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.
On a adoré la burrata en entrée & le plat de pâtes au boeuf braisé en repas principal. Par contre, le carbonara était composé seulement des jaunes d'oeufs complètement cru & de pancetta. Pas de parmesan ni d'eau de cuisson pour faire la belle sauce traditionnelle carbonara, donc on a été malade :(
Trendy place with youthful vibe. Very busy plus waiting line of folks without reservations. Creative menu with some classics as well. Tuna crudo app was tasty with fried capers, pistachios & candied citrus. Tortellini ricotta & sausage sauce had potential but pasta was overcooked. Spaghetti with polpetto was solid. Quite noisy so conversations were challenging.
Apr 23, 2026
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Several months ago was a first experience at Dinette Marcela. We were three at lunch prior to attending a play. . We were warmly welcomed & treated with friendly & professional service throughout. I had a gin cocktail, recommended by the waiter, delicious. All 3 of us had the arancino appetizer & we shared an order of focaccia. The arancino is delicious & succulent, a crunchy & light exterior with the soft risotto filling. The sauce was so good we mopped up every bit of it with the focaccia. We finished with coffee. A delightful experience throughout.
Yesterday we dined for the 4th time at Dinette Marcella. We were greeted as friends. We each enjoyed our meals. One of our group had the Tuna Crudo, a second chose Beef Carpaccio, & I had the pasta special. All were excellent. The service was friendly & thoughtful. We received a gift of beignets in a delicious caramel sauce with our coffees. Highly recommended.
Food was delicious. Only disappointing meal was the tiramisu 💔, I do not reccomend it. Other than that pasta was delicious, the sauce, the foccacia, YUMMM. Super cozy & cute inside with great service.
The service was top notch - came in with a friend without a reservation. The hostess did her best to find us a seat, checking the bar, the reservations, even calling people who were late for their reso.
The atmosphere was also great - it's very cozy & unpretentious.
Food was 10/10. Previous reviews recommending the tortellini weren't kidding. The sauce was rich, creamy, delicious!
FIVE STAR Italian restaurant right here. We ordered a lot & it was all fantastic. The ossobuco & tortellini alla ricotta... heaven; the meats are tender, sauces perfectly balanced & flavours exquisite. I also couldn't believe how good the'Budina con Bailey's' was. If you're gonna have dessert, that's the one you gotta have.
I'd be here all day if I were to describe everything we ate but it tasted perfect, honestly. THIS is cooking with care.
I'd also like to give a huge thanks to our waiter, Michael. Great energy, knowledgeable & amazing service. He honestly made our time that much more enjoyable.
Cute spot for lunch on a Friday & was my 1st time here. The decor brings Old Montreal to life & the service was very professional, but also warm & friendly.
I had the Tuna Crudo, a green salad & focaccia. Very delicious & the leftover focaccia had to come home with me, it was that good. My companion had a Caesar salad & arancini, which was served in a creamy, truffle-y, garlicky sauce that was oh so delicious.
Shout out also to the coffee cherry martini.... really enjoyed that :)
Jan 17, 2026
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The eggplant appetizer & Burrata appetizers were amazing. The tortellini with homemade sausage & the gnocchi with meat sauce entrees were out of this world!
Marcella is a very charming restaurant in Old Montreal with a warm, inviting atmosphere. We really enjoyed the gnocchi as a main - they were flavorful & well executed.
The cod with polenta, however, was a bit disappointing. I had expected the polenta to be prepared differently, & for such a lovely piece of fish, the sauce felt too heavy & overpowered the dish.
Overall, while the setting is lovely & some dishes shine, the prices felt a little steep for the level of quality we experienced.
To start with, the food here is on par with Italian I've had in Venice, Florence, New York & Boston. The arancini was filled with mushrooms & rice in a white sauce. Dinner was cacio e pepe for me & gnocchi with bolognese sauce for my wife; both were outstanding. I like the fact that I didn't want to have mine with ravioli but instead spaghetti & the bartender told me that was no problem. The bar tenders were personable, nice to talk with & put together outstanding craft cocktails. If you're in Montreal & want a very pleasant dinner, this where to go. The atmosphere is relaxing, well appointmented & the music is perfect. If I were to start a restaurant, this is my vision.
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
Nov 16, 2025
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5 stars all the way. Everything was to perfection. Took the Friend Calamari as an Entrée & it was soo delicious with that dipping sauce. Let's talk about my Sirloin Steak, it was soo tender & juicy, it melts on your tongue. The portions will surprise you, as well.
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.
We had a dinner of selected appetizers & really enjoyed our meal; everything was good except 1 dish which they removed from our bill.
*The Marcella salad was delicious, it had just the right mix of arugula, greens, dressing, candied pecans, etc.
*My favorite was the bruschetta- they provide 4 long pieces with a perfect topping of tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, it was so good! & not only that, it sits on a bed of arugula which adds the right bit of spicy to the dish. This was just excellent!
*Meatballs were good, sauce & flavors were there.
*Fried calamari was delicious, tasted fresh & seasoned just right.
*Eggplant parmigiana was a disappointment. It was drowning in sauce & when you got to the eggplant it was mushy. It was like there was breading that got mixed into the sauce & the eggplant had no good texture. I have to give kudos to our server who asked if everything was all right & I told her about this. She apologized & returned offering to switch it for something else. We didn't want another appetizer so she just removed it & we got 2 desserts instead.
Had she not asked, I would never had complained but would have left dissatisfied. She was excellent, the restaurant was excellent & overall this is a wonderful place to enjoy a good meal.
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
Aug 26, 2025
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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.
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.
My evening at Dinette Marcella in Old Montreal was nothing short of spectacular! The atmosphere is an absolute dream-cozy yet lively. You can really sense the vibrant energy of the historic streets right to your table. The warm lighting & charming decor create a perfect blend of rustic Italian charm & modern elegance, making it an ideal spot for a memorable night out.
The food was phenomenal, with the handmade tortellini & gnocchi stealing the spotlight. The tortellini, stuffed with creamy ricotta, was perfectly cooked & bathed in a rich, flavorful sauce that left me savoring every bite. The gnocchi, light & pillowy, melted in my mouth, paired with a sauce so well-balanced it felt like a hug from an Italian nonna. Every dish showcased fresh, high-quality ingredients prepared with genuine care.
The service was fantastic, elevating the entire experience. Our server was attentive, warm, & made great recommendations, ensuring we felt welcomed from start to finish. The staff's passion for the food shone through, making us feel like honored guests. Paired with a beautifully crafted mocktail, the meal was pure perfection. Dinette Marcella is a true gem-highly recommended for anyone seeking incredible food & an unforgettable atmosphere!
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.
