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.
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.
For some reason, it's taken me year to check out Nora Gray & I'm very glad that I did. Lovely food & very thoughtful service especially when it came to wine recommendations.
Great experience overall with knowledgable waitress. She pointed us in the right direction with wine choice & we pretty well let her choose our dishes, she did a fantastic job! I still prefer Gia over Nora Gray but I like how it's a different menu.
Jul 10, 2025
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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
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!
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!
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.
May 4, 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.
Flawless experience , these guys are one of the reasons im proud to be a Montrealer , from food to wine to service, just impeccable. Every employee was insanely professional. & thank you Lexi for the amazing wine suggestions
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!
Jan 26, 2025
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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.
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.
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.
We were only in Montreal for 2 nights & are so happy we chose Nora Gray for one of our dinners. Charming space, even more charming staff, & outstanding food. Wine pairing recommendations were spot on!
