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Mona Lisa Ristorante Italiano
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
4 reviews for Mona Lisa Ristorante Italiano
4 reviews in English
-
Review from Sean D.
10/23/2011
Wonderful little spot. food is very good, nice neighborhood. You will need a reservation on the weekend. Menu is great, probably one of the best Italian restaurants in Winnipeg unless you go to a high end restaurant. I've been a few times.
-
Review from Coleen L.
9/29/2008
This place will always have a special place in my heart because it's where my husband proposed to me. They have a really nice atmosphere and the food is really delicious.
They have a wide variety of desserts and the waitstaff has been very nice and outgoing every time we go there. -
Review from Gail G.
Winnipeg, MB
2/26/2011
The 'hood values this place as much for its late hours, great wine selection and friendly staff as for its food. But let it be known that the food is pretty great too.
One of my favourites is the "rustic" pizza. More calzone than pizza? Perhaps. All I know is, it looks fabulous on the plate and tastes even better in the mouth. It's like a pizza in first bloom, unfolding its crusty petals to reveal the delicious tastes inside. Mona Lisa will deliver it, too...and I tell you, it is a joy to open the box and behold this hand-crafted beauty, rather than the usual flabby facsimile that we accept as pizza at our doorsteps.
I'm also a fan of the Calabrese pizza -- similar taste but with traditional crust and presentation.
Yes, this pizza is a tad expensive. You must ask yourself: Do I want something cheap to fill my somach in a hurry, or am I longing for tasty enjoyment? If you want the former, choose Dominos. No shame in that. But if you want to savour your pizza -- perhaps in the company of something voluptuous and leggy, like a nice Cabernet -- Mona Lisa's it is.
For pasta, one stand-out for me is the pescatore, packed with seafood. Mona Lisa has a nice touch with their red sauces, whether on pasta or pizza.
In years past, my favourite pasta was the shells stuffed with ricotta and shrimp. It's still a good dish, but they've moved to a more artful presentation that I don't think works as well, taste-wise. instead of chopping up the shrimp and mixing it with the ricotta, they perch the shrimp atop the stuffed shells. Pretty, but I prefer the tastes combined in the shell, rather than deconstructed.
In summer, the patio is always popular -- perhaps even more so since Corydon Village turned into one long strip of sushi joints. There our friendly and gracious host, Joe Grande, can often be seen holding court.
Sit at the bar inside the Cantina, and you will be treated to great service by a friendly bartender...with a good-natured tolerance for women of a certain age who are out to enjoy a lively Friday night dinner.
And if you want sushi, try Mona Lisa's Italian version. Well worth a taste, and great for sharing. -
Review from DineoutGal A.
Winnipeg, MB
6/6/2010 7 photos
I love calamari and their "frittura di calamari" ($12) is probably one of the most tender squid I've ever had (even my 3 year old niece ate them). They're lightly battered and very delicious. No sauce, just a lemon on the side. The portion is surprisingly small at that price but the quality made up for it.
Ordered the small margherita pizza ($14) which is about 10 inches. It's on a thin crust that tasted greasy (and more akin to a foccacia taste); the toppings were okay but I don't think I'd order this again due to the greasiness.
Tried "the rustic" ($16), they say it's not a pizza but they don't describe what it is in the menu! LOL. It's like a rustic partially open calzone. I've attached a picture. It was a hearty dish filled with artichoke hearts, calabrese sausage capicollo, and mushrooms. Good filling dish and more interesting than a regular pizza.
The seafood risotto ($24) was the best dish of the evening served with mussels, shrimp, scallops and fish in a spicy tomato sauce. There were lots of mussels but not that many shrimp. The risotto was cooked well and the sauce was really delicious. I don't usually eat risotto in a tomato sauce so it was a nice change from the white wine and parmesan versions.
The vitello capriola ($28) is veal scallopine goat cheese reduced sauce with side of rapini and rosemary roasted potatoes. Veal wasn't that tender but the sauce was good. The rapini is not my fav veggie but it was good along with the tender roasted potatoes.
I'd skip their pizzas and go with their seafood offerings as they seem to shine in that category. Comparatively, I'd say their pricing is a tad more than other Italian restaurants like Bellisimo or Tre Visi. But I'd say their quality is pretty good.
