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.
Pasta Pooks was a nice restaurant for a late night date. Food was solid. I wanted to love it more but being real, it was good, not great. Being from NY, hard to compare authentic Italian. I service was nice & place is fun.
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.
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.
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.
Went with my pregnant wife to try out their pasta. We ordered only a main course & stayed with water. Following this order it seemed like we had been forgotten. I asked mid dinner for some bread, I had to ask twice because even after waiting 15 minutes it still wasn't there. We had to ask for refill of water, which only happened once I paid the bill. Throughout the meal I had to use our own bottle of water to refill my pregnant wife's glass, while I remained with an empty glass.
The waitress didn't even seemed that busy & this clearly was an example of a waiter/tress that prioritize customers that order alot over other customers.
At the end of the meal, when I paid, I was criticized by said server for asking twice for the bread, which ended up being charged. Being criticized by staff over the fact that I had to ask twice for bread is absolutely unacceptable. (If I have to ask twice, in an italian restaurant, for bread then theres a problem.)
Tipping options also start at 18% but you can still decided to opt for an amount which I did. I left 11% just so the waitress wouldnt be losing money over my table but that was it. After being criticized I really felt like leaving nothing.
Only reason why I gave 1 star was because of the pasta, which albeit the small size (hence why we asked for bread mid course), were good.
Overall 1/5. Will not come again & wont recommend.
Holy Fooks! The pasta is on a different level here! Italian New Yorkers come here to learn how to make pasta! Incredible homemade pasta! The Spaghettoni alla Gricia gave me goosebumps! 2nd time here & will be coming back whenever I want pasta in Montreal!
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!
Amazing food & service! It was our first time trying Pasta Pooks & the food was delicious! We had the bread service, followed by the baccalà to start which was served on fried polenta & the italian sausage appetizer. They were absolutely to die for & really set the tone for a great dinner!
We had the gnocchi with tomato sauce & the garganelli with a butter & mushroom sauce for our mains, which were all homemade & equally delicious. The portions were perfect & the value received for the price is outstanding.
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.
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.
