Mano Cornuto operates as a modern Italian cafe and bakery focusing on high-quality ingredients and traditional techniques. The menu centers on handcrafted focaccia sandwiches featuring fresh meats and local produce alongside a selection of artisanal pasta dishes prepared with precision. Espresso service anchors the beverage selection, utilizing premium beans for traditional Italian preparations. The interior aesthetic reflects a utilitarian approach with industrial elements, clean lines, and an open layout that prioritizes communal functionality. Patrons experience a focused culinary environment where the preparation of dough and seasonal ingredients remains central to the operational philosophy. This establishment maintains a commitment to authentic recipes, ensuring that each sandwich or pasta plate demonstrates consistency in flavor and texture for those seeking a direct and efficient culinary encounter within a refined yet casual setting.
Mano Cornuto is frequently celebrated as a premier Italian destination in Montreal, praised for its authentic, high-quality cuisine and vibrant atmosphere. Many visitors highlight the Caesar salad, pistachio burrata, and fresh pasta as standout menu items, while the sandwiches and tiramisu also receive consistent acclaim. Although the restaurant is highly regarded for its delicious food and welcoming, energetic vibe, some guests note that the space can become quite loud and crowded. Experiences with service vary; while many patrons enjoy attentive and knowledgeable care, others have reported inconsistent service or long wait times during peak hours. Reservations are strongly recommended due to the restaurant's popularity, as seating is limited and often fills up quickly. Overall, the establishment is widely considered a local gem that offers a memorable dining experience, making it a regular choice for both casual lunches and special dinners.
We had an incredible meal at Manu Cornuto. To start, the Pistachio Burrata was creamy & absolutely to die for. We also ordered the Caesar salad & the ceviche-both were fresh &'wow' worthy.
For mains, we tried the pesto pasta & the bolognese, but the star of the show was the Cream of Squash & Guanciale pasta. It was outstanding
We finished off the night with the Pistachio Tiramisu, which completely blew my mind. If you are looking for high-quality Italian food at a great price, this spot is a must-visit.
Un ami m'avait dit ne pas avoir aimé son souper au Mano Cornuto. J'ai voulu me faire mon propre avis !
L'ambiance est super, en revanche c'est la première fois qu'il m'arrive de renvoyer un plat dans un restaurant (les pâtes carbonara). D'ailleurs mon amie, qui avait pris un autre plat (pâtes aux aubergines), a dû le renvoyer aussi tellement c'était salé ! Le serveur était assez sympathique jusqu'à ce qu'on renvoie nos plats. Heureusement qu'ils ne nous ont pas été facturé. Espérons que c'était une exception car finalement j'ai juste mangé un dessert..
Une super bonne adresse pour manger un encas avec du goût & de l'esprit !
La foccacia maison est fabuleusement légère & c'est la base de tous les sandwichs que vous trouverez ici, elle accompagne aussi la divine burrata ! Bref un régal, un moelleux incomparable. & les assaisonnement sont top & originaux.
Vin au verre un peu cher 15$ le verre quand même...
Sinon c'est extra, plein de monde & un service attentionné qui fait qu'on s'y sent bien.
Si j'habitais dans le quartier ce serait vite devenu ma cantine 😄
Dessert impeccable & tres tres bons, on a testé crumbble de coings & tiramisu, les deux étaient extra.
Je recommande vivement l'adresse pour un encas de midi ?est top !
This was going to be my very first ever one star review but the service & service recovery earned it a second star. We had high expectations from google reviews but everything fell apart after the appetizers & our Christmas dinner was sadly ruined.
All three pastas were beyond disappointing. As an aubergine lover, I went straight for the Rigatoni alla Norma ($27) but after the first excited taste then a second suspicious taste, I was immediately certain that I wasn't going to have a third bite. The sauce was bland, basically canned tomato paste, & the cubed aubergine stew was overcooked, uninviting & had a hint of staleness.
We had encouraged our guest of honour to order the day's pasta special - Linguini Carbonara ($27) because well who can spoil carbonara. Sadly, it was ruined. The chef had charred the pancetta to such an incredibly sad state that its bitterness had infused into the oil. Attempting but failing to create a sense of richness, this same bitter, pungent oil was poured over the linguini as its base sauce (with hardly a hint of egg), creating a dish of intensely bitter simply inedible pasta. I looked back to see if it was a mistake arising from a busy kitchen but it wasn't busy so this big mistake was to me not evidently unintentional.
The Fiorentini alla Bolognese ($25) was the best of all three pastas. It was at this juncture that my friend stopped me & said'it's not the best, it's just the least bad of them three'. Enough said. & as the host of this Christmas dinner, my evening came crashing down.
Despite the above, as I had previously mentioned, the service was faultless. Drinks were topped up quickly; the waitress was amiable, efficient & made us feel right at home despite the very loud music. Without our asking, she also apologetically removed two basically untouched pastas from our bill & comp'd our espressos. None of this was her fault so she was ultimately rewarded with a 50% gratuity on a $140 bill.
My final thoughts. Disappointment with a capital D. Prices are high for what this place is but these are all stated on the menu so it's fair game for all. Make sure to ask for prices of the daily specials though as those are not stated anywhere otherwise you may be rudely surprised by the $150 beef special of the day.
If you were to drop by for a simple evening of light drinks & appetizers to share, I would say that Mano Cornuto could be a happy choice as the Caesar Salad ($17), Piatto Antipasto ($17) & Burrata ($20) were delightful. But sadly that's where it ends. The kitchen seems to be good at putting ingredients together (ie. plating appetizers) but anything that requires cooking & true culinary skill, it fails at miserably, well at least for that evening, at our table.
Food is phenomenal, servers are friendly but it's crazy when they charged 3$ for some drip of olive oil?!? Usually in other Italian restaurants the dip will go with the foccacia but here you have to ask for it & no one said it is not free. My dinner ended up quite not so happy because of this.
