When spring arrives in Montreal everyone is in a good mood – the sun is shining, layers of clothing are shed and terraces are open! Diva#2 had been to Café Parvis for brunch with our dear, curmudgeonly Sensei and enjoyed it (read about it here) but we kept hearing about their even more fantastic lunch options.
On a sunny Saturday afternoon, before heading out for some shopping, Diva #2 and The Firm headed to Café Parvis for lunch. They don’t take reservations and they are usually pretty full on weekends, but we were seated within minutes at a small communal table, enveloped by the sunshine streaming in.
“Hot Chocolate” 4$
Located on Mayor Street in downtown Montreal, the atmosphere is very relaxed and casual. We started our meal with their lemonade made with limoncello and a hot chocolate. The lemonade is refreshing, tart and would be perfect for sipping on a terrace! The hot chocolate, made with soy milk by request, is rich, velvety and a good alternative to coffee. Delicious!
“Croquettes de courge & de pommes de terre, humus aux fèves de Lima, salsa de tomates” 11$
We decided to split all the dishes and we started with the squash and potato croquettes. The croquettes had a crunchy crust and tender filling that was not overly fried. Leafy greens, a cherry tomato salsa, and red onions were added for freshness. The mix of squash and potato was spot on, it was a great combination!
“Croquettes de courge & de pommes de terre, humus aux fèves de Lima, salsa de tomates” 11$
It was served on a lima bean hummus which was not completely puréed so that pieces of lima beans added a textural element to the dish. This dish was light, yet filling, perfect for those warm summer months.
“Salade: Avocats, chicorée, tomates, amandes effilées, vinaigrette orange, Xérés & miel” 8$/14$/25$
Their salads come in three sizes so depending on your level of hunger (or hangry), choose accordingly! We ordered a mediumavocado salad with chicory, cherry tomatoes and a citrus vinaigrette made with orange, xérés and honey. The salad was light, fresh, healthy, and perfect for the warm weather when you don’t want something heavy but still filling.
“Pizza: Prosciutto,poires caramélisées, roquette, oignons verts & fromage bleu” 16$
There is something about the pizza crust at Café Parvis – it’s thin and not doughy, and you won’t leave any of it behind! There are several pizzas we plan on going back to try but the prosciutto pizza is what we were drawn to. Café Parvis perfected the sweet and salty pizza, with salty, crispy prosciutto, sweet thinly sliced pears, balsamic drizzle and perfectly melted and creamy blue cheese. It is the perfect balance and it made for a serious pizza!
Viennoiseries 3$
We didn’t have room for dessert but they do have delicious viennoiseries served on elegant dishes as well as other homemade desserts and baked goods. Diva #2 had already tried them when she had come with sweet Sensei. The apple turnover had a flaky pastry and the just the right amount of apple that had a touch of sweetness.
Breakfast Pizza (available on weekends) 14$
They also serve a breakfast pizza only available on weekends but is definitely worth a try. The pizza is topped with slices of tomatoes, deep fried avocado and, of course, an egg adds that little bit of richness synonymous with brunch.
Café Parvis is definitely a gem in the heart of the Quartier des Spectacles – the atmosphere is laid-back and cozy, and the food is excellent. You can be sure the Divas and friends will be back!
Our Rating: Always on Thursday
Tagged: 433 rue Mayor, Avocado Salad, bistro, Breakfast Pizza, Brunch, Café, Café Parvis, Café Parvis Montreal, Coffee, Croquettes, Downtown Montreal, Downtown Montreal Restaurant, golden square mile, Hot Chocolate, Lunch, Montreal Bistro, Montreal Café, Montreal Restaurant, Pizza, Quartier des Spectacles, Salads, Viennoiseries
I keep meaning to go!! So yummy