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.
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 !
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.
Mar 22, 2025
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Excellent experience at La Marinara in Montreal! The homemade pasta was fresh, perfectly cooked, & full of flavor. The tiramisu was light, creamy, & the perfect sweet ending to a great meal.
We are tourists & were in the area & this restaurant was rated pretty high. I really don't understand it. The soup was very salty. The bolognese lacked flavour & depth. The fettuccine was over priced. $15 for a glass of wine when the bottle cost $10 was atrocious. Really disappointed in this meal considering the prices & trying to steer anyone that stumbled upon this restaurant to choose an authentic Italian resto instead.
Notre serveur n'était pas du tout agréable. La nourriture était acceptable, mais le prix toujours trop cher (comme partout au centre-ville par contre). Bonne option rapide avant un spectacle au Centre Bell par exemple... sauf si le serveur prend 35 min à vous faire payer.
Nov 23, 2024
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Had dinner here on a rainy Monday evening in November & the place was nearly empty. The lasagne was nice but not exceptional. Tried the Coors light beer as I wanted a local beer but was quite disappointed as it was plain & tasteless.
