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.
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.
Jan 1, 2025
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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.
Our friend made reservations for us to experience pizza & wine at its finest, & Elena did not disappoint! The dimly lit ambiance set the perfect mood, & the 90s playlist added a fun, nostalgic vibe. We savored every moment, from the drinks, wine, to the risotto, olives, pizza, pasta, & flan-each dish was delightful. The star of the night? The *meatballs*-absolutely phenomenal! Our waiter was incredibly knowledgeable & gave us spot-on recommendations that elevated our dining experience. Elena is a must-visit for anyone in Montreal looking for a memorable meal. We'll definitely be back!
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.
Great vibe & atmosphere- service was great - recommended dishes & wine for us to enjoy - pizza was good & pasta was tasty although vongole was very light on clams - would recommend pizza over pasta
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
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
Oct 3, 2024
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Really nice Italian restaurant, the pizza was cooked perfectly & with quality ingredients, wasn't sure about the corn ravioli but they turned out amazing. Cannoli were also really good, overall a great dining experience, price above average but reflects the food & the service!
Pizza was yummy but quite small for $23! My Charcuterie platter was minuscule with extremely thin slices of salami,No Cheese,No olives.The Wine list starts at over $60 & as a napkin,I had to wipe my Mouth with a sandpaper textured Washcloth! Non Merci!
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.
This restaurant offers a delightful dining experience with its perfectly crafted pizzas, featuring fresh ingredients & a crispy crust. The salads are vibrant, refreshing, & full of flavor, complementing the meal perfectly. To top it off, the desserts are absolutely delicious-rich, indulgent, & sure to satisfy any sweet tooth. A must-visit for pizza lovers & dessert enthusiasts alike!
