Elena

Elena has a multi-level backyard terrace, and happens to be one of the most fun spots in the entire city, in addition to being one of the few fine dining restaurants open seven days a week. We like to start with a fernet cocktail and then get into small plates of beets and stracciatella, or the kale caesar piled high with parmesan, before digging into a wood-fired sourdough pizza and one of the pastas (make it the mafalda). The same folks who run Elena also have two other equally wonderful places in the Sud-Ouest: the Italian-leaning, grill-focused GiaGiaGia and classic trattoria Nora Gray, which has some of the best pasta in town.

Ce restaurant de Ryan Gray et Emma Carderelli, propriétaires du prestigieux Nora Gray, est probablement le nec plus ultra en ville. Son menu, consistant de café, de vins naturels et de pizzas à la composition complexe aux saveurs variées et originales, est acclamée par la critique depuis son ouverture en 2018. L’atmosphère ici est détendue, l’espace est aéré et lumineux, mais les combinaisons innovantes de saveurs de pizza sont tout sauf banales.

Yes, Cardarelli listed Elena again—and again, we struggle to disagree. “At Elena, the vibe is cool kids in cool clothes with fun music and colorful decor,” she says. “The quality of ingredients and love that goes into production are bar-none.” Other worthy options include Pizza Toni, Adamo, and Gema.

Originally from Toronto before settling in Montreal, James has worked under Ryan Gray (Elena, Gia, Nora Gray) along with Lawrence Fiset (Gia) and Elisabeth Racine (Pacina) while also cultivating a robust wine knowledge with some of the city's most notorious wine personalities. Having observed every wine that has made the list over the past 6 years, James was recently appointed Elena’s Beverage Director and now oversees the cocktail program and cellar which features one of the country’s most celebrated collections of natural wines. The list in brief: Vibrant and wild wines bursting with personality and energy.

Marley Sniatowsky, Ryan Gray and Emma Cardarelli’s latest restaurant offers a home for any occasion — from casual catch ups to family dinners — and that sort of inclusive hospitality was exactly what the trio wanted. Nestled into an iconic corner venue on Notre Dame Street West (it was previously a strip club, and then a steakhouse, back in the ‘70s), Elena has quickly become one of the best Italian spots in town. The big draw is the incredible selection of natural wines, curated by Gray, and the naturally leavened pizza dough, which takes perfectly to the wood fire oven.

The folks at Elena describe themselves as “Inside/outside/upstairs/downstairs/coffee/pizza/wine,” and while that’s a confusing way to describe a restaurant, it’s also all true. This colorful spot has a multilevel backyard terrace, a long natural wine list, coffee, wood-fired pizzas, and happens to be one of the most fun restaurants in the entire city. Pizzas such as the Funguy, loaded with all kinds of mushrooms, are great, but their kale caesar and the red wine pasta are excellent choices, too.

I celebrated my birthday at this Saint-Henri hot spot because it’s great for a large party. Follow our lead: Order a large-format Tuscan maceration from the all-natural wine list. Get the mushroom (M. Funguy) and margherita pizzas since they’re always on the menu, then fill the remaining table space with seasonal pizzas chefs Emma Cardarelli and Janice Tiefenbach compose out of market finds: chicories with boquerones and purple potatoes with buttery Comtomme cheese.

One of our favorite Montreal pizzerias, Elena is an address we love to revisit, no matter the season. In the summer, the back patio and alley picnic tables welcome us, while in the winter we love the modern mid-century decor, the dim lighting, the lively atmosphere and the menu that offers excellent pizza, pastas and salad options, wines by the glass – including a wide selection of natural and private imports – all in all simplicity, but never skimping on quality.

A self-taught chef, Janice Tiefenback worked in several kitchens in Montréal and beyond before landing at Nora Gray and finding her groove. She has since helped open Elena, where she has taken the lead in the kitchen, as well as Gia, the latest restaurant from the same group. At Elena, chef Tiefenbak is able to explore her passion for pasta and casual Italian cooking featuring simple, top-quality ingredients, the kind of that appeals to everyone.

From the same owners as Nora Gray, Elena is the natural evolution of its sister restaurant: “Coffee, pizza, wine” is the central concept of the establishment, as described by Ryan Gray. Here you can savour some of the best pizza in Montreal, but also some very good pasta!. The restaurant offers three to four pasta dishes, as well as a pasta of the day, executed according to classic Italian recipes, but revisited with flavours from Quebec.

Why You Need To Go: Hidden in the backyard of Montreal's acclaimed Elena, this spontaneous Saint-Henri wine bar and lunch counter is a secret retreat. You can pop in for their noteworthy sourdough pizzas, featuring toppings like house-made stracciatella crafted from Quebec cheddar cheese curds. The ingredients are organic and local, and you can enjoy the festive atmosphere that has stolen the spotlight from its big-sister restaurant.

The chic sophisticated interior at Elena – a new Italian brasserie in the St Henri district – is designed by Kyle Adam Goforth of Montreal’s Sid Lee Architecture. Much thought has gone into the details, from the flooring laid in different directions to the petrol blue colour carried from the velvet dining chairs to the tops of the eclectic bar stools. The menu is simple but delicious, offering home-made pizzas and pasta.

In Saint-Henri, Elena emerges as a testament to Italian cuisine reimagined. Opened in early 2018 by the team behind Nora Gray, this spot pays homage to inspiring individuals like Elena Pantaleoni, whose spirit infuses the establishment’s warm, unpretentious hospitality. It integrates seamlessly into the neighborhood, reflecting its evolution with a vibrant, inviting space designed by Kyle Adams Goforth.

Winner of enRoute magazine’s decor of the year award, Elena’s pizzeria is as much a feast for the eyes as it is for the palate. The space is elegant, with many bright colors adorning its soft velvet banquettes. The long marble bar is lined with bright yellow stools, with an electric blue artwork that would be the perfect setting for your next Instagram post.

Avec sa pâte entièrement au levain, la pizza de style néo-napolitaine de chez Elena est l’une de mes favorites. La pâte est fine, légère, bien assaisonnée et goûteuse grâce au levain. Les éternels traditionnels se régaleront avec la Margherita ou la Diavolo — garnie de peppéronis —, tandis que les amateurs de champignons comme moi seront comblés avec la M.

Elena, situé à Saint-Henri, est un restaurant italien contemporain devenu un incontournable à Montréal, cité dans plusieurs blogues, journaux et listes des meilleurs restaurants de la ville. Offrant une sélection de pizzas, de pâtes et un vaste choix de vins. La pizza au levain naturel est une spécialité, avec une croûte fine et digeste.

The bike ride from my place is a lovely and decent 15 minute ride. It’s a ride where I constantly amaze myself with the new openings and closures that Saint-Henri has to offer. My ex-neighbour (and still friend) from Parc Ex and I used to grab the kale from my garden and use her Caesar recipe weekly as the star of our dinner parties.

Along with some of the best pizza and organic wine in town, Elena’s highly photographable interior enhances the dining experience. The restaurant’s vintage plush chairs and booths paired with a bright and spacious layout lead to a comfortable yet elegant space. Address: 5090 Notre-Dame St W Hours: Open every day, 12 pm – 10 pm

St-most Henri’s popular hangout doesn’t need much of an introduction: You can’t go wrong with its stunning design, fascinating natural wine range and the best wood-fired Neapolitan pizza in New York City. Elena’s mafalda pasta, smothered in a rosemary-scented beef and pork ragu, is a must-have for each trip to the restaurant.

Elena combines a modern atmosphere with a menu that emphasizes local and seasonal ingredients. Their pizzas, such as the 'Fun Guy' with mushrooms, taleggio, and thyme, are creative and delicious. Pair your pizza with one of their natural wines for an exceptional dining experience.

Une des particularités des napolitaines de l’Elena – outre le fait que la pizza est diablement bonne –, c’est la pâte, faite avec du levain alors que la majorité des pizzérias utilisent de la levure. Les options vont du classique au plus moderne. 5090, rue Notre-Dame Ouest

5090 Notre-Dame St WMontreal, Quebec H4C 1T1, Canada(514) 379-4883. Elena is a modern Italian restaurant with outside tables that has been serving pizza, spaghetti, and an extensive wine list since 2018.

Nora Gray has a pizza restaurant called Elena which specializes in no-intervention pizza. Behind Elena is social club which is a horseshoe bar with “coffee, pizza, wine”.