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.
I really enjoyed the Kale Ceasar Salad & the margarita pizza as well as the ragu pasta. The diavolo pizza I was disappointed by. The pastas are well executed!
Jan 31, 2026
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ORIGINAL REVIEW: Although most people seem to go for the pizza, I go for the salads. Always fresh, well composed & delicious. They may look like a medium sized salad, but trust me there's a lot in that bowl. Only attempt to eat one yourself if you're super hungry.
UPDATE: The loss of the back terrasse is sad. It was so much more pleasant than sitting in a terrasse in a reclaimed parking spot right next to Notre Dame St. Traffic.
The white shop towels are sure to cover any dark clothing with a pile of white lint balls.
What was a great kale Caesar now has an overly sharp dressing with way too much vinegar.
Waiting 45 minutes for a pizza on a Tuesday night just after 5:00 in an empty restaurant is an unacceptable attempt to run a bar bill.
10/10 atmosphere & food!
The sourdough & kale caesar are unbeatable for kicking off a meal, & we had fun discovering some new wines. The Margherita, Dany, & Passion Patate pizzas were all incredible. Perfect'pizza night' way beyond typical.
I really wanted to like Elena, especially after seeing so many great reviews, but overall it fell a bit short for me.
We started with the kale ceasar salad, which was quite salty, probably from all that Parmesan, so maybe that's just how it's meant to be. For pizzas, we tried two. The Amatriciana wasn't really my thing, I didn't like how the flavours came together, so it might have been a bad choice on my part. On the other hand, the pizza Dany was an expected delicious surprise: the spinach & hot honey were delicious; the sesame seeds a nice touch.
That said, the dough on both pizzas was very good. The spicy oil, however, wasn't spicy at all, which was a bit disappointing. Maybe they have different versions, but the one we got had no heat.
One of us wanted a tea, but they don't offer tea at all. For dessert, I got a decaf latte to have with the cake, but it arrived way later, more than halfway through it. The cake itself, though, the hazelnut with the gelato…very good.
Service was another weak point. The wait for everything was long, & at one point, the waitress came to clean the table, but just quickly wiped around without actually picking any of the pizza crumbs, which felt a bit careless.
The place itself is beautiful, nicely dimmed lights & a great atmosphere visually, but the music felt too loud for this type of restaurant.
All in all, I guess it wasn't that bad of an experience, I definitely expected better given the hype. I might give it another try, but this visit didn't quite live up to expectations.
Great pasta & starters. Good spot for a quiet date for two. Dining room is a little tight for larger groups. I've been here a few times & have loved the food every time. Kale Caesar salad is a must.
Got together with some friends for a meal & one friends had reserved. We were warmly greeted upon entering & were seated at Justin & Anthony's table. They were both excellent. Service was fun, efficient & friendly with excellent recommendations. We started with the Kale Caesar which was good. Then we shared the Amatriciana pizza which I was super surprised to see an actual wood fired oven. Pizza dough was excellent with good hydration & good flavours. Then we shared the Mafalda al ragu which was delicious. What I didn't like was the lack of English menus & the lackluster reason why there weren't any, wasn't a fan of the kale Caesar, place was quite loud & finally, the little sign outside wasn't big enough to see when driving or even walking by. All in all, an excellent place & definitely recommended.
Oct 30, 2025
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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.
Très belle expérience, l'ambiance tamisée est parfaite pour un date. La pizza Dany & la salade de kale sont vraiment délicieuses! La serveuse était très gentille & assez présente sans être envahissante, je recommande.
This is our favorite pizza place in Montreal. Perfect cook & the sourdough crust brings it up a notch. The kale Caesar is also fantasti - highly recommend!
Elena is incredible! We had no reseveration & it was quite busy but they explained that they have a takeout section & picnic tables in the back so that's what we did. We got the Kevin McAllister & the Fun Guy pizzas, as well as the kale cesar salad & some wine. Everything was incredible! I would highly recommend the Fun Guy pizza it was delicious. Really loved the outdoor picnic area, a great idea for a busy area. Will for sure go back!
Jun 2, 2025
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My first time here by recommendation of a coworker. Elena has an incredible menu. The food was excellent, we followed the advice of our waitress & ordered an entry of strachiatella carrots, then Kale Ceasar's salad, Danny Pizza. We got a great service despite the place was packed on a long weekend Friday night. Very nice & chic atmosphere.
Très bon. Surtout la salade de kale & le ragoût classique.
La pizza saucisse & scarole est très bonne & équilibrée. Je l'ai préféré aux autres que j'ai goûté, je l'ai trouvé plus subtile. Les classiques sont évidemment très bonnes aussi.
Pour ma part, ce qui fait que je reviens c'est le mafalda al ragu.
We ordered the special pasta ravioli which had sheep's ricotta & brown butter sage sauce that was cooked perfectly al dente. The kale Caesar was also delicious with a lot of Parmesan & freshly made croutons. The "FunGuy" pizza, olive oil cake, & cannolis were also good but not the best I've had. Overall, this place is good & I would return.
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.
Dec 8, 2024
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My experience began with the reservation platform giving me an error message for 20 min & then we called. Called no answer but we got a call back. We didnt ask where we would be seated because we didnt know the layout of the place so we ended up being placed at the bar .... by the door ( ....so ask ). The kale ceasar salad was great with a mountain of parmesan cheese & the right amount of dressing . Now for the pizza our choices were diavolo 2.0 & the funghi ; for me the tomato sauce was too watery the meat didnt have as much flavor or kick as i wouldve expected from a diavolo so the whole thing fell through but i really enjoyed the funghi that had the flavor of the mushroom & parmesan collide in harmony, i will add that the crust was perfect in both. The pasta ( all'amatriciana) was average at best ,with so many good italian restaurants in the city unfortunately this one did not bring it home for me, the guanciale was burnt & again the sauce was watery. The dessert : Gateau au Chocolat , is a brownie texture shaped into a cake slice topped with ice cream , good but maybe heated ? The service was good & the staff was knowledgeable & at your service , simple & effective. Overall not a bad experience but will i go back ? Maybe , hopefully to have a better culinary experience that would be up to the hype. Food 3 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 4
Honestly a bit overrated. Pasta dish was really good, Kale salad too, but if you're known as a place for good pizza & the unseasoned tomato sauce on your Margherita ($28) overpowers everything & makes the pizza tastes kinda a** then you're doing sth wrong imo. On top of that the waiters messed up our orders 2 times. That can happen but if the prices are how they are at Elena then I'd expect sth else.
pâte à pizza exceptionnelle, mais manque de fromage considérant le prix. Les croûtons de la salade de kale sont aussi exceptionnels, mais le prix est bien trop dispendieux pour de la salade avec peu d'ingrédients. Ce n'est pas un plat principal.Trop de vinaigrette sur la salade verde. Livre Elena en anglais. Pourquoi? Mousse au chocolat décevante. Arrière-goût que je ne peux décrire (beurre? trop salé?). Belle ambiance, mais très bruyant. Le son rebondit sur les murs, je crois, mais ce n'est pas leur faute. Bon service, ils sont gentils, l'embauche semble basée sur des valeurs inclusives, mais ce sont tous des millénariaux/gen Z). J'espère juste que c'est le fruit du hasard & qu'il n'y a pas d'âgisme.
Delicious Pizza, great service & ambiance! We tried the M. Funguy,The rossa with Anchois, & a Marguerita pizza, along with a verde & kale cesar salad! (I would definetly recommend this kale cesar, soo delicious, & same for the M.Funguy, my favorite). The Pistachio Gelato was incredible, & likewise for the coffeee we took at the end.Excellent Service, & nice location!(Easy parking!)
