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Wienstein & Gavino's
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11 pm - 1 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
40 reviews for Wienstein & Gavino's
Review Highlights
"Some of the best pasta I've had -- made fresh from scratch."
(in 10 reviews)
"...you out a fresh warm baguette to dip in pesto and Olive Oil."
(in 5 reviews)
"...outside terrace great for people watching in the Summer."
(in 3 reviews)
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40 reviews in English
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Review from Farin I.
10/30/2011
The 5 star here just cuz I had the most spectacular!
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Review from Emmalee F.
Montréal, QC
2/4/2012
I completely agree with the comment that this resto is suffering from an identity crisis, not knowing whether to be a bar, resto, lounge or club.
When I went for the first time in 2008 I was left with a very positive impression and I looked forward to going back. Strangely however, I returned about four times after that and EACH TIME, the menu had less choice, the meals were downgraded, smaller, and more expensive!
We gave it one more chance in 2010 and after that it was blacklisted unfortunately. It was better many years ago.
I simply would not recommend this resto, although I'd say the service is no issue. -
Review from Sean D.
11/25/2011
i had octopus with capers and somethin somethin for an appetizer. it was quite lovely. very flavourful.
the chicken parm for dinner was average. nothing special other than it was humongous! 3 of us could have eaten it, (especially after my octo)
restaurant was nice, casual setting. i didn't find it overly interesting, but cant complain. (much)
Takes Amex -
Review from Caleb A.
9/6/2011
First meal in Montreal.
If youre not a fan of getting groped on Crescent street but enjoy people watching, this is a great place to be around an older generation of people and very few of them in this quiet place while you watch the craziness of Crescent street happening all around you. It was deader than a dead duck here on Thurs midnight.
The waitress screwed up the pizza order and on her second try she managed to f up again, but oh well. We were boozing so ate it all up. -
Review from M D.
Montréal, QC
2/12/2012
Mediocre, over-priced Italian on Crescent. $24 (including tip) for a simple salad with added Gorgonzola and walnuts. Nothing spectacular. You're paying for the obscene rent this place must pay. Go to 'Il focolaio' if you want decent, basic Italian in the downtown area. Or head over to 'Il piatto della nonna' on Amherst for some authentic Italian cooking with good prices.
In summary - you can easily do better. -
Review from Chris A.
Dorval, QC
2/2/2012
While not the best Italian in the world, it was pretty decent. The atmosphere and staff were very nice. I was eating alone at the bar (on business) and enjoyed my meal. I had the gnocchi with pomodoro sauce and it hit the spot. The bread was great as well. I would definitely go back
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Review from Laarv F.
1/2/2012
Laarv and her companion searched Crescent Street for the perfect dinner spot. We were in the mood for something simple but delicious and not over priced. Well, we found the simple when we stepped foot into Wienstein & Gavino's. Laarv was served a "Mama Celeste" pizza and was told it was a mahgarita pizza. Laarv's companion ordered a greyhound. Our waitress was confused and brought him something that was not even close to a greyhound. Wrong juice, wrong glass. Mixed drinks were cheap, now we know why. Laarv left unsatisfied.
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Review from Katie H.
10/6/2011
I enjoyed this restaurant very much. At the beginning they bring you some complementary homemade bread with some olive oil/pesto to dip it in. Yummy yummy. I ordered the gnocchi with a pesto sauce. It was some of the best gnocchi I've ever had. There was a TON of it as well. I couldn't finish it all. I will definitely go back there again when I'm back in Montreal.
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Review from josh j.
Calgary, AB
11/25/2011
A little pricey, it is on Crescent Street afterall. Good ambiance and great people watching from the patio, especially the Sopranos-like paesanos in the restaurant across the street. Had calamari that was literally delivered by a crane, it was huge; and very good. Pastas were crafted well and very satisfying. Princess Bride enjoyed the salads and bread there. C'est bon mes amis.
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Review from Rod P.
Victoria, BC
6/9/2011
There was a lot of hype about this place upon my arrival and I must say that everything was average.
It is a huge facility and judging by the rate and speed which the tables turned over, this restaurant was about volume.
Very loud ambience although the decor was very nice.
Food was fine but not spectacular. I had the Fitello de Manzo which was nice and tender but the sauce was made from a demi-glace powder and was really over bearing.
Being and Italian place I expected a great wine list. Again average at best. Featured Italian wines were Bolla, Australian was Yellow Tail- you can see what I mean.
I ordered a glass of the premium Chianti, I Mori, and it arrived warm and filled to the top.
If you are going with a group of friends, business colleagues, then great. Going for an authentica Montreal/Italian culinary experience then go somewhere else. -
Review from Rebecca S.
11/28/2010
This place was recommended by the hotel staff- we probably wouldn't have chosen it ourselves, just walking by.
That being said- I can see why they would have recommended it- nice decor, nice wine list (not a lot of by the glass options though), young hip crowd, close by... probably seemed like our kinda place.
When we went we were seated quickly, but that was about the only thing that was quick. There was a party of 8 attractive women, a table of 2 attractive women, and another of 4 others that were half-good-looking surrounding us, a couple. Our male waiter seemed more concerned with those around us...
The bread came and was delish! (what a french baguette should be- crusty on the outside, but warm & soft on the inside). We munched on that... I waited forever for my glass of wine... which wouldn't have been a big deal, except I'm normally gluten free, so this huge hunk of delicious bread sitting in front of me, taunting me... not a good thing. Normally, I'm fine watching people around me eating delicious food that I don't.. but that's when I'm drinking. So, yeah...
My salad came- flavorless & oil-covered. I would have loved some pepper... was never asked. Food came, and it was pretty good. Had one of the specials, risotto, and I definitely enjoyed it. It was way more food than I could finish. He had the chicken ripieno- instead of it being filled, the filling was just on top... but he enjoyed it. Misleading name.
Despite neither of us being able to finish our entrees, we did order the tiramisu for desert. It was good, but not life changing (as described to one of the tables around us). Overall, food was good, but definitely over-priced.
Even though our actual waiter wasn't particularly attentive or nice, the girl who brought most of our food to us was quite friendly. I hope he tips her well... she definitely makes up for his lack of service.
The music here is WAAAAAY too loud for a restaurant... and it's too clubby. This place was confusing... seemed conflicted. Are we a nice restaurant or a club?
One plus- There was a hilarious drunk woman in a super short dress who loved dancing... so even though we were just sitting there a lot, we were entertained. -
Review from Eva T.
Toronto, ON
9/5/2011 2 photos
We selected this place walking by. I had a delicious grilled octopus Polpo alla griglia: Octopus, red wine vinaigrette, roasted red peppers and JT had a pizza special, with a fish soup starter. The fish soup had a great bouillabaisse taste, with chunks of fish. The pizza had sundried tomato pesto, chicken, basil, gouda and mozzarella cheese. It was delicious! A good find on Crescent Street!
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Review from Molly G.
8/15/2010
Pros
- Good portion
- Great location
- Patio seating allows you to people-watch
- Moderately priced
- complementary hot bread and pesto
- decent bar
Cons
- food takes a while
- bartenders are not experienced
- kinda pushy about drinks (but given the location, that's not surprising) -
Review from Jason C.
QC
7/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
Delicious food, great price. Pints could be a bit cheaper, but $10 Pizza or Pasta from 11am-3pm is a steal.
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Review from k r.
10/3/2011
Strange place... Rocking club like music with a pretty big Italian menu. We ordered the pizzas which were just ok.
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Review from Jessa C.
7/29/2010
I traveled to Montreal for the first time for business and had dinner here with some coworkers. For a Wednesday evening, the place was hopping, but we were still able to get a table. We were served warm bread and olive oil and pesto once we sat down. I had gnocchi, which you could pair with any sauce you wanted, which for Montreal didn't seem overpriced at around 14$. The portion was enough that I had leftovers for lunch the following day. The waitstaff was on top of everything, so I didn't feel ignored or intruded upon. Nice atmosphere.
The only thing I didn't like about this place, is you don't get free refills on soda, which I was told is common for Montreal. It was 3.50$ for an 8 oz glass of soda. -
Review from Susanne J.
Hope, BC
1/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
Warm candlelight and freshly made pasta called out to me on a freezing Monday night in Montreal. This place hit the spot. The wine was delish, the bread was fresh and served with a tasty pesto oil dip, the portobello mushroom pasta was just right and the tunes were funky. Service was attentive and wireless worked well. Got some stuff done and got myself all fed up. (:
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Review from Michael L.
7/22/2009
This place is stuck in an identity crisis. It really can't decide whether it wants to be a bar, a lounge, a club, a chain restaurant or an upscale restaurant. So W&G decides it will do all of the above. Because of this, I was a bit hesitant to enter (as you can imagine this place was a big hot mess), however thanks to my "seriously snotty about food" friend we entered at our own risk. And let me just say, I had a pretty damn good time! We made an attempt to sit at the bar and moved several times because of the unbelievably loud sound system blasting dance music. For a second i thought the entire place was going to be lifted up on hydraulics! Once we settled we had a few ordinary drinks which were fine, but free shots were great!
Once we had enough of the nightclub/bar/lounge, we decided to stay for al fresco dining. This was a dream to my ears as it was outside and away from the noise. We had the Osso Buco over buttery pasta (excellent, although I thought the pasta was a bit overcooked) and Mussels in curry broth (good, although not hot enough for me). The place has a great mix of people, no pretension and something for everyone since this place tries to please everyone by having multiple personalities. Good times. -
Review from Erica L.
6/16/2011
A good place to go when you are shopping downtown and you do not really want to venture out to try something new and interesting. It is always really good service and the dishes are always ok.
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Review from Jeffrey T.
Montréal, QC
4/18/2009
Very much a Crescent street tourist hangout. About as authentic as Mario and Luigi.
Great for American tourists and Mom and Dad visiting their little princess who goes to McGill ;) -
Review from S E.
4/4/2011
I love the decor in this restaurant. The food is well above average. For a full bar, the beer list is a little lacking. This service was prompt yet not particularly friendly.
I definitely recommend a visit. -
Review from Vivian Y.
3/24/2009
Mmm...one of my favorite dining destinations in Montreal. In the heart of the action - great wine lists and a beef carpaccio to DIE FOR!
Yes, I realize it's a little touristy but it's great! Never had a bad time here! -
Review from jay l.
5/30/2011
if you are looking for a delicious dinner and a hip bar/lounge scene, wienstein and gavino's is the place for you. the wait staff is helpful, friendly, and attractive. the menu has plenty of choices (pasta, pizza, and main dishes) for those who want italian. the crowd is eclectic; we noted a healthy mix of college kids celebrating birthdays, families, and couples.
the gnochi was hearty. our waiter offered to top it with some mozarella and bake it. the serving size was more than adequate(!). my wife had chicken filled with goat cheese and red peppers. again, her plate had lots of food. make sure you come hungry! -
Review from Jenni B.
5/14/2009
I have to start this off right - I had the best pizza I have had in North America at Wienstein & Gavino's. It was quattro fromaggi (I believe - four cheese nonetheless) and was one of my most fantastic food experiences ever.
Sitting on the terrace, enjoying my beers and conversation with a friend, we happened to get hungry and ordered up this pizza. I have a wheat allergy - however any discomfort resulting in the following week from this pizza were well worth it.
Our server was attentive without being annoying and socialized with us a bit, but not inappropriately he still tended to his other tables. It was a great experience and I would definately recommend this place. -
Review from S L.
Outremont, QC
10/31/2009
Had lunch recently there.
The food was really average with items as averagely common as rice /chicken soup + the pasta dish I had was average (cooked non al dente, sauce a bit bland). It was basically a cafetaria lunch that I was having there and that I was not expecting on one of Mtl's hypest streets (Crescent). I've heard that dinners are way better and I am looking forward to try their dinners, but based on that cafetaria lunch I had there...sorry, but my 3 stars rating are largely generous here! -
Review from Timothy W.
6/5/2009
Went to check this place out based on the reviews of other Yelpers. It was a little crowded for dinner on a Thur. evening but they seated us right away. The bus staff was overly helpful (this could just be normal for Montreal) in assisting us with our daughters stroller. They carried it upstairs and parked it out of the way for us. Coming from NY you don't often see service like this.
Anyway, the meals... I ordered the pizza and DW had the meat Lasagna. Both meals were pretty sizable and we both thoroughly enjoyed the food. The wine \ beer list was pretty extensive as well which was a plus.
Don't be fooled standing outside this place, there is a massive multi-tiered upstairs dining area. I would definitely check this out while in Montreal. Hell we're here for a few more days we might hit it up again. -
Review from Lynette S.
8/3/2009
Beautiful food and restaurant. they give ya food for days and days!
I got the deelish rissoto (they have multiple rissotos).
the service was greeeeeeeeeeeeat too. -
Review from Jeff H.
11/30/2010
LOVED W & G's. We were in town for a mini-vacation on Thanksgiving (2010) weekend. A friend, who goes to Montreal every year for a guys' hockey trip, suggested it. The decor is awesome - lots of dark wood, a huge bar with bottles of liquor, wine and champagne along the walls of the restaurant. They played great dinner music (softer house & progressive music is how I'd explain it). I would highly recommend this place for just a drink or dinner while in town.
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Review from Daniel D.
Ottawa, ON
1/17/2009
This is a quintessential Crescent street experience: high on flash, low on content.
My pastas were alright, though nothing you could not do at home with a sauce bought at the grocery store. The white wine was way too cold when they brought it and very overpriced for such an average pinot grigio.
Places like those have their purposes: you can take a large group there as it won't bother anyone if you are noisy, and people's expectation regarding food are usually low. However, if you want to treat yourself to a good meal in good company, go somewhere else. -
Review from Kathy S.
9/18/2008
Their pasta is made FRESH.. from scratch. How can you beat this? Their bread is warm and comes with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Their house wine is always good. I always have a good time here.. So many reason for the 5 stars! Everytime I'm back in Montreal I make sure to come here. I have been here at least 30 times and have not once been disappointed. Their arabiatta is excessively spicy but they gave me a "toned down" version of it once I let them know ;)
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Review from Scott S.
7/7/2009
We stumbled on W&G after our concierge told us Rue Cresecent was a good place to look for dinner. The whole area seemed pretty touristy and more of a bar scene than good food, but W&G looked pretty good. Service was good, the menu had a nice selection. I had a pasta dish with chicken. It OK. nothing special but decent. The Risotto was excellent though. Bread before the meal was good too. Overall, probably a good place to grab some good food before hitting the bars or if you are in the area, but not worth traveling to or going out of your way for a meal.
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Review from Loree B.
8/7/2008 4 photos
One of my fave spots here. Very italian, very lively...and the decor and brick walls are really breathtaking. Awesome for a romantic dinner or large groups/parties. This place is huge, too. Check out their site for pics of their wine selection- omg! Wonderful food that fills you up quickly. We were a very roudy bunch that night- it was so much fun- even the waiter was going along with it!
Listed in: Bonjour, Montreal!
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Review from Jaime D.
7/21/2009 1 photo
My best friend and I had not intended to go to Weinstein's & Gavinos for dinner, but we happened upon the establishment because the reception desk at our Hotel recommended the place because his friend Zeb was the bartender there. We arrived and was able to get a good spot at the bar and ordered our drinks (me a glass of wine and he a glass of Jack & Diet Coke) and the Jack was very jacked up - which many would consider a good thing if you wanted lots and lots of alcohol. We had pleasant company with a local who was there that night enjoying a drink and chatting up the bartender who also hooked us up with a free shots and we knew if we sat there, we'd get more free shots.
There is a pasta factory in the back and you can see into the kitchen if you sat upstairs. The sound system was a bit loud and we ended up having dinner outside in the front. It was raining but they have a canopy set up so that you have the option of sitting outside without getting wet. It was a Friday evening between 10 - midnight that we were there. We ordered the Osso Bucco over buttered spaghetti and the Steamed Mussels in Curry broth as our starter. We felt the portions were big enough to share which we were right. They also bring you out a fresh warm baguette to dip in pesto and Olive Oil. Overall, our experience was surprisingly pleasant and our bill with 1 main, 1 appetizer and two drinks totalled $50. The only drawback is, that if you're not a smoker, understand that sitting outside will subject you to other people smoking. -
Review from Mohammad P.
5/3/2010
Good place to eat when you are in the neighborhood. This place is huge, very good for large parties. Lot of options to order. Good quality of food with nice and welcoming staff.
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Review from Adam E.
3/2/2009
Great for groups, I can't believe how big this place is. Some of the best pasta I've had -- made fresh from scratch. Excellent service, too. I can see why it was recommended by our concierge. We were there for at least two hours and had a lot of fun. The low reviewers need to relax.
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Review from Dawn A.
1/2/2010
This was one of those places that McGill students had their parents take them for dinner during university while I attended there several years ago. On a recent visit to Montreal, I brought my husband there to see if it was still as good as I remember. It was. Pasta was fresh, menu as extensive as ever, bread and oil dipping sauce delicious. The place is huge and we were seated right away, even on a busy night. A good place to go for good italian food downtown.
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Review from Rob Y.
Caledonia, ON
7/21/2009
Not bad...no complaints...good place along a busy stretch. Don't specialize in anything really. Had some veal and LOTS of drinks. Nice little patio, and good selections of everything. Again, these type of places are a dime a dozen on Crescent St.
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Review from Chantal J.
Québec, QC
1/14/2009
I met up with my boss in Montreal on a cold Sunday night and we were both hungry after already having travelled for a while. We were staying at the Delta Montreal on rue President Kennedy, and wanted some place lively but not requiring us to dress up. Our concierge suggested going on Crescent Street that has plenty of lovely restos and bars.
Out of all the restos we saw even still open (it was the first weekend of the year) Wienstein & Gavino's had the brightest lights and looked the most inviting. Although I did find the name bizarre.
We got a table no problem, (duh, late Sunday night) and sat upstairs, but for a cold night, there were still plenty of people there, mostly couples on dates and a slightly older crowd (35-40+)
The food was delicious! We started with the bruschetta, and there was plenty of warm carbs being placed on our table and a self-serve balsamic vinegar and olive oil to accompany it. My boss enjoyed her pasta dish, as well as I enjoyed my penne with garlic and veggies. The taste was very fresh, since I am not a huge pasta fan, but I really liked my dinner. The service was impeccable too.
Afterwards, we enjoyed a glass of wine at the bar and the bartender was flirty, but nice and I could tell wanted to chit chat with us. It was an overall very pleasant environment, service and food! -
Review from pierre b.
Montréal, QC
4/20/2009
Mixed menu with Italian and Mediterranean. Good outside terrace great for people watching in the Summer. Food is fair and prices are reasonable.
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Review from L C.
8/29/2008
The place could have changed but my memory of it was of flavorless food surrounded by tasteless people with flashy gold jewelry (I'm talking the guys here...the girls were a little too brassy blonde). Maybe the place has changed though...I'm only giving it two stars because maybe it has gotten better but Crescent St was always...well if you can't say anything nice. For good food and a great time, there are a gagillion better places than here like L'Academie on St.Denis.
