Hey Steve!
Recommending an italian restaurant to someone living in New-York feels a bit like recommending a chinese restaurant to someone living in Shanghai but hey - if you are looking for a few more recs here’s what I think
Old school classics:
Historical high end places. If you know any italians you are probably able to safely bring them there. One of my former boss (Italian) has Da Emma as a safe space - he goes in the kitchen and gets yelled at by the cook and loves it.
Da Emma - tried it once, not my favorite but I’m probably not italian enough.
https://www.yelp.ca/biz/da-emma-montréal-2?osq=italian
Graziella
When you want italian and you don’t want to mess it up - classic and safe
https://www.yelp.ca/biz/graziella-montréal-3?osq=italian
The new school of cool
Impasto
Michele Forgione was a legend before launching impasto. When he teamed up with one of italy’s favorite sons (Stephano Faita) it was a recipe for success. Simply enough - if you know your classics in Mtl you go to Da Emma or Gaziella, if you know your modern italian you go to Nora Gray or Impasto.
Le Serpent
Worthy of mention by being in the fantastic “Club Chasse & Pêche” familly. Good food by ppl that cares.
https://www.yelp.ca/biz/le-serpent-montréal?osq=italian
The upstart:
Bar Bara - I’ve never been but I’ve ordered from them a million times during covid. Their meatballs rocks and their homemade gnocchi are insane. The only thing more insane than their gnocchi is that they stopped doing them and that the place somehow closes at 8pm (what??). It takes balls to open a place during covid and I wish they get enough clients to open later haha.
