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.
Phenomenal service & meal! The staff always goes out of their way to provide exceptional customer experience. Micheal is our absolute favorite! Incredible drinks, including on where rosemary was lit on fire. Wow!!!!!!!
Apr 14, 2024
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Our experience was so lovely. We stumbled upon Marcella one night & popped in for a quick drink. While we were at the bar, we made a dinner reservation for the next night & we were so glad we did. The food was delicious but what really made it a fabulous night was our server. I wish we had asked his name so I could sing his praises here.
I'm only mad I didn't eat here sooner. We came for an early dinner on Friday & I am so impressed with the food, service, drinks & ambiance of Dinette Marcella. For starters we ordered the mozzarella sticks & eggplant, both fantastic but my favorite was the eggplant...it wasn't over breaded or cheesy so the eggplant flavor really came through. For mains I ordered the ricotta tortellini with sausage & my husband had the veal ossobuco which was unreal. We were so impressed with the quality of the food & I ended up taking half my meal home & I can say it reheated spectacularly. I had the caramel dessert & I could have ordered three just for me. Our server, Malo, was a true gem & he made our night. He was attentive & gave great recommendations. We enjoyed our conversation with him & will for sure return. Malo was even kind enough to have the manager come over so we could book a dinner during the Christmas holiday. Definitely come here for excellent quality meals if you are in Montreal & the Old Port area.
Great Italian food, a little on the expensive side but the dishes are very well executed. The drinks are fun & creative, Pear Pressure is brought flambée at the table. Pastas are good, best ones is the ragù. Would recommend the mini cannolis as dessert.
Beautiful vibe with extremely comfy chairs. We unfortunately had poor service; we waited a good 20min (if not more) after being seated before being noticed & giving our order in. Our drink order was forgotten (we had to order again), the waitress told us she would bring extra plates for us to share our dishes & those never came. In the end, the waitress felt bad & offered us free focaccia for apologies, which was very thoughtful of her. The busboy however was very attentive & our water glasses & needs (extra parmesan or pepper) were met very fast. The food has wonderful presentation, but lacked greatly in taste. Both pasta dishes were bland in my opinion & the focaccia was a bit dry (maybe a stale batch?). The tomato sauce for the meatballs were definitely the highlight, very salty & delicious sauce, perfect for dipping.
Food & atmosphere were good, but the service was honestly the greatest I’ve ever received. Jay was our server/bartender & he gave us the best service, the drinks he made us were exactly what we wanted, he was a phenomenal conversationalist, & he made our entire experience unforgettable. The entire staff was unbelievably friendly, but it was Jay made our entire night & was a highlight of our entire trip. Highly recommend the restaurant, but I sincerely recommend sitting at the bar for a drink with Jay.
Sep 17, 2023
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Great atmosphere, friendly staff & good food. Menu coherent with Italian cuisine & several drink options. Very good service too. Tiramisu is to die for.
A perfect meal! We sat at the bar & Michael was amazing, great drinks & amazing service. The antipasto was superb as was the veal & pasta dishes. Will be back on our next visit.
Micheal was the BEST bartender/server ever! His recommendations & drinks were 11/10!! Due to his excellent service & approach I will be coming back often. I am truly impressed & can't wait to recommend Marcella. Bravo on your professionalism & expertise, Micheal!! You nailed it & this restaurant is lucky to have you ok board! Wow!!! Wow!! Wow!!
