Monday

Closed

Tuesday

5:30 pm - 10 pm

Wednesday

5:30 pm - 10 pm

Thursday

12 pm - 2:30 pm, 5:30 pm - 10 pm

Friday

12 pm - 2:30 pm, 5:30 pm - 10 pm

Saturday

5:30 pm - 10 pm

Sunday

Closed

Il Pagliaccio is described as unpretentious with lovely staff and clientele and a sparkling clean setting. Gnocchi are praised as among the best in North America, and the overall food quality with attentive service is a common thread throughout the reviews. When minor flaws appear, such as coffee that is sour or dishes that are a touch salty for some, accommodations are made and a less salty appetizer is offered. The dining experience is repeatedly called wonderful, the best Italian restaurant in Montreal by many, with consistently delicious food, excellent service, and a romantic, intimate atmosphere. The room is noted for calm lighting and a welcoming vibe, and the menu, though concise and changing, covers classics with well prepared pastas, seafood, veal, and wine, while portions can be shared and dishes split as needed. The staff are described as caring and hands-on, and guests appreciate the thoughtful service and value for quality. Repeated visits are common, with the place described as a little Italian gem worth returning to for reliably memorable meals.

Reviews for Il Pagliaccio

Food

Service

on Google4.6 (100+)

*as of 2026-04-01

4.8 56 ratings

5★

88%

4★

3★

2★

1★

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Reviews often mention

Display All vin(10) prix(9) italian(9) italien(6) dessert(6) qualite(5) recommend(5) appetizer(4) quality(4) highly recommend(3) ingredients(3) gnocchi(3)

Review Summary

Page 1 of 1 - 4 Reviews

Ted

5.0

The opposite of pretentious, lovely staff & clientèle. Super clean. The gnocchi were the first excellent gnocchi I've had in North America. My wife loved this place. Service was excellent. On the imperfect side, the coffee served was way sour, the food salty for the salt-sensitive. That said, they accomodated & gave us a less salty appetizer ; we will definitely return & recommend it.

Feb 6, 2026

on Google

4.0

Very neat restaurant & we are not big eaters, so we ordered an appetizer, a pasta & a secondi to share. They separated the dish into two for us. Very accommodating. Foods are good.

Aug 12, 2025

Bruce

Visited this little Italian gem for the very first time.
The owner Manuel is a charming host & suggested a sampling of the various appetizers for the four of us to try. The menu is not large but It was all just great. Tomatoes & burrata, octopus, artichokes, pasta & the main meals branzino & veal piccata. Dessert a lemon tart & lava cake.
This ended up being a wonderfully surprising evening & a new gem to return to.

Aug 10, 2025

DeborahVa-6343

1 Review

Searching for some authentic North Italian fare, we were very pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food as well as the elegance of the service at Il Pagliaccio. Appetizers (ultra tender calamari), mains (melting gnocchi), dessert (brilliant panne cotta!) & their excellent wine choice - not to forget the delicious amuse-bouche brought between courses, made a meal that was both relaxed & yet gastronomically quite exciting.

Sep 15, 2015

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