Cafe Vito

Cafe Vito

Coffee enthusiasts take note: this is an update to my earlier post 'Cafe Olympico' where I praised the best barista and expresso coffee in town...Vito, the barista has moved on to open his own cafe in the Villeray neighborhood near Parc Jarry, a new up and coming neighboorhood. The cafe is located in a nice tree lined corner and although the seating is limited there is a nice atmosphere outside as people gather around drinking their coffee and chatting...There are croissants, ice cream and other goodies but you go here for the coffee...

Located at 151 Rue Villeray, Montréal, QC H2R 1G4

Aux Vivres

Aux Vivres

There is a paradise for vegetarians, vegans and carnivores alike in this culinary haven that is Montreal..............It is called Aux Vivres! It will be hard for your taste buds to believe that such full flavored-ness can be concocted sans animal products! The playfullness of the ingredients is refreshing and exciting! The anticipation before the next dish arrives is almost too much to bear.....the Aux Vivres burger is delightful and filling, the corn bread is AMAZING! The Chana Paratha and the Thai dish too.....Simple, casual setting, perfect for a quick lunch as you explore the great Plateau neighborhood.
PS Also a juice bar!

Located at 4631 boulevard Saint-Laurent, in the Plateau.

Le Comptoir Charcuteries et Vins

Le Comptoir Charcuteries et Vins
There is a very upbeat and informal vibe at this wonderful little place on a recent January night.

I went on a Friday night and the restaurant and bar were full. There was not a huge selection of vegetarian friendly options as suggested by the name, (Charcuterie refers to salted cured meats) but everything I tasted was spot on.

I had a delicious roasted cauliflower salad that had quite sophisticated combination of ingredients, the desserts sounded delicious! Make some room, sadly I didn’t, ...

On a Friday evening Le Comptoir can get a bit noisy, and privacy is not really an option given the proximity between the tables, but the location is excellent and if you are in the neighborhood and hungry the food and service will not disappoint.  

I arrived at 10:30 pm and was seated within minutes even if with no reservation.

Located at 4807, Blvd. Saint-Laurent, in the Plateau neighborhood

L'Express

L'Express

So you got carried away and now it's a bit late to get dinner at most restaurants....you're worried you will need to compromise on the quality of the meal that you'd hoped to have...there need not be a compromise if you head straight to L'Express in the Plateau neighborhood.
The food is superb and the service is outstanding,

with very professional waiters from culinary schools. Reservations are recommended but Maître D' Jacques-Yves will accomodate you if it's at all possible. On my last visit there I sat at the bar and had a mouth watering salad and the out-of-this-world daily special cod brandade!
The atmosphere at the bar is excellent, very french bistro with the bartenders engaging in casual conversation with the guests that linger and linger........

Located at at 3927 Rue Saint-Denis, in the Plateau.

Patisserie Kouign Amann

Equal parts unpronounceable and unforgettable! No trip to Montreal would be complete without eating a perfect croissant - the question is, where to find it! Those who have tried them at Kouign Amann declare that their croissants are the best in town, bar none. I concur! Located at the corner of Mont-Royal and St. Denis in the heart of the Plateau neighborhood, the proximity to shops and other food establishments make this an ideal setting.This tiny patisserie has only one table...most would walk by without noticing as it would be easy to miss, but don't let the size fool you. The quality of this establishment is exceptional. The pastries and quiches are made with passion you can taste! As with all good things that must end so too do the croissants, you must go early!

Located at 322 Mont-Royal Est, in the Plateau.

La Croissanterie Figaro

Located at the border of the Mile End and Outremont this enchanting french bistro serves up divine croissant sandwiches. Friendly, young waitresses, charming terrace and delicious food = great vibe! Sought after by locals for a relaxed meal, as well as by business people for informal meetings accompanied by a glass of Rose wine. This place lends itself to accommodate all. Although the restaurant itself is also very attractive, breakfast and brunch outside in the terrace is a tranporting experience. You feel as if you were in a place far from North America, although perhaps not France either...Sure there is croque monsieur and croque madame but there are many, many more options and committing to only one is not easy. The meals are rich, do not go if you are on a diet....do go for you are looking for a delectable treat for breakfast, brunch or lunch....it will not disappoint!

Located at 5200 Rue Hutchison in Mile End.

Cafe Olympico (Open Da Nite)

Barista Vito would possibly be the best barista in the world, if there were such a competition. Although it has a huge locals following, word about the exquisite coffee has been out for a long time and this place, although non-descript appearance to the untrained eye (multiple TVs showing sports events) is a magnet for serious coffee connaisseurs. Located in the trendy Mile End neighboorhood, near the world famous St. Viateur bagel shop, in the 1980's this cafe was frequented by Italian, chain smoking, card playing, pool table & fooz ball afficionados. This cafe is now a must, listed in Montreal travel guides, and revered by locals, foreigners and celebrities. The cafe is becoming a celebrity in itself, having recently been featured in the fabulous Quebecois film Cafe de Flore. You don't go here for food, you don't even go here for breakfast (although you can bring food from outside), you go here merely for the coffee. And you stay anywhere between 30 seconds and a few hours....The cafe is best known for the latte and the allonge, and the baristas can serve up to 8 coffees per 4 minutes! The magnetism of this place is unmatchabe with people often detouring for a coffee stop leading to impromptu meetings which add to the dynamic and energized vibe of this place!

Located at 124 Rue St-Viateur Ouest, in Mile End.

Boulangerie Guillaume

It's no secret that I am a devout bread follower....I have searched high and low in all my travels to find 'the best loaf in town'! And that means different things in different places, at Boulangerie Guillaume it means a transporting experience.... It is remarkable how many varieties of bread are made and sold in such a small place! The quality of the bread is phenomenal!! Different varieties are baked on different days and although I have not sampled as many as I would have liked I can attest for the seriousness of this business.

Check the list of breads made fresh each day if you don't believe me....(in french only but even if you can't read you can count, this place is the real thing!) Wouldn't know where to begin to make recommendations, I believe this is a personal choice but I assure you there is something for most, if not all!

Organic whole grains & flours, kamut and prune, whole wheat date & orange, the breads are as unique as they are good!

Located at 7 Avenue Fairmount Est in Mile End.

Olive & Gourmando

This is the place that inspired me to do this blog!

It's a lively cafe in the Old Montreal district of the city where the streets are cobbled and narrow, surrounded by history. Just as you are trying to escape the hordes of tourists near the old port you find a safe haven with mostly locals: Olive & Gourmando.

A feel good place with great food to boot!! The type of place that you just don't want your meal to end...........

The goat cheese sandwich with caramelized onions is perhaps the best sandwich I have had! And I am a declared and unabashed bread lover - it's that good...

Go on a lazy afternoon and plan to stay awhile!

**Note that it's closed on Sundays and Mondays.

Located at 351 Rue Saint Paul Ouest, in Old Montreal

Les Enfants Terribles

Well, there you have it - the best brunch this fall by far!!

Perhaps the french toast with glazed pear, roasted pecans and maple syrup is to blame but...this place also has an awesome cool yet laid back vibe....!

In general, I love that brunch in Montreal is earlier and significantly less congested than in NY, making it that much more enjoyable!!

Located in Outremont, this is one trendy spot, in a rustic meets modern kind of way, that is not over the top. The mood is relaxed and the food....oh the food!!!

Located at 1257 Av Bernard Ouest in Outremont