Chez Mère Grand operates as a quintessential bistro featuring a menu centered on classic comfort food preparations and traditional cafe offerings. Patrons encounter a setting defined by functional wooden furniture and a focused layout prioritizing accessibility and efficient service. The culinary output emphasizes freshly ground coffee, artisanal pastries, and savory dishes crafted from reliable, locally sourced ingredients. Each plate reflects an adherence to time-honored techniques, ensuring consistency across a diverse selection of bistro staples. The space remains dedicated to serving straightforward refreshments alongside balanced meals in a streamlined environment. Guests find a cohesive integration of hearty, simple recipes that maintain high standards of quality. The establishment functions as an essential utility for those seeking consistent nourishment through a steady rotation of prepared refreshments and savory culinary essentials.
Chez Mère Grand is widely praised as a charming, cozy destination near the Old Port, celebrated for its high-quality coffee, fresh house-made pastries, and inviting atmosphere. Many patrons describe the shop as a hidden gem, highlighting the delicious croissants, scones, and thoughtful decor that evoke a sense of being in a small village cafe. While the majority of visitors experience exceptional hospitality and friendly service from the staff and proprietor, a notable subset of reviews reports inconsistent interactions, specifically regarding rigid menu policies and occasional dismissive behavior from management, which can lead to polarizing experiences for customers.
On vient depuis des années.
Le café au top
La nourriture au top
Le service au top
Le patron est une personne chaleureuse & très accueillante , toujours là pour nous raconter une histoire pour bien commencer la journée.
Je recommande vivement.
Julie & Geoffrey
Although the café itself is cozy & welcoming, the owner is probably the rudest person I have ever encountered in the service industry on the receiving end of a service. He is rude to english customers, makes you feel stupid when ordering, & messes up your order. Will absolutely not be returning, even though their chocolatine is to die for. Unfortunately there are quite a few bad reviews specifically mentioning the owner's rude behaviour, it's truly a shame for the other great employees.
May 11, 2026
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We had coffee there two years ago, went back this year, one server was very rude pretending not understanding English trying to intimidate my spouse. He was very rude, not funny showing zero respect for their patrons.
Je suis allée au Café Mère-Grand hier & je voulais souligner à quel point la jeune fille à l'avant était gentille, accueillante & professionnelle. On sentait qu'elle faisait vraiment de son mieux avec les clients!
Par contre, l'homme qui l'accompagnait était franchement désagréable avec elle, & c'était malaisant à voir comme cliente. J'espère sincèrement qu'elle est traitée avec plus de respect que ce que j'ai vu. Elle mérite d'être reconnue pour son excellent service.
Really nice cozy cafe. I ordered an iced latte with caramel syrup, it was quite nice & refreshing. The grilled cheese with smoked meat was absolutely delicious! The staff were very friendly & helpful as there were many food & drink options. Will definitely come back to try other things on the menu!
My partner is someone who loves visiting cafés wherever we go, so after we checked out, we wanted to try a nearby café as our last stop before heading home.
The café had a cozy, homey vibe, but the entrance area was quite small. We walked in & focused on the menu so we could order quickly without taking too much time. In doing so, we may have unintentionally blocked the path of a staff member who was carrying drinks to a table.
When he came back & greeted us, I ordered an iced mocha & a hot mocha. He looked straight at me & said, with emphasis,'I don't make iced mocha.' I sensed he was upset, so I apologized & tried to think of something else to order, but I was a bit flustered. He stared at me again & repeated,'I don't make iced mocha.' I apologized once more. Honestly, I didn't know how to react in such an awkward situation.
It might have been my fault for not studying the menu beforehand. I didn't realize that I had to strictly order only what was listed, & I truly couldn't read the French menu quickly enough at the time-so I sincerely apologize for that.
After reflecting on it, I don't think I did anything seriously inappropriate. I've visited many cafés & restaurants in Montreal & have always been treated normally. Unfortunately, this was our last café before leaving the city, & I don't think I'll return.
I regret not reading the negative reviews beforehand, as I can now relate to what others have experienced. I believe there are many better ways for a business to respond to customers-such as suggesting alternative iced drinks-instead of staring & repeating the same line like a robot. It made it hard for me to enjoy the drinks & pastries.
As someone who also works in the service industry, the last thing I would do is speak rudely to a customer. As professionals, we can always guide them toward better options with our expertise, & no one likes being treated disrespectfully.
We stayed there for a short while & noticed that the baristas seemed to rotate quickly. I can only imagine that if I had encountered a different staff member, the experience might have been better.
In summary, if you're not familiar with this café, make sure to read the menu carefully beforehand & only order what's listed. You might then be able to enjoy the drinks & pastries. I ordered a pistachio cookie, which tasted as expected, the financier was delicious, & the hot mocha wasn't great for me. My partner had a hot matcha, which was nicely rich.
