They can be long, short, stuffed, in twists, in bowls, in tubes, braided…
Decorated with a white cheese-based sauce or a red tomato-flavoured sauce, simply reduced or cooked for hours into a vigorous stew… They connect and delight young and old alike. I called: pasta!
Here are 8 restaurants where pasta isn’t taken lightly — and most importantly, are worth the detour. Hello!
Moccione
Photo courtesy of Le Cuisimane
A bolognese maccheroni that gives you goosebumps. Bucatini all’amatriciana that jumps under the tooth and warms the heart. Tortelli with a savory filling, garnished with a light, enveloping sauce that keeps us a bite from happiness… Combining tradition and modernity, always in tune with the seasons, Chef Luca and his team offer great Italian cuisine in Montreal, That means it’s worth the detour.
► moccione.com
► 7495 Saint-Denis Street, Montreal
Luciano
Photo provided by Luciano
Ah, Nonna’s cooking that is both delicious and so comforting! So simple that you wonder how it can be so good. However, it is not the grandmother who cooks here, but a Luciano in top form who does nothing other than pay homage to his Italian roots. We dream of these asymmetrical slices stuffed with a very tasty mushroom concoction, covered with a simple sage butter, or the oblong pappardelle in the ragout, whose complexity does not lie in the way of preparation. Here we stay pure and hard in the tradition – and that’s how it’s perfect.
► lucianotrattoria.com
► 1212 Saint Zotique Street East, Montreal
barbara
Photo provided by Barbara bar a vin
At BarBara there is no time or day to enjoy a good meal of fresh pasta. We sit there morning, noon or evening, any time of the week to enjoy one of the best cacio e pepe in town. My latest discovery that deserves a full mention? Tortiglioni all’olio, round, cylindrical pasta smothered in olive oil, Parmigiano Reggiano, garlic, chili peppers and a generous amount of lightly browned mushrooms. The small piece of bread will be more than necessary to mop up the excess olive oil full of flavors!
► barbaravin.com
► 4450 Notre Dame Street West, Montreal
impasto
Photo courtesy of Impasto
Led by the prolific duo of Michele Forgione and Stefano Faita – to whom we owe a lot for making cooking at home easier for us with Stefano Faita products – Impasto has quickly made its way to the best Italian tables in Montreal. In fact, you can enjoy delicious fresh pasta that honors both tradition and Quebec produce. The freshness of cavatelli with the first spring vegetables gives way to tagliatelle with wild mushrooms in autumn, then – the epitome of indulgence – to tasty gnocchi with rich veal bolognese in winter.
► impastomtl.ca
► 48 Dante Street, Montreal
Noodles from panza
Photo courtesy of Pasta da Panza
Lucio, chef and founder of Pasta da Panza, has literally grown his hands in flour, semolina and eggs. “When I was young, I always wanted to eat fresh pasta… I sat next to my mother, then I made my own pasta! explains the man who, after a few years in accounting, has returned to his first passion. After earning his diploma from the Institut de Tourisme et d’hôtellerie du Québec (ITHQ), he gradually rose through the ranks and became Executive Chef at the defunct Buonanotte restaurant. In 2014 he decided to invest in himself and start his own restaurant and caterer specializing in fresh pasta. Don’t miss the tortellini, individually stuffed and rolled!
► facebook.com/pastapanza
► 3825 Saint-Martin Boulevard West, Laval
Bello Ristorante
Photo courtesy of Bello Ristorante
This Quebec Italian table is the ideal restaurant to go with family or friends without worrying too much about whether they will like the menu. There’s wood-fired pizza, a variety of fish, seafood and meat, risottos (which are some of the best in town), and of course, delicious pasta. Linguine alle vongole, alla carbonara, al pesto, tagliatelle with seafood, wild mushrooms or duck confit (topped with foie gras!)… We opt for the half plate to enjoy more dishes on the menu.
► belloristorante.com
► 73 Saint Louis Street, Quebec
Battuto
Photo courtesy of Battuto
By prioritizing quality over quantity, Restaurant Battuto has carved a special place in the hearts of Quebecers. Exceptional ingredients, impeccable techniques, precise execution: every element of the menu is there for a reason, including the fresh pasta selection. Bucatini with short rib ragù, butternut squash agnolotti with sage and brown butter, ricotta gnocchi in a light broth garnished with Grana Padano cheese and black truffle… There is no wrong choice whatever the season!
► battery.approx
► 527 Langelier Boulevard, Quebec
Fiorella
Photo courtesy of Le Cuisimane
Fiorella, the most Quebecois Italian restaurant in the province? Possible ! One visit is all it takes to understand the medicine that chef Laurent Godbout applies to Italian classics, but without adulterating them. We will first enjoy an incredible beet salad that will not leave you indifferent, before attacking a variation of fresh pasta: gemelli rosée sauce with pancetta and spinach, pesto cavatelli with lemon zest and burrata cheese or the mafaldine with smoked meat carbonara and pickled mustard , on the menu since day one.
► thedistrictgourmet.ca/restaurants/fiorella
► 990, Route de l’Eglise, Local 119, Quebec
Tommy Dion is a columnist/food critic and founder of the web platform and gourmet guide www.lecuisinomane.com