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 food is excellent,& the service very fast & attentive. It is a modest little restaurant, but they turn out a fabulous product. I will definitely go again.
The ravioli a la genovese was really good. Portion size is large. The ambience in the restaurant is nice, although it is a relatively small place with lots of tables.
I absolutely adore this place, for not just the delicious food, but also the staff. The place is so nicely presented & their logo is so cute & minimal, it's absolutely lovely. A lot of people dress up in there, but if you are a tourist looking for something to eat, they will gladly serve you without formal attire. The food was top notch, best pasta I have ever had & that is a lot coming from me, since I eat pasta nearly everyday! Their bread was even delicious & they made sure to accommodate you as much as possible. The waiters checked in more than other restaurants which was really good, because they were very customer focused & made sure our satisfaction was top priority. I would go here again & again if I could!
Jun 28, 2024
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Mon restaurant favori au centre-ville! La nourriture y est toujours excellente & les portions très raisonnables. Les prix sont un peu élevés mais rien de surprenant vu le quartier. Le service a toujours été impeccable & poli, je n'ai jamais manqué de pain (toujours bon) ou d'eau. Ambiance tranquille, propre, pas de musique trop forte.
Nous etions 2 parents avec nos 4 ados. Le service etait sympathique & efficace. La nourriture est parfaite! Une vraie bonne bouffe italienne. Tous les plats étaient à notre goût: lasagne, veau, poulet, tartare. Même les pâtes en accompagnement étaient exquises. Les desserts aussi!
Restaurant très cher pour la quantité. 25$ pour seulement deux cannellonis, ridicule. Service moins que basique : pas de Bonjour comment allez vous, aucune présentation des plats du jour, n'est jamais revenu pour l'eau, aucune demande pour le nombre de factures. Puis à la fin, le serveur se plaint du faible pourboire (normal vu le peu de service) puis insulte en disant que c'est sûrement parce que c'est un Français.
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.
