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.
What an incredible dining experience! The moment we walked in, we felt transported straight to Italy, warm atmosphere, welcoming staff, & the smell of fresh pasta & herbs in the air. Every dish was beautifully prepared & full of authentic flavours.
The service was attentive & kind without being intrusive, & we truly felt taken care of. Whether you're looking for a romantic evening, a dinner with friends, or a family meal, this place is a gem. Highly recommended, i'll definitely be back!
Some of the food was okay, some was good, & some was problematic. The seafood pasta had only a single flavour, which was extreme amounts of salt. They took it back, to send it out again, this time it was not more flavourful, simply cut with what tastes like more cream & high amounts of black pepper. It's one of their more expensive main dishes & it's hard to understand how no one is tasting before sending out plates. They offered the first dish for free & offered a replacement free of charge, but as a dining experience it was underwhelming & disappointing.
On the positive side, the waitress was extremely friendly & understanding.
Nov 3, 2025
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Staff were very kind & attentive, from the hostess seating us to our server to the cheese grating guy, we felt very taken care of. Ambience & vibes were all good. Music was good. Even though the place was packed we didn't feel crammed in.
Food wise, everything we ate was delicious! Calamari was the best we've had - not the crunchiest but still crunchy, best part was how well the squid itself was cooked! The red sauce dip accompanying it was steaming fresh & tasted good as well.
I was recommended the daily special of the wheel pasta with braised beef, & that hit the spot! Did not shy off with the beef & everything was super tasty. My fiancée had the carbonara & she said it was a 10/10. Canolli's for dessert was the perfect way to end the meal.
Great food, service & atmosphere. Have been looking for a quaint little Italian restaurant with great tasting pasta...I've now found it...salad was amazing, watermelon & candied walnuts, eggplant was very tasty..& the tortellini was cooked perfectly & busting with flavor...we sat at the bar as it was a full house... now I know why...ill be back for sure...highly recommend.
Nothing special. I've been here 2 times & it's always the same, overpriced mediocre pasta & unimpressive appetizers. The only thing that was good was the fried calamari & the focaccia. I wouldn't come back just to get those 2 things, it's not worth it.
The restaurant was charming with an airy feeling. We started our meal with the eggplant Parmesan which was cooked well & had a delicious sauce. For mains, we ordered the pesto pasta & spaghetti carbonara. Both dishes were excellent. Finished off with pistachio cheesecake which I highly recommend. Good service & great evening
Music is way too loud. Some dishes are very good, som like carbonara should not be on menu at all. It wasn't a carbonara as people usually know it. Just dry pasta with egg & cheese.
Food was amazing! The arancini was very good, would recommend. I got the gluten free pasta & as a celiac I appreciated having the option of gluten free pasta, however it was a bit pricey making it $5 extra. We sat in the corner & the seat itself was comfortable & nice, but extremely hot. Made us feel very tired. Our server was phenomenal & gave us some recommendations on places to go around Montreal! Would recommend this place to a friend!
We've ordered steak & carbonara pasta. The steak was too salty & hard, pasta was good. Please be aware that the waiter will put 18% of the tips into the cheque automatically - we love to support customer service, but that gesture changed the impression from the restaurant in a bad way. The place itself is pretty, but too noisy.
Jul 12, 2025
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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.
Italian food connoisseur here. The service was absolutely spectacular. The appetizers were amazing, some of the best I've ever had. The bruschetta, arancini, & salad were amazing. I loved the cheese watermelon & pecans in the salad - sounded a bit odd, but turned out to be one of the better salads. The pasta was nothing outstanding, but sufficed. The steak was for sure one of the best I've ever had, super tender & amazing sauce. The chicken milanese was amazing, nice & crispy. Overall fantastic restaurant, must try.
Jun 26, 2025
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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!
This pasta? Such incredible mix of flavor. I loved it so much I considered going back there for dinner to have the exact same meal. Will definitely visit next time I'm in Montreal!
We had an incredible dining experience at this quaint Italian restaurant nestled in the heart of beautiful Old Montreal. The ambiance was charming & warm-perfect for a relaxed evening out. The charcuterie board was outstanding: generous, beautifully presented, & packed with flavour. The pasta dish was nothing short of sumptuous-perfectly cooked pasta with a rich, comforting sauce that tasted like it had been simmering for hours.
Our waiter was the definition of excellent service: patient, attentive, & helpful, yet never intrusive. It's rare to find that perfect balance, but he nailed it.
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.
