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Montreal Brunch Hot Spots

By Evelyn Reid, About.com

Ask ten Montreal residents where's the best place to brunch and you'll get ten markedly different answers. Some are willing to linger in lineups as legendary as the brunch spots while others can't bare the wait lest the pain of caffeine withdrawal set in. This list has something for everyone, including those looking for something a little different from eggs and bacon, so get out there and enjoy these top eight Montreal brunch spots.

1. Cosmo's

Cosmo's lives up to the legend: amazing service, the best in greasy breakfast fare, cheap prices and the spatial ability to listen in on any conversation in the diner, right in the heart of N.D.G. With ten stools, one counter top and modest terrace space out front, customers are served fast and with family-run warmth that should never go out of style. Be aware, weekend lineups are probable by 10 a.m. and guaranteed by noon but they wind down by mid-afternoon before closing time, between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. Be sure to order Cosmo's Creation Sandwich, made with eggs, cheese, bacon, thick salami, tomato, lettuce AND the bread of your choice.

Location: 5843 Sherbrooke West, corner of Draper; (514) 486-3814
Get there: Vendôme Metro

2. L'Avenue

l'avenue restaurant montreal brunchPhoto © Evelyn Reid
I remember I first went to the Plateau's l'Avenue just to see the bathrooms. Quaint and creative, l'Avenue is casual dining brought to a new level. The effort that goes into presentation, every detail -- from l'Avenue's trademark service to decorating each dish to the edge of the plate -- is a pleasure to behold. And taste! Large portions of omelettes, poached joys and fruit at affordable prices served well into the afternoon hours, l'Avenue is a sure bet for a great brunch in Montreal. Just don't get cranky if you see a lineup. They're not as bad as they used to be but just in case ... you've been warned.

Location: 922 Mont-Royal East, corner of St. André; (514) 523-8780
Get there: Mont-Royal Metro

3. Deli Joe

Four words: smoked meat eggs Benedict. It's heavy, it's hardcore, it works. The rest of the menu is standard fare with charming extras and twists. Granted, Little Italy's Deli Joe is not the cheapest breakfast/lunch joint in town but it goes the extra mile for patrons: the walls are bright, the portions are big and every details counts. Just the side fruit, for example, is laid out with such panache, that you spend half of brunch staring at it and the other half devouring every juicy piece.

Location: 7143 St. Dominique, corner of Jean-Talon; (514) 342-4563
Get there: De Castelnau Metro

4. Beauty's

beauty's restaurant montreal brunchPhoto © Evelyn Reid
A breakfast/lunch joint a few blocks from Mont-Royal, open since 1942 and made famous in the '70s by Mordecai Richler's The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, Montreal has only one Beauty's and the lineups are fierce on the weekends. Get there before 10 a.m. or you will wait a while for a table, easily an hour, but you'll also savor some of the city's best bagels and lox. Generous with the side fruit, Beauty's prices are not amazing but all of their breakfast items are, so you won't be disappointed.

Location: 93 Mont-Royal West, corner of St. Urbain; (514) 849-5908
Get there: Mont-Royal Metro

5. Lotte

A nice alternative to traditional brunch. Some of Montreal's best dim sum is just at the outskirts of Chinatown at Lotte, the Days Inn Furama Hotel restaurant. And with over 200 seats, it's a great spot to gather with friends and enjoy some traditional pork and chicken dumplings as well as variations with coriander, scallops and more.

Location: 215 René-Lévesque East, corner of De L'Hôtel-de-Ville; (514) 393-3388
Get there: Champ-de-Mars Metro

6. Boccacinos

I don't know if it's their large high-ceiling dining rooms, the way they grate their hash browns or the fact they serve not one but two poached eggs per Benedict dish, but there's something delightful, comfortable and consistent about Boccacinos brunches. With five locations on the island of Montreal, Boccacinos has enough tables to accommodate groups and large families with a craving for a casual and generous Montreal brunch.

Location: Five locations in Montreal. Consult the Boccacinos website for details.
Get there: Depends on location. Consult the STM website for public transit directions.

7. Le Jardin Nelson

Yes, it's very touristy, in the heart of Old Montreal's Place Jacques Cartier, but so what? The breakfast menu is a little limited but good. Besides, the pièce de résistance is sitting near the crabapple tree or other coveted spot in Le Jardin Nelson's breathtaking courtyards and gardens. It's the perfect place for a mimosa, crêpe and long relaxing sigh.

Location: 407 Place Jacques Cartier, corner of St. Paul East; (514) 861-5731
Get there: Champ-de-Mars Metro

8. Ty-Breiz

Montreal's first crêperie opened its doors over four decades ago and Ty Breiz has been packed ever since. Breton-style thin crêpes, either with traditional buckwheat or white flour, are served all day as main dishes and desserts, starting at 11:30 a.m. Warm chalet-like ambiance, Ty Breiz fits the bill for two, small groups and anyone looking for a late breakfast that's a little different from the norm.

Location: 933 Rachel East, corner of Mentana; (514) 521-1444
Get there: Laurier Metro

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