Leila is described as a warm, intimate spot with a lively yet relaxed vibe and a menu that blends Mediterranean and North African influences with a focus on fresh, flavorful ingredients. Dishes like sardines on toast, octopus, merguez, bitter lettuce and artichoke salad, and pasta such as cavatelli and tagliatelle ragu are highlighted for their balance of technique and rustic charm. The setting includes a backroom speakeasy style bar and a welcoming terrace, making it popular for dates and gatherings alike. Service is repeatedly praised for attentiveness, knowledge, and hospitality, while the atmosphere and cocktails, wine list, and overall value receive strong notes of praise. A few voices mention small portions or high prices relative to portion size and occasional slower service, but the prevailing sentiment is that the experience is memorable, distinctive, and worth returning to for the food, the vibe, and the sense of being cared for.
Cute spot in the mile end with great service. The salad, escargot, beef cheek & lamb pasta (A+) were great. The olive & shishito would have been great except the ratio was way off with there being way too many olives. The dessert was underwhelming & had no soul.
One of the best dining experiences I've ever had, Montreal or otherwise. We came with a large group & Philippe happily accommodated us. The service was fantastic & personal, the food stellar, & the overall vibe great.
The food is outstanding. The way every dish came out & was presented was so thoughtful. The octopus & merguez were particular standouts. Even the bread & cheese that came out to start was delicious. Danny walked us through every dish, helped us pick our drinks & wine, & accommodated all of our other requests without an issue. He's a gem & made the experience that much better.
This spot is a MUST try. It's great. Cannot recommend enough & anytime I'm back in Montreal I am absolutely coming back.
C'est rare que je laisse des avis, mais cette fois-ci j'ai été un peu déçu par mon expérience. Nous avions commandé plusieurs petits plats à partager. Les merguez & les morceaux de poisson étaient malheureusement très salés, ce qui a un peu gâché le plaisir du repas. Avant de recevoir un plat de pâtes, nous avions demandé à l'annuler. Une fois notre repas terminé, la table était débarrassée & nous étions prêts à partir. La serveuse est revenue avec le plat de pâtes malgré tout. Nous avons expliqué que nous ne le voulions plus, mais elle a insisté pour que nous le prenions à emporter, même si nous avions déjà dit non & que nous n'avions pas envie de rester.
Ce n'était pas un gros problème & cela ne nous dérangeait pas de payer, mais nous aurions simplement apprécié que notre décision soit respectée aurait rendu l'expérience plus agréable.
Franchement tout était excellent. Tous les plats ont beaucoup de saveurs. Le poisson cuit à la perfection, le beurre noisette parfait. La mousse au chocolat & huile d'olive, magnifique. J'aurais peut-être aimé avoir plus de lardon d'agneau avec les pâtes, parce qu'ils étaient excellent, mais un peu petits.
Appetizers were good, the chicken was very underwhelming. But what made this experience not good was the sound of music. Too loud & a weird choice of playlist totally killed the vibe.
Mar 13, 2026
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Très belle découverte ! Le restaurant a une super ambiance & le service est vraiment chaleureux. Les plats étaient délicieux & bien présentés, on voit que les ingrédients sont frais. L'équipe prend le temps de s'assurer que tout est parfait pour les clients. Je vais définitivement revenir & recommander la place à mes amis.
Tout simplement parfait! Chaque plat était délicieux (ricotta, joue de morue, paccheri aux champignons, joue de boeuf, gâteau à la pistache & mousse au chocolat 🤌). En plus, le serveur était vraiment d'excellent conseil! & les vins étaient aussi très bon. On y retournera avec grand plaisir!
Merci à toute l'équipe.
What a Gem! Found this new spot that doesn't look flashy at all but was legitimately delicious. The food was absolutely incredible, the prices were very reasonable, & the service was quick & genuinely kind. Highly recommend!
Feb 19, 2026
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Entrée, plat, dessert & verre de vin pour 84 CAD avant tips. Cuisine simple avec de bons produits. Ne vous attendez pas à des plats complexes & raffinés, mais plutôt à des classiques méditerranéens réussis. La salle est petite & l'ambiance est parfaite pour un date. Un restaurant qui aurait pu se trouver a Marseille sur la place aux huiles .
I think that was some of the best service I have ever experienced in my life. Our server took such care of us, care in the truest meaning of the word. I finally understand the difference between service & hospitality.
They had to turn the table over so instead of just doing that, we knew the deal, they gave us 2 desserts on the house for the trouble. Which is just so above & beyond.
This place has so much heart, is so well managed, the bitter salad was delicious, a fantastic new spot.
The Salad was good with twist of bitterness & the crispy onions. The lamb seemed a bit undercooked but flavour was on point. The guinea fowl was a 10/10 flavorful with the lemon sauce & mushrooms.
Sardine toast was probably my favourite, wish there was more. Sardine spaghetti was ok, i found the sardines to have a completely different texture than the sardine toast which i personally didn't like. The spaghetti itself was well cooked & flavourful.
The desserts were average, nothing special.
The ambience is very cozy. The service was very friendly but a little too slow.
I attended a private party in the back room - so my review speaks only to this experience, which I cannot recommend unless you want to be trapped in a small space for 4 hours at dinner time, eating miniature food samples paced 30 minutes apart. The food was decent - the red sauce was fresh, but the *three* (lol) pieces of rigatoni pasta I received were very overcooked.
I don't enjoy leaving bad reviews, & I'm sorry for that. But when we left, I was so hungry & cranky I couldn't speak to staff. & I think It's important for people to know what to expect: for two guests - we spent 200$ to eat out of takeout containers, & drink on an empty stomach. Sure food can be costly, but I've never experienced this anywhere else in Montreal, & we eat out a lot. Anyways, this is one place we won't be going back to.
