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.
Excellent!
My daughter surprised me with a birthday dinner at Elena. When we arrived, our table was not ready & our host Olivier sat us at the bar & suggested a glass of bubbly wine while we waited. Once seated at our table, our server was very friendly & attentive. We started with the olives & the salumi - both very good quality. We then shared a Caesar Salad & the Supplì. The salad was tasty & you could tell that the dressing was made in house. The supplì were just as good as the ones I had in Rome. We then had the pasta special, triangular ravioli with ricotta & artichokes, with a very light sauce made with mint, lemon zest & Parmesan … what a surprise!! It was delicious & refreshing & very well designed. We also had the AP style pizza which was amazing. We had gelato for dessert, the pistachio was to die for ! During the meal the service was great, & Olivier was knowledgeable & great at suggesting wine pairings.
We will definitely be back!
May 2, 2026
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Recently dined at Elena. The evening started well with a warm greeting & a friendly, knowledgeable server.
We ordered a bottle of white wine & several dishes to share. The food was delicious & well done, & it's worth noting that this review is based on the experience rather than the food itself.
That said, a few things took away from the night. The wine was served without a cooler, & the restaurant became noticeably colder as the evening went on, to the point where it was freezing by the end. As the night progressed, the friendliness from our server faded & they were often not nearby when we wanted to order more.
Overall, great food, but the service & comfort level didn't match it.
Thursday evening - table of 4. We arrived for 6pm reservations & I assume this early for the regular clientele as only tow other tables were seated. Was seated a corner table which is large circular table making it a little awkward when your 4 unless you add a chair.
Started with come cocktails which were good. Appetizers: polpete, beet salad, supli & another dish I can't recall were all very tasty. Everyone enjoyed. We then shared two pizzas (Diavolo & Margherita) which were also excellent. A dish of sugo (ragu) was also ok, not great but not bad. I thought it lacked seasoning & was rather bland.
Service was excellent from all of staff were interacted with, friendly & professional. Wine suggestions (by the glass) were spot on. Noise level is high, but we were also seated under a speaker so music was a little loud.
Plenty of parking available out front (free) & the area is quiet & residential. I prefer coming here in the summer when you can sit outside on the terrace which is more quiet.
I had also indicated this was a birthday dinner in the Opentable reservation but this was overlooked or ignored.
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.
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.
