Il Cortile offers an enchanting Italian dining experience in a charming downtown courtyard, with authentic flavors, generous portions, and a warm, attentive staff that makes celebrations feel special; the atmosphere blends cozy European charm with a beautiful terrace that transports diners to Italy, and the menu features well executed pastas, gnocchi, seafood, and dessert options that consistently impress. Service can be slower during peak times or larger groups, but guests describe the staff as going above and beyond to accommodate requests and to create memorable evenings worth repeating.
I had my engagement party here last summer & it was truly perfect. The staff was absolutely amazing & went above & beyond to help set everything up-moving tables, adjusting the layout, & accommodating every request to make sure the setup was exactly how I envisioned it.
The food was excellent & all of our guests loved both the dishes & the beautiful decor of the restaurant. Having the space closed just for us on a sunny Sunday lunch created the most relaxed, special vibe, & honestly, nothing could have been better.
A huge thank you to Dino & the entire team for making this such a memorable & flawless experience. We're so grateful!
service was really slow, food took forever to came out. waiter was a nice man but it seemed like he was the only waiter taking care of customers in that entire restaurant. i did not see other waiters, only bussboys.
- the ricotta crêpe w spinach was 10/10, melt in your mouth really amazing
- linguini + meatballs was perfectly cooked but wayyyyyy too salty & sauce was a bit too watery. nothing crazy. i didn't ask for it to be changed because the service was *that* slow that i couldn't risk waiting another 40 mins.
- apple tart with ice cream was a flat 0, it was blatantly obvious that it wasn't house-made which you'd expect better from a restaurant like this. it was gummy & soggy & overall really bad. the vanilla ice cream paired with it was definitely breyer's, it sure tasted like it.
the atmosphere, however, is really beautiful & home-y, very traditional italian. i loved it.
Dec 21, 2025
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We had a party of seven & we had a beautiful table outside.
Food was excellent, the pastas all came with an appetizer. I loved my fettuccine & all my friends liked their food. Would recommend the fettuccine & bolognese.
James our server was so sweet & accommodating. He turned an extra heater on for us. & at the end he gave complimentary desserts!! Thanks James!!!!
Some dishes were better than others, I would highly recommend the gnocchi! Service was friendly, excellent wine selection, & the alleyway dining area was just spectacular. Beautiful little nook! Bathrooms need updating, unfortunately.
My friends & I were able to visit for dinner & it was easily one of the best dining experiences I've had. Our server James was amazing & made time for us even while busy & went above & beyond to make our evening memorable. The food was delicious, every single dish was loved by everyone at the table. The courtyard is beautiful & makes the whole experience even better. Would highly recommend this place & we are looking forward to visiting again on our next trip!
I had an amazing experience at this Italian restaurant! From the moment we arrived, the service was warm & welcoming. Our waiter, James, went above & beyond-he not only explained the menu in detail but also shared some of the history behind the restaurant, which really added a special touch to the evening. Mansour, the bar manager, was also incredibly kind & attentive.
As for the food-absolutely delicious. Everything was fresh, beautifully presented, & packed with flavor. From the starters to dessert, every dish was a hit.
Overall, a fantastic dining experience with excellent service & amazing food. I'll definitely be coming back & recommending this spot to friends & family!
The place is beautiful, no doubt about that. Cozy Italian ambiance with nice decor & lighting. Dish was good, but not particularly memorable. The service was nice. Io was polite & made sure we were enjoying our time. A pleasant overall experience.
I have a message to everyone planning to do a special event & enjoy delicious food in a magical setup you need to go check Il Cortile restaurant!! We had a magical Bridal Shower yesterday & we couldn't have chosen a better place! The food was delicious, the service was unbeatable with pleasant staff doing all efforts to give us anything we needed, the garden just beautiful you feel you're in Italy to enjoy a great meal, & the owner so kind & hard working to keep all his guests happy all the way until they leave!! Wow thank you all so much & see you again soon keep your standard for others to follow!!
Cathy July 27, 2025
our waiter james was incredible he gave us amazing service always made sure we had what we needed & was so sweet. would definitely recommend trying out this place if you're looking for a beautiful outdoor patio or great italian food.
Favourite place we have visited in Montreal! Beautiful environment & atmosphere, our waiter James gave the sweetest most attentive service i have ever experienced. He was patient with us explaining the menu options & was always offering suggestions for drinks, desserts & meals. Great italian food, the ceasar salad & gnocchi pasta was 10/10! Would 100% recommend trying this place if you're in the area.
Jul 27, 2025
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We celebrated my dad & brother's birthday this weekend & were received by an incredibly welcoming staff. We've been to Il Cortile countless times & it NEVER disappoints. The weather was perfect which made this beautiful Italian caché garden restaurant the perfect, cozy spot for an elegant evening. Dino was the perfect host, as usual, & his team was kind, courteous, & super helpful & versatile. Everyone is always willing to help, whether it's offering to take a family photo, or switching something on the menu to accommodate us, we are very grateful for their hospitality. The food was exquisite: meatball melted in your mouth, osso bucco fell off the bone & the dessert was delectable 😋. The female server was sweet, so pleasant & genuinely attentive to our needs. We will definitely be back for more great memories! Thanks Il Cortile staff for a wonderful evening!
We recently celebrated our engagement party at Il Cortile, & we cannot thank Dino, James, Mansour, & the entire team enough for making it an unforgettable evening. From the moment we arrived, the team took charge, providing exceptional support & service. The terrace setup was particularly stunning & truly elevated the experience. During the cocktail hour, the staff was attentive & proactive, ensuring our guests were never without a drink. The cocktail hour felt relaxed & enjoyable, with servers consistently offering hors d'oeuvres. Dinner service was equally impressive. The food was served promptly, with ample time between courses. The team was very mindful of the many dietary restrictions from some of our guests, which we greatly appreciated. Throughout the meal, the staff ensured that glasses were always filled & plates were promptly tidied. As we transitioned to the dancing & dessert portion, Mansour created a beautiful outdoor dessert table/dancing area. The staff continued to offer attentive service, allowing us to enjoy the evening. We wholeheartedly recommend Il Cortile for any event. The team exceeded our expectations & made our engagement party so special. Thank you again for everything-we will definitely be back!
We had a group reservation for a birthday dinner in their courtyard & everything about the evening was amazing! Our waiter, I believe his name was Mansour, was very friendly & professional ! The drinks were great & the fixed menu was worth the price & offered a lot of different meals throughout the evening The terasse is beautiful & really is the highlight of the restaurant, definitely recommend eating outside while we still can! Thank you for a great evening!
The place is beautiful, I wish I could say the same of its food. I had a Parmesan eggplant which was good, but I also had their veggie lasagna & all I could taste below the fist layer, was dry, flavorless pasta with overcooked vegetables tasting like carton.
We just celebrated my parent's 50th wedding anniversary here yesterday & it was everything we hoped! We were a Party of 9 ppl. The food was delicious, service/staff were excellent & the terrace is just beautiful. My 4 year old daughter loved it too, they were very accommodating & made a kid friendly dish! Special shout out to our waitress Jasmine. Thank you for being so attentive. Will definitely return 🫶
The secluded terrasse is so beautiful & secluded, you feel you're in Italy. The Italian food is so on point, authentic & just amazing. The service & the staff - we feel like we're part of family, even if only going a few times. James is such a conscientious & attentive server & Jasmine is so knowledgeable....& stunning. 😘 We will be back! 🙏
Outdoor courtyard was absolutely charming & beautiful. Sadly the food was bland & underwhelming. Service started off great but then it took forever to get our main courses, I wanted a second drink & had to flag down a waiter to be able to order it.
