Chez Mère Grand s'établit comme un bistro exemplaire proposant une carte axée sur les préparations de confort classiques et les offres traditionnelles de café. Les clients découvrent un cadre défini par un mobilier en bois fonctionnel et une disposition rigoureuse privilégiant l'accessibilité ainsi qu'une prestation efficace. La production culinaire met en avant des cafés fraîchement moulus, des pâtisseries artisanales et des plats savoureux élaborés à partir d'ingrédients fiables et locaux. Chaque assiette reflète une adhésion aux techniques éprouvées, garantissant une cohérence constante parmi une sélection variée de spécialités bistro. L'espace se consacre au service de rafraîchissements directs accompagnés de repas équilibrés dans un environnement optimisé. Les visiteurs trouvent une intégration cohérente de recettes simples et copieuses maintenant des normes de qualité élevées. L'établissement sert de point de référence pour ceux recherchant une alimentation régulière via une rotation constante de produits préparés.
Chez Mère Grand est largement reconnu comme une destination chaleureuse et pittoresque près du Vieux-Port, appréciée pour son café de grande qualité, ses pâtisseries fraîches maison et son atmosphère accueillante. De nombreux clients décrivent l'endroit comme un joyau caché, mettant en avant la qualité des croissants, des scones et le décor soigné qui rappelle l'ambiance d'un petit café de village. Bien que la majorité des visiteurs bénéficient d'une hospitalité exceptionnelle et d'un service amical de la part de l'équipe et du propriétaire, un groupe de clients rapporte des interactions plus inconstantes, notamment en raison de politiques de menu strictes et d'un comportement parfois expéditif de la part de la direction, ce qui peut mener à des expériences contrastées.
It's a great location within steps from Old Montreal & a lovely terrace space, but customer service leaves a lot to be desired with two recent visits being met by an unpleasant attitude from the barista (an older gentleman whom I assume is the owner).
On the first occasion, I ordered an iced Americano & was told by the man'We don't make iced americanos, just cold brew'. When I asked him whether it was possible to still make one given they have an espresso machine & offer hot americanos (it's the simplest thing to make after all: pull a double espresso shot over cold water, add some ice, & call it a day...), he goes on to say'It just tastes a lot better'. Alright, so I understood it was an off menu request that they couldn't service for whatever reason, but the interaction didn't stop there. His colleague, a younger man, interjected & agreed with me, saying he personally prefers iced Americano over cold brew. The older man then proceeded to say to him in a displeased manner'OK, why don't you make it for him then'. When you witness internal arguments over a business product offerings, it leaves a bad taste & makes you wonder whether their team aligns on the products they are serving.
2nd visit today: Now with the understanding that ordering iced Americanos is a contentious topic for this cafe, I went ahead & ordered a cold brew with a shot of espresso inside (An order that any other coffee shop in Montreal has made for me without issue or hesitation, & known as a cold version of a Red Eye). Once again, the older gentleman questioned my choice & his first response was'Are you really sure about that?', while staring at me like I had just said some travesty. He then continues to say,'you know that the espresso is already a double shot, & the cold brew is infused overnight'. Yes, I know what I'm ordering. I'm not stupid or an newbie coffee drinker... I had to again proceed to say that's what I wanted to order.
Why would I be ordering something I don't know what I'm getting?
Is it that hard to have basic customer service skills & respond with a smile & something like'Absolutely! can I get you anything else?', rather than question your customer's coffee orders & make them feel like some outer space alien that's never had coffee in their life before?
These interactions made me question whether the man really wanted my business at all. Coffee & pastries are mediocre as well
Giving an extra star for location. Will not be returning after today's visit which is sad given the proximity to my place. I hope this review serves for them to improve their customer service experience.
Perfect spot to take a break & eat home made food & pastries! The pistachio Chocolatine was WOW🔥!!
Also the attention to detail given to everything was noticeable in every aspect of the café.
Really good chat with the owner too!! All of them were very friendly.
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.
26 avr. 2026
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Great cafe with really good coffee & pastries. I really recommend their Canadiano! We really enjoyed our time here. Definitely will come back. Thank you so much again!!!! 🍀🍀
Food & ambience are delightful. The owner is funny in both french & english & provides a great experience to all of his customers. All of the pastries have the perfect flakiness to them, 100% recommend to stop here!
Chez Mère Grand is the kind of coffee shop you stumble into once & immediately vow to return.
The space itself is very cozy & offers a nice escape from the busy bustling streets outside. The baristas are genuinely knowledgeable & incredibly friendly. & the pastries? Made fresh in house daily & literally so so good. We were especially fond of the croissants & lavender & apricot scones, which struck a perfect balance of delicate flavor & melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Literally we loved this Cafe so much that we ended up visiting every single day we were in Montreal. Overall, this place is a true gem that we highly, highly recommend.
Beautiful little cafe in a convenient location near hotels & Old Port. Baristas are skilled & professional-Jacob & Justine provided great service & made me a delicious coffee. Beans are locally roasted, wide selection of teas. Almond & oat barista quality milks available-unfortunately no vegan or gluten free options available currently. Pastries, sandwiches are made fresh in house. In house syrups as well. Selection of local jams, spices, oils, etc. for purchases-good gifts for tourists. Small terrace outside & plenty of seating inside.
