Cafe Gentile Westmount — Restaurant in Westmount

I don’t often write reviews, but this time I think I want to do the owners a favour because I really like this place. I’ve been here many times, but today was unacceptable and really disappointing.

I came in for lunch with 2 other people. We ordered the fuggetabouit sandwich, the Tunisian sandwich and The fried chicken Sandwich. We also ordered the arugula salad and some french fries. The french fries were absolutely terrible , they were under cooke and very salty . Burnt on the outside and raw in the centre indicative of poor timing and temperature when blanching them initially. It seems like they were not rinsed long enough in water to remove excess starch and were blanched at too high a temperature for too short a time.. My sandwich was also really bad. The chicken was very dry and cold the bocconcini was also void of moisture. the fried eggplant was an extremely thin, dry , cold, hard slice that seemed to have been over cooked and made earlier that morning if not the day before but who knows. It was really unacceptable. Especially given the fact that ive had it before and was not at all the same product. The salad was also very flat and drenched in very acrid unbalanced balsamic vinegar . We spoke to our waiter regarding the fries he was kind enough to take them back and get a new bowl but unfortunately they came back worse . They were now a mix of burnt on the outside and raw on the inside or just raw and lightly cooked ones . Needless to say I could not finish my sandwich, or the fries. When our waiter came to clear our table, I mentioned all this to the him. He was very understanding And accommodating and was kind enough to comp the sandwich and fries, even though we did not ask to be comped.

I am not leaving this review to put down this establishment. I know what it’s like to run a restaurant And the challenges of finding competent , passionate cooks that can follow through with the intended menu and vision of the chef/owners. We came to eat at 3 pm it is possible that the cooks were at the end of their shift and just wanted to go home and therefore were less vigilant in what they were serving even though this is not an excuse, I am giving them the benefit of the doubt. I know that you can do better and I hope that this information is taken constructively and that whomever was cooking today in the kitchen can also see this as constructive criticism so you can adjust these issues for your future clientele. Besides this, the service was great and our waiter was Really nice...

Tucked into Westmount like a cherished heirloom, Cafe Gentile served up a Mother’s Day brunch that felt more like a warm hug from someone who smells faintly of espresso and nostalgia.

From the moment we walked in, the ambiance charmed us—banquettes like Nonna’s living room sofas, tables dressed in soft green marble, and the comforting chaos of a bustling café filled with families, laughter, and that beautiful din of clinking plates and happy forks. It didn’t feel like a restaurant; it felt like home, if your home had professional chefs and an endless supply of pistachios.

My husband’s meal was a journey in texture and decadence:

A beet salad that was earthy and fresh,

Followed by indulgent French toast paired with bacon, a rich veal sausage crowned with a sunny-side egg,

And a final act of showy genius—a brioche stuffed with pistachio gelato and finished with pistachio crumb. I briefly considered tackling him for a bite.

I started with delicate smoked salmon avocado crostini, perfectly balanced and bright. Then came the Lobster Benedetto—a lavish, buttery twist on the classic Benedict. I closed with a thick, fluffy pancake, floating in a sweet, lightly creamy sauce that I may or may not have considered licking off the plate. (It was Mother's Day. I get a pass.)

Service was friendly and well-timed—no hovering, no disappearing acts. Just the kind of smooth professionalism that lets you actually enjoy the food and the moment.

Cafe Gentile doesn’t just feed you—it envelops you in Italian comfort, sprinkles pistachios on your emotions, and sends you home blissfully full. Five stars, and one extra perfectly drawn espresso...

I had one of the most disappointing dining experiences I’ve ever encountered. The pizza I was served was completely burnt and lacked any flavor or quality. To make matters worse, we found out midway through the meal that we were being served by the owner himself. Frankly, I was stunned. As the owner, you’re expected to set the standard for your staff to lead by example. In this case, that example was one of poor service, lack of attention to detail, and a complete disregard for the customer experience.

To top it all off, when it came time to pay, the owner punched the total into the credit card machine and then abruptly walked away mid-transaction without saying a word. I’ve dined at countless restaurants from casual spots to fine dining and I’ve never experienced anything like this. It was not just unprofessional; it was downright disrespectful.

I’ve noticed in other reviews that the restaurant often responds by offering a free meal “next time” as a way to make up for a very poor experience. Let me be clear, that is not a valid excuse. The first experience is what sets the tone. It’s your one chance to make a lasting impression and in this case, it was a terrible one.

Before considering opening a new location in the West Island, I would strongly recommend focusing on improving the current establishments. Serving quality food and providing a basic level of customer service should be the bare minimum not an...