I often hesitate to order pasta at an Italian restaurant, thinking that I could easily do a decent pasta job at home myself. And then I had Santa Lucia's linguini alle vongole with white sauce. I take my food reviews seriously so believe me when I say nobody... yes... nobody in Montreal could make pasta sauce that unforgettable. It just has that 'wow' factor that makes you start planning your next trip before you even finish the dish. Proof: I've been going there and ordering the same dish in the last five years. So there, 'nuf said.
PS: the place looks like someone's outdated living room, so if 'hip' is what you're looking for, this isn't it.