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.
The atmosphere of this place just puts you in a relaxed mood that wants to enjoy good food & drinks. We had the olives & the charcuterie of the day plus Pizza Margherita & the Marinara. Everything was delicious. The prices are slightly on the higher side.
Amazing food, my subratings for this one are a bit harsh as I'm trying to crack down on rating inflation (that's a whole other topic see below). I'll start with the negatives, the portions were a bit small especially the pasta. I have a very large appetite, but other people felt the same way & it was a bit dark inside so I saw people having to use their flashlight to read the menu which is a bit off putting (not necessarily the restaurants fault but it was quite dark even for me). That being said the food was fantastic & delicious. Everything cooked with great quality & to a clear 5 star level.
** Although I have seen some people comment about rating inflation, my sample of restaurants is not a random distribution & so the rating distribution will also not be a standard distribution centered at 3. All restaurants are heavily curated & vetted beforehand so I'm only going to a select few restaurants (Normandin aside) & so it's to be expected that my ratings will be high. Message me personally if you have questions.
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.
Feb 8, 2025
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We went for a team dinner & it was phenomenal! I am gluten free & dairy free & the waitress was very accommodating & thorough in providing me with recommendations. I had the ceaser salad & meatballs - amazing! I will be back :)
Belle ambiance & très bon service. Arranchinis super bons mais pizza ok seulement. Je retournerais, mais je commanderais des pâtes à la place, puisqu'une de nos entrée était des pâtes très al denté qui étaient très réussies.
The food was satisfactory, although not as reasonably priced as expected. Everything was decent, though nothing was particularly exceptional; the pasta dishes shown in online photos were largely unavailable. The Diavola 2.0 (Pepperoni) pizza was enjoyable, & the meatballs were quite delicious. The "carbonara" pasta was classic & flavorful. The flanc for the dessert was smokey & tasty. However, the restaurant is rather expensive, & superior options for pizza & pasta can be found in Montreal. The service was excellent.
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.
this is a very nice restaurant with great food. Menu is very small font , which I don't usually mind, but sitting at the bar where there is dim to no light, you are recommended by the staff to use your phone light to read it. It takes time at an empty bar to get the attention of the waiting staff, but when they notice you , are very polite. I would love to visit again to take a final decision if my review stays the same. I had heard a lot about this restaurant so I hope this would be different next time.
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.
