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.
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.
Oct 4, 2025
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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.
Sep 29, 2025
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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.
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.
Sep 26, 2025
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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.
Sep 24, 2025
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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.
Quelle belle soirée. Tout était parfait. Du repas au service en passant par la playlist qui contribuait à nous garder dans une magnifique atmosphère. La burata est excellente, les arancinis sont à tomber par terre. Que dire des polopettes, juste wow! & le carpaccio de boeuf, frais & les saveurs bien balancées. Y retourner, c'est plus que certain.
Merci à toute l'équipe!
Amazing service & fast response. Super cozy atmosphere & perfect for cute pictures! Situated in old port which transforms the night out into an aesthetic experience. Food was also on point, delicious entrees.
