Elena is widely praised for authentic Italian cooking with wood fired dough, standout pizzas, and salads, and pastas such as mafalda al ragù and ragu are frequently noted as well executed; the vibe is described as chic, intimate, and lively with attentive service and a strong wine list, making it a popular spot for date nights, groups, and terrace seating when available. Some visits are described as exceptional with friendly staff and reliable recommendations, while others note inconsistencies such as pizzas arriving burnt or cold, portions that feel small for the price, long waits, and billing miscommunications. Reservations can be tight and seating at the bar or in busy times may be required; the atmosphere can be loud but the overall opinion is that Elena remains one of the top pizza and pasta destinations in Montreal, offering a reliable and memorable experience for many, though not without occasional misses.
2026: nice olives & bread to start, but would be nice if olive oil had a little balsamic. The suppli Al telefono were better than typical arancini. Funguy pizza was overflowing with mushrooms. The lamb pasta was delicious. Tiramisu tres leches was perfect, best of both desserts. My friend enjoyed her chocolate cannolis.
Service was friendly. Suggested wine was great. Été something. Lighting could still be better, it felt dark rather than intimate. Maybe some fake candles?
2024: The Dany pizza was delicious & creative with the sesame spinach honey combo, but I didn't like how wet it was, like all the toppings just slide off as soon as you lift it up.
The Gigi pasta was a interesting bitter mix of flavours with the fennel & arugula, but there was barely any sausage in it.
Olive oil cake was nice but pretty dry compared to other olive cakes I've had. I know the cream+olive oil is there to compensate but it's not the same.
Cannolis were delicious & well presented, available without the pistachios if you have an allergy.
The Barbossa is a smooth young red wine accompaniment
Service was very attentive & efficient. Glasses were never empty. Decor was typical modern industrial. If there was music, it wasn't memorable.
The food was absolutely delicious, & the desserts blew my mind. The ambiance of the restaurant feels elevated: medium-low lighting, great sound system, & carefully curated art pieces decorating the walls. The best part of it all was the exceptional service from Anthony & Ribs, who were very attentive & made sure we had a great experience.
Nov 15, 2025
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Food is good but the staff is incredibly attentive & nice. We never had to look for them or ask for more water. They were always one step ahead. Very rare to find service like this these days
Decent pizza, well cooked - only the edges were a bit burnt. The dough was the best part, the topping for me were so so. Yes they were tasty, but overall not quite Italian. We had the Diavolo, the funghi e taleggio & the marinara con stracciatella & anchovies. Chill environment, attentive service.
Elena is hands down the best restaurant in Montréal. When I moved back from Italy, I was craving real Italian food & nothing compared… until I found this place. It's the ONLY spot in the city that tastes truly authentic, just like in Italy.
Every dish is consistently delicious, the prices are super reasonable, & the staff are always so sweet & attentive. The décor feels chill & low-key, & if you pay attention you realize how beautiful it actually is. In the summer, the terrace & the park behind the restaurant make it even more special. So cozy! Even the music is always cool too.
Make sure to try the:
Suppli, bread with olive oil, meatballs, mafalda al ragu, agnolotti if you get the chance, margherita pizza & kale salad.
I've been coming here for 6 years straight & it never disappoints. Always my #1 pick in Montréal! Best restaurant ever.
They make excellent Neapolitan pizza. Hard to find one as good as this in Montreal. The ambiance is perfect, very classy place. Good pizza selection. Service was great, waiters very attentive.
Jun 7, 2025
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Great atmosphere- a very lively restaurant with great lighting & music. The service was great & very attentive. The diavolo pizza was a stand out but overall all the dishes we ordered tasted great. One thing to note is that the portions of pasta are quite small & our group of three left feeling a bit hungry after sharing two pastas & a pizza. An excellent restaurant though, all things considered.
Great design & music inside. I love how all the tables in the dining room are against the wall & so you get benches & chairs all around. Warm & welcoming space although having come in the winter, I bet the people at the bar & on the first few tables felt a strong draft when the door opened. Service was very attentive & quick. The food was bang on. Polpette & beets starters were incredible. The meatballs were delicate & served in a delicious red sauce. The beets also had a distinct flavor, almost like they had been seared, & the stracciatella was like bufala x10. For mains we had the Diviola pizzas. Crust had some crispy bits & some chew, the sauce was sweet but I liked it & the peperoncino & sausage on the za was off the charts. Definitely would go again & would be really curious about the pasta.
We were seated at the bar. Bartender who also took our orders was very attentive, friendly & explained the menu well. The restaurant itself has very dim lighting with minimal decoration. Trendy yet simple. We ordered the supplì, Dante salad, beet with stracciatella, diavolo pizza & the special pasta of the night which was ravioli stuffed with butternut squash in a butter sage sauce. For dessert we got the olive oil cake which was super moist! All tasted great but i wasn't blown away either. Very basic italian dishes. Service was great & did not feel rushed. Not sure i would go back just because the menu didn't make me curious for more.
Spent an enjoyable evening at Elena on a cold & blustery winter (not officially) evening. The ambiance was lively; a lot of happy patrons enjoying their meals & conversations, & my dining companion & I were soon to join them. All staff were convivial & friendly especially our server, Cynthia. She proved Indispensable in helping us select a wine from the unfamiliar names that appeared on the wine list. Most, if not all, were private importations from boutique wineries. Ours was really spot on with Cynthia's description. We decided to have two pizzas to share, Funguy, a play on fungi (mushroom), & the Diavalo, a spicier option. Both were delicious. The spicy oil provided made them even more so. We just ordered bread with olive oil to start as we were famished, & who doesn't need more carbs on a cheat day? It was quickly devoured. Cynthia told us everything was made in house from scratch, & it certainly was evident. For dessert we had cannolis & the olive oil cake. Again, two winners. We left at closing, but weren't the last to leave. Patrons really seemed to enjoy, not only the delicious food, but the warm & friendly ambience as well. Prices were reasonable, & service attentive. We'll certainly return, & often.
Dec 10, 2024
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Pleasant night out in a vibrant eatery. The service was top notch - multiple staff attentive to our table & needs, prompt without feeling rushed. The food was very tasty. The kale salad & malfada pasta were the highlights. Recommend sharing a variety of dishes among your table rather than everyone on their own menu, as the menu & service is perfected for this communal experience.
Great place for pizza & drinks. Food: delicious variety of Italian pizza, with a few unique twists. The chocolate cake dessert was surprisingly scrumptious. Drinks: well prepared. Presentation is top. Great selection of wine too Atmosphere: cozy, romantic, & touch of rustic. Service: all staff were very attentive, respectful, & professional. Excellent service Will come back for sure. Did not wait long to be seated without a reservation but recommend reserving
I had a great time for my birthday dinner with a couple of friends. The polpette & the chocolate mousse were the main highlights for me, so delicious! The waitress was attentive & made sure to take care of any of my allergy concerns.
Elena is consistently excellent in every aspect, from the service to the food. The staff is always welcoming & attentive, ensuring a pleasant dining experience every time. The pizza the supli & the pasta are delicious.
Sep 7, 2024
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We came in from out of town to check Elena out & were not disappointed. Food was amazing & well thought out. Recommend the house made (?) cheese where available, the kale Ceasar & of course the pizza. Service tipped the scales for us, though. As restaurant industry folks ourselves we appreciated Lucas' recommendations, attentiveness, & thorough knowledge of the menu. The wine list is comprehensive, & Lucas truly knew the ins & outs. He also provided us with recommendations to best enjoy our visit to Montreal. 10/10
Pizza was great & fresh. Cocktail was yummy. The service was possibly the best I've had in my entire life? So attentive. Knowledgeable. The water glass never got under half full. I forget our waiters name but props to him & the rest of the staff.
