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 se présente comme une adresse italienne chaleureuse et intime au cœur du vieux Montréal, où une ambiance cosy, un décor élégant et un service attentif soutiennent des plats riches en saveurs et en fraîcheur. La cuisine est globalement saluée pour son authenticité et ses textures soignées, avec des gnocchi, tortellini et ravioli souvent loués pour leur cuisson, et des antipasti comme bruschetta et arancini qui reviennent comme des incontournables; burrata et tiramisu ou cannoli reçoivent aussi des eloges, même si certains plats manquent parfois d'assaisonnement ou paraissent un peu chers. Le cadre est prisé pour des repas romantiques, entre amis ou des occasions festives, mais le volume sonore peut être élevé lors des soirs bondés et quelques plats peuvent arriver tièdes ou trop salés. Le service est décrit comme chaleureux et efficace, avec une attention constante même en salle comble, tandis que la carte des vins et les cocktails font souvent leurs preuves et les desserts renforcent l impression positive. Réservations recommandées; globalement, c est une expérience italienne qui se distingue à Montréal, malgré quelques bémols sur l acoustique, le chauffage et le rapport qualité prix.
Came here for lunch & was in a bit of a rush. The waitress took our order promptly & we had asked for everything to come out as it's cooked so we didn't waste time.
I swear we ate within 15mins of seating, the food was so fresh, delicious & well prepared.
The app we ordered was the calamari, which I feel is always a good option, not too heavy & not too oily.
We ordered the rosé tortellini stuffed with Italian sausage & ricotta, which I believe has a slice of smoked caciocavallo on the top as a garnish, a tasty combination for sure! My fav dish, would come back just for this.
The other main we ordered was the carbonara, added some freshly grated Parmesan on top & it was perfect, maybe a bit too much on our end haha but always a great dish.
Lastly was the tiramisu, which we saw was prepared on a massive sheet pan & divided up for guests. This one in particular, had chocolate chips on top which I've never had, wasn't too bad but could do without haha.
We came here during the week around lunch & it was not busy, definitely nice if you're visiting or have a day off.
I debated whether to leave a review, but ultimately I hope this feedback can help the restaurant improve situations like this.
Service was good from front of house to our server & the assisting staff.
The appetizers were good, but unfortunately the mains were a bit disappointing. My fiancé ordered a pasta with duck & the duck was noticeably overcooked.
Now THIS is where they lost points for me.
We were seated at the end of the bar, which I normally enjoy. However, there was a group of about 6-8 people gathered in the corner next to us who clearly appeared to be friends of management or staff. Throughout the evening, two of the men from that group were literally standing inches from where I was sitting, drinking their beers while I was trying to eat. Their beers were basically within elbow reach of my plate. It felt uncomfortable & intrusive. I mean… this isn't a pub, it's an Italian restaurant in the Old Port.
There were also two loud, obnoxious girls entertaining an older man the entire evening. Super loud & distracting. At one point I honestly thought, did I accidentally choose a bar instead of a somewhat fine-dining dinner?
Anyway, when it was time to leave, our coats had been hung in that same corner where everyone was standing. I had to squeeze through the group to retrieve them & asked politely for a bit of space. No one moved. I honestly felt like I had to force my way through while apologizing. As I was trying to make my way out with the coats, one of the girls actually put her hand on my back & pushed me along to move me out of the way, with a passive-aggressive smile when I turned around.
I was honestly shocked. If our friend visiting from another country hadn't been with us, I probably would have addressed it in the moment, but I chose to keep my composure & just leave.
For a restaurant at this price point in Old Montreal - & a $300+ bill - the atmosphere & guest experience should match the quality & cost of the food. That moment alone made the evening feel more like a crowded pub than a higher-end dining experience.
My intention in sharing this is simply to highlight how important it is that paying guests feel comfortable & prioritized, even when friends of the restaurant are present. I have friends who work in hospitality & they would never allow their group of friends to get in the way of service or the experience of paying customers.
Maybe we caught the restaurant on an off night (Friday the 13th lol), but the overall experience could easily be much stronger with better management of the bar area.
14 mars 2026
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FIVE STAR Italian restaurant right here. We ordered a lot & it was all fantastic. The ossobuco & tortellini alla ricotta... heaven; the meats are tender, sauces perfectly balanced & flavours exquisite. I also couldn't believe how good the'Budina con Bailey's' was. If you're gonna have dessert, that's the one you gotta have.
I'd be here all day if I were to describe everything we ate but it tasted perfect, honestly. THIS is cooking with care.
I'd also like to give a huge thanks to our waiter, Michael. Great energy, knowledgeable & amazing service. He honestly made our time that much more enjoyable.
If you are Italian, do not expect much lol. It isn't bad but it's missing that authenticity. Good ambiance & fast, friendly service. Customers wearing backwards baseball caps & sweatpants filling up half the restaurant was pretty strange for Italian cuisine, my grandparents would've lost it. Also the Rock/Country music playing did not really make sense IMO.
First time in Montreal & came across this Italian restaurant, they allowed us to walk-in & gave us window seats. Unfortunately we had to split our group into two. Pasta (I had the Gnocchi Bolognese) was great, saucy & a good portion size. I was stuffed. There were a variety of appetizers, we order Calamari & Tuna Crudo, both fresh & enjoyable. I would recommend this place & hopefully come again whenever I visit Montreal.
A great place/atmosphere with even greater food. 10/10 on everything . One of the best Italian restaurants we've ever been. Keep up the good work guys.
24 janv. 2026
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Absolutely loved this restaurant. Arrived around 5pm on a Saturday night & was able to get a table immediately. Got the buratta & the tortellini & a side of focaccia bread & it was all amazing! Best Italian I have had in a really long time. The server was also great as they never let your water lower than halfway in your glass. If I'm ever back in Montreal I will definitely come here again.
To start with, the food here is on par with Italian I've had in Venice, Florence, New York & Boston. The arancini was filled with mushrooms & rice in a white sauce. Dinner was cacio e pepe for me & gnocchi with bolognese sauce for my wife; both were outstanding. I like the fact that I didn't want to have mine with ravioli but instead spaghetti & the bartender told me that was no problem. The bar tenders were personable, nice to talk with & put together outstanding craft cocktails. If you're in Montreal & want a very pleasant dinner, this where to go. The atmosphere is relaxing, well appointmented & the music is perfect. If I were to start a restaurant, this is my vision.
This place is great, Frederick, Max & team are incredible. If you are looking for great Italian food, great atmosphere, look no further than Dinette Marcella!
15 déc. 2025
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Awesome spot! We love all the dishes we ordered. Our server, Melissa, was outstanding. This spot has a cool casual interior, filled with energy. Great Italian dishes to choose from. ENJOY!
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 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.
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.
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.
Dinette Marcella is one of my favourite Italian restaurants in Montreal! The food, the vibes, the service, everything is a 10/10. Our server Isabella especially made the experience memorable, she was very attentive & friendly. The food came out relatively quickly, fresh & very tasty.
Yum!! Wonderful, if you are looking for authentic rich Italian, this is the place to stop. In a beautiful room nestled in Old Port, this place is a vibe. It would be amazing for a date night. I had the tortellini alla ricotta & a beautiful glass of Chianti. It was great!
