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.
Absolutely amazing! The price is definitely worth it! I loved the tortellini & the fried calamari. I didn't love the seafood pasta but my friend liked it.
Jun 2, 2024
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
Tout tout tout!!! On était quatre pour un dîner tardif. Nous avons aimé tout :l'ambiance, la musique, le décor , l'emplacement, le personnel, le service rapide & efficace & la bouffe, miam! Entrée comme plat principal & dessert étaient succulents & le boire aussi! Les mocktails sont à essayer.
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.
Love everything about this place! The service is friendly & competent; the food is yummy & comes out in a timely manner; &, I love the "oldies" play list😁
A favourite dining experience for us in Montreal. Wonderfully kind staff who were nice enough to accommodate our requests. Stunning historic room with large windows that open up to the streets of old Montreal for a lively view. We absolutely loved the dishes we ordered & will certainly dine here again. Ordered the aubergine appetizer (similar to an eggplant Parmigiano or lasagna), beautiful tomato sauce & lightly fried eggplant. We also ordered the carbonara pasta & tartufo gnocchi (made fresh in house!) Lovely meal, generous portions, wonderful ambience & kind staff. We wish we had room for dessert! Recommend booking a table in advance, it was a full room on a Tuesday night!
Great new Italian restaurant in heart of old port. Great food & friendly staff. Much better than the typical touristy spots near St Laurent. Will def be back.
Very good vibe. Amazing food & drinks. Friendly staff. Our server/bartender, Jay, even gave us some great tips for cool bars in the area. We liked it so much we went twice during our 4 day trip!
Loved everything about this place! Excellent food (the gnocchi were WOW & the burrata was so fresh) & cocktails (I recommend the Pear Pressure!). Great service & beautiful decor. Can't wait to be back!
Marcella, always offers high quality ingredients in their food. Service is truly hands & the music is always spot on creating a fantastic atmosphere. The chicken marsala, caesar salad & arancini are all must haves!!!!! Nick Paraskevopoulos
Absolutely the no.1 place in Montreal to enjoy excellent food, atmosphere, & service. When my wife & I are in Montreal, we start & end our stay with the Marcella dinette . Zack
May 23, 2024
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
My sister & I went to this amazing spot because its menu looked delicious & the restaurant was nicely lit & had a very fun playlist. We had limited time & let our server know. We had the sweetest server, Megan, who recommended cocktails that were spectacular. Our food came quickly & we had the bruschetta & the eggplant parmesan & both were so fresh, light & delicious. We were sad not to have eaten a full meal here....so we changed plans & returned the next night! Our server was, Malo, & he was lovely as well...knowledgeable & professional. We had the bruschetta, again(!) & split a Caesar salad that was excellent! For entrées I had the cavatelli pesto & my sister had the agnoletti caccio. Both were divine. & the cocktails! We had a coco fresa, a fresco azure & an aranchiata marguerita. We think this restaurant is exceptional because of Mégane & Malo, the food & the ambiance!
Vous serez immédiatement charmés par le décor unique & époustouflant, ainsi que par l'accueil exceptionnel du personnel qui sera au petits soins avec vous. La carte des vins offre un vaste choix de vins italiens de qualité, dont plusieurs sont d'importation privée, & chacun des cocktails comporte une touche spéciale qui saura plaire à quiconque. Vous mangerez de délicieux plâts, peu importe votre choix, tant la qualité & la saveur seront au rendez-vous. J'aime particulièrement la variété offerte au niveau des entrées: ça donne l'occasion d'en commander plusieurs afin de les partager & de toutes les goûter. Les pâtes sont absolument exquises, les gnocchis & les tortollinis étant mes préférées. Assurez-vous de garder de la place pour le déssert, le budino au limoncello & aux pistaches est renversant. Gâtez-vous avec un petit digestif ou un savoureux café italien, & vous serez comblés. La dinette Marcella est sans conteste un restaurant incontournable de la scène culinaire de Montréal.
Services impeccable belle présentation des vins par le serveur Malo. Le Tortellini avec la sauce rosé & morceau de saucisse hachée était savoureuse avec une bonne texture lors de ma première bouchée. Pour finir le gâteau tiramisu était parfait. Je recommande cette endroit à mes proches & amis c'est certain
I've been here may more times than I could count & the food is absolutely divine every time. The staff is super friendly & really work above & beyond to cater to you. The ambiance is so great too. My friends & I love their seating for their gorgeous windows overlooking the streets of Vieux-Port, but the bar is where the fun is! The bartenders are super kind & engaging, & we always leave having had a wonderful time.
