El Pastaman — Restaurant in Montreal

El Pastaman is hands down one of the best Italian restaurants I’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting, and it’s now a must-try destination for anyone in Montreal. From the moment we decided to give this spot a try, everything about the experience exceeded our expectations. Whether you’re a fan of authentic Italian cuisine or simply looking for a cozy, satisfying meal, El Pastaman is guaranteed to impress.

We ordered two classic dishes—Alfredo pasta and Carbonara—and both were absolutely divine. The Alfredo pasta was creamy, rich, and perfectly balanced, with just the right amount of sauce coating the fresh, perfectly cooked pasta. The flavors were indulgent yet comforting, a hallmark of great Italian cooking. On the other hand, the Carbonara was equally amazing, with a deliciously creamy texture and a rich, smoky flavor from the pancetta that elevated the dish to another level. Every bite was a reminder of why classic Italian dishes never go out of style.

The portions were more than generous, which made the experience even better. For the price, the quantity and quality were exceptional, making it one of the best value-for-money meals I’ve had in a long time. Despite being a takeout order, the food was well-packaged and retained its freshness and flavor by the time we got home.

One of the standout moments of the experience was the incredible customer service. The staff were welcoming and went out of their way to make us feel special. The person who handled our order was genuinely kind and thoughtful, even surprising us with a complimentary tiramisu. It’s rare to find such gestures these days, and it truly made the experience memorable.

Speaking of the tiramisu, it was absolutely perfect. You could tell it was made fresh and with authentic ingredients. The layers of mascarpone, coffee-soaked ladyfingers, and cocoa were beautifully balanced, and the dessert wasn’t overly sweet—just the way it should be. It had a unique flavor profile that felt traditional yet special, showcasing the skill and care that El Pastaman puts into its food.

To top it off, the meal came with freshly baked bread that paired wonderfully with the pasta and added an extra layer of satisfaction to the meal. We enjoyed every single aspect of our takeout order, from the savory pasta to the sweet tiramisu.

El Pastaman is more than just a restaurant—it’s an experience that embodies the heart and soul of Italian cuisine. The combination of incredible food, generous portions, and outstanding customer service makes this a place you’ll want to return to again and again. I already know I’ll be back the next time I’m in Montreal, and I’ll be recommending it to everyone I know.

If you’re in Montreal and looking for an unforgettable Italian meal, do yourself a favor and visit El Pastaman. Whether you’re dining in or taking out, you won’t be...

El Pastaman lives up to its name. During our three-day stay in Montréal, we ate here the last two nights. My girlfriend suffers from coeliac disease, which is why we are always on the lookout for gluten-free options. El Pastaman offers gluten-free pasta. The pasta sauces are also gluten-free. I ate the "El Transparente" pasta with normal spaghetti. I have never eaten a better carbonara in my life. The sauce was perfectly balanced. The spaghetti was topped with crispy bacon, juicy pancetta, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh spring onions and sprinkled with parmesan. It was real soul food. The taste is 1A. My girlfriend also liked it. On the second evening, I tried the spaghetti bolognese (El Rosso). This was also delicious, but couldn't even begin to compete with the delicious carbonara. Our recommendation is therefore: try the carbonara. The restaurant itself offers plenty of seating. You can come by without a reservation, which we really liked. However, the ambience was not the nicest (fans were running, electronic music was playing in the seating area and pop music in the kitchen - very confusing). But we would still eat here again...

I got the carbonara and rose for take-out, was craving pasta late at night. I was pleasantly surprised that it came with garlic bread which reminded me of a pretzel bun, very nice texture. The pasta is packaged in a foil container which kept it hot for a very long time! Even while eating it, the pasta towards the centre remained piping hot! The rose sauce is absolutely deliciously creamy and the sundried tomatoes added a lovely sweetness and tangy flavour in each bite. Dipping the garlic bun in the sauce was so tasty. The tomatoes were juicy and the pasta had a great texture.

The carbonara is extremely meaty which I loved! I loved the crusty pancetta and the bacon had a great bite. I definitely recommend getting your pasta fix from this place, service was very fast and kind. Perfect to snuggle up with your pasta on a rainy day! Thanks for serving the Montreal community and satisfying late night pasta cravings of tourists and locals alike! Will definitely be returning next time I'm back...