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 were there last night, & I wish we were going back tonight!! The atmosphere was very cool, restaurant has its own unique vibe. Food was delicious, staff is super attentive & polite. Will be back very soon, so much more we need to try on the menu! oh & perfect extra dirty martinis :)
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.
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 -
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).
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.
love this place super cool 1970's paneled basement vibe paired with a fantastic food & beverage program (u must get at least one pasta) all combined with team service that delivers a perfect evening.
Apr 28, 2024
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It’s a beautiful thing when things make sense. In terms of restaurant experience, for me, this means a synchronicity between the food, the wine, the plating, the lighting, the vibe, & the service. I know Meat Loaf would say that “two out of three ain’t bad,” & while you can’t argue with the logic of someone who’d “do anything for love” (except, you know, ‘that’), I’m not trying to high five mediocracy here. Unfortunately, if a couple of the elements listed above are outta wack, the overall dining experience is dulled. Enter Nora Gray.
For full review, please visit: http://winedinemontreal.blogspot.ca/2013/03/nora-gray-1391-rue-st-jacques.html
