Leila serves authentic Mediterranean plates marked by bold flavors and fresh, seasonal components. Signature items like tender octopus, savory sardine toast, and creative handmade pasta define the menu, while the extensive wine list complements every bite. The space feels warm and inviting, providing a sophisticated backdrop for quiet evenings or lively gatherings. With its attentive staff and vibrant, cozy atmosphere, the restaurant provides a polished yet deeply welcoming setting for a memorable meal.
Leila has quickly become a standout dining destination in Montreal, celebrated for its authentic Mediterranean cuisine and incredibly welcoming atmosphere. Guests consistently praise the high quality of the seasonal dishes, with the sardine toast, octopus, and various pasta options frequently highlighted as must-try menu items. Beyond the flavorful food, the restaurant is defined by its exceptional service, where the staff is often described as passionate, knowledgeable, and treat diners like family. Whether seated at the bar, the cozy dining room, or the back speakeasy-style space, visitors appreciate the thoughtful attention to detail and the warm, relaxed vibe. It is widely considered a gem of a neighborhood spot, perfect for intimate dates or gatherings with friends, leaving most guests eager to return for another memorable experience.
I was super impressed with the food of this restaurant!
For Appetizers, we got: stracciatella & merguez
mains: mushroom pasta & rabbit
The food was all super well made & delicious. Flavours & texture was all great. Would definitely come back. Portion was more on the smaller side, I recommend sharing plates with a group to try a variety of dishes
What a great find! above par service, elevated dishes, pleasant vibe, very cool intimitate little bar in the back for watching playoffs with staff. Menu options a little limited but outstanding experience!
I am very happy to report that our experience last night was truly amazing. At first, we were a bit perplexed by the menu. There are only about 10 items. We ordered a salad, two pasta dishes, & the Cornish chicken. Long story short, the Cornish chicken was by far one of the best chicken I've had in my entire life. The best dishes were awesome, the salad was really good. Every meal was spot on. Not only the recipes are amazing, but most importantly the execution was flawless. Absolutely flawless. To add to all this, the desserts were truly amazing. Not some fancy I can type of dessert. But very good pistachio cake, & amazing basque cake with peaches. Last but not least, everybody was super friendly & a service was awesome. We can wait to go back.
Leila is probably the most impeccable spot I've tried in Montreal this summer. Honestly the only place that truly wowed me with their dishes. The sardine toast? Unreal. The octopus? Hands down the best I've had in Montreal-beats all the hyped places serving it. I'd 100% come back. Big round of applause for the service too, one of the owners welcomed & served us, & you can tell they really know what they're doing.
I read the reviews & was excited to try this place but must say fell short of some expectations. The drinks , food ( portion ) are wildly overpriced. Atmosphere is great, service is lacking profoundly. Spent over $100.00 to leave extremely hungry & to some extent upset. The waitress was of no help in any way, hardly ever asked if seconds were required ( this was an event ) . I honestly think they over shot their idea & did not prepare properly as such. Farm fresh to table is not expensive or is not meant to be. If the chef knows his/her stuff then portions would be great & variety inexhaustible. As well asking if allergies are prevalent & offering or discussing a plate , advising it would be served & never was , is misleading & to some extent disheartening. Suffice it to say will not go back nor recommend to friends or acquaintances. A lot to be desired!
I stopped on my way home at 10PM. I was hungry & asked if the kitchen was still open before staying. All seating options were available but I sat at the bar because I was alone.
The food was clean, simple & very tasty. Of course the presentation was also mouth watering. They are doing very complicated things using the best & freshest. What I ordered gave me the impression that everything on the menu is done perfectly. It doesn't matter what you order here as long as you come here & eat!
The kitchen was probably close to the end of service but there was no let up AT ALL on their end. Usually quality fizzles at that time but not at Leila. They are really on top of their service & quality.
The desserts & coffee where served in beautiful dishes. It really does make it taste better. Great touch.
My server (who is the bartender & restaurant sommelier) did a great job explaining the food & even choosing for me. She is extremely dedicated to her work & the hospitality. She really enjoys her craft & this is very evident. A great ambassador to the restaurant.
Last I'll mention the price. There is alot of value in the meal experience for the price you pay.
Very well done by 4 young guys who are probably going to be doing big things
We were a group of five. The service is excellent. The waiter was very helpful & new his stuff. The menu is not large & we tried multiple dishes. They were all quite good but also on the salty side. The ragu was very salty & we couldn't each much of it. The pork chop was also very salty & lacked any char. It was also pre-cut which we didn't appreciate. We prefer cutting our own meat. Their desserts were good, light & mild in flavor but nothing wow. Leila has potential to be much much better. It was our first time so we have nothing to compare but if they can reduce the saltiness & intensify the flavors in their desserts it would be a huge improvement. Also, they had a lot of lamb dishes for a small menu. They need a little more variety. Last thing, they need to put a menu on their website. I hate restaurants that don't show a menu or prices.
Leila is my new favourite restaurant in Montreal. You could tell a lot of passion goes into their dishes. Quality ingredients & as fresh as it gets. The staff is incredibly accommodating with impeccable service. Can't wait to come back! 😍
