Food Itinerary: Westmount and Notre-Dame-de-Grâce
Tommy Dion
Indulge in the cafés, bakeries, restaurants and other gourmet hot spots in Westmount and the Monkland Village. Have fun being a tourist in your own city!
Westmount and Notre-Dame-de-Grace (Monkland Village)
Departure point: Vendôme métro station
Arrival point: Villa Maria métro station
Distance: 4.7 kilometres
Café Bazin
380 Victoria Avenue | website
A combination café, pastry shop and French bistro, Café Bazin is a bit like restaurant Park’s “little brother” and is a wonderful start to your gourmet getaway in the city’s west end. Whether you decide on an iced coffee, a fruit tart, a croissant or a slice of quiche, you will be amazed at the impressive talent and the savoir faire of pastry chef Bertrand Bazin.
What to order: The Tout-choco cake and/or the tart made with in-season fruit
Foumagerie
4906 Sherbrooke Street West | website
Lovers of all things sandwich (especially, those with cheese) will find everything their heart desires at Foumagerie. Not only can you choose from over 20 different sandwiches, but here you’ll find artisanal products from Québec and elsewhere in the world. A 25-year-old Montréal institution that’s worth the detour!
What to order: A sandwich!
Croissant Monkland
6050 Sherbrooke Street West | website
Though it has moved from Monkland to its present-day location on Sherbrooke West, Croissant Montréal is still as passionate about viennoisseries, puff pastries and other guilty pleasures. You’ll quickly notice that there is much more than meets the eye than their scrumptious croissants, which are downright divine, if not the best I have ever tasted in Montréal.
What to order: A croissant!
Meunerie Urbaine
6151 Monkland Avenue | website
Martin Falardeau, a pioneer of sustainable baking in Québec, was the first person in Montréal to offer customers breads made from flours that he ground himself, in house, on the daily. The result is pretty outstanding: toothsome and nutritious loaves of bread because the grain germ has been preserved in the process. If you have a sweet tooth, you may want to check out his croissants or pastries of the day. A word of warning, though; faced with all this deliciousness, it’s next to impossible to give in to your every craving.
What to order: A baguette, a loaf of bread, a croissant and a pastry.
Melk or Café de Mercanti
5612 Monkland Avenue | website
6128 Monkland Avenue | website
It all depends on the kind of coffee you’re in the mood for. Feel like a third wave coffee, with a lighter roast profile and a richer taste, or a darker Italian roast? One thing’s for certain, every cup here goes down smoothly.
What to order: Whatever coffee flavour you’re craving, plus a scone if you stop at Melk.
Gryphon d’Or
5968 Monkland Avenue | website
If you’ve got time for a well-deserved gourmet break, make it at the Gryphon d’Or. This popular tea room has been treating patrons to English tea service for nearly 20 years in the utmost of tradition. Tuck into scones, jams, Devonshire cream, cucumber sandwiches, egg sandwiches, lemon slices and other treats that are the perfect accompaniment to your delicious cuppa.
What to order: The English tea service. But if you don’t have time to sit down, at least leave with a scone.
Le Maître Boucher
5719 Monkland Avenue | website
People stop at Le Maître Boucher for great cuts of meat to grill on the barbecue, but also for many other delicious picks that will go with the main dish, from sauces to vegetables.
What to order: A juicy steak to grill on your barbie.
Slice and Soda
5675 Monkland Avenue | website
After a hugely successful opening in Old Montréal, the team behind the Slice and Soda pizzeria has since been unstoppable, opening five other branches within the span of a few months. The key to Slice and Soda’s success ? A cool-looking brand, a New York-style pizza that comes in oversized slices—unique to Montréal——but above all, its absurd tastiness. The homemade sodas, which come in original flavours, are another can’t-miss.
What to order: A slice of pepperoni or vegetarian pizza and an “apricot smash” or “spring fever” soda.
Le Cheese Truck or Frisette
5976 Monkland Avenue| website
5600 Monkland Avenue| website
What will it be? A grilled cheese sandwich or freshly-tossed salad? I have fond memories of the Le Cheese Truck’s decadent grilled cheese sangies from back in the day when it operated as a food truck. But since then, this trio of friends has taken it from four wheels to a bricks and mortar shop on Monkland, and has since wowed the people of the neighbourhood. On a hot summer day, the refreshing and crunchy gourmet salads from Frisette are also a cool choice you won’t regret.
What to order: Le Cheese Truck -Grilled-cheese royal with a tomato soup. Frisette – Frisette salad or falafels.
Other suggestions for take-out or a drink: Lucille’s Oyster Dive, Hello 123, Pigeon Café, Baba Thai, Taverne Monkland
Tommy Dion
Tommy is the founder of the blog and gourmet guide Le Cuisinomane, whose mission is to showcase Québec’s local products and gastronomy. With an in-depth knowledge of Montréal’s food scene, his expertise and professionalism make him a trusted source for all the best food spots and experiences in Montréal. In addition to tasting and writing about food, Tommy also creates content for brand, always related to food and gastronomy.