Leila receives broad praise for fresh, flavorful Mediterranean and North African inspired cooking, generous shareable plates, and a warm, inviting atmosphere with attentive, professional service. Dishes like sardines on toast, octopus, lamb merguez, tagliatelle with ragu, and other seafood highlights appear across reviews, and the wine list and cocktails are well regarded, with a speakeasy back room adding charm. A few notes mention occasional saltiness or small portions for the price, and some nights with louder music or slower service, but overall the consensus is that Leila delivers a standout, hospitality-driven dining experience with creative, high-quality cooking and a welcoming vibe.
One evening, feeling kind of defeated on our trip, my husband & I walked by here looking for a place to eat. We looked at the menu outside, & there was no mention of gluten free so were ready to keep walking, but a fellow popped his head out the door, & showed us immediately what he could offer gluten free. Because it was between 5 & 7 pm, they also had 5$ negronis & peronnies (?), well sold! It was such a gold star on this vacation, that I had to write a review. We had escargots & they offered salad for me instead of bread, we had octopus, & homemade lamb sausages. It was a warm & comforting atmosphere, just what we needed. This restaurant is a gem.
Apr 17, 2026
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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.
Fabulous food, amazing service, quality ingredients, in a landscape of dull mile end restaurants this place stands out as a new star. Sardines on toast, octopus & steak were fabulous!!
Very tasty food & friendly staff. We had the octopus, olives & shishito, sardine toast, sucrine, busiata, espadon, pistachio cake & basque cheesecake & every single dish was delicious. The outdoor seating was nice too. Highly recommended! We will be coming back for sure.
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.
EXCEPTIONAL.
Service was absolutely top tier. We collectively ordered most of the menu, & the least good thing I could say was one of the salads was a simple, classic, French bistro style, which was expertly executed, but just less exciting than their imaginative take on a caesar. Great cooking. Great vibes. Solid cocktails. Definitely get the octopus.
Jul 22, 2025
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Everything was perfect from the service to the food itself. You have to try the octopus & the mushroom pasta, they are amazing. Special mention to the chef Amin who came to make sure we liked everything. Very nice
In one word,'wow' - what an amazing experience we had at Leila?? The minute we entered the door, the service from everyone was exceptional. Special shout out to Danny, our server, who presented the menu options with such passion & enthusiasm. Amine Laabi was kind enough to stop by to talk to us as he helped us decide on our final choices. We decided on a shared menu for 2, which I highly recommend: marinated peppers/ olives/ pickles, sardines on toast, ricotta brown butter, octopus on a bed of white bean purée, tagliatelle ragu, & last night's special - capellini with lobster. Everything was scrumptious & decadent while plated beautifully on what seemed like my grandmother's heritage dinnerware. We were so full that we opted out on dessert but the options all sounded delicious. The ambiance is warm & inviting with its eclectic, vintage decor. We will be back - I highly recommend Leila & it's Mediterranean cuisine❣?
Food was delicious. Pasta masterfully cooked, octopus tender & succulent, fried skate was a very ingenious take on fish & chips. Service was good. They knew & explained their wines very well. Also got to chat with the kitchen staff & they were all very nice. Will go back for sure
