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.
My wife & I ate here on Thursday around 2ish or 3ish... Had the place to ourselves. The owner & staff are super nice respectful. They speak both English & French. We will definitely be going back to try more of there food. The place is family owned & operated. It could get tight if it's full. Regardless I recommend it to anyone looking for good vibes & fantastic food & service!
Feb 6, 2026
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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.
Great place with exceptional service, vibe, & ambiance. The coffee was excellent, however, the food could be better seasoned. Highlight: toasted bread with butter.
THE BEST PART IS WILL!!!!! Best server EVER!!! He is absolutely hilarious & caring & professional! This restaurant was recommended by a friend in NYC & we walked an hour to get here. Worth every step! The food was amazing, the drinks & atmosphere & vibe too!!! Highly recommend!!!!! Thank you
Not worth visiting past 9pm, they close before advertised hours. I come here regularly & Chez Jose is an amazing place with super cozy & homey ambiance which has an incredible amount of charm & character. Most of the time the staff & service is absolutely excellent & I recommend this spot as a must visit Montreal gem.
I did however visit this Monday for a coffee & was directly & coldly told I should leave at 9:30 (30 mins before closing time). Not that I should stop ordering at 9:30, but that I should leave. I get that the staff wanted to close early & go home after a long day but the way this was done made it feel wrong even being there (bear in mind I got there around 8:45, over an hour before closing). There were also still plenty of customers there. Quite a shame & a shock to get this very tense unwelcoming vibe in a place where it's usually the complete opposite.
I will continue coming here because like I said, it's a Montreal gem. Just won't be visiting later in the evening anymore.
Aug 3, 2025
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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!
Tucked away on Duluth, Café Chez José feels like a little oasis of joy. The vibe is eclectic & cozy, filled with character & color. The food? Humble, honest, & surprisingly delightful. It's the kind of place where every bite feels like it was made with care. Even though the hostess was running around non-stop, she never lost her grace. A beautiful place to slow down, eat well, & feel the soul of avenue Duluth.
J'ai adoré mon expérience chez José!
Le personnel est très gentil, accueillant & attentionné.
Notre accueil était super agréable par un jeune homme super gentil & très patient qui à l'air passionné par son travail, & qui aidait de gauche à droite. Il avait de l'attente, mais tout le staff étaient organisé & ça paraissait dans le service & la vibe du restaurant!
Pour la nourriture j'ai ADORÉ!
J'ai pris pour ma part un crêpe repas avec dinde & fromage bleu, c'était super bon!
Je recommande fortement leurs mimosas fait avec jus fraîchement pressé WOW-
L'ambiance du restaurant est vraiment cozy, familiale, vintage, il a du vécu & ça se voit que c'est un restaurant qui est pris soin avec amour.
Il n'avait pas d'air climatisé, avec la température de 31°C je me sentais mal pour les employés, je n'osais pas penser au cuisinier... courage à vous les employés!!!
Je serai de retour, coup de coeur de Montréal, vraiment ce que je recherchais!
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.
Apr 13, 2025
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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!
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!
Tried burgers, spiced potatoes, & coffee, & everything was absolutely delicious! The atmosphere was vibrant & full of energy-such a great vibe. I loved the experience & would definitely recommend it to my friends!
