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.
What an incredible dining experience! The moment we walked in, we felt transported straight to Italy, warm atmosphere, welcoming staff, & the smell of fresh pasta & herbs in the air. Every dish was beautifully prepared & full of authentic flavours.
The service was attentive & kind without being intrusive, & we truly felt taken care of. Whether you're looking for a romantic evening, a dinner with friends, or a family meal, this place is a gem. Highly recommended, i'll definitely be back!
Beau resto , bon choix de menu , bouffe tres bien , service tres bien , ambiance tres tres bruiyante , musique beaucoup trop forte on s'entends pas parler a une table de 2 personnes , desagreable ...
Nov 9, 2025
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Some of the food was okay, some was good, & some was problematic. The seafood pasta had only a single flavour, which was extreme amounts of salt. They took it back, to send it out again, this time it was not more flavourful, simply cut with what tastes like more cream & high amounts of black pepper. It's one of their more expensive main dishes & it's hard to understand how no one is tasting before sending out plates. They offered the first dish for free & offered a replacement free of charge, but as a dining experience it was underwhelming & disappointing.
On the positive side, the waitress was extremely friendly & understanding.
We had an incredible lunch at this lovely little Italian resto - probably the best Ceasar we've ever had. I had a wonderful Polpete meatballs that were tender & delicious. Finished off with a tasty little Malasada-like dessert. Only downside was that we couldn't sit by a window even though almost all those spots were available because they were filing a commercial. Other than that, 5+ stars!
We were sat at the bar, nobody came to greet us for 10-15 minutes before i stood up & asked someone to serve us.
When finally served, i was totally disappointed with service the whole night (staff didn't even spoke to us, rather chit-chatting between themselves). The food itself was pretty good; We really enjoyed it but couldn't understand the lack of service.
It was an ok experience; wouldn't go back, but the food was pretty decent.
We came here as a group for a friends birthday. The service was fabulous, slow at the beginning, it took nearly ten minutes before someone gave us water, but the server was excellent & friendly.
I was very unimpressed however, as they delivered the appetizers at the same time as the mains. I am more used to the French way of service, so maybe this is how Italian style restaurants work, but my main was tepid by the time I finished my appetizer.
They also cleared the table before everyone at the table was finished eating, which gives the impression they were rushing us, & pressuring us to eat faster. They even brought the desserts while one of us was still finishing her main dish, which is disappointing.
I found my main dish, the Ravioli both flavourless & overly salted, but the server was friendly, & that helped.
The restaurant itself was far too hot, everyone at the table mentioned the temperature.
The server brought us a candle for the birthday, & in the end she helped make the night feel special.
Nov 1, 2025
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Lovely experience! The staff was super attentive & kind. The food was excellent & the martinis even better! Special thanks to Max for making our night, will definitely be back !
5 stars all the way. Everything was to perfection. Took the Friend Calamari as an Entrée & it was soo delicious with that dipping sauce. Let's talk about my Sirloin Steak, it was soo tender & juicy, it melts on your tongue. The portions will surprise you, as well.
Nice cozy & quaint restaurant in old Montreal. Food portions are small but very well done. Staff are very friendly. Make reservations as this is a busy place. Great drink selection as well. Music is more retro, 80s pop.
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.
