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.
Maybe I had too high hopes for Nora Gray, because last night's birthday dinner with my wife was a bit of a letdown, & I'm blaming the wine. We ordered the'Teresa Cascina Tavijn' red Italian wine, which was far too acidy & lacked a complexity of flavour. Choosing the right wine is so important. It can make or break & evening at an upscale restaurant like Nora Gray. Our waitress was amazing & gave us an in depth explanation of the food & wine, so it's nobody's fault but our own for choosing one that wasn't to our tastes. Nora Gray's service & atmosphere is truly top notch, in this warm & cosy nook of a restaurant. One of the highlights of the evening was the'Flétan de la Gaspésie, salsa d'oignons brûlés, petit lait, Ciabot del Moreto'20', which was a powerhouse of flavour & left us both raving. The'Viola Olive Oil' from Cucina Imports that we asked to be poured on a small dish was one of the best olive oils I've ever tasted, & well worth the $4 fee. It was perfect for wiping up with the'Focaccia Maison'. Unfortunately, one of the low points of the night was the'Battuta de boeuf, puntarelle, anchois, ail' which was far too chewy for a tartare. Tartare is supposed to be so tender that it melts in your mouth, but this was so gummy that I had to give up on champing & hide bits of half eaten beef in my napkin. Another dish that was less than memorable was the'Farro de Pacina, jus de volaille, poivre'. So, at one point our night out wasn't looking great, but thankfully it was saved by a mind blowingly spectacular dessert called the'Mousse chocolat & ricotta, crème à l'huile d'olive, noisettes'. It was a prefect blend of sweet, salt & more scrumptious olive oil. In the end, I would recommend giving Nora Gray a try & hopefully you'll have better luck with the wine. I heard that they have an outdoor patio in the summer time, which sounds like fun.
A warm & very friendly Italian eatery with a small menu specialising in seasonal fare. Had delicious asparagus & home made pasta with zucchini. The pasta sauce was lemony & refreshing but the spaghetti like pasta was a tad too thick & undercooked for me. Finished off with a fresh bergamot sorbet & an exquisite almond cookie. The service was immaculate.
Jun 7, 2025
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Nora Gray delivers a standout food & wine experience. Service is top-notch, the Italian dishes are inventive, & the natural wine list is full of surprises. Highly recommend.
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!
One of the most authentic Italian meals we have had outside of Italy. Every single family member loved it, including our 5 year old that said her homemade spaghetti marinara tasted like Italy. A short but carefully selected & sourced menu focusing on quality. We highly recommend Nora Gray & will be definitely return next time we are in Montreal. Kudos to the chef & kitchen.
If you're looking for a five-star, cozy fine-Italian experience, this is it. It's pricey but the food is incredible - I'm vegan & they accommodated me with apps & a main. The wine list is fantastic & their staff is knowledgeable & helpful. Fantastic place.
The server staff was excellent. Super friendly & very welcoming. Atmosphere & ambience were also really nice & relaxing. However... The portions of each plate are VERY SMALL. It's fine Italian dining but much smaller than portions in Italy. DO NOT GO if you are really hungry. This is a really nice restaurant if you're there to enjoy their wine menu or a cocktail & are fine with trying some dishes to sample, but are only feeling moderately hungry. The serving sizes here don't justify the prices per plate & the menu is seasonal, but small just like their plates. The atmosphere & ambience though definitely give it a nice, local neighborhood vibe.
Oct 9, 2024
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Nora Grey is a highly celebrated restaurant in Montreal. In terms of service & atmosphere, I can see why. The food though? Good, but way overpriced. Like WAY overpriced. 60$ for half a bavette, & a salad that's been hit with an Exterminatus of parmesan. To illustrate why this is crazy, a steak-frites at Au Pied De Cochon is 40$. 45$ for gnocchi, fettucini ragu & 2 other pasta dishes. The food ia good, don't get me wrong, but nothing about it stands out to justify the price point. & frankly, I make a better ragu. Being italian, it's hard to recommend ANY italian place, but unless you're trying to impress someone who's never had italian food, I would not recommend going.
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.
