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 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.
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.
Mar 10, 2025
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We came on a Thursday night , & the place has such a great vibe, love the music in the background, the atmosphere, & then the food ! Everything we had was great portions & delicious! Bruschetta, house salad , we had the specials of the night - strip loin steak, fingerling potatoes, veggies in a jus, my husband had ravioli in the most rich & decadent sauce & we finished off with the pistachios cheesecake (l forgot to take a pic of our main meals ;-(.
In the heart of Old Montreal, the cozy & warm atmosphere of Marcella was welcomed on a cold January night. A bottle of Valpolicela was a great way to start the night. Two appetizers, the Polpette which are tender & delicious, served in a beautiful tomato sauce, & the Arancini in a truffle cream sauce. Both were exceptional. The cream sauce with the arancini should be bottled because it is so wonderful. Our mains were the bolognese, & we lucked out as the special was a braised beef ravioli served in a cream sauce with a nice portion of chopped lobster claw. Pasta was cooked to perfection, & the sauces were delicious. You cannot go wrong with this restaurant. Strongly recommended!
A Perfect Blend of Flavor & Festivity at Dinette Marcella Dining at Dinette Marcella was an absolute delight. From the moment I stepped in, I was captivated by the cozy & festive atmosphere. The holiday decorations were tastefully done, & the Christmas vibe was truly enchanting. The highlight of the meal was the Carbonara Spaghetti-perfectly cooked pasta with a creamy, flavorful sauce that hit all the right notes. Every bite was a testament to the chef's skill & dedication to quality. Adding to the experience was the thoughtfully curated music playing in the background. The tunes complemented the warm, cheerful ambiance & made the meal feel even more special. Dinette Marcella is a must-visit for anyone looking to enjoy amazing food in a setting that feels like a warm holiday embrace. I'll definitely recommend this place for a date night or family night!
Trop bruyant on n'a qu'une envie manger vite & quitter l établissement Dommage car le cadre est mignon La cuisine italienne avec une sauce rouge moins acide ça serait bien mieux
Oct 25, 2024
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Our experience did not live up to the google rating. We sat at the bar & our server kept forgetting what we ordered. Food was quite disappointing. Charcuterie was dowsed in oil & the tastes & textures were not balanced. The arancino sauce was too spicy. The pasta was mediocre at best (when we received the right one). The atmosphere was noisy & very warm.
We loved the cacio e pepe pasta! My wife first ordered the pasta pomodori, but the sauce lacked sweetness. The waiter replaced it immediately without charge.
Marcella Dinette Italienne offers an exceptional lunch experience that seamlessly blends the rich history of Italian cuisine with Montreal's vibrant culinary scene. From the moment you step in, you're transported to a cozy, welcoming atmosphere that feels both modern & steeped in tradition. The lunch menu is a testament to the art of Italian cooking. Each dish is crafted with the freshest ingredients, capturing the essence of Italy with every bite. The pasta is perfectly al dente, & the sauces are rich, flavorful, & authentically Italian. The menu is diverse, catering to both traditionalists & those seeking a contemporary twist on classic dishes. The history of Marcella Dinette Italienne is as rich as its flavors. Inspired by the age-old traditions of Italian diners, the restaurant was founded with a passion for bringing the warmth & simplicity of Italian dining to the heart of Montreal. Every detail, from the rustic decor to the carefully curated wine list, reflects a deep respect for the culinary heritage of Italy. Service is impeccable, with a team that is both knowledgeable & attentive, making sure that your dining experience is nothing short of perfection. Whether you're in the mood for a quick lunch or a leisurely afternoon meal, Marcella Dinette Italienne delivers an experience that is truly five stars. I can't recommend it enough - a must-visit for anyone who loves Italian cuisine & appreciates the blend of history & modernity that this gem offers.
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.
Aug 20, 2024
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I came here for a late dinner reservation at 9pm & we waited about 5 mins to be seated. The waitress was very enthusiastic & offered to answer questions about the menu & chef's special. We ordered the calamari, pesto, & cacio e pepe. The calamari came out first & it was delicious! The sauce went great with it & I definitely recommend. However, our mains took more than 30 mins to come out. The restaurant was busy with several large tables so it's understandable, but we had watched other people who seated after than us get their food sooner. We asked a different waitress for an update & watched her walk in & out of the kitchen, but she did not come back to give us a time estimate or anything. When the food came out, the waiter sprinkled black pepper & freshly grated cheese on our dishes which was a nice experience. The cacio e pepe was a bit bland in my opinion (even with the grated cheese), but the pesto was great! Other than the long wait times & lack of communication, the environment was cozy & the food was fresh & yummy. This is a great spot near old port if you're in need of a good vibes dinner spot.
The place is really cute, beautiful aesthetic & atmosphere. My niece & I had mocktails which were not very good, but drinkable (very sour). The seafood pasta was supposed to be in a lobster bisque sauce, but it was only a tomato sauce that only tasted like tomatoes. The pasta carbona was salty & tasteless.
Jul 20, 2024
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The chef put his/her signature on the flavours in the sauces...unique & really delightful pasta dishes. Excellent service; the general manager is a fun guy, added to the experience. We'll be back.
I had the best cavatelli al pesto ever. The cavatelli were al dente & the pesto sauce excellent. The tiramisu also is excellent. Generous portions without exaggeration.i wish I took pictures but it smelled to good to wait. So my plate was empty before I realized I did not !
This is my all-time favorite Italian restaurant as of yesterday. I'm not exaggerating when I say this is the best carbonara I've ever had in my life. It was generous with pancetta, perfectly balanced, creamy & salty & topped with an egg yolk. Just divine. We also ordered the cacio e pepe which was also insanely good. The sauce was really good & the pasta was pillowy & stuffed with cheese. They offer a great selection of mocktails which I enjoy (I got the strawberry one, can't remember name) & my husband got a drink they light on fire. We didn't have to wait but we got there late on a weekday. The service is so fast. The restaurant is very romantic & charming, great for a date night!
We enjoyed this restaurant so much that we had 2 meals here in our vacation. A late lunch on Friday, eating Carbonara & caccio e Pepe. Both Amazing! For lunch we sat at the bar & marveled at the liquor selections, especially Monkey 47gin ( almost impossible to find in a restaurant) We shared a tiramisu for dessert, VERY sweet, but very good! We returned on Saturday evening for dinner. We sat at a table in an open window ( so romantic) we enjoyed an appetizer of fried calamari... lite & fresh!! I ordered something I've NEVER ordered in a restaurant as I make "the best" I had spaghetti pompadour & a side polpetta ( meatballs) I thought I'd died & gone to spaghetti heaven! My husband, who fancies himself a pesto expert had the cavetelli all a pesto. He said delicious! In the middle of dinner we decided we needed some bread to soak up some sauce & added an order of the cheese garlic bread it was the only MINOR disappointment. Too much mozzarella, not enough garlic, & a bit softer than expected. Other than that, our server, the runners, & the overall staff were attentive & not over bearing! Wonderful experience!
Charmante dinette avec un service a la hauteur de sa députation. Entrée délicieuse d'arancino, pâtes pomodoro cuites al dente mais la sauce hier était des plus ordinaire. Les carbon de ma femme donnaient un horrible gout âcre en fin de bouche, quelque chose n'allait pas dans la sauce crémeuse, ... très décevant. Le plateau de pain(7$) ciabattas, qui avaient l'air délicieuses, étaient en fait froides & sèches (raide). C'était la 3e fois à cet incontournable & nous avons mal frappé.
