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.
J'aurais dû mettre 5 étoiles mais y'a sûrement un p'tit quelques chose que j'ai pas vu passer!
C'est notre restaurant italien chouchou du centre-ville de Montréal. On y va régulièrement pour l'accueil chaleureux des employés & aussi pour la qualité de la nourriture à des prix abordables. Menu allant d'entrées froides ou chaudes, pâtes, veau, poissons & fruits de mer.... Bonne liste de vins. Desserts (dont le tiramisu). Pour vous assurer une table, il serait préférable de faire une réservation. Allez-y!
Sep 17, 2022
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Nice little restaurant close to the Bell Centre, the ambiance is nice, the food is very tasty & overall we were satisfied.
Small critisism: portions are small. You'd think that a $24 bowl of pasta would be a full bowl.... (The bowl wasn't big)
So it's a trade off of great location, but not great portions.
Service was good too, not a bad thing to say there.