Overall Pasta Pooks is widely praised for fresh handmade pasta and bold flavors, with standout dishes such as ravioli, gnocchi and casoncelli mantovani, and desserts like tiramisu and panna cotta earning high marks. Many reviews note that portions are small for the price and the overall cost can feel steep, especially given limited seating and a busy, sometimes loud, intimate setting. Service is often described as friendly and attentive with good wine knowledge, though a few visits mention slower or inconsistent service and occasional reservation hiccups. Taken together, Pasta Pooks is regarded as one of the top spots for pasta in the city and a must try for pasta lovers, albeit with the caveat that the hype comes with premium pricing and potentially cramped space.
Such a great hole-in-the-wall sort of restaurant. They have a limited menu & it really allows skill to shine. Their semolina pasta was perfectly bouncy & the white ragu was delicious. The raviolo pasta was beautiful - thin pasta, stuffed full, with a lovely sage sauce. The service was also so lovely, one of the waitresses sat down to explain various dishes to us which helped a lot! If I lived in Montreal, you'd see me here weekly.
Pretty disappointing overall. I tried the spinach/ricotta ravioli, & the sauce was basically melted butter, not creamy, not flavorful, just… there & plain. The ravioli filling had no real taste, & the spinach was completely bland.
The tagliatelle bolognese had plenty of meat, but the flavor profile was flat. On top of that, the pasta was overcooked, which didn't help. There are definitely better pasta spots out there.
The cheesesteak was another miss. The meat was chewy, the bread was chewy, & the whole thing was hard to get through. Not my style of cheesesteak at all.
Overall, not worth the hype. If you're already in the area, maybe give it a try, but I wouldn't go out of my way for it.
'Best pasta in Montreal'? Not even close. This place is all hype, zero substance.
The ricotta & spinach ravioli had about as much ricotta as a green juice. It was basically spinach wrapped in dough. Bland, unbalanced, & honestly embarrassing for a dish that simple. This is entry level pasta & they still managed to miss.
The fennel salad was completely destroyed by a heavy, confused dressing that overpowered everything. No finesse, no restraint, just a mess on a plate.
Then you look at the menu & it all makes sense. Four mains & a wine list that reads like a novel. Over 200 bottles. Priorities are clearly not in the kitchen.
I keep seeing people call this place'the best.' Compared to what, airport food?
At best, it is a 2.5 on a generous day. Save your money & go somewhere that actually knows how to cook pasta.
Finally checked out Pasta Pooks & it's a really solid spot. The handmade pasta is fantastic & the restaurant has a super fun, lively energy.
That said, it is definitely on the pricier side for the portion sizes, & the space is tiny so it gets pretty loud. Overall, it's amazing food & a cool atmosphere-just expect a premium price tag for a casual meal. Definitely worth checking out!
The food is delicious. Pasta as it would be in a very good trattoria in Italy. What does not work at all is the price, that is outrageous. 55 dollars (with taxtes & tip) for a bowl of ricotta-spinach ravioli & a tiny glass of natural wine, you know the one that looks like pineapple juice & tastes worse. In fact the wine list is insanely priced & utterly hip, as if this was a Michelin-starred joint, run by a dude fom Williamsburg. In fact you just ate at the bar, perched on a stool, & looking at the wall. Avoid the place, save some money & try to visit Bologna instead.
Hidden in little Italy , with an inconspicuous signboard, this tiny restaurant is incredibly popular! Online reservations & credit card guarantees are required to get a table; it's a popular Italian handmade pasta restaurant that demands a bit of patience to enjoy.
The pasta is perfectly cooked, springy & chewy, & infused with flavorful Italian meat sauce.
Comme déjà mentionné par plusieurs personnes dans les commentaires, 32$ pour 15 gnocchis & 2 cuillère à soupe de sauce tomate ca fait vraiment trop cher. Je n'ai malheureusement pas été transcendée par le goût non plus. Bien triste.
Pâtes dignes de l'Italie 🤌🏻
On a adoré nos plats & la salade de fenouil était délicieuse!
Ambiance cosy comme on les aime, super service & mention spécial à playlist italo-disco 🪩🫶🏼❤??🔥
Menu qui change au gré des saisons pour y incorporer les légumes du moment. Raviolis délicieux, pâtes fraîches de qualité supérieure. La nouvelle salle à manger est un gros plus ! 5 étoiles sans hésiter !
Mar 28, 2026
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The pasta is exquisite, but the overall experience was disappointing. The place feels neglected & extremely loud, with people acting as if they're in their own living room with no consideration for others. It might work as a chaotic family spot, but it's definitely not a place for a cozy or romantic dinner.
J'ai enfin découvert ce petit & sympa restaurant de la Petite Italie & le coup de foudre à opéré! Les gnocchis aux tomates & pecorino m'ont complètement renversé par leur tendreté & goût délicieux! Pour terminer, j'ai goûté à la décadente tarte aux cerises du Québec avec crème glacée à la vanille de la crémerie Meu Meu! Un petit coup de coeur malgré le prix quand même élevé pour ce petit arrêt dîner sur le pouce. J'y retournerai, assurément!
We were six people celebrating a couple of birthdays the pasta here is fantastic.we as Italians really appreciate the art of homemade pasta. The appetizers are also very good. My only critic is the portion size. I understand the pasta size being what it is, however the portion size of the appetizers could be a bit bigger. We needed eight appetizers so we can all have a bit of each otherwise we love everything else about this restaurant.
