service was fantastic (thank you Melissa). Beautiful ambiance & music. Genuinely an amazing night.
Dinette Marcella is without a doubt our favorite spot in Montreal. The food is delicious, the drinks are excellent, & the elegant decor creates a warm, inviting atmosphere. My wife & I shared the tortellini & the New York steak, & we couldn't have been happier with our choices. If you're lucky enough to see veal steak on the menu, order it! It's a real treat. Our server Sandy was friendly, attentive, & professional, making our meal even more enjoyable. We always leave already planning our next visit!
Nous sommes allés manger chez Dinette Marcella pour mon anniversaire & c'était vraiment super.
La nourriture était excellente, le restaurant à l'intérieur est vraiment cute & il y avait une belle ambiance.
La seule chose que nous avons moins aimé est la vitesse à laquelle nous avons reçu nos assiettes. Nous avons commandé & littéralement 5min plus tard nous avions nos assiettes. C'est vraiment trop rapide. Quand nous allons au resto, nous apprécions prendre le temps de discuter un peu avant de manger, prendre un verre & profiter de l'ambiance en général. Là, c'était un peu précipité & ça nous a surpris de manger aussi tôt en arrivant. Prochaine fois, nous demanderons au moins un 20min avant d'avoir les assiettes.
Ça a coûté environ 110$ pour deux assiettes & deux drinks. Nous n'avons pas pris d'entrées.
Great food, great drinks, great service. Please do not second guess, make a reservation now! Marcella's was absolutely amazing in every category!
Very pleasant & welcoming hostess, lively environment, & the food... Just absolutely delicious! I saw someone else talk about how good the Caesar salad was... They did not exaggerate. It was fantastic. The rice balls were great. Different from what I'm accustomed to, but so much better. I got the seafood pasta & my husband got the tortellini. Both were delicious. The tortellini was so fresh & easy to eat. The drinks were just as exceptional.
The martini was so different but so good! Excellently crafted! We're trying our best to not go back because we want to try other restaurants. We thoroughly enjoyed everything! I MUST recognize the exceptional service of Megane. One of the best servers I've ever experienced. She was on top of everything.
Jul 3, 2025
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It was my first time, & I can tell you , by far the best Italian restaurant I've tried. I had the passion fruit spritz drink, Amazing. The Polpetta, it just melted in my mouth & the tomato sauce was made to perfection. Gnocchi DI Marcella was orgasmic for me. Honestly its a must do.
If you're looking for an authentic Italian dining experience, Marcella is the place to be! Whether you're in the mood for a classic pasta or something a little more adventurous, there's something on the menu for everyone.
A special shoutout to Olivier, the bartender! His cocktails are top-notch & he always knows how to craft the perfect drink based on your preferences. He's friendly, knowledgeable, & really elevates the experience.
Highly recommend Marcella for a night out with friends, family, or even a romantic dinner. Can't wait to return!
We had a wonderful dinner at Dinette Marcella. The service was excellent, the mock tails (we didn't feel like drinking) were super tasty, & the food was exactly what we were looking for. Highly recommend the calamari & the pesto. The chicken limone was also very good.
The food & drinks were amazing & super flavourful, you could tell they use quality ingredients! The service was fine, just a little monotone wich was understandable for how busy they were, but the atmosphere was beautiful & overall had a great experience!
We loved this place! We only got our table 20 mins after our reservation time but the staff made sure we were taken care of & offered us drinks on the house to make up for it. Food was 10/10!
