Reviews describe Café September as a vibrant, busy brunch spot where pancakes are a must and items like avocado toast, halloumi toast, tomato soup, grilled cheese, and tasty coffee or matcha frequently score highly; the atmosphere is energetic and welcoming, but seating is tight and lines are common, leading to longer waits or turnover concerns, with mixed notes on service depending on the visit and some pricing comments.
It's worth the hype & the wait, the food is really thoughtful & well balanced.
I had the mushroom burrata toast (10/10). It was a little on the salty side, but the burrata balances it out perfectly. I also had the tomato soup with the grilled cheese, which was really good. The soup is rich & full of flavor, & the grilled cheese is made with a spicy cheese, a nice twist. I personally prefer milder options, but it was still a hit.
The pancakes were very tasty, fluffy, buttery goodness with flaky sea salt on top. A bit heavy to eat on their own; I feel like a side of berries & whipped cream would lighten them up, but they're definitely good, diner-style pancakes.
If you want to beat the crowd at September Café, show up before 10 a.m. - otherwise, expect a long line. That seems to be the price of popularity for this sunny little spot on Notre-Dame West.
We visited on a weekend morning & ordered the tomato soup, crepes, avocado toast, a matcha drink, & an americano. Everything was clean, fresh, & well-prepared. The quality is clearly there - ingredients taste good & the flavors are solid.
The vibe is nice & casual: small space, friendly (sympa) staff, & a communal/social table setup that makes it easy to chat with others if you're in the mood.
My only real complaints are portion-related. The drinks (especially the matcha & americano) felt a bit small for the price, & the food portions were on the smaller side too. You definitely pay a premium for the quality & the experience, but I wish there was a little more on the plate (or in the cup) for what you're spending.
Overall, it's a lovely spot with good food & a great atmosphere. Just go early if you don't want to wait, & manage your expectations on portion size. Worth a visit, especially if you're in the neighborhood!
Apr 5, 2026
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Vibrant & full of energy. Thoughtfully curated menu, there's something for everyone & delivers great flavour. The grilled cheese & tomato soup were especially comforting. It was busy & bustling, & the staff were warm & welcoming.
The tomato soup & grilled cheese, what a combo!!!😍 We loved it soo much! The soup itself was exceptional! (creamy) & the grilled cheese was soo cheesy! Just this was very filling! I'm definitely going again! It was soooo worth it!
Their breakfast sandwich has a special place in my heart & the grilled cheese with tomato soup. & the pancakes…!!!! I would always recommend my friends to come here.
Probably the best pancakes I've ever had, the avocado toast was unreal as well, coming from someone who makes it regularly for breakfast theirs just hit differently.
Also tried the grilled cheese + tomato soup. It was good nothing to go wild about.
Also it's very busy & first come first serve we were able to get seats fairly quickly. Would definitely go back just for the pancakes alone 💯
Dec 8, 2025
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Absolutely incredible. I was craving a good tomato soup - & my god, did I find it. This place gets busy, but we managed to snag a seat. I ordered the tomato soup with grilled cheese, & my husband went for the burger & soup combo. Everything was unreal. The flavors were spot on - the burger cooked perfectly & seasoned to perfection. & that grilled cheese? I don't know how they do it, but they do it right. 10/10, absolutely fantastic.
The food omg it was a incredibly the grilled cheese it self without the soup was amazing & the soups alone was also spectacular both together was a freiam . The pancakes were also amazing with the maple syrup & the pancake was soft & all together was amazing . I am already a fan you must go
Wait time in line is long, but definitely worth the hype. Heard about this cafe all the way from Toronto. Would definitely recommend. I got the grilled cheese & tomato soup. My husband got the breakfast sandwich. Both were fresh & delicious. Also bought a chocolate chip & matcha white chocolate cookies & they were mouthwatering-ly good.
Oct 26, 2025
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Don't get discouraged by the line - there's always one, but it moves fast. The place has a chill, surf-meets-September café vibe & a relaxed menu to match. The halloumi toast was great, but the tomato soup with grilled cheese was definitely the highlight. We'll probably brave the cold just to come back & try more of their menu!
Oct 4, 2025
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Food was really good, I love the tomato soup here. It's my favourite comfort meal especially in the fall, but what really stood out to me was how smiley & respectful the baristas were. It's refreshing to see people put in effort in smiling at customers. I was having a terrible day & small things like that can really brighten the experience
I had amazing food here. We tried the pancakes & the grilled cheese + soup. Probably the best tomato soup i've ever had. The pancakes are up there too. However, go early, there was a line to get in, starting around 10am. It was a thursday. Insanely crowded inside. Not a lot of space to sit, & they're mostly high counter tops. The guy cashier barely spoke french & didn't smile at all. Neither did the guy who brought our food. They weren't exactly rude, just not a good service (I myself am a barista). The girl baristas were great & smiley. Matcha & mocha, yum!! Will go back!
C'est la saison des rhumes. Je tousse, je me mouche, mes articulations me font souffrir & ma gorge me douille, mais si je me retrouve aujourd'hui avec une extinction de voix, c'est parce que j'ai passé la journée à m'exclamer devant les crêpes extraordinaires du Café September ! Je plaisante, bien sûr - c'est encore mon virus qui tient à me démontrer l'étendue de ses talents.
Cependant, les crêpes (ou « pancakes », à 14 $), elles, sont véritablement exceptionnelles. J'aimerais pouvoir vous les décortiquer & vous expliquer ce qui les rend magiques, mais je ne suis qu'un simple gastronome émerveillé. Serait-ce le babeurre qui fait la différence ? La cuisson parfaite lui donnant une croûte dorée & une chaire moelleuse, légère & souple ? C'est un plat tout simple en apparence, mais je me dois d'applaudir copieusement le chef ou la cheffe pour en avoir maîtrisé l'art.
Les convives, eux, doivent maîtriser l'art de se dénicher une table dans ce café bondé. Pas commode, commode ! Même un mardi ordinaire, à 11 h 30, ça grouille de monde venu « déjeunetter ». Alors, on reste patiemment debout dans une section du restaurant, guettant la moindre table qui se libère. C'est comme un jeu de chaises musicales au ralenti. On pourrait souhaiter une meilleure organisation, mais on pourrait aussi affirmer que, à la rigueur, c'est le concept même du restaurant. & avoir un concept, ça fait distingué.
Un concept ne suffit pas ? En voici un autre : l'éclatement de la sphère intime. À la quantité de monde au pied carré, il faut accepter de partager son oxygène avec des inconnus, & si votre voisine a une voix stridente qui vous vrille les tympans, vous seul recours est de prendre votre mal en patience. En somme, cette atmosphère effervescente n'est pas de tout repos & vous vous incitez vous-mêmes à déguerpir dès la pose finale de votre fourchette.
Hélas ! Que voulez-vous ? Les gens sont friands de bons déjeuners, & les déjeuners du Café Septembre, euh, September, sont très bons & pas trop chers. Vous pourrez certainement vous rassasier pour moins de 25 $ par personne. Un réconfortant chocolat chaud (4,30 $), un sandwich grillé au fromage généreusement beurré avec son onctueuse soupe à la tomate (15 $) & vous voilà gavés à plus ou moins 20 $. Pour du plus costaud, on commande, sur un lit d'agréables frites texturées, un burger classique absolument dégoulinant de sa savoureuse sauce (19 $) - attention à vos vêtements… j'ai appris à mes dépens qu'elle traverse avec aisance le sac en papier. Splich - splach - splouch, une belle flaque sur mes pantalons. Dans l'ensemble, le menu propose un répertoire soigné de vos mets favoris du matin, sans fioriture.
Le décor suit la même philosophie : minimaliste, rehaussé de touches amusantes & originales, dont des planches de surf, un portrait de Bill Murray, une porte de bois travaillée qu'on devine étant celle d'origine, des petites ampoules ici & là… On crée ainsi une impression d'espace bien aéré, nous évitant ainsi de nous sentir coincés & oppressés au milieu de cette multitude de gens affamés.
En somme, le Café September tire brillamment son épingle du jeu sur la mythique Rue Notre-Dame Ouest en servant un déjeuner classique & de qualité à prix compétitif. Victime de sa popularité (notamment auprès de sa jeune clientèle), j'éviterais à tout prix de m'y pointer en gros groupe… mais l'endroit convient joliment pour un tête-à-tête délicieux & efficace. Un dernier conseil, & je vous en conjure : ne faites surtout pas l'impasse sur les crêpes !
There's always a line outside this place, but it is worth the wait. The pancakes are super fluffy & big enough to share. The tomato soup & fried chicken sandwich are both amazing, & the iced vanilla latte is something special. A must-go in the city!
