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.
Amazing spot. Both dinners we ordered gluten free & were fantastic. I loved the cannolis! Michael was a great bartender & very knowledgeable. Highly recommend & will be back!
Wonderful dining experience. The atmosphere was warm & welcoming, the service attentive & friendly, & the food was delicious. Highly recommend & will definitely return
I accidentally booked the wrong day & the hostess found us a table on busy night. The food was delicious, the staff went above & beyond, & the atmosphere was fun. Highly recommend
November 2025: really enjoyed my seafood pasta with bisque sauce, tiramisu was better than last time & same large portion, efficient service, my cocktail was nice as well. My colleagues really liked their food & drink too.
December 2024: Decor & music were nice for the holidays.
Calamari was basic for the price, just lightly battered with marinara sauce on the side.
Pasta with ragu was pretty good, nice blend of ingredients, might have needed a little more salt. My colleagues enjoyed their carbonara & tortellini.
Tiramisu was a good portion & nice presentation but nothing special aside from that. Pistachio cheesecake was delicious, great texture, more Basque style. The ciambelle were good.
The martini with the espresso, chocolate, & pumpkin purée worked well, definitely recommend. My colleague enjoyed her bitter cola mocktail.
Service was pretty efficient & polite
The meatballs were honestly the best I've ever had! Our server, Sandy, was so friendly & attentive, which made the experience even better. The tiramisu was absolutely delicious, & the overall ambience was amazing - cozy, welcoming, & perfect for a nice meal out. Highly recommend this place!
11 nov. 2025
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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!
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.
11 oct. 2025
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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!
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.
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.
The restaurant was charming with an airy feeling. We started our meal with the eggplant Parmesan which was cooked well & had a delicious sauce. For mains, we ordered the pesto pasta & spaghetti carbonara. Both dishes were excellent. Finished off with pistachio cheesecake which I highly recommend. Good service & great evening
Food here was really good but the star of the night was the customer service. The entire crew was absolutely amazing. Our server Sandy was especially an exceptional person. Would definitely recommend for a nice casual dinner in Montreal with great food & good service.
Great vibe, music & decor! We had the gnocchi & ravioli for our entrees, & we enjoyed these. Highly recommend starting with the arancino - was the best we've ever had! My only complaint was that there was no air conditioning & we went on a super-hot night, so it wasn't a comfortable dining experience. Other than that, I would definitely recommend.
