Il Bazzali

Trevor

5.0

Unpretentious Fine Dining

As an artist (& not one that comes from a moneyed background),'fine dining' is something that can be relatively impossible. In fact, most of the typical fine dining experiences make me queasy: overpriced, minuscule morsels of food that leave you heading for a burger immediately after you've emptied your paycheque on a few forkfuls of'food', having just spent 3 hours amongst horribly pretentious influencers & Instagrammers, unable to avoid hearing their inane & vapid yammering from every corner of the restaurant. (I also NEVER wait in line to go eat somewhere… Montréal seems to be just as famous for people waiting in line for eggs on toast as it is for being served eggs on toast. It's eggs on toast, people, c'mon!!). I do not feel comfortable forcing myself TO BE comfortable in these establishments.

On the very special occasion that I do end up with the opportunity to eat out somewhere, it needs to be worth it, & on realistic terms. It often helps when friends or family come to town, & we go out for meals. Not that we don't treat ourselves on the regular, but it beats eating in a tiny flat & having to do the dishes in an even smaller kitchen. & just a couple of blocks away, with the same comforts of being in a homely environment, is the incredibly unique, & equally unpretentious restaurant Il Bazalli, at the crossroads of Little Italy & La Petite Patrie, just a few blocks east of St Laurent on Beaubien.

This gem of a neighbourhood eatery serves truly amazing Italian cuisine, while nestled in mismatched chairs & ramshackle booths. Oh, & being sung to by the owner & chef, Davide Bazalli. Yes. Opera no less. If you have heard about'that Italian place in Montréal with the handsome opera singer', this is the place.

We have been to Il Bazalli several times since they opened ten years ago, & I have never left a review. We most recently visited for my birthday celebration, & we were not let down! They were able to cater to our group of sixteen, & there was something there for everyone. The staff were extremely courteous & patient, not to mention extremely helpful & very knowledgeable about the food & wine selection. Over the past years, I think I have had most items from the menu, if not ordered for myself, but shared from the plate of my wife. The cod accras are a usual favourite, but tonight I went for their braised beef & mushroom stuffed arancini (a few months back, during the restaurant's anniversary celebrations, we had BEET arancini!!) About the size of a walnut, I felt like a bit of a savage eating these crispy morsels whole, but they were incredible! For my main, I had the Linguini'Goloso' (see photo) which was Parmigiano Reggiano cream, smoked lardons, mushrooms, caramelized onions & Parmigiano Reggiano. Ravioli, cod filet in pizzaïoli sauce, braised beef scoter, pizza, beef & salmon tartare, not one of our 16 guests were left disappointed! We were only disappointed we didn't have room for dessert, although this birthday boy did get a slice of almond & orange cake (vegan & gluten free!)

In a persistently gentrifying city that seems to be favouring pretention over true cultural substance, Il Bazalli is the type of place one would hope to find in their neighbourhood. Check it out!

7 oct. 2025

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Xiao

5.0

I went to this amazing restaurant twice & the food never disappoints. Loved their beef tartare & the ravioli ala toscana! Highly recommended! Although the service was a bit slow, the good food makes up for it!

26 juin 2025

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Alicia

5.0

Super soirée ce soir pour les 40 ans de mon mari ! Notre table de 15 a été ultra satisfaite des plats, de l'ambiance & du service. Quelques invités m'ont fait part qu'ils sont souvent déçus lorsqu'ils vont manger dans un resto italien, dû au goût qui n'est pas authentique. C'était leur première fois au Il Bazzali, & tous ont été comblés & ont adoré tous les plats. Gros coup de coeur pour les arancinis, les accras de morue, les gnocchis, les raviolis, bref.. Tout était délicieux ! En plus des quelques prestations d'opéra, très agréable. Ce resto est un petit bijou bien caché, on y retournera tous c'est certain ! 😊

29 mars 2025

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Catherine

5.0

C'est tellement bon & plaisant d'aller au Il Bazzali! Adepte des raviolis alla parmigiana! On aime les attentions de l'équipe & du chef. Hâte d'y retourner entre amis ou en amoureux!

23 févr. 2025

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Sylvie

5.0

Réservation pour 14 personnes pour souligner anniversaire & avons beaucoup aimé notre souper. Plusieurs d'entre nous habitons dans le quartier & sommes heureux d'encourager nos restaurateurs du quartier! Délicieux & excellent service, efficace & très courtois! On m'a appelé pour me dire que le chef ténor ne serait pas là, belle attention! spritz en apéro, table d'hôte avec potage, accras de morue & raviolis ricotta pour ma part, vraiment délicieux! Je recommande!

5 déc. 2024

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Salewinn

5.0

Nous sommes venus entre amis, & avons passé un moment très agréable, la nourriture était délicieuse ( Tartare de Boeuf, Linguini Tomate & crunchy pesto, Arrancinis, Ravioli Toscana ), le service de grande qualité & Que dire de la carte des vins, de nombreux choix & à prix très abordable Merci Il Bazzali !

22 oct. 2024

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Goose

5.0

Just amazing, brings memories, the raviolis taste the same as the first time years ago, make me remember the chef cooking the ravioli & singing opera, the best ravioli so fa

7 sept. 2024

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Gibson

5.0

In the heart of Little Italy, there are many fine restaurants to choose from, & Il Bazzali is among them. We had the Ravioli, which was delightful & two kinds of Linguini. The real star was the Semifreddo dessert, which was wonderful.

3 sept. 2024

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Stephanie

5.0

Il Bazzali offers an exceptional dining experience that truly deserves a 5/5 rating! From start to finish, everything was impeccable. The meal began with a delightful basket of fresh bread paired with creamy butter. The drinks were refreshing & perfectly crafted. For the main course, the dishes were nothing short of spectacular. The braised beef was tender & flavorful, served with a smooth mash & perfectly cooked vegetables that complemented each bite. The beef filled ravioli was equally divine, with a rich, savory sauce & a parmesan crisp that added both texture & flavor. The atmosphere of the restaurant is cozy & inviting, making it a perfect spot for a relaxed & enjoyable meal. The service was also attentive & friendly. Il Bazzali is a must-visit for anyone looking to indulge in high-quality food & a wonderful dining atmosphere in Montreal. Every aspect of the meal was flawless, making it an experience worth repeating!

2 sept. 2024

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K

3.0

I went cause I am vegan & my boyfriend is not. The vegan gnocci was good but it could use more veggies. My boyfriend's parmesan ravioli was way too oily. I'd give 3 & a half stars if I could. I liked my food. However, it is way too expensive for what it is.

8 août 2024

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Melissa

5.0

C'était tellement bon! Arancinis, saladea, gnoccis, pizza, pâtes & raviolis! Wow! & cette ambiance quand le chef chante, c'est tellement agréable. La moitié de la famille a dû quitté plus tôt & j'espère que ça n'a pas été perçu négativement, puisque c'était un repas sans faute! Le service était impeccable, les gens accueillants & nous avons eu une très belle fin de soirée.

13 juil. 2024

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Loris

5.0

Super restaurant : la nourriture est très bonne. Nous avons mangé des linguini carbonara, des raviolis & le tiramisu service tres agréable, bon personnel & le vrai critère différenciant : le chef en personne qui se met à chanter, & qui passe ensuite de table en table discuter avec chacun de ses clients. Très bon restaurant 🇮🇹🍝🍕

17 juin 2024

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Danny

4.0

Great ambiance, great food, meager ravioli portion.

13 avr. 2024

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Jose

4.0

I came from the Caribbean's craving Pasta & decided to Google restaurants near my neighbourhood. We usually go to a south shore Italian restaurant but it was closed for Easter Sunday. This one picked my curiosity due to its proximity but knew that it was overpriced for the amount of pasta served in the dishes they offer. Once there, I found the atmosphere appealing & the smells were pleasant. The seating was a bit odd but we adapted to it. After looking at the menu I chose the Braised Beef Scoter & my girl the ravioli a la Toscana. To make it simple, the Braised Beef Scoter was the one dish I will go back for & the Arancini without forgetting their interesting private Wine list. The pasta dishes can be an overpriced small quantity for small appetites. Again Braised Beef Scoter 5/5 in my personal opinion!!!

31 mars 2024

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Eran

5.0

I had the toscana ravioli, the soup & for dessert the tiramisu. Everything was excellent. & chef was singing opera!

25 févr. 2024

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