Reviews of Nora Gray paint a picture of a small, intimate Italian spot with a warm, stylish vibe and a strong emphasis on fresh pasta and wine, but with results that vary by visit. Positive notes highlight attentive service, knowledgeable staff when it comes to wine pairings, and memorable experiences at the bar with great recommendations; several dishes and desserts are praised for their balance, texture, and originality, and the overall atmosphere is described as cozy and welcoming, making it a good choice for dates or special occasions. On the other hand, some visits are described as overpriced for the portions, with mains not always filling, and occasional missteps in kitchen execution or timing; the dining room can be cold or noisy, and service can be slow or misdirected at times, detracting from the experience. The wine list and dessert selections are frequently mentioned as strengths, while price-to-value and consistency are common points of critique, though many still plan to return to chase a more consistent, higher-impact meal. Overall Nora Gray is viewed as a refined option worth trying for confident food and wine, with room for improvement in consistency and comfort.
Not my first time at Nora Gray.. it just seems to get better every time I step inside . Tonight is beyond exceptional!! We decided to eat at the bar instead of our table reservation, it was one of the most memorable experience at Nora Gray!!! The staff is friendly courteous tonight I want to mention Ben working the Bar area, he is one dedicated staff member who is concerned with you having an amazing experience.. the food was impeccable & the wine pairing was spot on .. thank you to Ben & everyone at Nora gray for a memorable evening
Jan 16, 2026
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We had an amazing experience at Nora Gray. We ate at the bar. The food was so delicious, interesting & so well executed. Ben who was at the bar looked after us. He was amazing. He had great suggestions for food wine & digestifs. Truly a great evening. Thanks Nora Gray & Ben, we'll be back.
This place is great. We thoroughly enjoyed it. The special tonight was a the sausage with polenta. It was absolutely delicious. The bartender & waitress kept my thirst quenched with beautifully crafted mocktails.
We were a group of 7. They usually don't do à-la-carte service for groups above 6, but they accommodated us without a fuss. Lovely professional staff.
Je suis vraiment triste d'avoir été déçu par Nora Gray, j'avais vraiment hâte d'y aller. Au lieu du décor romantique intimiste que j'attendais, on retrouve des tons sombres digne de ces vieux restaurants italiens new yorkais, sans le kitch, & un bar où tout le monde s'écrase les uns contre les autres. Les tables sont des tables de diners tristes. Nôtre focaccia était servi froide, sans aucune épices ou condiment pour relever. L'huile d'olive est en supplément. Mes pâtes ont été servis froides; j'ai du les renvoyer, & on m'a expliqué qu'avec une sauce pesto c'est normal que ce soit tiède (à 45$ le plat c'est dur à avaler… & faux, d'autant que la deuxième fois c'était chaud). Celles de ma femme était bonne mais quelconque. Mais la cerise sur le gâteau, ou plutôt le fromage sur les pâtes, c'est le parmesan rapé facturé 4$. Jamais je n'avais vu ça de ma vie, ni ici ni en Italie. Je suis soufflé. Le vin est lui aussi hors de prix, bien la carte soit archi complete. On regrette qu'il n'y ait que très peu de choix au verre (pas les meilleurs).
Heureusement la soirée est sauvée par un service souriant & patient, qui écoute & met le client au centre de l'expérience. Si les plats coûtaient 15$ Nora Gray pourrait devenir une cantine pour le midi, mais pour une « date » plus jamais.
I was channeling Last Holiday & asked Zach for food ~ wine pairings … this was a brilliant approach resulting in the best meal of my life! Everyone was top notch & my single dining at the bar was respected. Merci beaucoup!
I'm so surprised I've never written a review for this restaurant . In my TOP 5 in montreal for sure ! Most likely #1🤌🏽
Amazing restaurant, great service , amazing food! The vibe is unmatched. I have been coming here since opening . & I'm always so happy after eating here . Always a hit !
Best best spot for date night! Ask for a corner table . Actually it's a good spot for a group also. Just trust me & go eat here .
Ask for the specials . Ask the bartender ( lexi) to make you a western spaghetti. Go late a night & enjoy a nice cozy vibe .
10/10 🔥
- Pictures are throughout the years -
May 6, 2025
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Had a lovely early dinner here on a Saturday before a Canadiens game at the nearby Bell Centre. I sat at the bar & was treated to excellent service by Arianne, who masterfully guided me through the menu & the wines on offer by the glass. Very eclectic crowd including hockey fans & staff who had the night off but still brought their friends for the food, & the place was hopping very quickly after opening. I wouldn't be surprised if regulars come here just for the appetisers - the mackerel was prepared beautifully. So much flavour from such a simple preparation, & not easy to get it that moist & delicious. I'd return just to have that dish! Arianne suggested two appetiser size pasta dishes. The pasta is made in-house, & really stands out in a city with good Italian food. I tried the rotolo, which was spinach rolled in a pasta sheet, with a perfect tomato sauce. The spaghetti alla chitarra was divine - both dishes paired perfectly with the Tuscan Sangiovese red that was recommended. A strong espresso worked beautifully for the affogato to finish off a very good meal. Will definitely visit again!
What an amazing experience we had at this hidden gem! The restaurant was small & intimate & we sat at the bar. Our primary server/bartender was Lexi, & she was a wealth of knowledge about the menu & all drink options, & she (& the rest of the team) made a great experience even more special. We had 4-5 plates, each of which was unique & special, but complimented the other. It was such an amazing dining experience from the staff to the bar to the kitchen! Absolutely recommend to anyone looking for an upscale dining experience with a warm & inviting atmosphere.
Shelby & Lexi (bartender) were exceptional. All staff were kind & personable. The food (we asked the chef to pick favourites) was wonderful. I really liked the tomato spinach pasta & beef with onions. The Japanese turnip was fun to try! Overall, highly recommend. We had a wonderful time sitting at the bar, chatting with staff!
Salad was good, but olive oil was not. Fish did not have any taste. Also, end seat at the bar is not a seat, theres no place for your legs, they really should not offer it.
Nov 22, 2024
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Went here on a whim a few weeks ago & was blown away by the service & food. A spot was saved for me at the bar after calling ahead last minute & the bartender did a great job setting me up through the menu. Fantastic food & wonderful atmosphere. Can't wait to go back next time I'm in town.
This place is great, the food especially the past is superbe. We ate at the bar & the bartender was very nice. My friend had a cocktail 🍹 she really enjoyed. We shared a couple very good & fresh appetizers & then both had incredible pasta. Granted at 40$ for a plate of pasta 🍝 it better be incredible & it didn't disappoint 🤤. Finding parking around this spot is absolutely hell do so I suggest
WoW quelle belle experience! Nous y sommes allés en amoureux, au comptoir-bar. Notre serveuse/barmaid a été agréable, souriante, efficace. Nos entrées & nos plats principaux nous ont tous charmés. Les pâtes faites maison sont délicieuses. Ambiance chaleureuse, douce. Une soirée parfaite !
My favorite restaurant in town ! The food is AMAZING, the service is perfect & the atmosphere is really nice. The spots at the bar are really nice for 2 people
Dinner was at the bar served by Simon. The food was lovely & I like the option of half portion pasta as we are not big eaters. Pasta was our choice & it was fantastic - agnolotti & spaghetti. The focaccia was really good as was the cannoli dessert! Dinner here is comfortable & inviting like you were eating at a friends place! Finally a word about Simon. We left our wine dinner pairing to him & he selected well & when I spilled my wine while trying my partners pasta he immediately cleaned up & replaced my spilled wine no charge. Class all the way!
Food was really good, although the portion sizes are a bit small for the price. This was also the first Italian restaurant I've been to where you have to pay for bread.
Desserts are underwhelming, the $12 peach donut was barely filled & the "gelato selection" is 2 scoops.
The waitress asked us for allergies at the beginning of the meal which we provided (almonds), & then recommended & served a dessert with almonds towards the end. The almonds were not mentioned in the menu description. If the allergy was serious this could have put someone into anaphylactic shock. If you're going to ask about allergies at the very least you should try to remember them.
When we pointed this out she just said "Oh" & gave us the machine to pay.
The service in general wasn't great which is strange because the restaurant is very small & they had at least 5 waiters. We finished our water during our appetizer & it wasn't refilled until we'd finished our entrees.
If you're willing to pay this much for dinner I would recommend just going down the street to Joe Beef.
Total bill for 2 people including tip, one appetizer, one drink, two entrees, & two desserts was around 200.
