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.
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 !
Very vegan friendly. They do have some meats on the menu as well. Besides the quality ingredients, & the delicious food, the service is so kind.
To our surprise, it is reservation only. It's a tight space, but somehow they make it work. The table turnovers are pretty quick. On a Sunday at noon we showed up with no reservation. But they explained how to scan & set up a reservation. 20 minutes later we were seated. Ten to 15 minutes later our meals were served.
That's not to mention the ambiance. Very laid back. Some might call it bohemian, but to me it just felt authentic. Classic RNB from the late 90's & early 2000's. The servers & hosts were so polite. They all speak English, of course. So don't be afraid to show up if you don't speak the local dialect.
My vegan friend was beyond happy with his tofu breakfast burrito. My non vegan friend was super happy with his omelette & salad. & I was in love with the simplicity, but complexity, of the churrasco chicken sandwich, the Psychedelic juice, & the dirty chai.
We walked away from the meal refreshed & full of peace & good vibes.
So yeah, come for the food. But don't forget to take in the quality of the environment.
Much love to everyone who contributed to our experience. Easy 5 stars. Well deserved.
Nov 17, 2025
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Accueil extraordinairement sympathique qui a fait oublier le temps d'attente (salle pleine), repas vegan absolument divin (qui explique... la salle pleine !). Soupe Guantánamo, burritos au tofu, végé-pâté en sandwich au pain portugais, vin rouge, smoothy au lait d'avoine etc. TOUT ÉTAIT EXQUIS !
Du goût, de la gourmandise, de la gentillesse & du goût ! Du choix pour les omnis, les végés & les vegans. Nous y amenons tous nos proches en visite à Montréal & tout le monde s'est toujours régalé, nous les premiers.
Un gros big up au chocolat chaud & aux pastels, un délice 😋
Jamais je ne pourrai concurrencer le commentaire précédent qui est réellement une perfection littéraire. Mais vraiment wow superbe endroit, excellent service & beaucoup d'options véganes! J'ai pris le sandwich végé paté avec salade & patates & c'était délicieux & vraiment une grande portion.
Overall: Cozy cafe with lots of vegetarian & vegan options. Pros: The food & drinks we ordered tasted great (went for breakfast)! Eclectic decorations make this a cozy & unique cafe. Cons: 1) Wi-Fi information wasn't visible. Waitress provided me with the information upon asking, it was handwritten on a piece of paper, the information was hard to read & I couldn't connect to the internet. 2) No kids menu though the waitress had suggestions.
I was so excited to visit this place because of the good reviews, after waiting in line for a while, it took a while to take our order, which we asked for the vegan/vegetarian options. When the waiter delivered our plates, he again stated that it was the tofu option, after a few bites we realized that they had served us chicken instead. They took our plate away, we had to eat one of the plates already cold since the one they changed took a while to arrive. The solution was not to charge us a $3 black tea & a disinterested "sorry for the mistake". I appreciate that they serve vegan options in a place that is not, but be responsible & double check before serving a plate, really between the chicken & the tofu the difference was noticeable, I was sick all night. What a shame.
Unbelievable place! Everyone should go here! The food was some of the best we've had the whole trip here & our server Will made our entire night! Stunning service & such a friendly personality! I highly recommend ANY of the meal crepes, especially the chorizo, & there's plenty of vegetarian & vegan options as well. Go here for a super eclectic & fun vibe with phenomenal food!
Oct 16, 2024
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Travelled to Montreal from Toronto - chose this restaurant for having great vegetarian/ vegan options & were not disappointed. The service was excellent & the food was so amazing we had to leave a review! :)
I had been looking for a breakfast/brunch place that servers something different & unique than regular brunch places which all serve mostly variation of the same thing- just eggs, crepes/waffles/or toasts. The portugese breakfast here was delicious. There are plenty of vegan options as well. The vibe was cool, staff were super friendly & the the menu was aptly priced. Will return for sure.
Now with alcohol permit & open at night, Best breakfast & brunch on the plateau. From Portuguese breakfasts with eggs & Chorizo to a wide menu including great vegan & vegetarian options. Mediterranean influence, homemade healthy food, not expensive, generous portions. Funky & eclectic crowd. Friendly staff. Seafood soup every Friday is a must.Terrasse is now open.
Loved the place! With I could've tried all the food! Staff was great & the vibes of the place are awesome! Gets full quick though! Many vegan & gluten free options. Definitely going there for my brunch again!
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!!
Nice spot for Portuguese style brunch, we liked the food although it can use some more seasoning. They have a variety of vegan & Gluten free options, our waiter was super nice & accommodating. The place & the vintage vibes are nice, but they have a single bathroom & it can use some tidiness. Would definitely recommend if you're ever around the area.
