Located in an enchanting setting on the shores of the Lachine Canal, Il Fornetto is a perfect place to offer oneself a moment of relaxation and change of scenery without having to leave the city. Inside, the rustic-inspired though modern décor is particularly pleasant. Yet it is above all for its superb, double-level terrace looking out directly over the canal that people love this place. Open from early in spring until late in autumn, the terrace welcomes you to come and enjoy beautiful the sunsets.
Il Fornetto’s menu takes on the appearance of an encyclopaedia of Italian cuisine. The selection is impressive and includes all of the staples: pastas available as a full dish or half portion, which is great for an entrée, various antipasti and veal and the most important staple of them all, pizza baked in a real wood-burning oven. Here, it is particularly delicious, crispy and topped with the freshest ingredients. Not surprisingly, this restaurant – open since 1987 – shows no sign of slowing down.
Il Fornetto consistently delivers an excellent dining experience with friendly, attentive service, a warm and inviting atmosphere, and a menu that showcases authentic Italian flavors. The wood-fired pizzas, fresh pastas, and well-balanced dishes receive frequent praise for taste and quality, while the canal-side terrace and cozy interiors provide a memorable setting. Guests often highlight generous portions, good wine selections, and a welcoming vibe that works well for celebrations as well as casual dinners. The staff are noted for being helpful and professional, making reservations and dining smooth even when busy. This combination of dependable food, thoughtful hospitality, and a charming location keeps diners coming back time after time.
Nice terrace on the canal. Tasty pizza & funny staff. Thanks for giving us the chance to enjoy a good meal & spend some quality time. Hopefully, one day, dogs will be welcome on the terrace 😀
Sep 1, 2025
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Guylaine & Jasmine were absolutely the most welcoming & competent of servers. Even though the restaurant was very busy & the terrace was full, we were served as if we were the only ones. Fish well prepared, lots of crispy veggies. Eggplant appetizer is outstanding. Tiramisu made fresh every day. Price very reasonable. One of the nicest terraces on the Island of Montreal. It in has a first class view on the Lachine Canal. We will return often.
Mashallah! Great place to dine. Showed up with a five-person party without a reservation on a Sunday afternoon & got seated in less than 10 minutes. Waited by a very polite & courteous set of serving staff.
The food came in quickly & turned out to be amazing. It was very delicious & full of flavours.
The restaurant's ambiance was very pleasing. Calm, serene outdoor seating is available next to the canal. It is an excellent choice for first dates, group gatherings & Tinder dates.
Kid-friendly.
We had an outstanding family meal at Il Fornetto. We were fortunate to have a table on the second floor in a lovely room with a fabulous view of the canal. The staff was, as has always been our experience, very friendly amd accommodating. Service was prompt & helpful in every way possible (as we were with 2 young boys). Our cocktails were perfect as was every part of our meal, from appetizers to mains. My grandsons loved their spaghetti bolognese & we all loved our calamari, salad, spaghetti puttanesca, linguini alle vongole & my veal piccata al limone were all delicious! We were too full for dessert but we will definitely try to save some room for it when we return. We have never had anything but a fantastic meal at Il Fornetto!
Jul 28, 2025
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Por supuesto, aquí tienes la versión en francés del review:
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Une expérience spectaculaire du début à la fin.
Il Fornetto nous a agréablement surpris avec une combinaison parfaite de saveurs, d'ambiance & de service. Nous avons commandé des scaloppini, des cannelloni, une pizza Américaine & des pâtes puttanesca - chaque plat était parfaitement préparé, savoureux & présenté avec soin.
Le service était impeccable. Le personnel était chaleureux, attentionné & a su interagir naturellement en français, anglais & même en espagnol, ce qui a rendu l'expérience encore plus conviviale & personnalisée.
L'ambiance du restaurant est à la fois élégante & détendue, avec une magnifique vue sur le canal si vous choisissez la terrasse. Parfait pour un dîner en couple ou une sortie entre amis ou en famille.
Un véritable coup de coeur pour ceux qui recherchent une cuisine italienne authentique à Lachine.
We were very disappointed with our last visit. The food is mediocre at best & overpriced for what it is. Service was lacking. We sat for a long time before anyone came to take our drink orders, & it felt like we were inconveniencing the waiter by being there. The drinks we ordered were not made correctly. I ordered a Hugo spritz & it tasted like watered down saint germain, without mint. Not sure what their recipe is for it but it is definitely not the standard. Only reason this gets two stars is the location, beautiful patio nearby the canal.
We visited this place for Mother's Day & they accommodated us last minute for a party of 12. The service was great, food amazing, I loved the Foccacia ! & the veal scallopini.
I found the dessert to be a bit pricy.. granita for 10$. However, 5 stars for this restaurant I will definitely returning!
The view is stunning as well overlooking the lachine canal.
Il Fornetto is a great spot for Italian food with a beautiful view of the Lachine Canal. The pizza was very delicious, with a perfect crispy crust & fresh toppings. The service was friendly & professional, but the rocket salad was overpriced for what it was, not much flavor for the cost. Still, it's a solid choice for a date night or a casual meal with friends.
Another great meal at Il Fornetto. Been coming here for years, not only for the food but the ambiance inside & out, with a great view of the Lachine canal. The staff are super friendly & always welcoming. Shared a large Caesar salad which was perfect for 2 people as a starter. Then enjoyed the Lasagna which is always consistent & tasty, & had the Rucola pizza which was absolutely delicious. All their pizzas are fantastic, you can't go wrong with any of them, & so many to choose from! In addition also had a Table d'hôte of Braised Short Rib with some spaghetti. The meat was so tender & succulent. This included a mista salad or minestrone soup. Sadly no room for dessert on this visit, but their tiramisu & crème brûlée are worth the extra indulgence.
Il fornetto is my go-to for Italian food in Montreal. With a beautiful view over the Lachine canal, wood stove pizza cooked in house infront of you with scrumptious pasta dishes & imported desserts. Do not skip this place!
Aug 3, 2024
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Excellent service. The food is very good. We ordered veal parmigiana & risotto with mushrooms. Good wine selection by the glass. Nice location by the canal.
I thought the food should have been more tasty, & a request for "no dressing on the salad" was meet with "I'm sorry, we can't do that", but it was a large private party, so things might be different. It was easy to find parking, as long as you don't mind feeding the meter, but finding free parking is difficult at best. The view is pleasant, overlooking the canal. It's a nice place for a walk before or after eating.
Really great place. It is too bad they are so busy they don't deliver anymore but love their food. It can be full sometimes but walking by the canal is beautiful & it is overall a great place to go during the summer !
