Pasta Pooks serves handmade pasta shaped by traditional techniques and seasonal ingredients. The kitchen produces delicate ravioli and tender gnocchi that carry authentic flavors in every bite. Each bowl relies on fresh components to define the character of the preparations. The interior space remains compact, creating a sensory environment that centers entirely on the warmth of the food. These dishes provide a focused exploration of texture and flavor, where the natural quality of the dough remains the primary feature of the meal. Simple preparation methods ensure the integrity of every noodle, providing a direct connection to the kitchen's approach to scratch-made staples.
Pasta Pooks is widely celebrated for its exceptional, high-quality handmade pasta and standout dishes like the ricotta and spinach ravioli, gnocchi, and signature tiramisu. Many diners describe it as a premier destination in Montreal for authentic, seasonal Italian cuisine, often praising the vibrant atmosphere, warm service, and thoughtful wine pairings. While some visitors find the restaurant to be on the pricier side with smaller portion sizes, and occasionally note challenges related to the small, loud space or long wait times, the majority of patrons consider the culinary experience to be well worth the visit and frequently return for the heartfelt, top-tier food.
I can see why people like this place & the fresh pasta but it missed the mark for us.
Firstly, the zucchini flowers were fantastic. Exactly like homemade. The pasta was pretty good, not great, the spinach ravioli was lacking flavour, but overall the pasta dishes were fresh & good quality, but expensive for the quantity. Ordering bread off the menu for $7 had us expecting some nice focaccia or something similar, but the bread was basic & flavourless with only 4 small pieces, not that we would have wanted to eat more.
The atmosphere was very confusing with an italian menu, latin music, & a huge wine list with mostly french wines but only a couple of options available by the glass. Cocktails painfully overpriced, $18 for an'Ugo' spritz which was literally st-germain + prosecco no flavourings or fancy mix-ins or garnishes to justify a cocktail price.
My husband needed a burger after the meal & we ordered 2 apps, & 3 pasta dishes.
Pasta Pooks was easily one of the highlights of our Montreal trip. We had heard a lot about it through Google reviews & social media, & the food absolutely lived up to the hype.
There were four of us, & we shared several appetizers & four different pasta dishes family-style. Not a single dish disappointed. The pasta was outstanding-fresh, flavourful & exactly what you hope for from a restaurant focused almost entirely on doing pasta exceptionally well.
The atmosphere is intentionally rustic & nostalgic-almost like sitting down for dinner at your grandmother's table in the 1980s-& it completely works for what they are trying to create.
Service was the only area that felt a little inconsistent. The restaurant & patio were busy, & at times the service felt minimal & somewhat rushed. There were stretches without much attention, such as not being asked about another drink, & some interactions felt a little frantic rather than relaxed. That said, the food arrived in a reasonable amount of time & none of this took away from how good the meal itself was.
Overall, we would absolutely return & recommend Pasta Pooks to anyone looking for a genuinely excellent & authentic pasta experience. The food alone makes it worth the visit.
Let me start by saying I don't normally leave restaurant reviews but I could not help myself leaving one for Pasta Pooks. Been meaning to go for awhile & I went today with my wife, daughter, son in-law & our 1 month old grandson. Let me say that the food was off the chart amazing! Best pasta I have had on this side of the Atlantic!! We started with the fried zucchini flowers which were crispy, fresh without being oily, polpo & patate that was just the perfect balance between octopus & potatoes with a tasty sauce. We decided to order all the pasta dishes & shared them. Each was better than the next. The linguini with speck in mushroom sauce was my favourite-so flavourful. All the homemade pastas tasted incredible & fresh!! The sauces were so good, I had to ask for bread to do a scarpetta!! Plus, our waitress, Margo was excellent & pleasant, helping us with wine & plate selection (well we ordered almost everything-haha) & all with a smile & friendliness. All staff were pleasant & obviously pleased to be working there. Definitely will be back to see what else is new on the menu. Keep it up Chefs & Team!!
Aug 20, 2026
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
Stopped by Pasta Pooks for lunch & overall had a good meal, though it did not quite hit exceptional status.
We started with the Piatto di Antipasti Misto, which came with sliced charcuterie, fresh mozzarella, & fried dough pieces. The quality of the cured meats was solid, & the fried bread was a fun touch, though the portion felt a bit modest for 26 CAD.
For mains, we tried the Spaghettoni alla Gricia & the Gnocchi al ragù Napoletano. The spaghettoni had nice, thick crispy pieces of guanciale, though the sauce itself was a little heavy on the salt. The gnocchi was soft & paired well with the rich meat sauce, making it the stronger pasta dish of the two.
We finished with dessert, ordering a slice of lemon meringue pie & a chilled berry dish. The lemon pie had a bright citrus flavor & light meringue, which balanced out the heavier pasta courses nicely.
Service was friendly & the menu offers a nice variety, but given the price point, a few elements fell just short of outstanding. Worth a visit if you are in the mood for classic Italian plates, but keep expectations ground.
We had been waiting a long time to try Pasta Pooks it did not disappoint. From the first touch of service all the way to the to go box we took home, this was a perfect dining experience. Service was attentive without being overbearing, recommendations for wine & course flow we're excellent & the food was perfect. You can tell everything is handmade, fresh & seasonal. The homemade bread & butter are a must. We went with the Spaghettoni (favourite dish by far) then the Ricotta & Spinach raviolis that were nice & light. Incredible evening, their patio would be a great shout for earlier in the evening if you can snag a spot
July 26 update
4th visit to Pasta Pooks, & it's just as good every time.
Even after just getting back from Italy, this Montreal Italian staple continues to impress & consistently delivers.
We didn't have a reservation, so we put our name down, grabbed a drink, & about 40 minutes later we were seated on the terrace. The service was lovely from start to finish.
The fennel salad to start was fresh & delicious. We shared the Ravioli di Ricotta e Spinaci & the Triangoli con Stracchino e Funghi, & both were outstanding. Paired with a nice Montepulciano, it made for another memorable meal.
Four visits in, & Pasta Pooks never disappoints. 🇮🇹🍝🍷❤?
Pasta Pooks in Montréal is absolutely delicious. The food is first rate & well worth the visit. The space is small, though they are expanding, which will be welcome given how popular it is.
We shared the fried zucchini flower to start, followed by the bean salad, pesto gnocchi, & spinach ricotta ravioli. Every dish was excellent. We sat at the counter , staff was really friendly .We waited about thirty minutes for a spot, but it was absolutely worth it for such outstanding food.
Honestly the food is good here, not mind breaking but still harty & delicious. Love the freshness of ingredients. I was visiting from out of town for a couple days & dropped by. However, I experienced quite a painful wait for my food & noticed other tables being served before mine.
It was 26+ that day too, so sitting in a tight space for over 40 minutes after the appetizers with zero AC was a bit much for us. I noticed the server communicated to others that there was a wait or something (Je parle francais en peu), but she never came to my table. The appetizers came within 15 minutes, a little slow but not as concerning as the main dishes. Overall wait time, slow service, & heat was led to this lower score (it felt much hotter inside than outside), would be sitting around 4/5 otherwise.
Otherwise, the experience was okay. Giving the place the benefit of doubt & leaving my rating at 2 stars assuming this was a one-off. Still worth trying on a cooler day I guess!
Absolutely delicious! Fresh pasta done right, with great service & a cozy atmosphere. Don't sleep on the Philly cheese & the Italian poutine. They will change your life!
