Tucked away on one of downtown’s quieter streets, La Marinara has subtlety down to an art. Warm colours and soft light, potted plants and flickering candles create a soothing, unassuming atmosphere. Music plays low and ambient, setting the tone but never intruding on the conversation. For this reason, La Marinara is best suited for romantic dinners or quiet business lunches. Designed in the style of the French bistro, it specializes in Italian pasta dishes. Primavera, bolognese, alfredo, carbonara, amatriciana: the usual suspects are present in all sorts of savoury permutations.
If you’re looking for veal, there may be no restaurant in the city better suited to your needs. Why not try the breaded veal, or bring crispy and cream together in sonorous harmony with the veal parmigiana. Did we mention the veal with lemon?
La Marinara earns widespread praise for authentic Italian cooking, homemade pasta that many describe as among the best, and a warm, intimate, unpretentious dining room. Reviews highlight friendly, attentive service from a family-run team and a cozy atmosphere that feels welcoming rather than formal. Dishes like gnocchi, fettuccine and veal marsala are repeatedly praised, with tiramisu and Caesar salad noted as standout desserts, while some nights offer generous portions and others feature smaller servings for certain items. Occasional drawbacks include a very salty soup, a carbonara with too much cream cheese, and high wine prices, but these are not universal. Overall, La Marinara is seen as a dependable downtown option that delivers comforting, well-executed Italian flavors and a consistently positive experience that keeps locals and visitors returning.
Restaurant de pâte préférer!! 🤩 les pâtes Alfredo sont un délice . Bon service également , je recommande de réserver car il sont situé près du centre Bell. C'est certain que je vais revenir!!
Mar 3, 2026
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Le service est toujours exceptionnel, notre serveur est toujours très amical & souriant. J'ai adoré mes fettucinis papalina & mon copain son veau! Je recommande cet endroit, surtout si vous êtes dans le centre-ville.
Je vais chez La Marinara depuis plusieurs années, & c'est toujours un pur délice. Chaque visite est une valeur sûre : les plats sont savoureux, réconfortants & pleins de caractère. On sent l'amour de la cuisine italienne dans chaque bouchée. L'ambiance est chaleureuse, intime, & le service est attentionné sans être trop formel. & que dire du tiramisu… un dessert décadent, parfaitement équilibré, qui termine le repas en beauté. C'est le genre de restaurant où on revient encore & encore, parce qu'on sait qu'on y mangera toujours bien. Une adresse coup de coeur que je recommande chaudement !
Mar 27, 2025
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Quaint little Italian restaurant. Service was prompt & attentive & very friendly. The food was authentic Italian & very good. Dinner for 2 with apps, a bottle of wine, entrees & dessert was $258 pre tip. So not expensive but not killer either. Highly recommended.
My husband & I came here on a Thursday night, as it's just up the street from our hotel. The atmosphere is laid back & chill. Jazz music is just at the right volume, which was very good, as we could still have a conversation. Food was nothing short of exceptional! Here's what we ordered: Apps: Escargot Shrimp in lemon & garlic sauce Mains: Fettuccine Alfredo Beef lasagna Dessert: Tiramisu Everything tasted really delicious! The escargot had the right texture. The shrimp in lemon & garlic sauce came with bread. We used the bread to eat the sauce. 😋 The fettuccine alfredo was very creamy & did not need any protein/meat. The lasagna had the perfect combo of acidic & sweet taste. Portions were perfect too - not too much & not too little. We capped off the night with a slice of their tiramisu. It was super creamy, no artificial flavour. I'd go back there just for the tiramisu! Overall, it was a positive experience & the owner made sure to go to each table to have a chat with the patrons. You definitely get your money's worth. Definitely highly recommended & expect us to drop Oby the next time we're in Montreal.
Typical traditional Italian restaurant with high quality products, run by long time owners that used to be at Piedmontais. La Marinara is one of the best price quality option in Montreal. We had scallops as appetizers that were amazing. Then we had veal with pasta that were tasty & tender. Great for lunch & dinner. The owner recommended a 60$ bottle that was very good.
There were 3 of us that came in later in the evening (we did make a reservation) & i felt at hoe as soon as we walked in. The waiter was fun & knowledgeable & the food was terrific! I had the veal with mushrooms, outstanding. they never rushed us for 1 minute & we were the last to leave, highly recommend it!
Service parfait, serveurs affables & plein d'humour! Excellente nourriture & ambiance agréable bien que le restaurant soit étroit & qu'il y a beaucoup de mouvement autour des tables. Je recommande, pour une belle soirée animée & au goût de Italie!
Nov 3, 2023
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