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.
Mar 21, 2026
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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.
Phenomenal service, food & vibe.
The escargot & verdure pasta were incredible, & Phil was a knowledgeable & gracious server.
One of the best restaurants in the city.
This place was recommended by a friend. Parking was tough & called in to say we may be a bit late & we were comforted that our table would be waiting. Once there, we were warmly received. Our waiter Danny was excellent. Was very enthusiastic about his presentation & adept in both French & English. Decor was nice as well as the atmosphere. The wine list was good but not many value options. Thought that pricing was high & could use more lower price options. I liked the small'market fresh' menu. As for the food, there were some winners & some losers. The buratta straciatella was good but the brown butter wasn't browned enough in my opinion. We were told easily shared among us 4 but better for 2. The sardines on toast was delicious & again, good for 2. The bitter salad was excellent & was a play on a Caesar salad & that was ok for 4. The merguez sausage was by far the most disappointing dish of the night. As soon as the plate was placed on the table, I could smell how gamey the lamb was. It was way too strong & they said it was Quebec lamb but smelt more like New Zealand. Nobody at the table was a fan. Three at the table took pasta as their mains & the portions were quite small. The cavatelli fagioli was ok. Nothing really special about it. My Guinea fowl was well prepared & juicy with crispy skin. The beans on top were ok & I find detracted from the delicate meat & I found the $58 price tag a bit steep. The food was very homestyle. With a few adjustments to portions & plate composition, this place could easily be 5 stars. The highlight was definitely the service which is a great place to start.
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.
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
Jun 24, 2025
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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
Great food & service at Leila. The bitter lettuce & artichoke salad, pasta dishes & the skate fish all amazing! Cozy atmosphere with excellent & attentive staff. Highly recommend!
A must try restaurant! The staff are incredible & we ordered based off their recommendations, every dish was delicious! We had the sardine on toast, merguez, bitter lettuce salad, the lamb belly pasta & the fish dish. The flavours of each dish were amazing & you can tell they were prepared with great thought & care! So glad we found this place & will definitely be back!
A really cute new spot that I was super excited to try! & it did not disappoint the food was all very fresh, & well prepared. Some of the best pasta I've had in a while! I was especially pleasantly surprised by the fish dish I had (pictured) The restaurant is a cozy little space, & the staff is excellent. Would definitely go back!
