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.
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.
Dec 13, 2025
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We had a wonderful dinner at nili, a cozy French-Moroccan restaurant in the Mile End neighborhood of Montreal. The food was absolutely delicious: full of flavor, beautifully presented, & clearly made with care. The service was equally impressive: warm, welcoming, & attentive. We even had a lovely conversation with one of the waitresses. Prices were very reasonable for the quality. I highly recommend this place to anyone passing through the area.
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 ;).
Oct 31, 2024
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Fantastic Moroccan-inspired cuisine with lovely service & a very enthusiastic, engaging chef (maybe the owner, too?) Highly recommend trying as many dishes as possible, all of them are unique & flavorful. Limited seating but if you're ok with the bar (which is right next to the chefs cooking) the vibes are great. Definitely coming back soon!
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!
Another excellent meal at Nili. The food was great particularly the couscous & the merlan balls. Service is outstanding & the owner Mikey is passionate about delighting his customers. Highly recommend this hidden gem.
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!!
Food was excellent. Service was excellent. Highly recommend for smaller groups as the place is on the smaller side. Need a reservation for bigger groups. Cannot go wrong with any item on the menu.
