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.
Nothing fancy. Decent restaurant. Heavily understaffed. If you have lots of free time, & you aren't much hungry, then you might want to consider visiting this place.
Could someone please tell the server from Sunday evening that she should just pick one: sitting at a table & scrolling through TikTok on her iPad *with the volume on* OR being unhelpful & hostile to the customers? It's only because she chose to do both that I'm bothering to leave a review.
Jan 26, 2026
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An unexpected delight. Very cozy space & just a small dinner menu but very well done. We had the seafood soup, vegetarian crepe & egg tarts for dessert. Our waitperson was very kind with our poor French!
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 !
Delicious food with fantastic service. My partner is Celiac & they took her allergy very seriously, making sure there was zero cross contamination. I highly recommend
Jan 12, 2026
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The place is a little cozy, but the food is outstanding! The staff was very friendly & attentive to our needs! The seafood soup was the best I've ever had, & the Mexican omelet & Mexican crepe were just as impressive!
la serveuse raphaelle est super charmante & nous a bien servie. Les quesadillas aux légumes sont délicieux & l'ambiance du café est chaleureuse & colorée.
C'était très très bon,l'omelette était délicieuse & la décoration était superbe 👍 l'ambiance était satisfaisant mais le service était un peu trop long.Je ne peux que recommander ce brunch.
amazing place! our server was wonderful & talkative, the food was amazing, the only restaurant i've been to where i can finish the whole plate & still want more! the power went out halfway through our visit there, & the staff handled it perfectly, we still received our food & it was delicious & hot! come here if you want great service, a beautiful setting, & wonderful food.
Loved it! went there for a quick coffee break but spent much more admiring how good & cozy it looks. It may be small but the overall experience was amazing
Dec 14, 2025
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Expérience très agréable! Le service est excellent & rapide, la musique & décoration te transportent vers un pays chaud. La nourriture est délicieuse, avec plusieurs opinions saines & végés. Je me suis senti chez ma grand-mère au Brésil. Bon rapport qualité-prix. Certainement, je reviendrai avec des amis.
Wow ,What a great place!
The first time we came here, it was for coffee ☕, the second time was today for lunch. My love 💕 & I , are return customers. I believe it's places like Chez José Café that keep Montréal alive.
If you think 🤔 about it. Please stop by here & enjoy something delicious 😋.
