Da Emma

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Roman Table on the St. Lawrence

Ristorante Da Emma sits at 777 de la Commune Ouest, right in the heart of Old Montréal, and it makes no apologies for what it is: a serious Italian restaurant with a menu rooted in Roman and broader Italian tradition. Gambero Rosso awarded it 2 Forks in 2023, a distinction that reflects the kind of consistent, ingredient-led cooking that earns repeat diners rather than one-time curiosity visits.

The Menu

The kitchen moves through the classic Italian arc — antipasti, pasta, meat, fish — without detours. Starters set the tone clearly: prosciutto paired with buffalo mozzarella, fresh burrata with tomatoes, bresaola carpaccio, and marinated artichoke hearts. These are not reinventions; they are well-sourced Italian staples executed with care.

Pasta is made in-house. The agnolotti al ragù — veal-stuffed ravioli with a veal meat tomato sauce — anchors the pasta section, alongside medaglioni filled with ricotta and spinach (available with tomato sauce or a gorgonzola finish) and fettuccine with porcini mushrooms. Portions are honest, prices straightforward.

The meat section leans traditional: roasted lamb (abbacchio al forno), roasted piglet, grilled sirloin, veal scaloppine with mushrooms and peas, and meatballs in tomato sauce. Fish options include grilled salmon and tuna, swordfish sautéed with arugula, and jumbo shrimp in white wine. The menu notes that dishes change with availability — a sign the kitchen follows the market rather than a fixed script.

The Wine List and After-Dinner

The Italian wine list by the glass covers the essentials with genuine ambition: Rosso di Montalcino, Barolo, Amarone, a Vermentino, Pinot Grigio, and an Antinori Chardonnay. Grappa receives serious attention — Poli, Nonino, Borgogno, and an Ornellaia Eligo among the options — as do dessert wines, including a Vin Santo and aged Tawny ports.

Atmosphere and Practicalities

Valet parking is available, and the restaurant accommodates private parties of up to sixteen guests — with a single-bill policy for groups of six or more. The room operates Tuesday through Saturday evenings, a schedule that signals a kitchen working at its own pace rather than chasing volume.

Da Emma is the kind of Italian restaurant Montréal is lucky to have: unfussy, well-supplied, and quietly decorated with the recognition it has earned.