Gioia De: the cucina sociale bringing a little joy to the Old Port

If you knew Pubjelly, you probably remember this Old Montreal address, which served convivial food in a more laid-back setting. People came for small seasonal plates, Roman-style pizza and oysters, right next door to Jellyfish.

Today, the same team is taking over the space with a new identity: Gioia De. In Italian, gioia means joy or happiness. And that’s pretty much exactly the mood the restaurant wants to create: a big table, fresh pasta, good wine and an evening that doesn’t end too early.

An Italian-style cucina sociale

Behind Gioia De is the same team as at Pubjelly: Francis Rodrigue and Charles Mary. This time, the group draws more on Italian conviviality with a cucina sociale, where dishes are meant to land in the middle of the table and be shared.

In the kitchen, chef Jamie Lee Gerosa serves Italian cooking built on fresh ingredients, local products and plenty of house-made preparations. The menu quickly sets the tone: homemade pasta, burrata, pizza, wine and cocktails. In short, food made to be eaten with a group, without overcomplicating things.

A new, much brighter look

The change goes beyond the kitchen. The space has had a complete makeover, and it looks great!

Pubjelly’s dark atmosphere and dark wood tables have given way to a brighter, more refined decor dominated by light wood. It’s warm without being stuffy, and it works just as well for a business lunch as for a dinner that stretches out over a bottle of wine.

The dining room seats up to 80, which also makes it an interesting option for groups and private events. And for anyone familiar with the joys of parking in Old Montreal, Gioia De also offers valet service.

The fresh pasta is definitely worth trying

The menu is divided into several sections: snacks, raw and cured, burrata, specialties, fresh pasta and small oven-baked pizzas.

If you only order one thing, we suggest starting with the pasta. Our favourite: the Vesuvio. This pasta comes with a rosé sauce spiked with chili and softened with mascarpone. The sauce is creamy, slightly spicy and, above all, clings well to the pasta. It’s the kind of plate that disappears far too quickly.

Dishes range from $15 to $41, which remains reasonable for the area. At lunch, a $31 table d’hôte also lets you discover Gioia De’s cooking without straying too far from a midday budget.

Vino, cocktails and evenings that stretch on

Naturally, cucina sociale also means wine. The list was designed to go with the different dishes and takes a fairly accessible approach: bottles to open alongside the meal, without necessarily making a whole ceremony of it. The house cocktails round out the offering nicely, whether to start the evening at the bar or for a drink after the meal.

Gioia De is a complete change of register from Pubjelly, but it keeps what made the address charming: a place you come to as much to eat as to have a good time. The new decor is bright, the approach is convivial, and Jamie Lee Gerosa’s fresh pasta is definitely among the things to try.

A good option for lunch in Old Montreal, dinner with friends or a big table where nobody feels like checking the time.

Written by Marie-Lou Pillin
Photography by Gioia De

Updated on September 12, 2026

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