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.
Came here for lunch & was in a bit of a rush. The waitress took our order promptly & we had asked for everything to come out as it's cooked so we didn't waste time.
I swear we ate within 15mins of seating, the food was so fresh, delicious & well prepared.
The app we ordered was the calamari, which I feel is always a good option, not too heavy & not too oily.
We ordered the rosé tortellini stuffed with Italian sausage & ricotta, which I believe has a slice of smoked caciocavallo on the top as a garnish, a tasty combination for sure! My fav dish, would come back just for this.
The other main we ordered was the carbonara, added some freshly grated Parmesan on top & it was perfect, maybe a bit too much on our end haha but always a great dish.
Lastly was the tiramisu, which we saw was prepared on a massive sheet pan & divided up for guests. This one in particular, had chocolate chips on top which I've never had, wasn't too bad but could do without haha.
We came here during the week around lunch & it was not busy, definitely nice if you're visiting or have a day off.
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.
Mar 7, 2026
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Nous avions une réservation. Nous avons mangé des gnocchis & des tortellinis qui étaient excellents.Service rapide. Un peu dommage qu'il faut payer pour avoir du pain comne accompagnement.
Calmars caoutchouteux, sans goût & trop chers pour la qualité - 22$. Focaccia à l'ail ordinaire - 12$. Les rotelles au boeuf manquaient d'assaisonnement - 38$. Les tortellinis à la ricotta savoureuses & délicieuses - 28$. Cependant, belle ambiance. Le service est bon : attentionné, professionnel & rapide (Leo).
Absolutely loved this restaurant. Arrived around 5pm on a Saturday night & was able to get a table immediately. Got the buratta & the tortellini & a side of focaccia bread & it was all amazing! Best Italian I have had in a really long time. The server was also great as they never let your water lower than halfway in your glass. If I'm ever back in Montreal I will definitely come here again.
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.
The eggplant appetizer & Burrata appetizers were amazing. The tortellini with homemade sausage & the gnocchi with meat sauce entrees were out of this world!
Jan 2, 2026
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I've never had food good enough to leave a review. The focaccia & tortellini here are the best things i've ever eaten. It's a little pricey, but you get what you pay for I promise. it's amazing.
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
Dinette Marcella is a fantastic place to eat. We had the parmigiana & tortellini alla ricotta, & both were absolutely delicious-full of flavor & beautifully made. The service was just as impressive, with friendly & professional staff who made us feel welcome. Highly recommended!
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.
Sep 28, 2025
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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!
We had a great meal at dinette Marcella. Everything was delicious - we had the Calamari, focaccia, cacio e pepe ravioli & the tortellini. For dessert, the pistachio cheesecake is incredible. Make sure to book a reservation- our reservation was at 9pm on a Sunday & it was busy. Service was a little slow at times but not horrible.
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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Yum!! Wonderful, if you are looking for authentic rich Italian, this is the place to stop. In a beautiful room nestled in Old Port, this place is a vibe. It would be amazing for a date night. I had the tortellini alla ricotta & a beautiful glass of Chianti. It was great!
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 the pleasure of dining at Marcella's, twice, during our visit to Montreal. The interior is charming, great vibe, delicious food, & absolutely outstanding service. On our first visit, the restaurant was fully booked, but the hostess amazingly made room for us at the bar. My husband & I shared a Caesar salad, followed by Spaghettini Pomodoro & Gnocchi Di Marcella; both meals were delicious. Our servers, Melissa & Frederic were top notch. Because of them, & the delicious meals, we decided to return before returning to New Jersey.
On our second visit, we shared the eggplant parmesan appetizer, along with the cod special & the Tortellini Alla Ricotta; again, everything was delicious. The cocktails, Ladro Di Vespa & Giuseppe Garabaldi were so delicious that two were necessary. Megane was our server, & again, she was friendly & personable.
Marcella's is highly recommended; we will definitely return on our next visit to Montreal!!
Started with some bruschetta. I gnocchi, my buddy had tortellini, then a little tiramisu. Cool place, staff was awesome, food was superlative. Fantastic restaurant.
We ordered the calamari, braised beef ravioli, the tortellini, & the tiramisu. Everything was exceptional. The cocktails were also very creative! Very attentive staff. Perfect date night.
