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 stands out in Old Montreal for warm hospitality and a vibrant yet intimate Italian dining experience, where fresh, flavorful pasta and well balanced sauces shine across a menu that also features standout arancini, bruschetta, and a memorable tiramisu; the atmosphere is cozy and lively, with window seats and a bar area that add to the charm, and while service is frequently praised for attentiveness and care, occasional lapses and crowding can make busy nights noisy or slow, and a few dishes feel underseasoned or heavy compared to the overall high quality, yet guests consistently leave impressed with the food, the cocktails, and the authentic ingredients that make this a top pick for a date or a night out with friends.
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.
Awesome vibe & friendly service. We found this place on a whim & it was absolutely packed on a Wednesday night, & for good reason! Food was delicious, & the atmosphere was awesome. Would definitely try again.
Oct 9, 2025
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Honestly one of the greatest dining experiences i've ever had. The food was unbelievable, the drinks were made exactly the way a picky cocktail snob like me wanted, & the service was fantastic (thank you Melissa). Beautiful ambiance & music. Genuinely an amazing night.
We decided to eat a Marcella's as our anniversary dinner which we were spending in Montreal. We're used to busy, popular places, however this had the feeling of packing in as many people as possible. The tables were on top of each other, made worse by the acoustics.
On the plus side, food was good & the service was excellent. Just wish the place wasn't as tightly packed.
I had made this reservation five weeks in advance, with some requests that unfortunately were not respected. Still, I came in open-minded & willing to try the place.
When I arrived, my guest were already seated, but the table itself was disappointing. The ventilation was poor that night -it carried an unpleasant smell of'too many humans'-& the acoustics were terrible. The noise level was so high that it would have been impossible to carry on a normal conversation.
Because of this, we chose not to stay. We politely asked the staff to give our table to the next waiting party, which they honored without issue. I do appreciate that they seated us promptly, even ahead of people waiting in the lobby, & that was handled respectfully.
That said, the overall environment was not enjoyable. I would not return on a busy night again. If I were to consider giving it another chance, it would likely be on a quieter weekday (Monday-Wednesday). But realistically, I prefer to spend my money elsewhere.
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!
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.
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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Solid restaurant, but it was the most expensive meal we had in Montréal & the food was just average. I ordered the Trippolino Fruite De Mar & my wife has the Carbonara Di Spaghetti. Both lacked the flavor i would expect & the calamari in mine was a little chewy. Atmosphere was impacted by road construction outside. We were seated near a window on the side of the restaurant near the construction even though there were many other open tables.
They were very busy, highly recommend that you have reservations. Even with reservations we had to weight. Their customer service more than made up for the weight. They were all about ensuring that you a great experience.
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.
Absolutely loved this restaurant! The food was full of flavor, the service was warm & attentive, & the atmosphere was great. Staff is friendly. Perfect spot for anyone who loves Italian food.
