Il Cortile is widely celebrated as a charming hidden gem in downtown Montréal, offering a beautiful terrace that transports guests to an authentic Italian atmosphere. Many visitors highlight the cozy, magical ambiance and the high quality of the Italian cuisine, often praising the generous portions and well-prepared pasta dishes. While experiences can vary depending on how busy the restaurant is, numerous guests emphasize the exceptional and attentive service provided by the staff, who frequently go above and beyond to make celebrations and special events truly memorable. It remains a popular choice for those seeking a welcoming environment, professional hospitality, and a distinct dining experience that feels like a quiet escape from the city.
We made reservations online & while the terrace is beautiful, we did not have the best experience. My pasta was quite bland & did not taste fresh at all unfortunately. We did enjoy the wine & atmosphere though, so maybe I just had bad luck that day on the food front.
Underwhelming. Nice terrace but food was nothing outstanding & definitely not worth the price. We had the tomato & mozzarella as a starter which was stingy portion & tastes like supermarket cheese. My partner had lamb ragu pasta which was decent, & I had the seafood linguine which at 44$ had 4 baby clams & 4 dried gummy unfresh shrimp - having looked at the photos, I was expecting other types of seafood on the plate. After the disappointment of the pastas we decided not to have any dessert. Also waited for 30 minutes to get my water refilled. We will not be returning nor recommending this place. I can think of much better Italian restaurants well worth visiting.
Had a beautiful dinner, the pasta was so fresh, wine list was perfect for the food, & James made our dinner so memorable- he was so friendly has hospitable
I'm giving this restaurant two stars for its decor, which is admittedly very pretty. However, the food wasn't very good; the pasta was almost hard & undercooked, & the sauce was so thin it was like flavored water. I really didn't like it. Furthermore, the wait was incredibly long, & not even a'sorry for the wait' was said. I think it's worth going once for the decor, but not more than that.
I recommend making a reservation if you're planning to go, as it's very busy & you might not find a table. Philip who took care of me provided very kind & excellent service. I ordered the fish of the day, which was served with a starter & pasta on the side. Everything was absolutely delicious.
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!!!!
It was a nice experience that atmosphere was really on top but when we ask the waitress to change our plate & bring the balsamic she forgot so we had to ask another waiter to give us that service. The food was good but I prefer more cream in the pasta & fettuccine sauce, which was feeling a bit more dry in the seafood fettuccine plate. The Caesar salad was tasting good as well as the other fettuccine plate with meatballs. Visit my instagram for more experiences of restaurants & places to visit: @fatimadiaryy
Honestly , I have wanted to try this place for a while for its outdoor courtyard dining. As you enter the building & arrive at the Helm , no one is there to greet you . It could use a bit more charm . The courtyard is super cute & you expect that you are about to discover a hidden gem & most importantly eat an unforgettable meal . Before I begin , I want to mention that the service was exceptional. A lot of attention was given to our particular changes & requests in our order & this is something I greatly appreciate . Now the food was just ok . That part definitely needs to be worked on . It doesn't take much more to design flavors up a couple of notches. & please , if you talk about having fresh pasta , use more semolina . The pasta was not flavorful nor great quality . As for the sauces , definitely missing some Italian love , especially at the price point you're charging for those dishes . My daughter who adores lamb , would not eat her dish . You are in a great location & have the potential to do more . Glad I tried it but won't be returning . The thing that made me happy was being with my children on my birthday & their generosity.
