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.
Cela fait quelques fois que je mange à ce restaurant & à chaque fois j'ai été comblée. Les plats sont savoureux & généreux; probablement le meilleur rapport qualité prix du quartier. Les desserts sont aussi étonnement délicieux, en particulier la tarte aux bananes. Le service est attentionné; j'y vais avec ma fille de 3 ans & il y toujours de petites attentions à son endroit.
Oct 26, 2025
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Run to this restaurant for tasty, well presented & well priced food. We were most impressed by all of this, along with the groovy vibe & attentive service. The main dishes we enjoyed were all so tasty ; morrocan cous cous, chicken satay with peanut sauce & the Greek sandwich if you love all the night shade veggies; eggplant, potatoes, tomatoes, olives. The Mesen honey dessert was also unusual & satisfying. We love honey. We also enjoyed their delicious drinks; watermelon & mint iced tea. Good options for a hot summer night. These selections were guided by the sever /bartender. They know their favorite dishes & you will not be disappointed.
It is a small place so make reservations. However, they also take walk ins for their outdoor patio.
Photos are taken in the evening under the glow of groovy ceiling lighting.
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.
Plutôt déçue en général. C'est presque bien, mais il manque une touche de magie... L'assise au bar ne va pas du tout. On ne peut pas bien s'y installer, les sièges sont vissés au sol & pour ma part beaucoup trop loin du comptoir - il me fallait manger sur le bout du siège, j'étais très mal & ne pouvais pas m'adosser.
On a pris une salade d'épinards à 17$ en entrée : avec 4 cubes de pomme & 4 cubes de betteraves sans goût (visiblement des betteraves sous vide déjà cuites...). Ça nous a inquiété pour la suite... Hors les plats principaux étaient assez bons! On a pris des boulettes de poissons & la pastilla.
Ensuite on a pris des desserts, & là, ouf, grosse déception. Ça manquait vraiment de raffinement, c'était lourd & on ne les a pas terminés. Le miel dans le msmen ne goûtait pas bon & c'est le parfum principal de ce dessert... c'était à mon palais un miel cheap, je mange assez régulièrement des desserts de ce genre & celui-là a mal conclu notre soirée.
Le vin était quant à lui correct, & les cocktails valent le détour!
De notre côté le service a été bon, rien à redire.
Donc il y a du bon, mais quand on paye presque 250$ à deux on espère être plus contents que ça & avoir un bon souvenir.
very cozy Moroccan inspired place. Looooved everything about it & the staff is very cute & attentive too. I specially loved the palm hearts salad. Vegetarian & vegan options are available as well!! The dessert, Panna Cotta was amaaaaazing, never had something like it before.
Feb 3, 2025
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Cozy little spot with really warm service from both the waitress & owner! Their chicken satay was underwhelming but their desserts & pastilla are amazing....such wonderful combination of flavors & textures.
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 ;).
Everything was completely perfect! What is there to say? This is some of the most delicious food I've ever eaten. Yes, the couscous! & I can't wait to go back & try everything else! Save room for dessert which is also perfect. The space is comfortable & has a cool vibe without a hint of pretension. The staff is really nice &, like, authentically nice. This has quickly risen to a top favorite restaurant. Thank you!
Very cute bistro in the mile end! We had the Moroccan couscous & the Greek sandwich, & then shared the banana tart for dessert. Everything was absolutely delicious, amazingly flavourful & fresh! The staff were friendly & helpful, really nice atmosphere. Highly recommend & the couscous & banana tart are not to be missed!!
Mar 3, 2024
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Been a few times now & can't say enough good things! I've tried a variety of the appetizers & mains-the couscous, hummus & baked pasta are just some of my faves. Such a cozy interior, the loveliest staff & really good quality food! A true neighbour gem. Can't ask for more. Oh & you MUST get the banana tart & panna cotta for dessert.
