Dandy operates as a sophisticated bistro that emphasizes the intersection of artisanal culinary techniques and market-driven ingredients. The interior design reflects an industrial aesthetic characterized by high ceilings and expansive windows that illuminate the open dining area. Menu offerings focus on elevated classic dishes, featuring thick-cut sourdough toasts topped with seasonal produce and house-made ricotta. The kitchen consistently utilizes fresh, locally sourced components to construct balanced plates that favor structural simplicity over complex plating. Patrons experience a lively atmosphere where the focus remains strictly on the quality of the prepared food and the functionality of the workspace. This establishment balances the casual nature of a market-inspired café with the technical precision of a focused bistro kitchen. Every element, from the beverage selection to the curated seasonal vegetables, demonstrates a commitment to ingredient-led preparation methods.
Dandy is widely celebrated for its exceptional brunch offerings, particularly the ricotta pancakes, which many guests describe as the best they have ever tasted, and the crispy fried chicken sandwich, which frequently earns high praise for its quality and flavor. Visitors consistently highlight the fresh, high-quality ingredients and the beautiful, modern atmosphere that makes the restaurant a must-visit destination in Old Montreal. While the popularity of the spot often results in lines, especially on weekends, many guests feel the delicious meals, vibrant energy, and attentive, welcoming service provided by the professional staff make the experience entirely worth the wait.
Food is magnificent. I've tried their'big breakfast', pancake, & the crispy chicken burger. The latter was my favorite, crispy on the outside, VERY tender chicken & generous portion. Getting the bill makes me question if the price really worth the hype though.
Our wait time seemed pretty normal compared with what other people mentioned in their reviews. My wife absolutely loved her food & said it was the best pancake she's ever had in Montreal. My order looked more like a regular breakfast set, but I really enjoyed the homemade sauce.
We waited for more than an hour, so I honestly can't tell whether I was just really hungry or if the food was actually that delicious. Either way, we had a good experience at Dandy & would definitely come back.
Aug 15, 2026
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This was our second time at Dandy.The first time, we had a great experience, but unfortunately, today was completely different.
I ordered the cottage cheese pancakes with strawberries. The pancakes were extremely dry, almost like cardboard. I also paid an extra $5.50 for strawberries & literally received five strawberries, bringing the dish to $26.50 for dry pancakes & five strawberries.
My boyfriend ordered the fried chicken sandwich, which was also very disappointing. The bun was soggy, & the chicken didn't even seem fried. It was bland & had none of the crispy texture you would expect from a fried chicken sandwich.
Also, it took 55 mins to get are food & we arrived at opening. A table of 7 that got seated after us got served first & had order same dishes as us, very disappointing.
We spent around $80 & left extremely disappointed. For that price, there are so many better & less expensive places in Montreal. Unfortunately, we won't be coming back.
First - there will be a wait. Trust the rest of the reviews. Even on a rainy Monday. 60 minutes from getting into line to placing our order.
Service & food were fantastic. Once you sit down, they are prompt about getting you served (so they can flip the seat). It does take a little bit for the food to come out - but everything we had was amazing. The ricotta pancakes were excellent, as was the avocado toast. The bloody mary had an odd taste. Would avoid that.
I would visit & eat here again, but only if I lucked into a 15-20 minute wait.
There was a line around the block before the spot opened at 10 am. It moved quickly. Nicholas took care of us outside. My latte was yummy but the ricotta pancakes were ahhhhhhmazing. The maple syrup was like praline buttery goodness.
We enjoyed the breakfast here 1000%, we had Ricotta pancakes, buttermilk fried chicken & the endless summer breakfast all was 1000%, oh, don't forget the side order potatoes. P.S. the servers are very hot😀
Hands down the best brunch & all of Montreal. It's a small menu but everything tastes delicious. I come here from Toronto a couple times a year & this is always the first place I want to eat at. I dream about their ricotta pancakes & I love how they have a seasonal topping to it so it keeps it exciting & fresh every time I visit. But the potatoes are just perfect!
I wish we lived in Montreal... We were on vacation & lucky to find this place. The food was *outstanding*! We were lucky & got in line about 10 minutes before they opened & got seated pretty quickly. The line quickly wrapped around the corner, though, so definitely get there before doors open.
The Ricotta Pancakes are the best pancakes we've ever had. I tend to veer away from'fancy' pancakes because they're often too sweet, but these were perfectly balanced, light, & fluffy. (Sorry, Cafe September...but these pancakes win! 🙈) The Endless Summer Breakfast was also incredibly tasty & unique. We were so glad to have good vegetarian options! I can't recommend this place enough. The inside is, of course, also adorable. Great food & great atmosphere--would highly recommend it!
So we came to dandy's because of the hype.
The line was incredibly long, so we had to wait for a long time. It looked quite interesting from outside, & everyone seemed pretty eager to get inside. We were a family of 4, but I will only speak of me & my sister's experience.
We specifically wanted my little sister to get her order first, because she was extremely hungry after waiting in line for 1 hour (I don't blame the line length, because they seemed understaffed, & full). But regardless of our specific request, I got my order first. Luckily, I had the same thing as my sister, so I gave mine to her.
Secondly, the staff didn't really pay attention to our table (I'm not trying to sound entitled, but there were no « is everything alright? » or « do you need anything else? » or « do you need a refill? ») for instance, we waited a very long time to get a water refill, & since the wait was so long, we got really thirsty. & my sister ordered iced water, so just extra ice, & it never came. Then, my sister raised her hand to call someone, & I raised my hand, & they saw us (like with eye contact) but they ignored us. But the good thing is that we did get our extra crispy pancakes, & I did get my cappuccino.
& finally, the actual food was, quote « delicious pancakes but they needed more sweetness ». Some of them had tiny burns, but they were negligible. The bacons were very good & the rolled sausage as well.
The only thing that reduced this places rating was mostly the customer service. But this place has immense potential. Thank you for reading this. But the food, considering the wait, it was way too expensive.
