Breakfast in Montreal

[kerrianne]

Hi Chowhounds! We're heading up to Montreal from NH on Wednesday morning for a 5 day vacation and staying at the Delta Centre-ville on Rue University. Are there any good breakfast places nearby? A bit of a walk is OK too, as long as it's worth it! Thanks!

[celfie]

often overlooked but a diamond in the rough is the tropical island paradise themed lebanese breakfast/smoothie joint down on guy and maisoneuve. get the avocado smoothie!

[SnackHappy]

That would be Cocktail Hawaii on Maisonneuve between Guy and St-Mathieu. I've never had their breakfasts, but their cocktails are great. That whipped cheese topping is pretty yummy.

[Moosemeat]

The cheese is called achta and if anyone knows where I can purchase some I would be forever grateful.

- Get a plain crepe with achta on top, you won't regret it.

[Campofiorin]

I would guess Adonis carries it. They have all sorts of Mediterrenean cheeses.

[Moosemeat]

Great Idea! I've checked Akhavan, Mourelatos (a long time ago) and Hamel, and none of them seem to have it.

[mainsqueeze]

Sorry, I think it's called Cocktail Antabli, not Cocktail Hawaii. It's at 1645 de Maisonneuve W.

Also, I believe they sell the achta there. I will double check next time I'm there and update this thread.

[SnackHappy]

Well, the phone book says it's Antabli, but I could swear that the sign says Hawaii.

[mainsqueeze]

This site calls it Hawaii:

http://www.canadaplus.ca/bars_restaur...

[BLM]

I think it's one of the these establishments that goes under two names. I've always known it as Cocktail Hawaii.

[SnackHappy]

We drove by it last night, and the sign says Hawaii.

[BLM]

I went there this afternoon. Here's what they told me. Antabi was the former name of Cocktail Hawaii(the change was done 6 years ago). So it's now known only as Cocktail Hawaii. They also make their own ice cream & sorbets.

[celfie]

i believe( from memory ) both are present

[evy]

the one on maisoneuve is called Cocktail Hawaii... but there is also an Antabli cocktail on L'Acadie, a bit north from the 40.

Yummy Yummy cocktails. had one this afternoon and still craving for another one

[mainsqueeze]

Are the waffles good there?

[phedre]

Definitely hit up Olive and Gourmando, and check out Cafe Veritas on St. Laurent and St. Paul.

If you're up for a trek, I really enjoy going to Jean Talon Market for breakfast: a Polish doughnut from Wawel's or a piece of baklava from Ryad with a good, hot coffee makes me a happy camper.

There's also Cheskie's Bakery (closed on Saturdays) on Bernard and Parc: grab whatever delicious bits takes your interest (the ruggelahs are fantastic, as is the chocolate babka) and then wander over to Cafe Olimpico (St. Viateur and Esplanade) for their delicious cafe au lait.

Both of these places are easily accessible by subway, and are in fantastic neighbourhoods; well worth the trip in my opinion!

[kerrianne]

These all sound fantastic - thank you!

[RhondaB]

If you are looking for a "good" breakfast spot, then any of the Chez Cora, Eggspectations or Tutti Fruiti chains will be suitable. For above average there's Le Cartet on rue McGill or I second morebubbles' excellent Olive&Gourmando (closed Sunday) recommendation. There's also Cafe Art Java on President Kennedy (also closed Sunday) for great coffee & croissants, snacks, sandwiches. Most, if not all, of the big hotels have big, rather expensive Sunday brunch.

[swissfoodie]

I have to negate the Eggspectations recommendation - the quality is really bad and way too expensive... it's the ultimate tourist trap.

[phedre]

Agreed! There are far too many small, lovely spots in Montreal that are more deserving of a trip than the chains.

[Arktik]

A sad, sad thing…breakfasts in Montreal or the lack thereof….

I think on an older thread Carswell recommended Reservoir but that’s kind of a trek from downtown. (Duluth and St-Laurent)

There is always Sunday brunch at the Ritz which is yummy and nice if you get a seat outside but a bit pricey at $50 a head.

[swissfoodie]

Reservoir only offers Brunch on the weekend but definately worth it.
On Peel Street there is Vasco da Gama cafe which has all sorts of goodies for breakfast: http://www.vascodagama.ca/en/

[Fritzy]

Besides rounding up the usual suspects, there is the newly opened Café Veritas on 480 St-Laurent just south of Notre Dame. I picked up their menu when I was there in the afternoon last week. I see they offer for breakfast omelettes, crepes, waffles and something called Porridge Belge (with oats, lait de soya and big variety of fruits, nuts and honey). I can only vouch for their very good coffees although another Chowhounder on the Best Coffee thread had good things to say about their lunch offerings.

[phedre]

I've heard rumours that the porridge is delicious, but I refuse to try it in this heat. Once it cools down I'll definitely be giving it a go.

[KevinB]

We stayed at the Holiday Inn Midtown this weekend (on Sherbrooke, east of Bleury), and in their Ace restaurant, enjoyed some pretty good breakfasts at reasonable prices. A 3-egg omelette with smoked meat, fruit salad, toast, coffee and juice for $6.75 was filling and tasty. (I ignored the deep-fried tater tots they touted as "home fries"; home fries are previously boiled spuds fried on a flat surface - preferably a griddle with bacon grease.) Soccer playing daughter stoked up for her tournament with 3 eggs, a generous serving of bacon (at least five strips), fruit salad, toast, ersatz home fries, and juice for $8.75. Service was very quick and pleasant.

[BLM]

It would be west of Parc.

[morebubbles]

May I ask what kind of breakfast you're looking for? coffee&baked goods or eggs&meats, etc.
Olive & Gourmando is within walking distance, they open at 8 a.m. This would be in the coffee and baked goods, and worth it. http://www.oliveetgourmando.com/index...
Their address is: 351 St. Paul West, Tel. [phone]

[kerrianne]

Thanks! This looks great. Coffee & baked goods will probably be perfect for the couple of days we have early lunches planned.

[kpzoo]

Within walking distance there's also Le Cartet on McGill St., whose weekend brunch sounds very delicious (though I still haven't tried it myself!), in case you do want something more substantial at some point:

http://www.hour.ca/food/food.aspx?iID...

They also have lovely weekday lunches, which I have had.

-----
Le Cartet
106 Rue McGill, Montreal, QC H2Y, CA

[morebubbles]

Glad to help &agree with your approach, save some appetite for a good early lunch!