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.
We managed to get a table for 4 people last minute (1 hour before reservation time on a Tuesday).
Let start by saying that the female server we had was absolutely adorable & super knowledgeable about the menu. That's about the only upside.
We arrived 5 minutes in advance & the table wasn't ready until 30 minutes past our reservation time which was kind of annoying. We just stood there waiting for the table before us to leave.
The food is way too over priced for what it is. Basically the main course is simply not filling & not worth the price. Chickpeas, plain pasta & olive oil for $38 + tax is unreasonable. It's not even a big enough portion for a main course.
Atmosphere was SO noisy.
I would honestly not recommend coming l here which is disappointing because we live just around the corner & we were looking forward to trying this place for a long time.
Great vibe, very decent food. Service was exceedingly slow. Very, very slow service, though the service in general was very polite & gave good insight on the menu. Meal easily took 30-45 minutes longer than it needed to just on service time, & I am not one to nitpick on this, it just killed the flow of an otherwise great dinner.
The food was great quality. Asparagus was great, along with all the pastas. The beef was tough, though it was well cooked with a great sauce. The pork was also very tasty.
I would go back, but only if the service issues are fixed.
Jul 4, 2025
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My first time at Nora Gray by myself, because my foodie local friend said,'Try, you are in luck if you can get in.' I ordered tuna carpaccio & zucchini pasta. The pasta was impressive, from its aroma to texture & taste, especially its unique after taste sweetness was quite a delight! But the tuna… I had better. Sorry to say I was expecting the melt in your mouth texture with fresh balanced favour but the lemon juice somehow on that night was too overpowering so all was lost. The vibe was cosy, casual elegant. Servers were friendly & professional. Will try again.
Really darling spot in Little Burgundy. Nora offers a concise menu, highlights were the delicious fresh pasta - garganelli was spot on & the pork was dynamite. However, the portions were far too small for the higher price point, despite being very tasty. The Excellent service made our experience worthwhile, Ben was attentive & charismatic & willing to work around my allergies. The wine menu is vast & intriguing & for that I will be back! Merci
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.
The food & atmosphere were incredible. We ordered the beef appetizer with their focaccia & the mushroom pasta special & pork dish. We usually don't get dessert but loved every dish so decided on the chocolate dish. It was all so delicious! The staff was also very friendly & helpful with wine & food descriptions. I would recommend to anyone!
May 24, 2025
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this was a wonderful saturday night meal with the family. a super elegant spot with a calming & cozy aesthetic. from the wine to the pasta everything was divine. we got a half plate of each pasta, the beef tartare, shrimp, olives, focaccia & every dessert. highlights were the lemon butter pasta & the chocolate mousse. the wine was incredible too. great service, great vibes, amazing food. what a perfect for spot for a date night too. immaculate.
Service was super friendly & attentive, really described every dish well & helped with the wine pairing as well. music & decor were a vibe
The halibut melted in your mouth, the snow crab pasta special had a decent amount of snow crab, they had a really nice coffee Negroni, perfectly balanced. The olive oil ice cream worked well & is a must try along with the best amaretti cookies I've ever had (they had that soft chewy inside, hard crisp on the outside texture that I love about macarons). Affogato was typical but nice.
I wouldn't recommend the beef tartare type dish (overpowered by the fennel) or the cod stuffed pasta (small portion, nothing memorable).
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!
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!
We ate here for the first time Thursday night. My husband & I shared a salad, our own small portions of pasta, & individual entrees. The ingredients & preparation of each course were excellent, & the service staff were skilled & kind. The wine our server recommended was a pleasure all on its own, pairing beautifully with our food & distinctive enough to warrant a google search for future purchasing. Meticulous but unpretentious, it was a meal to be savored.
