Chez José Café comes across in reviews as a small, cozy, colorful neighborhood spot on Duluth where a warm, family run vibe and lively atmosphere make guests feel instantly at home. The menu blends brunch favourites with Portuguese specialties, delivering pastéis de nata praised as among the best, hearty Portuguese breakfasts and chouriço dishes, tasty crepes, and a seafood soup that many describe as outstanding, with vegan and vegetarian options noted as well. Guests repeatedly highlight the friendly, attentive service and the welcoming vibe, while acknowledging that the space is compact and can get crowded, with occasional waits or slower service during busy weekends and a few hiccups like dishes arriving a touch cold or heavy on salt for some. Prices are often described as reasonable for the quality but a bit higher than casual spots, and the overall sentiment remains that the atmosphere, decor, and consistent quality create a memorable Montreal brunch and lunch destination worth returning to for drinks, pastries, and more.
Delicious, authentic food with a cozy, charming atmosphere. The service is friendly & inviting. Whether you're looking for a good meal or just a cup of coffee & a pastel de nata Chez José Café will not disappoint!
L'accueil était chaleureux, tout comme le service.
Le déjeuner portugais était savoureux, je reviendrais !
Il y a un grand choix de plat végétarien & vegan, que je testerai une prochaine fois.
Mention spéciale pour le pasteis de nata, qui m'a réconcilié avec cette pâtisserie !
We had a great mid-afternoon hang at Chez José. They were gracious to accommodate our large party of 6, but it is a very small place & we felt bad. They assured us all was well & treated very kindly with loving vibes. The food was excellent. Crepes, Portuguese stew, full Portuguese breakfast, pastel de nata (as good or better than Lisbon's ...). All excellent! Highly recommend!
I truly enjoyed my experience here. Had a small bite late in the afternoon & was craving for some sweet treat. I had their pastel de nata & a cup of latte, which were s great pairing.
I find the place very artsy & cozy, & the staff is very friendly. Overall, it's a wonderful place to be.
We loved this cafe. We had a wonderful breakfast: espresso, omelet sandwiches, & delicious pasteis de natas (just like Lisbon). Service was excellent. Really love the warm colors & eclectic vibe. Can't wait to return.
I was greeted really warmly as soon as I entered, which matched the homey vibe of the cafe. I only got the pasteis de nata, which they warm up on the spot for you, even for takeout! I appreciate them serving things in their best state 🥹 & the extra effort paid off. Their pasteis de nata is one that'll come to mind when I reminisce about great desserts I've had. The crust was unbelievably flaky & crispy, & the custard was super silky & had such great flavor, it was like flan. Get it with cinnamon on top!
Apr 12, 2025
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I love when I go out to try smt different & this is absolutely one of those dishes where its a twist on smt I eat all the time. Only reason for the 4 stars was the price which I find a bit high for the meal (21$). I personally would have loved it more at 18$ but i guess that's just inflation. Pastels de nata were excellent, best ive had in montreal & better than your average one in portugal. Decor is a perfect 10/10. Such a vibe i love it.
Really cool vibe & cute decor. Great coffee & food. I ordered the Mexican crepe & flavour wise it was delicious but it was far too salty for me that I struggled to finish it. The Portuguese breakfast that my friend got was also good but nothing spectacular. On the weekend there was a short wait for late morning brunch but that was expected so no complaints. Overall it was quite expensive for a casual brunch. Their pastel de natas are to die for tho!
Victoria & Sophia, ont été exceptionnelles. Je n'étais jamais allée au Portugal, plus besoin j'ai découvert la chose la meilleure du monde: Les natas de chez José. Pour vrai, chez José -> un incontournable ❤️❤️
We went to this place because Duluth has been pedestrianized for the summer & sitting at a terrace enables us to go out to eat with our dog. We chose Chez Jose at random & it was a good choice. I usually don't care for calamari as I find it too tough, but in their seafood soup it was perfect. My wife had a crepe with turkey, cream sauce & blue cheese that was delicious. I had a warm nata for dessert & we both had Portuguese coffees. & our waitress was excellent, really on the ball.
Sep 8, 2024
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It's been a while since I sat down for a coffee & pastry. I hiked Mont Royal Parc & went down to Cafe Chez Jose. I ordered the Pastel de Nata - Famous Portuguese Custard Tarts & a cappuccino. The girl suggested that I have them heated. Wow. With cinnamon, it's five stars, I tell you. Coupled with their delicious cappuccino, I was very happy.
Restaurant conseillé par des connaissances rencontrés lors d'un trip, comme quoi c'était l'un des lieux incontournables de Montréal & effectivement, pas du tout déçue. Quesadilla, juste excellente & je ne parle pas des Natas.. un délice, les meilleurs que j'ai pu goûter! Merci 🤗
Love this little place, it came highly recommended for breakfast & since I was alone, I was able to jump the line & get right in! The coffee was AMAZING & the meal was delicious, there were fresh nata's behind me too. Gem of a place.
This fun eclectic cafe is perfect for brunch & located in a great walkable area! The staff are so polite & the dishes are so good! I had been on the search for pasteis de nata that would taste as good as the ones I had on a trip to Portugal - these are by far some of the BEST! The Portuguese breakfast plate was tasty & the chicken sandwich was so savory!
Aug 20, 2024
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Endroit parfait pour un petit brunch pour dimanche après-midi. La serveuse & les cuisiniers étaient tous d'une gentillesse exceptionnelle. Le matcha est excellent je conseille , ps: finir avec un natas à la fin 🌞 Option vegan parfaite!!
Un délice! L'accueil & le personnel très chaleureux. Je recommande vivement! P.S. Meilleur Pastel de nata en ville à essayer! Nous en avons même pris pour emporter! :)
