Breakfast
True espresso aficionados should head to Caffe in Gamba in the Plateau. Combined with plush seating and decadent pastries, their freshly brewed espresso drinks are the best in Montreal.
Eggspectation and Chez Cora – both Canadian chains – offer crepes, pancakes, and waffles piled high with fruit for reasonable prices.
Place Milton and Lola Rosa are two breakfast/brunch/lunch restaurants that you’ve probably walked by every morning while rushing to class, but maybe never tried. Place Milton offers traditional breakfast fare at dirt cheap prices (but beware of their pancakes – they either use pancake mix, or their flapjacks are just mediocre). Lola Rosa’s vegetarian and vegan cuisine is both cheap and flavourful, and their brownies will send you into chocolate heaven.
Lunch
Santropol’s legendary sandwiches are a must-eat: nowhere else will you find unique flavor combinations like pesto, cream cheese, and hot sauce in a sandwich, and heaping portions of soup and colorful salads.
M:brgr’s posh atmosphere is toned down a bit during lunch, where you can get a juicy, made-to-order burger, fries, and a soft drink for $12.75.
Dinner
For the best thin crust pizza north of the border, head to Prato on St. Laurent. They’ve redefined pizza by using only the freshest ingredients and cheeses. Make sure to try their Pizza Bianca, with thyme, prosciutto, onions, and a creamy cheese sauce.
Vallarta’s rendition of Mexican food is truly unique to Montreal: it’s real Mexican food. Everything from the chips and guacamole to the mole to the flan is homemade.
Graduation Dinner
Graduating this semester? Montreal has the some of the best fine dining in the world, which you probably haven’t experienced on a student budget. The Plateau’s La Chronique offers impeccable yet unpretentious French food and an enormous wine list. Pied du Cochon is perfect for any carnivore. Their duck-fat fries and foie gras are crowd-pleasers, and their selection of French desserts will make your celebration special.
Located on Bishop Street, Da Vinci offers real Italian food – no pizza, chicken parmesan, or garlic bread. Their selection of homemade pastas and antipasto platters is refreshing after four years of frozen meals.
Miscellaneous
Take advantage of summer produce by taking the metro to Atwater and Jean Talon markets. Their stands offer reasonably priced, freshly picked summer fruits and vegetables and a wide variety of cheese, baked goods, and specialty foods, all of which are perfect for a picnic on Mount Royal.
St. Viateur and Fairmount bagels turn out piping hot Montreal-style bagels 24/7, and at about 70 cents per bagel, they’re economical, too.
Juliette et Chocolat serves up chocolate in every imaginable way: on crepes, with fruit, and with alcohol, just to name a few. With a new location close to campus that’s bigger than previous locales, and a decent lunch menu, this is the place to go for all things chocolate.
