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.
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 $12 peach donut was barely filled & the "gelato selection" is 2 scoops.
The waitress asked us for allergies at the beginning of the meal which we provided (almonds), & then recommended & served a dessert with almonds towards the end. The almonds were not mentioned in the menu description. If the allergy was serious this could have put someone into anaphylactic shock. If you're going to ask about allergies at the very least you should try to remember them.
When we pointed this out she just said "Oh" & gave us the machine to pay.
The service in general wasn't great which is strange because the restaurant is very small & they had at least 5 waiters. We finished our water during our appetizer & it wasn't refilled until we'd finished our entrees.
If you're willing to pay this much for dinner I would recommend just going down the street to Joe Beef.
Total bill for 2 people including tip, one appetizer, one drink, two entrees, & two desserts was around 200.
Do with this what you will.
Sep 14, 2023
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The tagliatelle (pasta) with chanterelle mushrooms was phenomenal. So was the grilled pork chop. Michelin star service, staff provided a great wine recommendation, extremely knowledgeable.
Aug 26, 2023
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Ce restaurant est une trappe pour touriste . La qualité de la nourriture y est moins que la Moyenne malgré ses prix exhorbitant . Les serveuses sont habillées comme des cheap cheerleaders qui malgré tout essaient de faire leur mieux . Très inconfortable sans air conditionné. Vraiment inférieur à la qualité des restaurants de Montréal . Un repas simple avec une qualité médiocre nous as coûté environ 100$ par personne . Complètement ridicule . N'y retournerai pas .
TRES DECEVANT! Nous avons essayé ce restaurant suite à l'article de Montreal Eater & honnêtement, je ne comprends pas la recommendation. Les 6 convives ont été extrêmement déçu. Les plats servis sont ok, mais sans plus. Beaucoup trop cher pour la qualité du produit. Restaurant bruyant & pas comfortable. Service médiocre. Menu était différent de ce qui était indiqué sur le site. A la fin du repas, il faut braver la horde de gens qui attendent patiemment pour avoir accès au vestiaire qui est dans le noir & donc impossible de trouver le bon manteau. C'était la 1ere & dernière fois pour nous. Je ne comprends pas comment ce restaurant se trouve dans les meilleurs au Canada.
I read so many raving reviews about Nora Gray, so i couldn't help to try it for myself. The place is lovely, what a fantastic job they did with the decor. The look & feel is really unique & felt quite art deco in a different place & time! The food was good, but not outstanding on the quality/value scale. I could definitely see this as being a good place to bring a date, would surely impress.. For me, it didn't quite hit home run to become one my favorites.
Mar 14, 2014
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NOUS N'Y RETOURNERONS PAS. Trop sombre (impossible de lire le menu plein de fautes d'orthographe); trop chaud (surchauffé); trop bruyant (même la serveuse de la table voisine n'arrivait pas à se faire entendre & devait crier plus fort que la cliente un peu trop exubérante); trop cher (& en plus, impossible d'avoir une facture individuelle même pour plus de 425 $ à six). & quelle mauvaise idée ces tables pour six avec banquettes ; impossible de servir correctement le vin à ceux qui sont assis au fond. C'était bon mais ce n'était pas agréable.
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
