Else's comes across as a warm, cozy, and characterful spot on a charming Montreal street, with a welcoming energy and a mix of intimate tables and lively chatter that makes it feel both neighborhood and special; the menu is small but well loved, delivering comforting dishes like mac and cheese, dumplings, chicken curry, pulled pork tacos, and other crowd favorites, complemented by a house blonde beer and thoughtful cocktails; decor and atmosphere draw on Nordic roots and bookish curiosities, creating a unique sense of place that feels removed from the city grind; service is repeatedly praised for friendliness and attentiveness, though crowds can slow things down and noise levels can be high; the overall sentiment is that Else's is a must visit for a casual dinner, a date night, or a social hangout, described as a hidden gem by many and a place that invites return, with occasional notes about slower service or a wish for outdoor seating or moments of quieter conversation.
Very cute spot! The atmosphere is very nice, server was good but it took quite a lot to take the order & the food to be ready. I tried the mini burger, it was delicious, & the butter chicken was ok, it was missing salt. The prices are reasonable but the plates are not very big. I'd still recommend it & would like to go again & try more things!
Everything about this place is absolutely amazing. We came in on Tuesday afternoon for lunch on the recommendation of a friend, & we were not disappointed. We ordered the butter chicken & the shrimp tacos & 2 pints of blonde beer. We've been living in Montreal for 3 years & wish we had discovered this place sooner. The male bartender was absolutely AMAZING, best service we've had in Montreal. We will be back very soon!
My partner had introduced me to Else's a couple of years ago & I'm sooo happy, because I love coming here now. The energy really feels so present, as if you almost weren't in the city. The dumplings are phenomenal, the mac & cheese… oooomg. The staff is always so kind & up to the beat of the crowd, & the atmosphere is really unique & cool. Very special spot!
Feb 15, 2026
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
Une belle découverte sur la rue Roy, non-loin de la rue-St-Laurent. Une ambiance sympathique, une déco où on retrouve les racines norvégiennes de la fondatrice de la place. L'art sur les tables (voir photos), rend les tables uniques. Les décors donnent un certain cachet à l'endroit. C'est relax, on s'y sent bien. Du moins, moi je me sens transporté loin de la neige & du froid de ma vie dans les bois près du Mont-Tremblant (Arundel) où j'y opère un relais de motoneiges & de paintball/airsoft 4 saisons. Else's me donne des idées de déco!! Je vais d'ailleurs rechercher des endroits aux racines norvégiennes à Montréal, une partie de mes ancêtres maternelles.
J'ai dégusté la bière blonde maison du pub, un bon goût, servi bien froide & désaltérante. Mes tacos au porc effiloché très savoureux. Les côtes levées que ma femme a choisies furent succulentes… j'ai bien aimé mes tacos, mais la prochaine fois, je vais prendre les côtes levées!! Ou peut-être découvrir autre chose? Que me recommanderiez-vous? La salade de choix, fraîche & délicieuse. Je ne vous cacherai pas que j'ai terminé les côtes levées de ma femme!! Madeleine nous a super bien servi, merci!
On reviendra à ce super pub norvégien de quartier! Merci pour ce moment!
A must go if you are visiting montreal, wishing to study in a warm cozy spot, or on a first date.
Wished they had an outdoor terrace for warm summer nights! (hence the 4 starts on atmosphere)
Came in after a couple two many beers at a poetry night nearby with my wife. The waiter that welcomed us was super nice as well as the one that took our order. love y'all. unfortunately the food didn't meet our post bar graillance. On est rentré avec de la earth shattering graillance & le burger (double mini burger) n'a pas satisfait ma faim & expectations mais le goût étais tout du moin impeccable. Par exemple, l'ambiance étais vraiment incroyable. Ça parait qu'on est sur le plateau #woke. Overall tout fesait une expérience exquise & service 10/10. Place recommandée pour rallumer la flamme ou éviter un divorce.
Just got the salad for myself & it was perfectly filling with so many flavors in one place!! Loved the roasted pecans, goat cheese & crispy prosciutto... with so many tables packed into one spot you can only expect service to be so quick. Go for the vibes & community, didn't feel rushed to leave even though the place was packed!!
This place is truly a hidden gem in Montreal, tucked away on one of the city's cutest & most charming streets. We stumbled upon it on Halloween night, & it turned out to be one of the best spontaneous decisions we made that evening. The atmosphere was warm, cozy, & full of life - the kind of place that immediately makes you feel welcome. Despite showing up as a group of eight without a reservation, the staff went out of their way to find us a table, which was honestly impressive on such a busy night.
The service was excellent - friendly, attentive, & relaxed in the best way. We ordered a mix of dishes, including the chicken teriyaki, mac & cheese, salad, & mini burgers. The mac & cheese definitely stood out as the highlight: creamy, flavorful, & perfectly comforting for a chilly night. The mini burgers were also tasty, though they were quite small & better suited as individual portions rather than for sharing.
Overall, this spot strikes a perfect balance between cozy & lively. It's the kind of place that works equally well for a casual night out with friends or a laid-back dinner date. I'd definitely recommend giving it a try - especially if you love finding those lesser-known Montreal spots with great vibes & solid food.
