Neighbourhood Moroccan/French eatery and hangout. Fresh cocktails and wine. The unmistakable, colorful, bold, vintage vibe, as well as the community are our inspirations at Nili.
Overall, reviews describe Nili as a cozy, intimate Moroccan-inspired spot with a warm, attentive staff and a thoughtfully curated atmosphere that shines, especially for special occasions like Valentine's Day; the menu features flavorful, beautifully plated dishes such as pastilla and a standout couscous, with many praising the depth of flavor, the balance of spices, and good value for the quality. The drinks and dessert programs are frequently highlighted, with well balanced cocktails and desserts like panna cotta, though a few notes mention heavy desserts or occasional service pacing issues during busy nights. The consensus is that the food is delicious, the vibe is charming and inviting, and when the service runs smoothly, Nili feels like a memorable, high quality go-to in the neighborhood that guests are eager to return to.
My partner & I attended their Valentines Day event thoroughly enjoyed our experience. The service was considerate & friendly. The atmosphere was lively & welcoming. We ordered the Pastilla & the Couscous & both were excellent.
Feb 14, 2026
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Quaint little restaurant, tucked away in the mile end. My friends away were blown away by the flavours of the food, & the very kind hospitality. The couscous is probably on of the best ones I had in a very long time & highly recommend it! The butternut, chickpea & date soup was incredible as well.
Lots of vegetarian / vegan friendly options which is always a big big plus.
Super resto à découvrir ! La cuisine est savoureuse, bien présentée & à prix raisonnable. On a adoré le couscous marocain, succulent & joliment présenté. Le service est attentionné & rapide, surtout quand ils ont compris que nous devions aller au Théâtre Rialto juste à côté. Première visite très réussie, & nous reviendrons sans hésiter pour goûter les autres plats !
Such a great little place! The Moroccan orange salad was refreshing, spicy, & full of flavour. I love Maghreb cuisine & the couscous was outstanding with a lovely modern twist & cool plating. The service was super friendly, & I enjoyed every moment from start to finish.
Oct 5, 2025
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This place leans heavily on the strength of its concept-playful, stylish, & strategically nestled next to the iconic St-Viateur Bagel, it's definitely designed to catch attention. The atmosphere is cute & well-thought-out, & it offers a fun, Instagrammable experience. However, the emphasis on branding & ambiance feels stronger than the focus on food quality.
The menu is carb-heavy, especially among the starters, & presents a kind of Mediterranean belt fusion with a surprising nod to Malaysian satay. Dishes are visually appealing-couscous is served in a creative way, & the boulettes de merlan stand out in presentation. But while the plating is inventive, the flavors don't always live up to the look.
Desserts, too, are on the heavier side. We tried the msmen, which was overly oily. Described by the server as'baklava-like,' it was an interesting comparison-& perhaps a telling one, as it leaned more toward indulgent than refined.
Service was friendly & attentive, although at times a bit too much so, with staff hovering until we subtly asked them to ease the pace.
Overall, it's a cool spot with real potential. But to achieve longevity-& to truly earn the title of'restaurant' in the restorative sense-it needs to refocus on food quality & affordability. Right now, it feels more like an experience than a place you'd return to for the meal itself.
Jun 5, 2025
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This place blew us away! The staff were so warm & welcoming, the service was amazing & the food was absolutely incredible. The atmosphere is intimate & cozy & you just feel so comfortable in there. We ordered the hummus, focaccia with tapenade, mozzarella, tomato, pesto, the chicken satay & the star of the show was the Moroccan couscous with merguez sausage. I will think about this meal for a long time!
It is very simple but delicious food.
The sandwich was very tender. The baguette is super well.
The couscous is also very different from other places.
The presentation of foods were very good.
Très déçue du couscous…sans légumes…& trop peu de sauce verte, c'était sec & servi avec du pain !? Le cocktail bon mais trop de glaçons. Prix élevés pour ça ! Servie ok
Un des meilleurs restaurant que j'ai pu faire à Montréal.
Boulette de Merlan, couscous, cocktails & tarte banane, tout était délicieux & très bon service.
Bravo à toute l'équipe!
Mar 24, 2025
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In short, highly recommend : easy 4.5. FOOD Started with the artichoke dip. Safe to say that it was the best I had ever had. Chunky , flavourful & delicious. Could have eaten 3 of them. Mom ordered the Moroccan couscous, which had raisins, slivered almonds, walnuts & some other vegetables, with some humous on top. She found each bite to have a different flavour, but would have like there to be more vegetables. Presentation was beautiful. My partner ordered the fish balls & they were cooked to perfection. Soft & tender with a tomatoey sauce. I personally found it a little bland, but he loved it. I ordered the chicken pastillo & it was easily the winner of the night. Flaky, moist with rich flavours & the most delicious combination of ingredients. Perfect proportion size for me. Also incredible presentation. Swear I could eat that 4 times a week. Another highlight, was their slightly spicy & salty homemade sauce. It paired well with EVERYTHING : the artichoke tip, the couscous, the pastillo & the fishballs. I would love to see it available for purchase in jars. Order the MSEMEN for dessert & it was okay.The size was too big for one person, & I felt like it could have used some vanilla ice cream, of apple slices, or a coffee. SERVICE Cannot speak highly enough of the server : super attentive without being invasive. Friendly, authentic & prompt. Great personality that shined through her service & her style. Easily one of the best service experiences I have had in a long time (& I use to be a server). AMBIANCE Comfortable seating with clean tables & amble space. Interesting & engaging decor. I found the music a bit loud (we were right under the speaker & I am slightly hearing impaired). Overall I really enjoyed my first experience & will be returning hopefully soon - especially if they get coffee & star selling the special sauce in jars ;).
First time at Nili- wow! A chic & chill ambiance with friendly staff providing impeccable service. Every dish was fresh, exquisite & delicious. The cocktail was to die for. I cannot wait to try the couscous next time. Merci!
Very tasty meal, the Moroccan Couscous is definitely the winner although the spinach salad was tasty. Excellent service & cocktails, will definitely be visiting again!
Trendy & Tasty spot in the mile-end. Food was delicious with a unique spin on Moroccan dishes. They have a cool indoor setting & also outdoor option. The service was helpful & friendly. The hummus & yogurt dish was 10/10 . The couscous was more filling than it appears .
Very cute & lowkey bistro in the Mile-End with incredible Moroccan inspired dishes. I & my sister had the Moroccan couscous & hummus. Everything we tried was amazingly delicious & absolutely flavourful. The staff were friendly & we liked the atmosphere when it wasn't crowded. Highly recommend the couscous & hummus!
