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.
Let's start with the positives: the service is friendly, & the atmosphere is cozy. The place is small, which can feel inviting if you're looking for a sweet spot in downtown Montreal. However, what really bothers me is paying nearly $20 for poorly cooked zucchini. Judge for yourself from the picture. The sauce was at least tasty. While the ambiance & service are commendable, the overpriced & poorly prepared food left me disappointed. But this is my humble opinion. I hope they improve the quality to match the cozy setting.
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.
Aug 20, 2024
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The service at La Marinara was first rate. It's a small restaurant & we arived when it was packed with pre-hockey game diners so it was quite noisy. But once a few people left, it was more comfortable to talk. We found the food quite good. A couple of points, though: the tomoato & bocconcini appetizer was really tiny. There were only 4 or 5 thin slices of tomato, each topped with a small piece of cheese. This was not what we were expecting for the price. The minestrone soup was good but much too salty. The main courses we ordered: stuffed tortellini & nerone sauce topped fish were very good. The litre of house wine was excellent. It's a very authentic feeling Italian restaurant.
Came here for lunch & ordered the penne a l'Arrabiata. The pasta was perfectly cooked, the sauce was great & the spice level was right on the spot, hot but not too much. Service was quick & efficient. On the minus side, it was a bit too pricey for my budget, & this will limit me to come back here for lunch.
Found a hair baked into my tortellini (was still charged for it because apparently "these things happen"), & before I found the hair, it didn't even taste good (the rosé sauce had some kind of cinnamon or nutmeg in it). My husband's garlic & oil spaghetti was burnt (it was a brown colour & tasted very bitter). The service was super rushed - didn't have time to enjoy my martini before my appetizer was in front of me followed quickly by my main meal. We were in & out in less than an hour. The tables are so close together that you have to turn sideways to fit. We were given a free dessert (for the hair)...a crème caramel that was not good at all (I've had better from Costco) & served in the middle of a plain white plate. Not impressed at all & will not be going back.
Warm, welcoming ambiance. Fantastic service by experienced waiters. Quality of food is very good - pasta & sauce excellent as was the tiramisu. All 6 of us were very pleased with our meals & dining experience.
Pairing veal a la limone with pasta with a tomato based sauce on the same plate was not exactly appetizing. Everyone else at the table was pleased with their meal.
We visited La Marina last evening & were delighted with the service & food. Ladies (2) enjoyed Rigatoni Arrabriata & Manicotti respectively & the gentlemen both enjoyed Veal Pizzaiola. I wasn't sure about the sauce they were using for the escargot so I asked for garlic butter instead. They were very accommodating & it was delicious.
Word of advice.... don't go on a night when the Canadians are playing hockey at home. The place was mobbed & we waited 20 minutes for our table (with a reservation). Otherwise, very enjoyable even if a little pricey.
Bravo! Nous retrouvons toujours la même constance dans le goût des sauces. Jamais de déception. Les plats sont toujours à la hauteur de nos attentes c'est à dire une cuisine italienne vraie, savoureuse & simple. Ce qui est pour moi l'art d'une bonne cuisine.
Nous y retournons chaque fois que nous sommes à Montréal.
