Elena centers its culinary focus on expertly prepared thin crust pizzas and authentic Italian pasta dishes crafted with high quality seasonal ingredients. The kitchen utilizes traditional techniques to achieve the perfect blistered crust on every pie while maintaining a commitment to regional Italian flavors. Guests encounter a spacious environment designed for casual interaction characterized by minimalist aesthetics and industrial design elements. The menu emphasizes fresh, locally sourced produce alongside imported specialty goods to ensure consistency across every plate. Beyond the classic sourdough pies, the selection includes rotating pasta offerings that showcase seasonal vegetables and artisanal grains. This establishment prioritizes a focused culinary vision, delivering a distinct experience through its precise handling of dough and carefully curated flavor profiles that define its approach to modern Italian cuisine.
Elena is widely regarded as a premier destination in Montreal for authentic Italian cuisine, frequently praised for its exceptional wood-fired pizzas, fresh salads, and expertly crafted pasta dishes. Guests often highlight the warm, lively atmosphere and the sophisticated, inviting design as key components of a memorable dining experience. The restaurant is frequently commended for its knowledgeable staff, who provide attentive service and thoughtful wine recommendations, contributing to a welcoming environment that is perfect for both casual outings and special celebrations. With a consistent focus on high-quality ingredients and inventive menu items like the popular honey-infused pizzas and flavorful gelatos, the establishment continues to build a loyal following of patrons who appreciate its unique charm and consistently delicious culinary offerings.
This Italian establishment offers a concise yet expertly curated menu. The service is exceptional, provided by a knowledgeable & amiable staff who also oversee a thoughtfully selected wine list. The overall ambiance is highly favorable, making it a truly outstanding venue.
La pizza è autentica napoletana, col cornicione alto croccante e la base solida.Molto più buona di tante altre pizze mangiate in Italia. I prodotti sono genuini, la pizzaiola è italiana, veramente bravissima!
Anche il supplì era buono.
Non do' 5 stelle solo perchè il resto del menù non è autentico italiano e il locale è un po' rumoroso.
Complimenti.
The cacio y pepe pasta was sooo dry & basic i was shocked for a italian restaurant… cesar salad was mid… only good thing was the arancinni & thats kinda hard to mess up
Elena offers simple Italian cuisine & a pleasant atmosphere, well suited for a casual night out.
During my visit, everything was fine overall, but nothing really stood out, particularly the food, which I found fairly classic for the price.
For a similar budget, I personally find that Moreiras delivers a richer dining experience & a noticeably warmer ambiance.
That said, Elena remains a decent option depending on what you're looking fo
Restaurant manager Cynthia .. great personality .. noticed her coworkers were a bit overwhelmed & stepped in herself to come take over & help out ..truthfully too many people involved serving our table .. was kind of annoying ..
The Arancini .. AMAZING .. ordered 6 of them
The pizza .. came BURNT .. like really burnt
My pasta dish I ordered the Mafaldine al ragu.. nothing special ..(I'm Italian)
You can get better sauce out of a jar from a grocery store sadly.
My friend Ordered the anchovies as an appetizer ..just comes on top of oil… so of course you have to order bread too right … ($)
The bread comes with a small portion of olives that we didn't ask for but yet was charged to our bill!
Had to ask for napkins, & a spoon, we were a table of 3, our cocktail 🍹 drinks did not arrive at the same time, mine arrived 25 minutes after my friends, they give you RAGS, as'napkins' I had to ask for paper napkins 2/3 times because she had only brought me one… like really ?
Atmosphere: ZERO: extremely DARK & LOUD.. had to use the flashlights on our phone to read the TINY SMALL PRINT ON THE MENU.. we were a table of 3 & we spent all night screaming at each other .. way too loud in there .. is this a club or a restaurant?? Extremely loud will not return because what's the point of going for dinner with people if you cant even hear them ??
Now here is the best part …(being sarcastic)
Someone at our table asked for tea the waitress said we don't have tea, but we can get you a canary, we asked what that was, she said hot water with lemon, oh ok.. guess what ? Yes you guessed it right, hot water, with a tiny piece lemon we were charged 2$ for it !!! For hot water ?? Any resto you go to whether you ask for hot or cold water with a slice of lemon in it is not a charge ! But anyways will not be going back to this place again ..
⭐? :
One ⭐? star for the arancini & for the girls who served us Anthony as well!
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.
We travel often & the food was some of the best Italian we have had! We have a mix of appetizers, pasta & pizza & it was all delicious. The restaurant is a bit loud but we were there at a peak time so it was very full. Staff was great with wine recommendations as well. Would go again!