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.
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.
Back to school is like me going back to Nili's.
Had a repeat good experience in a super comfortable setting. Attentive, friendly & knowledgable staff. It was suggested I try their Manhattan cocktail. Unbelievable & yes, I would like another please.
I keep sampling their menu but am stuck with their HACHIS PARMENTIER.
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.
Quite poor service. It wasn't very clear who was assigned to our table, as we had menus for some time, but eventually had to ask staff to come over. After being there over 1hr30, we had only had an apppetizer & no one came to check in any more than that, including what was going on with the mains. When we finally asked what was happening, the food was brought out right away, which kinda seemed like they forgot about our table. It would have been nice to know what was going on.
Quite a shame, as we have been to the restaurant before & experienced good food & service. Unfortunately, I don't think we'll be returning in the future.
Belle expérienece. Le staff est passioné & parle avec des étoiles de leur chef & bouffe. Nous avons pris le bruschetta en entrée qui est famillier & différent en même temps. Très rafraichissant. Ensuite nous avons continué avec les boules de merlan dans la sauce tomatée qui s'harmonise avec le yaourt nature & ensuite le poulet satay est réellement une fusion réussie. Bravo pour une super expérience dans un setting retro.
Aug 23, 2025
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
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.
Amazing food, vibes, service, & more! Definitely, food was cooked to perfection, I'm very glad we made the decision to get a reservation. Merci beaucoup au chef at au personnel! 🎊🤤🎉
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.
