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.
What an amazing night in my hood! Nice, cozy & friendly little gem. The service was over my expectations which I didn't have, the food experience was very good & all this at a reasonable price. Would strongly recommend.
Leila est une véritable trouvaille & un incontournable de Montréal qui saura vous surprendre & vous charmer.
Appelez-les même si leur système de réservation affiche complet : il y a de très bonnes chances qu'ils puissent vous accommoder, que ce soit dans l'alcôve à l'arrière ou au bar à l'avant.
Le personnel est compétent & passionné, & l'échange avec eux rend l'expérience encore meilleure.
Leur cuisine témoigne d'une réelle maîtrise technique & d'un soin attentionné.
Demandez des recommandations : on vous orientera vers des plats que vous auriez pu écarter, mais que vous regretteriez de ne pas avoir commandés en les voyant arriver aux autres tables. C'est d'autant préférable de leur demander des recommandations, que le menu change au rythme des arrivages de saison & surtout car les descriptions des plats ne rendent vraiment pas justice à ce qui vous attend.
Les portions sont généreuses & prévues pour être partagées. Les desserts étaient si réussis que j'envisage déjà d'y retourner prochainement simplement pour un digestif & satisfaire ma dent sucrée.
Aug 29, 2025
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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.
a delightful dive into the rich flavors of the Mediterranean. This charming restaurant embodies the genius of simplicity, with no forced themes, instead opting for an authentic experience that focuses squarely on the food. From the cloth napkins to the plates my grandma would have, it felt like being invited into someone's home.
We started with the sardines on toast, which might be one of the best entrees I've ever had. Equally surprising was the bitter lettuce & artichoke salad. Something I typically never order - yet here, it was a revelation. The balance of flavors & the vibrant presentation transformed my perspective on salads entirely.
Finally, the pesto cavatelli was beautifully crafted & wonderfully fresh.
To accompany the meal, we couldn't resist the $5 special on Peroni & Negroni (that rhymes).
Seated on the terrace in a laid-back atmosphere surrounded by fragrant basil plants & the gentle hum of good music, we truly felt comfortable.
A celebration of Mediterranean cuisine in its most straightforward form. No need for extravagant flair when the food speaks for itself. A restaurant that values quality & simplicity.
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.
From the beginning we were greeted warmly, service was impeccable, food was very tasty & fresh bringing a nice twist to Mediterranean cuisine. Would definitely recommend 10/10
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!
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.
L'endroit est cosy & le menu très sympa. A plusieurs, on peut faire des combinaisons de petits plats. Les entrées, délicieuses : pieuvre grillée, merguez. Puis on a pris des pâtes, excellentes.
From the minute you walk in to the minute you roll out completely satisfied; the service was a 10/10.
The food was delicious & introduced me to new flavours I never thought I would enjoy. Tie it all together with a comfortable & inviting ambiance & it's the perfect place for a date night, a random night out or your go to spot for any occasion.
Incroyable soirée au restaurant Leila. On a tout aimé: le service, le staff, l'ambiance, la musique, le vin, la bouffe! LA BOUFFE! Je sais que le menu change régulièrement, mais nous avons essayé les escargots, les merguez, la salade de laitue amer & artichauts ainsi que les cavatellis aux pois & agneau. Je me surprends à dire que le meilleur plat était la salade, non seulement parce que tout était excellent, mais parce que ça reste une salade. Honnêtement, elle était parfaite. Les merguez étaient goûteuses, les escargots savoureux, les pâtes fraiches & parfaitement salées. Je n'ai rien à dire de négatif sur notre soirée. On y retournera définitivement. 5 étoiles, 10/10! Bravo Amine & toute l'équipe pour cet immense projet.
