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.
Nous sommes venus tôt dans la soirée, en famille, avec 2 enfants de moins de 10 ans. Accueil impeccable. Proposition de plats pour enfants. Les serveurs sont aux petits soins pour tout le monde. La cuisine est excellente & les portions, idéales, ni trop ni trop peu. Ambiance chaleureuse & excellents choix musicaux. Une adresse à ne pas manquer !
May 7, 2025
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On vient de déménager dans le quartier. La
Dînette Marcella est notre'go to' chaque vendredi soir, en amoureux. On adore! On se partage une bouteille, une entrée & un plat principal & on est heureux. On mange au bar, l'ambiance est toujours bonne. Merci Marcella 😊
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!!
Repas globalement très bon.
Nous avions fait une réservation à 19h30. En arrivant là-bas, ils nous disent que la réservation était pour 20h & qu'il fallait sûrement attendre 20h15 car ils n'étaient pas sûr d'avoir une table.
Nous réussissons à nous installer mais la salle était tellement bruyante que nous n'arrivions même pas à nous entendre. Le moment n'a pas été agréable :(
May 1, 2025
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Service super rapide pour trois entrée & trois plats: tous délicieux. Le personnel était tout aussi sympa, merci encore pour les shots d'anniversaire. Vraiment très agréable comme endroit. Nous y retournerons c'est certain.
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.
Apr 25, 2025
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The food was impeccable are waiter was very nice & refilled water frequently the restaurant was very fast because we were on a less than 1 hour time crunch.the charcuterie is perfect sharing size the flavors of each dish complimented one another very fast with packing up food to take home overall a wonderful restaurant!
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.
Dinetta Marcella was a good experience for us. We enjoyed the ambiance, service & food. They serve quite traditional Italian meals, hovewer, they have a fresh & innovative approach to Italian cuisine. Great location for a date night!
Side note, I mentioned that it was my partner's birthday & asked if they could kindly add a candle to our dessert, & they forgot. That was disappointing.
La nourriture est excellente & les portions sont généreuses . Le restaurant est très beau mais surtout nous avons eu un service exceptionnel, le personnel est très attentionné & de nos jours c'est de plus en plus rare.
